The Maxon OD-9 Pro+ is a Maxon overdrive pedal. Close alternatives include the Ibanez Tube Screamer and the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer. It pairs well with the Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head and the Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Combo.
Maxon OD-9 Pro+
Maxon · pedal
The Maxon OD-9 Pro is a premium version of the OD-9 overdrive, built on the original Tube Screamer circuit that Maxon designed and manufactured for Ibanez. It has the classic Tube Screamer voice: a pronounced midrange hump, soft, smooth clipping, a rolled-off low end and a compressed, touch-sensitive response that pushes a valve amp into focused breakup rather than producing heavy distortion alone. The Pro specification adds refined components and circuit changes over the standard OD-9, with the mid-forward character retained. It is used most commonly as a boost into an already overdriven amp, where the midrange lift helps leads cut through.
What stands out
“It has the classic Tube Screamer voice: a pronounced midrange hump, soft, smooth clipping, a rolled-off low end and a compressed, touch-sensitive response that pushes a valve amp into focused breakup”
— from the listing
“The Pro specification adds refined components and circuit changes over the standard OD-9, with the mid-forward character retained”
— from the listing
“Its best use is as a mid-forward boost into a driven amp for cutting leads”
— from the reviews
“This is the reference Tube Screamer voice from the company that built the original circuit: mid-hump, smooth soft clipping, tightened low end and a compressed, dynamic feel that cleans up with the guitar volume”
— from the reviews
“The premium version of one of the most historically significant overdrive pedals, built by the company that originally designed and manufactured the Tube Screamer circuit for Ibanez”
— from the community notes
- clipping
- mid forward
- boost
- smooth
- low end
- response
- lead
- compressed
Genres the Maxon OD-9 Pro+ is commonly used in
- Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Maxon OD-9 Pro+
Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head
Revv
23% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → high gain)
Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Combo
Mesa Boogie
22% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → high gain)
Run mid-forward into Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Combo for more high gain on top
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run mid-forward into Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt for more high gain on top
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H
Marshall
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run mid-forward into Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H for more high gain on top
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Friedman BE-Mini Head layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Egnater Tourmaster Combo 4212
Egnater
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run mid-forward into Egnater Tourmaster Combo 4212 for more high gain on top
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run mid-forward into Hughes & Kettner Coreblade for more high gain on top
Pedals that stack with the Maxon OD-9 Pro+
EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter
EarthQuaker Devices
23% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter stacks fuzzy on top of the mid-forward already here
Fjord Fuzz Odin
Fjord Fuzz
23% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Run mid-forward into Fjord Fuzz Odin for more fuzzy on top
Comes later in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Bad
Electro-Harmonix
15% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Electro-Harmonix Bad after Maxon OD-9 Pro+ in the signal chain, clear of Maxon OD-9 Pro+'s own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Artec SE-NGT
Artec
11% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
Maxon OD-9 Pro+ leans toward mid-forward, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Dunlop - MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe Analog Delay
Dunlop
8% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Dunlop - MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe Analog Delay after Maxon OD-9 Pro+ in the signal chain, clear of Maxon OD-9 Pro+'s own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte
Caroline Guitar Company
8% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte after Maxon OD-9 Pro+ in the signal chain, clear of Maxon OD-9 Pro+'s own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal
Death By Audio Destruction
Death By Audio
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Death By Audio Destruction in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Ibanez Tube Screamer
Ibanez
67% similarityShared character: touch, boost, smooth
Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer
Ibanez
62% similarityShared character: boost, bass, smooth
Cusack Music Screamer
Cusack Music
59% similarityShared character: bass, smooth, response
EarthQuaker Devices Plumes KGR Collector Limited #46/100
EarthQuaker Devices
58% similarityShared character: overdrive
Sonicake MiniLane Blue Skreamer Overdrive
Sonicake
58% similarityShared character: bass, response, lead
DigiTech Badder Monkey Tube Overdrive
Digitech
57% similarityShared character: smooth, overdrive
JAM Pedals TubeDreamer MK2
Jam Pedals
57% similarityShared character: touch, boost, smooth
Dunlop WHE207 Way Huge Green Rhino Overdrive
Dunlop
57% similarityShared character: boost, bass, smooth
Greer Amps Sure Shot Clipping Boost Mini
Greer
56% similarityShared character: boost
Electro-Harmonix ERD
Electro-Harmonix
56% similarityShared character: boost, smooth, overdrive
Origin Effects M-EQ Driver
Origin Effects
56% similarityShared character: touch, boost, overdrive
Tone City Green Tube
Tone City
55% similarityShared character: smooth, lead, overdrive
See all alternatives to the Maxon OD-9 Pro+ (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Maxon OD-9 Pro+?+
The closest matches in character are the Ibanez Tube Screamer, the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, the Cusack Music Screamer.
What pairs well with the Maxon OD-9 Pro+?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head, Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Combo, Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt — Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal.