The Carl Martin Greg Howe Lick Box is a Carl Martin overdrive pedal, currently around $226.26. Close alternatives include the Vox Joe Satriani Signature Ice 9 Overdrive and the Strymon Riverside. It pairs well with the Marshall JCM800 2203 and the Peavey VTM-120.
Carl Martin Greg Howe Lick Box
Carl Martin · pedal
The Carl Martin Greg Howe Lick Box is a signature overdrive and preamp pedal created in collaboration with fusion guitarist Greg Howe, designed to deliver the high-gain, articulate preamp character needed for Greg Howe's fast, technique-driven fusion guitar style. Provides high-headroom, clarity-preserving overdrive character that maintains note definition and pick attack at high gain settings. Designed for players demanding studio-quality clarity and harmonic precision alongside significant gain. Made in Denmark by Carl Martin.
- preamp
- articulate
- fusion
- high gain
- pick attack
- articulation
- driven
- gain
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Carl Martin Greg Howe Lick Box is commonly used in
- Progressive Rock
- Jazz Fusion
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Jazz
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Carl Martin Greg Howe Lick Box
Marshall JCM800 2203
Marshall
20% matchFeed a high gain signal into Marshall JCM800 2203 and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Peavey VTM-120
Peavey
20% matchFeed a high gain signal into Peavey VTM-120 and it comes out closer to tight
Traynor BB115
Traynor
tonal matchTraynor BB115 takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 212
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchGallien-Krueger Legacy 212 pushes a high gain tone toward mid-forward
Phil Jones X4C NanoBass 35W 1x4 Combo
Phil Jones
tonal matchStack Phil Jones X4C NanoBass 35W 1x4 Combo on top and a high gain tone tightens toward mid-forward
Egnater Renegade 65 4x10 Combo
Egnater
tonal matchEgnater Renegade 65 4x10 Combo pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Phil Jones BG-75 Double Four Bass Combo
Phil Jones
tonal matchPhil Jones BG-75 Double Four Bass Combo takes that high gain character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchGallien-Krueger Legacy 410 pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Pedals that stack with the Carl Martin Greg Howe Lick Box
Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress
Electro-Harmonix
20% matchKeep Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress after Carl Martin Greg Howe Lick Box in the signal chain, clear of Carl Martin Greg Howe Lick Box's own gain stage
Suhr Shiba Drive
Suhr
19% matchSuhr Shiba Drive takes that high gain character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Xotic EP Booster
Xotic
18% matchXotic EP Booster pushes a high gain tone toward clean boost
Hungry Robot The Borderland
Hungry Robot
16% matchPut Hungry Robot The Borderland after Carl Martin Greg Howe Lick Box in the signal chain, clear of Carl Martin Greg Howe Lick Box's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2
Hungry Robot
16% matchKeep Carl Martin Greg Howe Lick Box's tight voice out front: Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2 goes after Carl Martin Greg Howe Lick Box in the signal chain so its ambient voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Warm Audio Pedal 76 Compressor
Warm Audio
14% matchWarm Audio Pedal 76 Compressor's tight voice suits Carl Martin Greg Howe Lick Box's own tight character
Benson Amps Delay PT2399 Echo
Benson Amps
tonal matchBenson Amps Delay PT2399 Echo's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Carl Martin Greg Howe Lick Box delivers it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Beetronics Wannabee
Beetronics
tonal matchCarl Martin Greg Howe Lick Box leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Beetronics Wannabee wants
Cheaper alternatives
JAM Pedals TubeDreamer 58
Jam Pedals
70% similarityShared character: high_gain_settings, pick_attack, compression
JHS PG-14 Paul Gilbert Signature Distortion
JHS Pedals
70% similarityShared character: high_gain_settings, definition, articulation
Horizon Devices Precision Drive
Horizon Devices
70% similarityShared character: high_gain_settings, definition, pick_attack
Xotic BB Preamp V1.5
Xotic
69% similarityShared character: clarity, preamp, sustain
Mad Professor Stone Grey Distortion
Mad Professor
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Amptweaker Tight Metal
Amptweaker
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Vox Joe Satriani Signature Ice 9 Overdrive
Vox
77% similarityShared character: high_gain_settings, fusion, definition
Strymon Riverside
Strymon
72% similarityShared character: high_gain_settings, pick_attack, studio
DOD YJM308 Preamp Overdrive
Dod
71% similarityShared character: high_gain_settings, articulation, pick_attack
JAM Pedals TubeDreamer MK2
Jam Pedals
69% similarityShared character: high_gain_settings, compression, sustain
Homebrew Electronics HBE Detox EQ Paul Gilbert signature
Homebrew
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Benson Amps BA-Pre
Benson Amps
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Carl Martin Greg Howe Lick Box (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Carl Martin Greg Howe Lick Box?+
The closest matches in character are the Vox Joe Satriani Signature Ice 9 Overdrive, the Strymon Riverside, the DOD YJM308 Preamp Overdrive. Budget picks: JAM Pedals TubeDreamer 58, JHS PG-14 Paul Gilbert Signature Distortion, Horizon Devices Precision Drive. Boutique upgrades: Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp, Diezel Zerrer 2-Channel Preamp.
What pairs well with the Carl Martin Greg Howe Lick Box?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall JCM800 2203, Peavey VTM-120, Traynor BB115 — Feed a high gain signal into Marshall JCM800 2203 and it comes out closer to mid-forward.
How much does the Carl Martin Greg Howe Lick Box cost?+
Around $226.26 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).
Compare
- vs Homebrew Electronics HBE Detox EQ Paul Gilbert signature
- vs Mad Professor Stone Grey Distortion
- vs Benson Amps BA-Pre