The Vox Tone Garage V8 Distortion is a high-gain distortion pedal built around a real vacuum tube, an ECC83/12AX7, the same double triode found in the preamp stages of countless guitar amps1. Vox describes it as a high-gain distortion unit with what the company calls an awe-inspiring tone, and says that in addition to distortion sounds ideal for heavy riffs or soloing, you can also obtain cutting high-gain lead sounds with it1. It was announced as part of Vox's Tone Garage line of pedals in 20132.
Vox's own product page states plainly: "THIS PRODUCT IS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION"1. The V8 is a used-market or remaining-stock item, not something you will find new from the current line-up.
The controls
The V8 keeps things simple on the surface: MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen described "a standard array of volume, bass, tone and gain knobs", with baby blue knobs set against a solidly-built black chassis, a look that set it apart from the rest of Vox's normally day-glo Tone Garage range3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the pedal's output level3 |
| Bass | Low-end control3 |
| Tone | Where most of the tonal variation comes from, per MusicRadar3 |
| Gain | Sets the amount of distortion, and is designed to bring in a subtle degree of frequency adjustment as it turns3 |
| Mid shift switch | Changes the dominant midrange frequency band3 |
| Standby/on switch | Valve-amp style standby switch, intended to extend valve life3 |
The mid shift switch is the pedal's main extra trick. With mid shift set to off, Curwen found a broad midrange. Set to on, there is a subtle shift to a more cutting tone that Vox says is better suited to lead playing3. The gain knob is less ordinary than it looks: MusicRadar notes it is designed to bring in a subtle degree of frequency adjustment along with the gain, so turning it changes more than just how hard the pedal clips3.
The standby switch is the unusual one. It works like the standby switch on a valve amp, and the thinking behind it, Curwen wrote, "is admirable and should extend valve life"3. His reservation was practical: the standby switch might cause problems live, presumably if it gets knocked mid-set3.
What it sounds like
Vox positions the V8 as a high-gain pedal, but the range stretches further down than that. MusicRadar's reviewer found the V8 "can deliver full-on high-gain distortion when cranked up, it's also capable of a useful overdriven amp sound with" the gain knob at its lowest setting3, which puts low-gain territory within reach if you want it.
"It's a practical source of harmonic-rich distortion that will work for plenty of styles of music, but especially rock."
His reasons to buy were that it is great for rock lead-work, with harmonic-rich tones and solid build; his reason to avoid was the standby switch and its potential for trouble on stage3.
Power and connections
The V8 runs on six AA batteries, and Vox lists an AC adapter as an optional accessory; the pedal ships with six AA alkaline batteries included for verifying operation1. On the rear panel there is an INPUT jack for your guitar and an OUTPUT jack for the line out to your amp1. There is no barrel-style DC input of the kind most modern pedals use, so the six-AA battery arrangement and the optional adapter are the power options to plan around.
Where it sits in Vox's range
The V8 was one of the Tone Garage pedals Vox announced in 2013, a line that Premier Guitar covered at announcement2. Within Vox's wider pedal history it belongs to the valve-equipped branch of the family: players looking at current Vox distortion and drive pedals would also find the Vox Satchurator, the Tone Garage Straight 6 Drive, the Valvenergy Fuel Injector and the Vox Mystic Edge among the maker's other gain pedals, and the broader field is covered on the Distortion Pedals and Overdrive Pedals pages.
Videos
Sweetwater
VOX Brasil
VOX Amps
Questions
What does the mid shift switch do on the Vox V8 Distortion?
The mid shift switch changes the dominant midrange frequency band of the pedal. With mid shift set to off, MusicRadar's reviewer found a broad midrange. Set to on, there is a subtle shift to a more cutting tone that Vox says is better suited to lead playing.
Is the Vox Tone Garage V8 Distortion true bypass?
Yes. MusicRadar's review of the Tone Garage pedals notes that they have true bypass, so the pedal does not colour your tone when it is switched off.
What does the standby switch on the Vox V8 do?
The V8 has a standby/on switch like the one you would find on a valve amp. The thinking behind it is that it should extend the life of the pedal's valve. MusicRadar's reviewer admired the idea but flagged that the standby switch might cause problems live.
Is the Vox V8 Distortion still in production?
No. Vox's own product page states that the V8 Distortion is no longer in production, so it is only available second-hand or from remaining stock.
Can the Vox V8 Distortion do low-gain overdrive sounds?
Yes. MusicRadar's reviewer found that while the V8 can deliver full-on high-gain distortion when cranked up, it is also capable of a useful overdriven amp sound with the gain knob at its lowest setting.
What jacks does the Vox V8 Distortion have?
The pedal has an INPUT jack for your guitar and an OUTPUT jack for the line out to your amp, according to Vox's product page. Power comes from six AA batteries or an optional AC adapter.
Sources (3)
- V8 Distortion, Vox Amps (voxamps.com), 2019-04-09
- Vox Announces Tone Garage Line of Pedals, Premier Guitar, 2013-07-11
- Vox Tone Garage V8 Distortion review, MusicRadar, 2013-11-08
