Zendrive vs Zvex Box of Rock

[superannop]

Zendrive everytimes for me...

[savvyandskye]

@gearmanndude Does the box of rock sound good with a solid state amp? Or would the you dirty rat pedal be better? Thanks!

[jayman1986777]

@savvyandskye Solid state amps do not take most od/distortion pedals well, they are designed for tube amplifiers. I know wampler pedals design their pedals to sound good on solid state and tube amps, they have a great line of pedals too!

[MDK2323]

Love your vids bro!

[otisray99]

People need to wake up and realize the Tanabe Dumkudo and Zenkudo kick ass on the Zendrive! I had the Zen did not like it, sounds sterile, sold it. The Dumkudo is an amazingly versatile pedal with the 3 mode switch, sell the ZEN, buy the Tanabe Dumkudo!!!

[tupefuzz]

he is not jack black...that's so annoying...he speaks the same way but he doesn't sound like jack...at all 

[notwaiting]

Very helpfull. Thanks!

[thoppification]

jack black in cowboy boots?

[guillerob99]

The problem with ALL gearmanndude reviews is..... DR. Z.

Ampli for Country and little girs.

[TTmaniax]

@guillerob99 Yep.

[xxObscuraxx]

@guillerob99 dumbass.. dr z amps can do it all

[spencermaddoxmusic]

@guillerob99 you ONLY say that because brad paisley plays one

[logen99999]

both of those pedals are on my "to buy" list. too bad they're about 200$ a piece retail. maybe a little less second hand. not cheap at all.

[Chicostrat]

They sound great and i would love to own them but i have a problem with high priced dirt boxes..lol If a pedal costs as much as my amp i cringe..I'm sure there are some lower priced pedals that are close to these, i see guys put so much money into dirt pedals they could have just bought a fantastic amp that these pedals try to imulate.

[Chicostrat]

They sound great and i would love to own them but i have a problem with high priced dirt boxes..lol If a pedal costs as much as my amp i cringe..I'm sure there are some lower priced pedals that are close to these. Then again if i had alot of dough i probably would buy them..lol

[Zed1967]

These types of overdrive/distortion pedals are very easy to build yourself and the internet is awash with schematics.

Learn the basics about electronics, get the schematic, buy a soldering iron and a few hand tools then make pretty much any effect pedal you want for about £20 ($30) or less.

The price of these ''boutique'' pedals is a total rip off, avoid them like the plague.

[Uberloinvongenchler]

Sorry to point out the obvious but these are really two different sounds or different sound 'types' the smooth burbly sound of the zendrive is completely different to the crunchy overdrive sound so they are not really 'competing' pedals...

[TheMetalGuy01]

50,000th viewer :D, awesome review 

[thejokercries]

best demo of the zendrive on youtube!!!! awesome playing and tone dude!

[stratguy1688]

I used to have a Box of Rock, didn't really like it, but I sure do want a Zendrive!!!

[gtrslgr]

Bock of Rock=JTM45 (bright-use tone knob) Zendrive=big fender or Dumble overdrive. Right? They are both great and very different.

[aquamauza]

Whats better: zen drive 1 or 2

[joelkeaton]

@aquamauza just got both of them in the mail I like 2 better. 1 is still really nice. sending 1 back tho ;)

[TheMullerFan]

zendrive is expensive as fuck. actually they're both pretty expensive...

[Hellad00d]

box of rock sounds like a box of shit.

[CarvinTone]

both of these are good pedals, I have heard better of each of them, it has a lot to do with ones amp and settings, tone down the high ends off the ODs go for more warmth less high end. The Zen started to sound better with the EQ change. The box of Rock can really crank it is a great unit. I cannot pick between these two.

where is the Luther??? I am thinking the Luther likes TELS and Strats better

GMD, bootmon, gearmon, rastamon.... !!!!

[PlayaDontHate24]

the box of rock is baddass i think...FAT dynamics...

[cm0220ster]

In my opinion, not a proper use of the Zen Drive to use it gained out. It's a drive/sweetener, not a distortion pedal. Anything past half on the gain is a waste of a great pedal. Don't have one so I can't speak to the voice setting. Also, he's comparing a drive to a distortion pedal. A more accurate comparison would be to say compare the Hermida Distortion to the ZVEX Or the Zen to the Tubescreamer. Check out cmatmods also, their signa drive and their brownie. Nice and less expensive.

[Ncuab]

I've tried a hand painted Box of Rock before and its a little bit to cut through a band with it. It's definitely a fun pedal to play at home but it's not that useful in a band setting. It kinda sounds like something is preventing the overtones from coming through, as if there's a blanket over your amp. The Zendrive sounds great though, I heard that it's a very simply designed pedal too.

[choobr549]

All ZVEX Vexter (non usa) are made in China---on his site it says there is no difference. GMD has a US model here--they sound better to me--but not good! Zvex would not help me when I had bought a china model and had problems with it--so I am NOT impressed with Cust SVC at all. You guys mentioned some really good other options--I like Lovepedals and Fulltone

[SecuenciaOnirica]

the zendrive is the best, the box of rock is great, but nothing as the zendrive..!

[motokev]

thanks for video Mr. J Black. I have the B of R, I like it. I think the BOOST is really good. I want a ZENDRIVE next. but, should i get the ZD1 or ZD2 ??

[josroge]

I own the BoR, I have never played with the Zendrive, but I can say that BoR holds it's own place in the music world. It's very very versatile and it's on a ton of pro pedal boards. It is pretty cool. I use it when I need some serious dirt. My other drive is a SignaDrive... Love em both.

[EJwannabe]

Nice tone, Jack B. - wonder what Kyle G. thinks? :-)

[gottfriedbrux]

Just got the Zendrive and love it. I have the BB Preamp AT, AC Booster, Fulltone Fulldrive 2 Mosfet, Keeley TS808 mod plus... and of all the BB Preamp AT, AC Booster & Zendrive are my favorite. I have played the BoR and it was too noisy for my taste. The BB is a better pedal for the Marshall in the box type of sound. Peace, -G.

[RNRDOLL]

I've played the BOR several times, I was quite disappointed considering whats its supposed to do (JTM45 in a box). As for the zendrive, great tone..but way too buttery and mellow for my taste (dumble clone?). Dirt boxes should have a some hair on it.

[alextamulis]

zendrive! my fav pedal

[telemaestro268]

Box of Rock... all the way!

[44eelz]

anyone else getting sick of Ads on youtube?

[Quadraphonicsoul]

yes

[GhostOfAE]

@44eelz heck yes.

[hebijebi03]

jesus man you said it...

[Hugoow16]

yes

[nixonatorator]

@44eelz you could always pay to watch youtube instead

[44eelz]

@nixonatorator paying for internet should be enough lol but nope ads everywhere

[CBondraJr]

Very useful. Thank you!

[SJP444]

The Zendrive sounds more touch sensitive and has a bit more tone. The BOR is very marshall like and aggressive.

[jamesstone123]

agreed... the zvex just reminds me of every other zvex pedal... over the top and huge fun. The zendrive sounds much more usable for most people though.

[lwbantoto]

Thanks man awesome demo

[opdev]

The Boost on the BOR is just amazing. I don't use the OD side much but it's a fantastic boost.

[Quadraphonicsoul]

u do know that the zvex super hard on is just the boost circuit?

[jamesstone123]

i kinda thought that was the point... it is a boost pedal after all.

[Quadraphonicsoul]

i was just trying to tell them if they only use the boost portion why do they need the full BOR

[jamesstone123]

because its 2 pedals in one and the BOR is more useful. Rather than having 2 seperate pedals, spending twice the money and having twice as much space taken up it makes much more sense to have one pedal with it all built in.

Its not a multi-fx box - a lot of expensive distortion boxes have a boost circuit too

[elvisaggy]

Hi Jack, It's me. Do you have a demo video on the Homebrew powerscreamer pedal? Thanks,

Elvis Aggy

[edbstrung]

Is the Box of Rock true by pass?

[Quadraphonicsoul]

yes its a true bypass

[SJP444]

I just wish the Z drive had a bit more gain to spare when you need it. Otherwise, it sounds awesome

[Vazmusic]

Z Drive is much more amp like. The BOR seems to have a useful, cool, artificial overtone If U are going for a colored sound but the Z drive is more natural sounding to me. I've used one for years. U can hear it on my "Ringo' video. It sounds great in any amp.

[hum1]

I like the BOR better. it has more character. If I want a straight cleaner boost I turn the amp up, I like a pedal to add something. Just my HO

[mtaygoldin]

the zendrive is sweet!!!

[vibrotwanger]

One thing I didn't like about the Box of Rock was that, like a real Fuzz Face, it is highly interactive with the guitar's volume control. It cleans up quickly with a normal control BUT if you have a tone compensating cap across your guitar's volume control the interaction can make for an excruciatingly thin, bright, crappy tone. I hope the Zendrive doesn't do the same as I have one on order....

[baseballnolie34]

Can't you solve that problem by clipping the cap or making it switchable?

[vibrotwanger]

Sure, but when the pedal is switched off or I'm using a different pedal I want my bypass tone cap. Making it switchable might work for most folks but it took me the better part of 40 years just to really use my guitar's volume. I'm thinking the best solution might be to have an active buffer pedal before the BOR so it sees a constant load.

[fjlorente]

hey GMD!! i would love to see and hear those demos on a fender blackface...u know most of us buy overdrive pedals beacuse ur amps dont have that much "drive", if u could get a twin reverb or a deluxe reverb RI would be just awesome!

[playthecray]

The Zendrive is like having a tube amp that fits in your pocket. Best low gain overdrive that I have heard.

[dumalucky]

z drive wins. but it could be because of those boots

[TheBlackCrayon77]

God Damn those are some nice sounding tones. I'd go either way, great shootout one of the best I've heard. Now I know of 2 more drives that'll burn most.

[xtremesoccer989]

hahahah! does sound like jack black

[TheDudeManGuyDude]

I'd have to say I like the Zendrive better.

[atomlow]

I couldn't get it off last night...

[funkyjones]

My python boot is too tight...

[gtrtuben]

nice boots!! those are sick!

[RabiesAngentleman]

Nice demo of your boot.

[dindush1]

High there Jack Black.

[rhcpjohn444]

go jack black

[gpere8]

awesome pedals and even more awesome shoes

[supern00b]

the ZD sounds like a TS clone?

[blahman178]

thanks jack.

[dreadboystarchild]

if that isn't jack black it's scary

[BigDaveDeluxe77]

jack b has never been caught on camera playing at that level!!!

[alterbridge111]

dude holy shit you sound exactly like jack black thats awesome man LMAO, good ass comparison to bro thanks a lot - cheers!

[TylerAnselmo11]

the zen drive sounds more like a real nice fuzz face the box of rock is like a jacked up tube screamer..

[tragictravistie]

no, they dont. they zvex has more gain, huge bass, and a different sounding distortion. the zen drive is more present than a fuzz face and also clips differently. the harmonics on both of these are similar to each other, but different to either tubescreamers or fuzz faces.

[fiddlefolk]

that's jack black or i'll kiss your ass! good playing there hollywood! thanks for the comparisons. keep em' coming. have you tried any indy guitarist pedals. i like them. check out the plextortion or the exctasy. forgive the bad spelling. see ya brother!

[abradfordajb]

Interesting comparison .... what led you to think of comparing the Box Of Rock with the Zen? Personally, i think both are good, and usable, depending on what one is after. The Zen is just plain smoother, no question about that. The BOR is definitely "grittier". Rgds, Andrew

[bopplayer]

My ears tell me the box of flab sucks. Thanks for your videos.

[gearmanndude]

No...thank you for checking the vid out...I'm not a huge fan either, but live and let....um....I forget....ROCK! GMD

[Awsomeness42]

that guy sounds like Jack Black

[akaboo69]

you can kill the metal

[alltweed]

Looks like you dimed the Zen tone, but had the ZVX tone on either total max or total min. Should have dimed that one to for fairer comparison.. Both pedals have sweet spots for sure.

[Peace11uehman]

sweet demo vid

[heartsndspades]

love the boots j.b!!

[idolkosiapril]

jack black :D

[MaximusDowns]

excellent demo video, you truly kick righteous ass. I had not heard of either of these pedals before today, but I'm going to hold off on getting on...although that zendrive does sound great

[lexist7]

zendrive is darker imo. both sound good. but one's emulating a dumble while the other is going for a marshall.

[smellysocks12]

you should do a delay comparison, your vids help me out alot. and a delay one would be great.

[leofender22]

Yeaaa, wish I had a Maz...

[ToneSnobs]

Thanks for the video. Do you think you could keep making more, I like your style. I own a box of rock and maz 18 with a 1x12 celestion gold. I think I need to get the zen drive.

[gearmanndude]

Yep...gonna keep on making more vids...thanks!!

[mfrieauff]

nice shoes...

[JackLawtey]

That's hilarious. I was just thinking 'My GOD That amp sounds good'. I click 'more' and; 'Dr Z Maz 18'

I knew only a Z could sound that good :) I'm the proud owner of a Maz 38 head.

Keep it up.

[Defector5]

Great playing. They both sound good, but don't you think the Zendrive has a cleaner edge?

[clehneis]

This guys cool