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Vertex Steel String Clean Drive MKII

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Vertex Steel String Clean Drive MKII

$179.99 to $199.99 Price Tier: Standard

5.0 (1)

1 Review

Find out who is using Vertex Steel String Clean Drive MKII

3 community setups

1 wishlisted

4 saved

Page last updated Jul 04, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 3 stores. Prices updated July 1, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

4.0 (13)

$179.99 14 available New

$99.95 12 available Used

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$199.99

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4.9 (21)

$193.00

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Average Price: $168

Standard/Professional

$50

$176+

Price Tier

In the Overdrive Effects Pedals category, Vertex Steel String Clean Drive MKII is priced in the upper end of the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 2 merchants for "Vertex Steel String Clean Drive MKII". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 22, 2026.

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Description

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Unleash your inner blues legend with the Vertex Steel String Clean Drive MKII, a pedal that encapsulates the essence of the iconic 6L6 sound in a compact and versatile package. Inspired by the tones of SRV and John Mayer, this pedal is designed to bring the legendary "SSS" magic — Sparkle, Shaping, and Saturation — to your pedalboard. Its Jazz/Rock toggle switch offers a dynamic range of voicings, ensuring your sound is as unique as your playing style.

The MKII's streamlined design, 33% slimmer than its predecessor, effortlessly fits into any pedalboard setup, making it an ideal choice for gigging musicians who demand performance without compromise. With Gain and Level controls, this pedal can serve as a subtle clean boost or transform into a fiery overdrive, providing the versatility that modern players crave. The Filter control allows you to shape your mids with precision, perfect for dialing in that classic D-style tone.

Whether you're in the studio or on stage, the optional 18-volt operation provides enhanced headroom, complementing vintage amps or high-gain setups. And with true bypass switching, your tone remains pristine when the pedal is disengaged, ensuring your signal is never compromised. Crafted in California, the Steel String MKII is housed in rugged brushed metal with an authentic D-style Level knob, embodying both durability and style.

Key Features:

Inspired by legendary 6L6 blues tones
33% slimmer design for easy board integration
Jazz/Rock toggle for versatile voicing
Gain and Level controls for clean boost or overdrive
Filter control for D-style mid shaping
Rugged brushed metal housing with D-style Level knob
Optional 18-volt operation for extra headroom
True bypass switching
Assembled in California

Product specs

Brand	Vertex
Model	Steel String MKII
Finish	Silver
Year	2020
Categories	Overdrive and Boost Pedals
Pedal Format	Standard

FAQs

What type of tones can I expect from the Vertex Steel String Clean Drive MKII?: The Vertex Steel String Clean Drive MKII is designed to emulate the clean tones and mild overdrive of the iconic Steel String Singer amplifier, offering a transparent boost with dynamic response suitable for blues and rock genres.
Is the Vertex Steel String Clean Drive MKII suitable for use with both electric and acoustic guitars?: Yes, the Vertex Steel String Clean Drive MKII can be used with both electric and acoustic guitars, providing a clean boost and subtle overdrive that enhances the natural tone of the instrument.
Does the Vertex Steel String Clean Drive MKII work well with a tube amplifier?: The Vertex Steel String Clean Drive MKII is particularly effective when paired with tube amplifiers, as it enhances their natural warmth and responsiveness while adding a touch of clean drive.
What power supply does the Vertex Steel String Clean Drive MKII require?: The Vertex Steel String Clean Drive MKII requires a standard 9V DC power supply, which is common for most pedalboards and effects pedals.
How does the Vertex Steel String Clean Drive MKII differ from other overdrive pedals?: Unlike many overdrive pedals that color your sound, the Vertex Steel String Clean Drive MKII offers a transparent boost, preserving the original tone of your guitar and amp while adding clarity and dynamics.

Videos

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The Studio Rats

Vertex Effects - Steel String & Ultra Phonix - These Pedals Are Not Leaving My Pedal Board

The Studio Rats

Vertex Steel String Clean Drive MKII - Sound Demo (no talking)

Guitar Bonedo

Reviews

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PROS

Produces character-rich, low gain overdrive tones
Offers transparent sound without altering guitar or amp's natural tone
Enhances amps with a subtle, "3D" effect making the sound more lively
Exceptional build quality and durability
Compact size and top-mount jacks ensure pedalboard friendliness
Stacks well with other overdrive or distortion pedals
Delivers the sought-after John Mayer "Gravity" tone
Provides flexibility and works well with various guitar models
Can function as a distinctive booster for clean amps

CONS

The MKII version has less boost/volume compared to its predecessor
Small gain and filter knobs can be difficult to see and adjust

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Vertex Steel String Clean Drive MKII.

Value and pricing

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At $99, the pedal is seen as a decent deal, but at a higher price, alternatives like the Bad Bob Boost are recommended.
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Features and functionality

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Offers EQ options with a subtle touch of overdrive at high volume gain settings, adding more features than the Bad Bob Boost.
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Comparisons

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Compared to Dumble-style pedals, it's considered an expensive clean boost without significant sound coloration.
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The Vertex Steel String Clean Drive MKII is noted for its clean sound, similar to the Nux Steel Singer, but with less gain and more of an "amp-like" tone.
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Some owners transitioned to the Cornerstone Gladio for a more authentic Dumble tone, indicating a preference for dual-Dumble setups over the Vertex.
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The Vertex Steel String Supreme is compared to the Keeley Katana, with users noting the former as a "dirty boost" and the latter as a cleaner boost option.
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Users have mentioned that while the SSS can help achieve Mayer tones, a Tube Screamer and Klon may achieve similar results, often at a lower cost.
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Owners suggest that the Keeley Katana boost might be a better choice for Mayer tones, as it aligns more closely with the gear Mayer actually used.
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User experience

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Some users expected more gain from this pedal, indicating its primary strength lies in clean boosting rather than overdrive.
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Users have reported that the pedal works particularly well with humbucker-equipped guitars, such as a HH Strat, for a fatter tone.
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Some owners found the pedal's compression circuit could choke fuzz tones when placed before a fuzz pedal, suggesting it needs careful placement in the signal chain.
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It's mentioned that the pedal can become noisy when EQ settings heavily boost mid frequencies, impacting the overall sound clarity.
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Use cases and applications

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Owners find it stacks well in a pedal chain, enhancing clean tones and adding subtle grit, making it a potential "always on" pedal for many setups.
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It's noted that the Steel String Supreme excels when used with hybrid or valve state amplifiers, providing an amp-like tone that enhances lower mid frequencies.
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Build quality

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The enclosure is described as high quality, suggesting good durability and construction despite the controversies surrounding the brand.
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5.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 1 Rating

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munkeat98

287

over 5 years ago

John Mayer in Box

The title pretty much sums it up. Lovely pedal and does Mayer “Gravity” tone pretty well. It's my always on clean tone. This Mk 2, this has lesser boost/volume even on Std “ rock “ mode, sounded much more balanced and refined as compared to the previous generation SS. The MK1 seems a little too boomy at times, especially on my 68' Custom Princeton Reverb but I do wish it comes with a tad more boost and fatness. However, the built quality seems really well made and the size, as well as the top-mount jacks are really pedalboard friendly. The small gain and filter know could be a little hard to see at times but would be an easy fix. The SS stacks really well too with the most OD or distortion pedals. All in all, it's one amazing pedal.

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