The Maxon SM9Pro+ Super Metal Pro Plus Distortion is a Maxon distortion pedal. Close alternatives include the Maxon Sm-9 Pro+ and the RHC Rat Turbo Rat Distortion. It pairs well with the Marshall JCM800 2203 and the Peavey VTM-120.
Maxon SM9Pro+ Super Metal Pro Plus Distortion
Maxon · pedal
The Maxon SM9 Pro+ Super Metal Distortion is a high-gain metal distortion pedal from Maxon delivering powerful, tight, aggressive metal distortion suited to heavy metal and rock applications. The Pro+ designation indicates enhanced specification over the standard Super Metal with improved component quality and refined circuit performance. Maxon Japanese manufacturing precision underpins the SM9 Pro+'s design.
What stands out
“The premium version of Maxon's Super Metal distortion, providing high-gain metal distortion with improved components over the standard version”
— from the community notes
“Maxon Japanese manufacturing precision underpins the SM9 Pro+'s design”
— from the listing
“The SM9 Pro+ delivers powerful, tight metal distortion with the component quality improvement the Pro+ specification implies”
— from the reviews
“aggressive metal distortion suited to heavy metal and rock applications”
— from the listing
“Japanese manufacturing precision provides consistent performance”
— from the reviews
- distortion
- metal
- tight
- rock
- high gain
- consistent
- aggressive
- sm9 pro
Genres the Maxon SM9Pro+ Super Metal Pro Plus Distortion is commonly used in
- Metal
- Rock
- Heavy Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Death Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Christian Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Maxon SM9Pro+ Super Metal Pro Plus Distortion
Marshall JCM800 2203
Marshall
19% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)
Stack Marshall JCM800 2203 on top and a high gain tone tightens toward mid-forward
Comes later in the signal chain
Peavey VTM-120
Peavey
19% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → tight)
Peavey VTM-120 takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Comes later in the signal chain
Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited
Aguilar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited pushes a high gain tone toward tight
EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo
Ebs
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410 takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a high gain signal into Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210 and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo
Phil Jones
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo takes that high gain character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Pedals that stack with the Maxon SM9Pro+ Super Metal Pro Plus Distortion
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress
Electro-Harmonix
16% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → shimmer)
Run Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress after Maxon SM9Pro+ Super Metal Pro Plus Distortion in the signal chain, clear of Maxon SM9Pro+ Super Metal Pro Plus Distortion's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Suhr Shiba Drive
Suhr
16% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)
Suhr Shiba Drive pushes a high gain tone toward mid-forward
Soldano SLO
Soldano
15% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → tight)
Feed a high gain signal into Soldano SLO and it comes out closer to tight
Comes later in the signal chain
Meris Mercury7 Reverb
Meris
14% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Run Meris Mercury7 Reverb after Maxon SM9Pro+ Super Metal Pro Plus Distortion in the signal chain, clear of Maxon SM9Pro+ Super Metal Pro Plus Distortion's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Oceans 12
Electro-Harmonix
14% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → ambient)
Keep Electro-Harmonix Oceans 12 after Maxon SM9Pro+ Super Metal Pro Plus Distortion in the signal chain, clear of Maxon SM9Pro+ Super Metal Pro Plus Distortion's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Pico Deep Freeze
Electro-Harmonix
11% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → ambient)
What Electro-Harmonix Pico Deep Freeze brings here leans toward ambient — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes earlier in the signal chain
MXR CAE Wah
MXR
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
MXR CAE Wah goes in front of Maxon SM9Pro+ Super Metal Pro Plus Distortion — a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal
JAM Pedals RetroVibe Mk.4
Jam Pedals
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
JAM Pedals RetroVibe Mk.4 takes that high gain character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Maxon Sm-9 Pro+
Maxon
76% similarityShared character: reliable performance, metal, distortion
RHC Rat Turbo Rat Distortion
Rhc Audio
64% similarityShared character: metal, distortion, aggressive playing
Fortin Amplification Natas
Fortin Amplification
63% similarityShared character: metal, distortion, high gain settings
NUX NFB-2 Lacerate FET Boost
Nux
63% similarityShared character: metal, distortion, aggressive playing
DigiTech Metal Master
Digitech
56% similarityShared character: metal, distortion, aggressive playing
Joyo Uzi Distortion
Joyo
55% similarityShared character: metal, distortion, aggressive playing
TC Electronic Eyemaster
TC Electronic
55% similarityShared character: metal, distortion, aggressive playing
Roland ST-2 Power Stack
Roland
55% similarityShared character: metal, distortion, high gain settings
T-Rex Totenschlager
T Rex
54% similarityShared character: metal, distortion, aggressive playing
Amptweaker Tight Rock 2
Amptweaker
54% similarityShared character: metal, distortion, aggressive playing
Joyo British metal
Joyo
53% similarityShared character: metal, distortion, aggressive playing
SONICAKE Black Hammer
Sonicake
53% similarityShared character: metal, distortion, aggressive playing
See all alternatives to the Maxon SM9Pro+ Super Metal Pro Plus Distortion (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Maxon SM9Pro+ Super Metal Pro Plus Distortion?+
The closest matches in character are the Maxon Sm-9 Pro+, the RHC Rat Turbo Rat Distortion, the Fortin Amplification Natas.
What pairs well with the Maxon SM9Pro+ Super Metal Pro Plus Distortion?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall JCM800 2203, Peavey VTM-120, Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited — Stack Marshall JCM800 2203 on top and a high gain tone tightens toward mid-forward.