The Maxon RTO700 Real Tube Overdrive is an overdrive pedal built around an actual vacuum tube rather than the clipping diodes found in most overdrive circuits. Maxon describes it as "an amazingly amp-like overdrive" and, unlike pedals that merely claim to be an "amp in a box," says the RTO is in actuality a tube preamp circuit in a stand-alone stompbox format1. The pedal is discontinued1.
What it does
The RTO700's design puts all of the distortion in the tube itself. Premier Guitar's press release states that "The RTO700 offers 100% Tube Distortion with no clipping diodes in the signal path," with all distortion coming from the dual triode preamp tube and hi-gain amp circuit3. An internal charge pump circuit bumps the incoming voltage to feed the tube with 12.6 VDC3.
Maxon's distributor positions the pedal as a way to add gain stages to an amp that already has a clean foundation. According to the press release, "This design makes the RTO the best tube overdrive pedal for use with clean and semi-clean amps to effectively add a 2nd or 3rd 'channel' of pure tube tone"3.
Controls
The RTO700 keeps its control layout simple:
How it fits in Maxon's overdrive range
The RTO700 is the tube-based entry in Maxon's overdrive line, which otherwise centers on solid-state circuits like the OD808 Overdrive, the OD-9 and the OD820. Players looking for a current-production tube-hybrid design in the same family may also come across the TOD-9 True Tube Overdrive and the ROD880 Real Tube Overdrive. For the broader picture, see the site's guide to Overdrive Pedals.
What reviewers said
Performer Mag's reviewer Chris Devine summed the pedal up this way: "Overall it's a great pedal for dialing in overdrive or distortion"2.
The RTO700 is listed as a discontinued item on Godlyke's product page1. Godlyke, which had been Maxon's North American distributor, is no longer the brand's distributor, so availability of the RTO700 depends on the used and remaining-new-stock market.
Videos
Godlyke Inc.
Brett Kingman
gearmanndude
Questions
Does the Maxon RTO700 really contain a vacuum tube?
Yes. Maxon describes the RTO700 as an overdrive with a real vacuum tube, and Premier Guitar's press release states it offers 100% tube distortion with no clipping diodes in the signal path. All of the distortion comes from a dual triode preamp tube and a hi-gain amp circuit, with an internal charge pump feeding the tube 12.6 VDC.
Is the Maxon RTO700 still in production?
No. The product page from Godlyke Distributing, Maxon's former North American distributor, lists the RTO700 as a discontinued item. Maxon and Godlyke ended their partnership in 2021, so the pedal is no longer in current production.
Sources (3)
- REAL TUBE OVERDRIVE (RTO700), Godlyke Distributing, Inc.
- GEAR REVIEW: Maxon RTO700 Tube Overdrive (w/Video), Performer Mag, 2011-12-09
- Maxon Unveils Real Tube II Compressors & Overdrives, Premier Guitar, 2011-08-23
