The ZVEX Vexter Super Duper is a boost pedal from ZVex that puts two complete Super Hard-On boost circuits in one box12. Each channel has its own true bypass footswitch, so you can run one channel as a clean volume lift, or switch both on and let the cascaded boosts drive each other into clipping for distortion2. It is one of the classic Zvex pedals, released in the Vexter Series line as a lower-priced alternative to the hand-painted originals3.
What it does
The Super Duper 2 in 1 is essentially two Super Hard-On pedals stacked in a single unit, one per channel24. Channel one carries a yellow LED indicator and channel two a red one, so you can see at a glance which boosts are engaged2. Channel two also has a master volume control, which sets the overall output level of the whole box2.
The two channels can be used in two main ways:
- As a boost: switch in one channel for a single volume lift, or both for a larger one.
- As a distortion pedal: turn down the master volume control and turn up the two cascaded boosters until they clip into each other2.
That second trick is what makes the pedal more than a volume box. Because the two Super Hard-On circuits are stacked, pushing both gain controls up while pulling the master volume down makes them overdrive each other, producing distortion from a pedal with no dedicated clipping stage24.
"to make this into a distortion pedal all you have to do is turn down the master volume control and turn up these two cascaded boosters"
The Vexter version
The Vexter Series is ZVex's lower-priced line, and the Super Duper 2 in 1 was made available in it alongside the hand-painted original3. The Vexter version has several small differences from the original layout, as owners of both have noted5. By September 2010 the Vexter units were out and available1.
The Vexter Super Duper 2 in 1 is listed as sold out at retail as of October 20263. Players looking for a new ZVex bass pedal may want to look at the ZVex Basstortion or the bass-focused Super Duper Concert Bass Mod.
For bass players
In 2018 ZVex built on the Super Duper's popularity with a bass-heavy limited edition, the Super Duper Concert Bass Mod, designed by Zachary Vex and voiced around the Sunn Concert Bass sound4. Gearnews described the original as an "already popular twin-channel Super Duper pedal" and noted the new version was "essentially two Super Hard-On pedals stacked"4. Bass players comparing the two should know the Concert Bass Mod is the version voiced specifically for low end.
Demo videos
A 2006 demo by FlyingTex walks through the pedal channel by channel, showing the two channels, their LEDs, the master volume control and the distortion trick2.
A 2010 demo from TheToneShack covers the Vexter Series release, describing it as "two super hardons in one box" and noting the units were out at the time1.
Videos
ProGuitarShopDemos
Questions
What does the ZVex Vexter Super Duper do?
It is a two-in-one boost pedal containing two Super Hard-On boost circuits in one box. Each channel has its own true bypass footswitch, so you can use one as a clean boost, or turn both on and drive them into each other for distortion.
Can the Super Duper be used as a distortion pedal?
Yes. Turn down the master volume control on channel two and turn up the two cascaded boosters until they clip into each other. The stacked Super Hard-On circuits then break up like a distortion pedal rather than a clean boost.
Is the Vexter version the same as the original Super Duper?
The Vexter Series version is the same basic circuit, two Super Hard-On boosts in one box, but owners report several small differences from the original layout. It was sold at a lower price point than the hand-painted original.
Sources (5)
- ZVex Vexter Super Duper 2 in 1 Dual Boost Pedal Demo, TheToneShack, 2010-09-30
- Zvex Super Duper Guitar Pedal, youtube.com, 2006-06-15
- Zvex Vexter Series Super Duper 2 in 1, Vision Guitar
- ZVex Super Duper Concert Bass Mod: Subsonic limited edition with a Sunn O))) vibe, gearnews.com, 2018-06-24
- Guitar FX Layouts: ZVex Super Duper 2 in 1, Guitar FX Layouts (tagboardeffects.blogspot.com), 2012-01-30
