The Maxon TOD-9 is a Maxon overdrive pedal, currently around $213.48. Close alternatives include the MXR Custom Shop Joe Bonamassa CSP265 FET Driver and the Colorsound Power Boost. It pairs well with the Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Combo and the Friedman BE-Mini Head.
Maxon TOD-9
Maxon · pedal
The Maxon TOD-9 True Tube Overdrive takes Maxon's OD-9 circuit and adds a real vacuum tube gain stage at the front, using a subminiature mil-spec tube running at 30 volts cascaded into a solid-state distortion section. The result is a warm, thick overdrive that stays highly interactive with picking dynamics in the way a hard-working valve amp does. A dedicated Tube control fills out the lows and low mids for a richer, fatter bottom end and introduces the natural sag that makes lead lines sustain and sing. Drive, Tone, Level and Tube controls span a subtle boost through to fully saturated overdrive.
- tube
- mids
- overdrive
- stage
- boost
- natural
- sag
- lead
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Maxon TOD-9 is commonly used in
- Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
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Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
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Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Maxon TOD-9
Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Combo
Mesa Boogie
22% matchRun mid-forward into Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Combo for more high gain on top
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchFriedman BE-Mini Head layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchSynergy SL2 Module layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchHughes & Kettner Warp 7 layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Hiwatt Hi-Gain 100W Head
Hiwatt
tonal matchHiwatt Hi-Gain 100W Head stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Peavey 6505 MH 20W Mini Head
Peavey
tonal matchPeavey 6505 MH 20W Mini Head layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
ENGL Marty Friedman Inferno E766
Engl
tonal matchENGL Marty Friedman Inferno E766 stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchPut Hughes & Kettner Coreblade in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Pedals that stack with the Maxon TOD-9
Fjord Fuzz Odin
Fjord Fuzz
25% matchRun mid-forward into Fjord Fuzz Odin for more fuzzy on top
Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz
Wren And Cuff
25% matchWren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Electro-Harmonix Bad
Electro-Harmonix
16% matchKeep Electro-Harmonix Bad after Maxon TOD-9 in the signal chain, clear of Maxon TOD-9's own gain stage
Wren and Cuff Gold Comp
Wren And Cuff
11% matchWhat Wren and Cuff Gold Comp brings here leans toward germanium — that's worth building a pairing around
Mr. Black Bloodmoon
Mr Black
9% matchMr. Black Bloodmoon's dark voice goes after Maxon TOD-9 in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Maxon TOD-9's own mid-forward character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Alexander Pedals SpaceXpander
Alexander Pedals
9% matchAlexander Pedals SpaceXpander's spring voice goes after Maxon TOD-9 in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Maxon TOD-9's own mid-forward character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Black Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz
Black Arts Toneworks
tonal matchBlack Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz is voiced for a clean amp's front end — Maxon TOD-9 gives it exactly that
Electro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes
Electro-Harmonix
tonal matchInto Maxon TOD-9, Electro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Cheaper alternatives
67Audio Harry Balz
67audio
72% similarityShared character: pedal, response, stage
Ibanez Tube Screamer Mini
Ibanez
71% similarityShared character: driven_amp, lead, stage
Maxon OD808
Maxon
71% similarityShared character: pedal, response, stage
Catalinbread Formula 55
Catalinbread
70% similarityShared character: sag, compression, pedal
Blackstar Dept. 10 Valve Boost
Blackstar
70% similarityShared character: solid_state, boost, compression
Wampler Tumnus Deluxe
Wampler
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
MXR Custom Shop Joe Bonamassa CSP265 FET Driver
pedal
73% similarityShared character: solid_state, lead, response
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
71% similarityShared character: compression, lead, thickness
Carl Martin TOD High-Gain Overdrive
Carl Martin
71% similarityShared character: compression, lead, response
Knight Audio Technologies Kat-STB
pedal
71% similarityShared character: solid_state, lead, bass
ThorpyFX The J
ThorpyFX
69% similarityShared character: sag, compression, natural
Maxon OD 820 Overdrive Pro
Maxon
67% similarityShared character: response, stage, natural
See all alternatives to the Maxon TOD-9 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Maxon TOD-9?+
The closest matches in character are the MXR Custom Shop Joe Bonamassa CSP265 FET Driver, the Colorsound Power Boost, the Carl Martin TOD High-Gain Overdrive. Budget picks: 67Audio Harry Balz, Ibanez Tube Screamer Mini, Maxon OD808. Boutique upgrades: Klon Centaur, ThorpyFX The J Tweed-Style Overdrive was, Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster.
What pairs well with the Maxon TOD-9?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Combo, Friedman BE-Mini Head, Synergy SL2 Module — Run mid-forward into Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Combo for more high gain on top.
How much does the Maxon TOD-9 cost?+
Around $213.48 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).
Compare
- vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer
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- vs Tone City Green Tube