This pedal is
a modified version of our Box of Rock’s Distortron Engine. The
improvements include a gain boost switch for added sizzle and a sub
control switch with 3 levels. The amounts were carefully selected to
reduce “flubbiness” that occurs when using amps with heavy low-end
response. It would be immodest of me to suggest that this ZVEX effect is
the greatest distortion pedal of all time, but it probably is. Try it
last in your chain, and beat it up with your other effects... it stacks
like a dream. .
Pedal Dimensions (LxWxH): 4.70" x 2.38" x 1.82".
The Distortron™ is the gifted little sister to the Z.Vex Box of
Rock™. It is highly specialized to simulate the“everything on
10”sound of a classic Marshall® JTM45 non-master-volume
amplifier. You may use the Distortron™ effectively with many
different amplifiers, but to get the sound I heard when I de-
signed it, try it through an old-school non-master volume Mar-
shall at least once. You may use your guitar’s volume control to
adjust for the exact amount of distortion you need, all the way
down to very clean and clear with most drive settings when the
gain switch is set to Lo.
DRIVE:
Sets the amount of distortion. Start around 1:00 o’clock.
Drive is based on my original Super Hard-On gain control, so
it may crackle when turned. This is perfectly normal.
TONE:
Adjust for treble content. Start around 2:00 o’clock.
VOLUME:
Adjust for output volume level. Start around 9:00 o’clock.
GAIN:
“Lo/Hi” lets you choose standard “Box of Rock” gain level
or a slightly boosted level.
SUBS:
“2-1-3” lets you choose the full “Box of Rock” sub
amount (3) or two different lower levels of subs depend-
ing on your amp’s needs.
Operation
Plug your guitar (or any effect’s output) into the right hand input
jack. Plug the output into an amp or other effect’s input. Rock
out. Set the subs switch so there’s just enough low-end for
your amp. Try turning up the gain all the way but leave the
gain switch on Lo. This is the maximum gain where you can
still turn down your guitar and get a completely clean tone if
you need it. With the Gain switch on Hi you can get more
singing sustain with feedback at moderate amp volume. Try
using your rhythm pickup with the tone control turned all the
way down for a vintage bluesy howling lead sound.
