The Ibanez SM Mini Super Metal Distortion is an Ibanez distortion pedal, currently around $109.61. Close alternatives include the Universal Audio knuckles and the Cornerstone Antique V3. It pairs well with the Soldano SLO 100 100-Watt Tube Guitar Amplifier and the Bad Cat Cub.
Ibanez SM Mini Super Metal Distortion
Ibanez · pedal
The Ibanez Super Metal Mini is a compact mini-enclosure revival of the classic Ibanez SM9 Super Metal distortion pedal, one of the most celebrated vintage high-gain distortion designs from the 1980s. The SM9 Super Metal was known for its extreme gain and heavy metal voicing at a time when dedicated high-gain pedals were rare, and the Super Metal Mini reissues this circuit in a pedalboard-efficient mini format. Guitar World and vintage pedal enthusiasts have praised the SM9 character as a defining example of 1980s heavy metal distortion design.
- metal
- sm9 character
- modern
- reliable
- vintage
- circuit character
- super metal mini
- guitar world
Good for
- Busking
- Live
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Ibanez SM Mini Super Metal Distortion is commonly used in
- Metal
Amps that pair well with the Ibanez SM Mini Super Metal Distortion
Soldano SLO 100 100-Watt Tube Guitar Amplifier
Soldano
13% matchSoldano SLO 100 100-Watt Tube Guitar Amplifier leans toward saturated, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Bad Cat Cub
Bad Cat
13% matchBad Cat Cub's own harmonically rich character is the real reason this is worth trying
Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchGallien-Krueger Fusion 210 tightens and focuses this high-gain tone with a mid-forward boost
Ceriatone HRM 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchCeriatone HRM 50 tightens and focuses this high-gain tone with a mid-forward boost
Traynor BB115
Traynor
tonal matchTraynor BB115 tightens a saturated tone's low end
Ceriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchCeriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 50 tightens and focuses this high-gain tone with a mid-forward boost
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 212
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchGallien-Krueger Legacy 212 tightens and focuses this high-gain tone with a mid-forward boost
Phil Jones X4C NanoBass 35W 1x4 Combo
Phil Jones
tonal matchPhil Jones X4C NanoBass 35W 1x4 Combo tightens and focuses this high-gain tone with a mid-forward boost
Pedals that stack with the Ibanez SM Mini Super Metal Distortion
Tech 21 SansAmp
Tech 21
9% matchTech 21 SansAmp leans toward analog warmth, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Univox Super-Fuzz
Univox
9% matchWhat Univox Super-Fuzz brings here leans toward octave — that's worth building a pairing around
Electro-Harmonix Small Stone
Electro-Harmonix
8% matchKeep Electro-Harmonix Small Stone after Ibanez SM Mini Super Metal Distortion in the signal chain, clear of Ibanez SM Mini Super Metal Distortion's own gain stage
Universal Audio 1176 Compressor
Universal Audio
7% matchWhat Universal Audio 1176 Compressor brings here leans toward compressed — that's worth building a pairing around
Dunlop - MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe Analog Delay
Dunlop
6% matchRun Dunlop - MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe Analog Delay after Ibanez SM Mini Super Metal Distortion in the signal chain, clear of Ibanez SM Mini Super Metal Distortion's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Empress Echosystem
Empress
6% matchKeep Empress Echosystem after Ibanez SM Mini Super Metal Distortion in the signal chain, clear of Ibanez SM Mini Super Metal Distortion's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Wampler Cory Wong
Wampler
tonal matchWampler Cory Wong pushes this high-gain tone into lead territory
Spaceman Effects Atlas IV
Spaceman
tonal matchSpaceman Effects Atlas IV pushes this high-gain tone into lead territory
Boutique & premium upgrades
ProCo Fat Rat
Proco
61% similarityShared character: metal
RHC Audio Ydrat
Rhc Audio
85% similaritysimilar tone character
Ibanez TS9 40th Anniversary
Ibanez
85% similaritysimilar tone character
Cusack Music Screamer Fuzz V3
Cusack Music
84% similaritysimilar tone character
Keeley Manis Iconic Overdrive
Keeley
84% similaritysimilar tone character
Crazy Tube Circuits Unobtanium Raw
Crazy Tube Circuits
84% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Universal Audio knuckles
Universal Audio
63% similarityShared character: countless_rock_and_metal_players, metal
Cornerstone Antique V3
Cornerstone
85% similaritysimilar tone character
Dunlop Used MXR Sugar Drive
Dunlop
83% similaritysimilar tone character
Catalinbread Wiio
Catalinbread
83% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Ibanez SM Mini Super Metal Distortion (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Ibanez SM Mini Super Metal Distortion?+
The closest matches in character are the Universal Audio knuckles, the Cornerstone Antique V3, the Dunlop Used MXR Sugar Drive. Boutique upgrades: ProCo Fat Rat, RHC Audio Ydrat, Ibanez TS9 40th Anniversary.
What pairs well with the Ibanez SM Mini Super Metal Distortion?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Soldano SLO 100 100-Watt Tube Guitar Amplifier, Bad Cat Cub, Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210 — Soldano SLO 100 100-Watt Tube Guitar Amplifier leans toward saturated, and that's a real, usable character to pair with.
How much does the Ibanez SM Mini Super Metal Distortion cost?+
Around $109.61 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).