What About The SD9 Sonic Distortion? [Ibanez, Maxon/Analogman, Vemuram Butter Machine & TWA SH9]

These are definitely NOT Tube Screamers. But Scott Henderson and Michael Landau both love ’em… What can we learn?

Welcome to the show. Today we’re comparing an original Ibanez SD 9 Sonic Distortion with a Maxon/Analogman-modded SD-9, a TWA Scott Henderson SH9 and Vemuram Michael Landau Butter Machine. Why? Well…
Mick here, hello. I’ve been wanting to make this video for quite some time. Two of my guitar playing heroes - mentioned above – both have a long-term relationship with the Ibanez/Maxon SD9 Sonic Distortion. Dan and I have bought and sold a few over the years. It usually starts with a fizzy anticipation of this magic distortion character, and ends with just, well, fizzy! The penny wasn’t dropping.
However when high-end Japanese effects brand Vemuram unveiled the Michael Landau Butter Machine in 2023, my interest was piqued again. Following a bit of internet reading and some extremely insightful comms with one Kevin Bolembach of Godlyke Distributing, we now had our hands on four principle touchpoints in the SD9’s evolution, plus a direct line to Mr Susumu Tamura, former engineer at Maxon and essentially the ‘father’ of the TS-808 Tube Screamer, not to mention the whole Ibanez 9 line… including the SD 9 and – if this wasn’t already a perfect enough circle – designer of the TWA SH9 Scott Henderson signature pedal to boot.
All I had to do now was get Dan interested…

Enjoy the episode!

The interview with Mr Tamura is here: https://www.thatpedalshow.com/thatrea...

Pedals & Stuff used in this show
• TheGigRig Three2One
https://www.thegigrig.com/three2one

• Sonic Research ST-200 Tuner
Australia: https://bit.ly/3AIinS5

• Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer (modern standard reissue)
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/3zaTX5Z
Australia: https://bit.ly/36YRLR9
USA: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0GD7x

• Ibanez SD 9 Sonic Distortion (original version, links for modern reissue)
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/3zaTX5Z

• Maxon SD-9 Analogman mod
https://www.buyanalogman.com/Maxon_SD...

• TWA Scott Henderson SH9
https://godlyke.com/products/sh9-scot...

• Vemuram Michael Landau Butter Machine
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/3zaTX5Z
Australia: https://bit.ly/3OsYOEl

• Jam Pedals Waterfall
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/3zaTX5Z
Australia: https://bit.ly/3nb8JzN
USA: https://bit.ly/3pZNPFF

• Source Audio Collider
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/3zaTX5Z
Australia: https://bit.ly/323SzgS
USA: https://bit.ly/3ozRtX3

• TheGigRig G3S
https://www.thegigrig.com/g3-s

Interesting bits and go-to sections
0:00 Intro playing
1:58 Background to today’s show
3:20 SD9… Landau & Henderson
5:20 Today’s pedals
6:00 Today’s amps
7:20 TS 9 and SD 9 comparison
9:48 Landau settings?
12:10 Maxon SD-9 Analogman info
14:12 Ibanez and Maxon/AM comparison
16:10 Fizz or sizzle?
17:35 Guitar on 10. And not…
24:55 TWA SH9 info
30:20 SH9 Henderson settings and sounds
36:17 SH9 and Maxon SD9 comparison
38:18 Vemuram Butter Machine info
40:18 Butter Machine, Landau settings
42:30 …and exploring the guitar volume
46:18 Butter Machine mini trimmers
51:00 Mick’s ES-345?!
57:20 Lower gain comparisons
1:05:00 Closing thoughts

Guitars in today’s show
• Cutler Custom Panama Classic
https://www.cutlercustomguitars.co.uk/

• 1962 Gibson Les Paul (SG) Standard - no video yet

• 1961 Fender Stratocaster - Mick’s video here:    • Three New Strats For Mick?! [1961, 19...  

• Fender Custom Shop ’63 Telecaster - Dan’s video here:    • That Pedal Show – Our Guitars & Gear:...  

• Gibson Custom 1958 Les Paul Standard - Dan’s video here:    • That Pedal Show – Our Guitars & Gear:...  

• 1965 Gibson ES-345 Stereo - Mick’s video here:    • The Gibson ES-345 [In Defence Of The ...  

Amps in today’s show
• PRS HDRX 20
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/3zaTX5Z
USA: https://bit.ly/3TDM12g

• Marshall 1960AX with Celestion G12M Greenback speakers

• Fender Custom Shop Bass Breaker c2001, with 2x12 Celestion Vintage 30 speakers - no longer made

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