Vox Ice 9 Overdrive

[Bodhidrop]

Just tried out one of these with through a Fender Twin....great stuff. Vintage meets modern, kinda. Bonus points on the Vonnegut inspired name! Pretty, I guess, "clean", if you will. I think a lot of people would dig this.

[BeastAgile]

is this any good for music like miles kane? if yoiu havn't heard him type in better left invisible or inhaler miles kane!

[kissrocks45]

pedal works great with vox amps,thickens my handwired up nicely 

[FletcherHabit]

is this better than the Satchurator?

[house1918tyler]

@FletcherHabit great question, their 2 different things, the satchurator is a distortion pedal, the ice 9 is an overdrive pedal, distortion is meant to be used by it's self typically, and overdrive is normally used to push an already distorted tone a little further, like if ur on channel 2 of a fender hot rod, and ur playing a song that uses mild distortion on the verse and the chorus requires more powerful distortion, you would be best suited to turn on an overdrive pedal to get that sound

[MrUltraworld]

It's not doing anything for me. What puzzles me is Satch is using Marshall's again with a great distortion channel that sounds better than any pedal. But, he's just using the clean channel with pedals. It's the same with Vai, the Legacy II has a monster distortion channel, but he uses a dist. Pedal as well.

[jdh0858]

@MrUltraworld obviously they know something we dont lol

[ooktar]

@MrUltraworld They Use Distortion Pedals in Front of a Dirty Channel on their Amps To help Give their Leads that extra Edge.

@Ilovemyfender2

Its An Overdrive, Not a Distortion. Its supposed to Help Drive leads and Chunk up Rhythms. Used along with the Satchurator (or any Distortion Pedal really) Is when it show its true Potential.

[BkkCheesepie]

BADASS INTRO HAHA!

[Jeepjones85]

Rasbyrasby@ I love mine it's has a real rich tone to me it's not just ur everyday od pedal, I also run a OCD with it set close to clean boost right after the ice 9 and the sound is amazing

[evinsonutube]

@Jeepjones85 I use the same combo, and man I love love love the two together. The OCD is usable by itself, the Ice 9 is a tad dark, but the Ice 9 into the OCD creates three stages of highly usable gain (four including the clean channel), from nearly nothing (OCD only) up to large scale liquid distortion with the OCD + the Ice9 w/ the More button engaged. The Ice 9 sometimes sound a little disconnected between the dry and wet signals in certain settings, and the OCD glues it all together.

[RasbyRasby]

Nice demo, but normal overdrive.Nothing special.

[trevinor3]

@RasbyRasby: i agree

[johnIemon]

3:09 - 3:15 If i didn't know any better I would have thought it was Jimmy Page himself playing

[luxHROCK87]

plastic distortion

[imashellamit]

Thumbs up if you want a Bulldog Distortion review!

[mugwye1]

Good ol' Cat's Cradle.

[yungbubbabush]

Remember people, this isn't Distortion, its Overdrive! Overdrive is meant to add a small crunch to the clean channel, or add more punch on the lead channel.

[conkerandco]

I've read this is the tubescreamer ying to the satchurators ds-1 yang. anyone know if this would be good for boosting a high-gain amp? a common tubescreamer method for getting uber-metal tones out of a 6505/5150, rockerverb or dual recto?cheers:)

[TheMicrac]

@sbgrox11 well if you like the dist of your amp that' s it... an overdrive is mostly used over distortion as a boost, a distortion pedal should be used on clean sounds... if you think your dirty channel is not enough for the tone you want to achieve then an overdrive pedal is what i would recommend, but if you are completely satisfied with your existing dist then you don't need it... at least something like a tube screamer for solo parts when your volume and drive need to be lighten up... IMO :)

[rockcastlemusic]

i have a Satchurator and its really a very good pedal.i was wondering if there's a point getting the Ice 9 too or should i just get a Boss SD1.i play in a band that plays all sorts of music from the old 70's to more recent ones like Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift.(no Beiber). I'd probably be using this pedal mainly for playing chords in the band.but it seems so versatile that i'd probably be using it also for playing guitar oriented songs when i get home from practice.

[Valeriorock100]

beautiful pedal.....amazing



[Finleymon]

What's the song playing in the background?

[mrcaloyperez]

@Finleymon really?

[kioshiRawk]

I think I'll be getting a Kustom Defender (the 50 watt version) and am looking at overdrive pedals for it. I'm thinking either the Ice 9, bad monkey, or Digitech Hardwire. I tried the BM in the store today and loved it, but would the Ice 9 or hardwire be better? Right now I'm thinking BM until I have a bit more money for one of the other two, is this a good idea?

[wariomt]

@kioshiRawk bad monkey SUCKS! :D

[guitarrhythymfool]

@wariomt It's actually a great pedal for what it is, i.e. a budget overdrive pedal.

[kioshiRawk]

I think I'll be getting a Kustom Defender (the 50 watt version) and am looking at overdrive pedals for it. I'm thinking either the Ice 9, bad monkey, or Digitech Hardwire. I tried the BM in the store today and loved it, but would the Ice 9 or hardwire be better? Right now I'm thinking BM until I have a bit more money for one of the other two, is this a good idea?

[InspiredProphecy]

Man I love these demos. Best job in the universe.

[CyValkarion]

Just get an Ibanez TS9 Tubescreamer or a Way Huge Green Rhino and be done with it.

[Galiano71]

Andy, you're the best reviewer on the web! Thank you! Great job, man! Great job!

...not to mention your outstanding style of playing guitar. Rock on!!!

[whammybarfreak]

ugh dont any of you pedal reviewers know how to tune a guitar? that would make the demo 100x better

[CarvinTone]

Still the best ICE 9 workout I have heard except for Joe's which are getting hard to find. This OD has a unique timber like the Satchurator, I dig the Vox boxes I am redoing my board with all of them. I do not want so much gainy drive I am hoping this can gain down and push more lows especially through the mighty half stack. I am not a fan of little amps although that 65 Amp Soho is one sweet tube circuit. Use the Satchurator or this puppy pushing a half stack and they kick major tiny amp.

[wilfredomiguelcastro]

Andy, I really want an mp3 of the backing track at the beginning of this demo.

[TheFrostyDealer]

Andy never had his face in during the playing parts.....so how don't we know that it wasn't joe....JK!

[ouija1324]

what is best the zakk wylde overdrive or this?

[mozzadagozza]

@ouija1324 zakk wylde overdrive is way more subtle, would be good to give the amp a bit of crunch or as a solo boost.

[Cyberbob182]

@ouija1324 zakk's one is not as precise as that one to my mind

[bgtre5o]

wow, never realized how much fuzz was in this thing, I like it though!

[mrboverbro]

is this good for clean boost?

[Molochai01]

@mrboverbro no, the more switch works only for the overdriven tone

[YearraeY]

superb pedal for a reason.....it sounds exactly like a Tube Screamer, extremely vocal.

and the tube screamer is my favorite pedal of all time so this is a winner.

[RaianCPS]

Okay, so i already own a VOX Satchurator, can anyone tell me whether buying the VOX Ice 9 is worth it?

[faggotball]

@RaianCPS Same situation for me

[Natesmitguitar]

@RaianCPS Go to your local Guitar Centre (for me it'd be Long & McQuade in Canada :P) and bring along your Satchurator. Do a comparison with the guitar you own and if possible, the same amp. That will give you the best clue as to whether or not you should get the Ice 9. I just did the same thing with my modded Boss Blues driver, which ate several distortion pedals in a heartbeat and even had the Fulltone OCD for desert.

[hyperphoenix11]

it sounds kinda fuzzy for an overdrive

[Preludiumi]

@hyperphoenix11

I agree. A bit muddy also. But Joe can get great tones out of any pedals

[strybel]

Not great,not bad...a little too cold i guess.

[rogerthehat]

ill stick to my zen drive klon king of tone skready screwdriver danelectro transpatent overdrive ocd pedal oh and line  dm 4

[Twistchawa]

@rogerthehat . . . Was that necessary? Of course you're gonna stick with those. You don't need to inform us of your awesome overdrive lineup.

[Martinijos]

I am considering bying a new overdrive pedal and it stands between this one and the Fulltone Fulldrive 2 Mosfet, how would you compare the two?

[MrBurnyAM]

@Martinijos Both are pretty awesome, I think that the Ice 9 has more dynamic range both volume and tone but thats just my opinion having only played the Fulltone.

[cosmogang]

meh.

[VOXampsforever]

Hi guys,

If you want to check out Joe Satriani demoing this pedal himself, search "Ice 9 Overdrive Pedal Demo 1" in Youtube's search bar and it's the vid by "G3Joe". It sounds awesome.

-Your friends at VOX

[sharrer2]

Vox, hasn't been the best at making distortion pedals. This is good though! I wouldn't pay $200 for it though. 

[Timerrin]

I don't know why it is, but, I've found that 6L6 type amps are way better to use with drive pedals than classA el84 amps. Not all mind you, just most. This pedal would sound great in a Deluxe Reissue.

[vfrbike]

amazing sounding pedal!!!

[alvarez1284]

The pedal is no OD, is more like a thin fuzz!!!!! Andy, YOU ROCK DUDE!!!!!!

[bluepingu345]

Sounds quite thin to me.

[mongoose979]

I feel this pedal doesn't do the Vox name justice, but as for the AndyRiffs, always delightful.  By the way, when are you going to start giving lessons, or make an instructional DVD ???

[Ilovemyfender2]

Sounds like a crappy fuzz

[sanchezgtrs]

Andy,

How does this Vox Ice 9 Overdrive pedal compare to the MXR ZW-44 Wylde Overdrive?

[alvarez1284]

@sanchezgtrs Get the Zack Wylde MXR ZW-44 OD is a better overdrive pedal than this Fuzz Box!!!

[thecompletejake]

Too bad...I use a satchurator and found a tone I really like out of it...but this seems...well...fairly crappy. I need a new overdrive pedal and because I had luck the satchurator I thought I might get this...I guess I might get an OCD or BB Preamp instead.

[Den1sVengeance]

@thecompletejake yeah you can never go wrong with these clasics !!

[gamergeek3000]

I got the Satchurator and it's incredible.  I really want to get this pedal, and the time machine, the

[cowboytonydee]

Ice 9 with the Ice 9

[bluesBro18]

i'd love to buy this pedal, but would love more for the guitar, you guys should take a the ibanez jemni pedal, peace

[GuitaristAidan]

I think Satch's pedals only sound great when it's Satch's fingers playing. He only used the Satchurator in Chickenfoot nd now probably only uses the Ice 9. It's gotta be a kickass ped but for once, I don't think Andy can do it justice.

[senojnomis]

I think it sounds poor because of the guitar more than the pedal, we're used to hearing andy on strats and teles

[gnayiew95]

nice sounds pretty much like satch

[Phishboy26]

doesnt the JS have coil splitting

[CRAM1REZ51]

I do hear the "Hizzy Fizzy" that everyone is speaking about, but if you get at minimum a 10 band eq in the fx loop, it will clean up. Granted most folks don't have Marshall, Mesa Boogie, or Peavey heads laying around, but I like it. It has potential. It's a lot of fun, and that's really why music is the bestest... lol

[jackedwards94]

I hope this is an improvement on the Satchurator, because the Satchurator was shit, sounded like a cat dieing.

[Supernaught85]

Sounds cheap and fuzzy to me.

[GomlaRida]

Andy, this is more affordable compared to other pedals but my question is would you use it in your pedal board?

[YouJustGotOwend]

The looks of this pedal are great, but the tones...not so much.

[hansbrix2]

in order, i like the time machine, then the ice 9, then the satchurator, and I haven't heard the big bad wah

[moucon]

Sounds like a fizzy fuzzbox to me - like 90% of these do. Tone is nothing like JS's - not even close for a solid state stomp box. And has that annoying fsssst fssst fsssst hissiness riding on top of the sound .

[EuphorbusBTB]

eisbein

[JD0GxAUDI0]

lol, dont think andy can play satch tunes

[xXNeoShredderXx]

Hey, Andy, how did you like the JS git-fiddle?

[chibisven]

me no likey the satch gear... then again a lot of people do like it, so I'll just be content in letting them buy it.

[surfco]

Where's the "Dislike Pedal" button?

[orcgoat]

I already have the vox satchurator and its my favorite distortion pedal of all time, sooo WANT

[BoxenstienMusic]

Ahhh this sounds soooo sweet, I want it :D

[clintonpuah]

I pick the Ice9 over the Satchurator. I think this IS it.

[BradSpead7]

for some reason this just doesn't cut it for me... i dunno. Still LOVE my Big Bad Wah though, and if i wasn't all set on delays i'd probably own a Time Machine

[TheSpanishkiller]

i felt in love with this pedal

[TheMusiciansFriend]

why is it that even htough u guys carry tons of boss pedals you only demo a couple

[8bigtubes]

Sounds meh at best

[ElTone43]

@8bigtubes

Why so harsh? Sounds pretty unique - crunchy smooth, er something like a chocolate bar. umm chocolate bar

[metachozoite]

@8bigtubes not if you use it to over drive your already distorted amp...you have to knwo how to use these dude.

[astro2069]

What's the general consensus, Ice 9 or Satchurator?

[poocoop]

I don't like Joe Satriani at all.... but this pedal is certified bad ass.

[rodrigozamo]

Andy, if you're playing with the JS guitar and the ice 9, don't you think you should have used a good ol' marshall or the peavey JSX? well... still a pretty great demo, as always...

[ProGuitarShopDemos]

@rodrigozamo We use the same clean amp so you can tell the difference between so many overdrives. We'll leave it to you for the half stack :)

-PGS

[edouardfilho]

@ProGuitarShopDemos Not to mention that Satch uses peavey these days!!!

[xdivinebladex]

@edouardfilho Yes, the guy mentioned that in his first post

[brianeharmonjr]

@edouardfilho Nope. He's playing Marshall now.

[edouardfilho]

@brianeharmonjr Is he? OK. Interesting!

[suihkubad]

@ProGuitarShopDemos what guitarworld should do

[heejinchong]

@ProGuitarShopDemos nice one. some people just comment without thinking

[rodrigozamo]

@rodrigozamo haha, well, that makes sense... I still miss the classic 65

[TommittajaFIN]

@rodrigozamo

AND joe does not use JSX :D no one uses their signatures, because they can always get better.

[fuckingfuckdude]

@TommittajaFIN Most of the time that's correct, but not always. Herman Li uses his signature all the time.

[TheClassroomSpecial]

@TommittajaFIN

he did, and occasionally does. He just decided that he liked JVM 410's better.

Some people say that the JSX is way better than the Poop JVM

[randommoosebrains]

lol ice 9 on the ice 9 pedal XD

[astro2069]

Thanks for the demo guys, and all the offers you keep throwin at us! It's great to see a company who gives back to their customers as much as you do.

[mutantmauve]

True Bypass?

[magirecords2004]

Satch did it!

[magictownwizards]

i wish i got this instead of the ocd. i love it but after listening to this...

[ibanezman007]

Yay Satriani song intro!

[Power2theFlyingV]

Love the more switch, makes it sound like an old school distortion

[caylepua]

interesting...

[pastorjoshbraun]

Makes me want to listen to some Crystal Planet!

[muymalmoon]

@pastorjoshbraun Crystal Planet is my favorite.

[iampilot2008]

First...

Sounds good to me

[shoutingtheobvious]

1st