The ZVex '59 Sound Vertical is a guitar overdrive pedal that puts the sound of a 1959 tweed Fender Bassman in a compact, portrait-orientation enclosure. ZVex describes it as capturing "the essence of that magical amplifier," with a wide range of textures available by working the guitar's volume control1. It was announced in March 2018 as part of a run of vertical-format reissues from ZVex, following vertical versions of the Fuzz Factory and the Box of Rock2.
The pedal is currently listed as sold out on ZVex's product page1.
A tweed Bassman sound in a pedal
The '59 Sound is based on the 1959 tweed Fender Bassman, an amplifier ZVex calls "legendary"1. The idea behind it is straightforward: take the ZVex Box of Rock, a pedal that ZVex says accurately models the Marshall JTM45, and mod it to sound like a '59 Bassman instead1.
That modding work was done by Tommy Rehbein, ZVex's customer service specialist, who tweaked components in the Box of Rock circuit while listening closely to a real '59 Bassman1. The result keeps the two-pedal family resemblance but moves the voicing from a British JTM45 flavor to the American tweed amp it is named after.
The original '59 Sound launched on February 27, 2018, offered either as a hand-painted version or a stickered Vexter version, and was available direct for one week before hitting stores4. MusicRadar reported the launch price as $2195. The Vertical version followed in March 2018, one of several ZVex pedals reissued in the space-saving format2.
"The '59 Sound captures the essence of that magical amplifier."
For players comparing amp-in-a-box pedals against ordinary overdrives, That Pedal Show covered the '59 Sound in its video on amp-in-a-box pedals versus normal overdrives and graphic EQs, with the ZVEX '59 Sound segment starting at 10:566.
The controls and footswitches
The '59 Sound Vertical carries the same control set as the original, laid out for the vertical format. Gearnews describes it as bringing "all the Bassman sounds from the first version with a footswitchable Boost level"2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the overall output level3 |
| Tone | Shapes the treble response3 |
| Drive | Sets the amount of gain3 |
| Boost | Sets the level of the footswitchable boost3 |
Alongside the knobs are two footswitches. One is a Boost footswitch, which Guitar.com describes as a switch "to take things to 11"3. The second switches the drive circuit itself in and out.
One practical point worth knowing: in the new vertical format the two footswitches sit closer together than on the original horizontal pedal. Guitar.com notes that "the footswitches have been moved closer"3, and Gearnews flags the risk of accidentally catching both at once, advising players to take care when stomping2.
The '59 Sound Vertical is sold out at ZVex, listed at $249.001. The hand-painted original '59 Sound remains listed at $399.00, and ZVex notes that colors and details may vary on hand-painted units7.
Vertical versus original
The Vertical trades the original's wide stance for a portrait orientation that saves pedalboard space. The two enclosures measure321:
| Version | Dimensions (LxWxH) | List price |
|---|---|---|
| '59 Sound (original) | 4.70" x 2.38" x 1.82"7 | $399.00 (hand-painted)7 |
| '59 Sound Vertical | 4.3125" x 2.625" x 2"1 | $249.001 |
The Vertical is shorter front to back but taller, which is what brings the footswitches closer together. The price difference between the two reflects the hand-painted finish on the original: the '59 Sound launched in 2018 in both a hand-painted version and a stickered Vexter version4, and the hand-painted artwork carries the premium.
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Questions
What is the difference between the ZVex '59 Sound and the Box of Rock?
The '59 Sound is a Box of Rock circuit that has been modded to sound like a 1959 tweed Fender Bassman instead of the Marshall JTM45 the Box of Rock models. ZVex customer service specialist Tommy Rehbein tweaked the components while listening to a real '59 Bassman. The '59 Sound also adds a footswitchable Boost level.
Who designed the ZVex '59 Sound?
Tommy Rehbein, ZVex's customer service specialist, designed the '59 Sound. He tweaked components in the Box of Rock circuit while listening closely to a 1959 tweed Fender Bassman to arrive at the final voicing.
Are the footswitches on the '59 Sound Vertical too close together?
They are closer together than on the original horizontal '59 Sound because of the vertical format. Gearnews noted a risk of accidentally catching both switches at once, so players should take care when stomping, but the spacing is a consequence of the smaller enclosure rather than a defect.
How big is the ZVex '59 Sound Vertical?
The '59 Sound Vertical measures 4.3125 inches long by 2.625 inches wide by 2 inches high. The original horizontal '59 Sound is slightly longer and lower at 4.70 by 2.38 by 1.82 inches.
Is the ZVex '59 Sound Vertical sold out?
Yes. ZVex's product page lists the '59 Sound Vertical as sold out, at a list price of $249.00. The hand-painted original '59 Sound lists at $399.00. The pedal was announced in March 2018 as part of ZVex's vertical-format releases.
Sources (7)
- '59 Sound Vertical, ZVEX Effects (www.zvex.com)
- ZVex '59 Sound Vertical: More Bassman for your buck?, gearnews.com, 2018-03-04
- ZVEX Effects releases the ’59 Sound Vertical, Guitar.com, 2018-03-06
- ZVEX Effects Releases the Vertical Vexter '59 Sound, Premier Guitar, 2018-03-02
- Z.Vex's '59 Sound pedal aims to capture the tone of a Tweed Bassman, MusicRadar, 2018-02-28
- Amp In A Box Pedals Vs ‘Normal’ Overdrive & Graphic EQ And A Couple Of Cranked Amps, That Pedal Show, 2022-06-03
- '59 Sound, ZVEX Effects (www.zvex.com)
