The Sentinel Metal Distortion is a pedal that is based on the Ibanez SM-9 Super Metal, which was one of the earliest distortion pedals designed specifically for metal tones. The SM-9 was released in 1983 and discontinued in 1984. It featured a modern amp-like topology in a pedal, with multi-stage clipping and tone-shaping before and after.

The Super Metal circuit was re-released three more times in the 1980s as the MS-10 Metal Charger, SM-L Super Metal, and SM-01 Super Metal. All four of these pedals are the same internally. The Sentinel Metal Distortion is an exact clone of the SM-9, with two differences.

The first difference is the “Edge” control. In the original SM-9, this control was a single knob that controlled two gyrators at around 1.2kHz and 2.3kHz. The Sentinel splits these two frequency bands into two separate knobs, allowing for independent control. This allows for more fine-tuning of the high EQ and provides expanded tones not found in the stock circuit. It also allows for experimentation with creating a true midrange control.

The second difference is the addition of a charge pump for 18V operation. The pedal can be switched between 9V and 18V operation, providing increased voltage and potentially improved performance. The 18V option is not necessary and can be bypassed if desired.

Overall, the Sentinel Metal Distortion is a faithful clone of the Ibanez SM-9 Super Metal, with some added features for enhanced tone control and flexibility.

Summary created by AI from the original source.