Arion Tubulator mini review. (Thanks Frank.)

[Artie]

I just bought my second Arion Tubulator on forum bro frankfalbo's recommendation. (Thanks Frank.) This thing is killer. I don't actually use two. I took one to a friends house and he didn't want to give it back.

The bad news is, this was selling for $14. The good news is, it's still a steal at $20. This has the typical cheap plastic case that you'ld expect from a $20 pedal, but its not too bad as long as you don't stomp it too hard.

The main thing is the sound. This is a subtle distortion. I compared it side-by-side with my Spina-fied DS-1. The Tubulator distortion takes over where the DS-1 knob ends . . . on the "down" side. There's a little overlap, but the tubulator, on full distortion, is close to the DS-1 on minimum. Its a nice smooth distortion. Exactly what I was looking for.

The "Tone" control doesn't just do high-cut, but actually provides a fair amount of treble boost. Turn the distortion all the way down, and the tone almost all the way up, and you have a Rangemaster tone.

I use the "Blackface" and "Tweed" setting on my J-Station 95% of the time. The Tweed setting has nice "grit" that I like when playing a Tele. With the Tubulator, I can leave the "J" on the Blackface setting and get an even nicer tweed tone than the J provides. I'm not sure how this would translate to a real Blackface.

Anyway, for $20, I can't imagine that you'ld go wrong with this pedal. Just remember, its not an in-your-face type distortion. But its fun.

Artie

 

[coachc55]

Re: Arion Tubulator mini review. (Thanks Frank.)

You know the things I've read in Harmony-Central seem to be real cool. For the price, I don't think you can beat it. Some even say it's there favorite distortion/drive pedal.


CoachC

 

[SeraphimTN]

Re: Arion Tubulator mini review. (Thanks Frank.)

I"ve been sayin the same thing for months now! Get one folks!

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Arion Tubulator mini review. (Thanks Frank.)

You're awesome Artie. I can't say enough about it.:bowdown: Luckily I bought three at $14, but even at $19.99 or even $29.99 they are still a bargain. On the plastic case: This weekend I left one in the car. While still totally operational, the intense heat disfigured the footswitch section a little bit. So be gentle with them. The good news is I have two others. It gives me an excuse to disassemble this one, and make a solid chassis for it, perhaps with true bypass. Either that, or I'm going to build it into my lap steel, either with a mini-toggle or a footswitch jack. Ditto on the treble boost as well. It's totally usable, and is roughly "flat" when set to 2:00. That's also why I like running two. They're fantastic (and quiet) when you cascade them, but also it's nice to choose between two different tonal settings on them.

I still use a Japanese SD-1, and a TS9 variant, but I say if you get 2 of these for $40, it's far more versatile than a new Taiwanese SD-1. Anyone hesitating needs to order before they go up again.

 

[Artie]

Re: Arion Tubulator mini review. (Thanks Frank.)

It gives me an excuse to disassemble this one, and make a solid chassis for it, perhaps with true bypass.

Thats exactly what I was thinking of doing. My "new" one came in yesterday, and I took it over to "visit" my first one. We tried the one-into-the-other trick but neither of us was impressed with that. We did, however, like the ability to select between two different settings easily. I'm thinking of snagging one more and putting both circuits into a common chassis. I'll use one switch to do true bypass, and the other to select between the two - in A/B fashion. I'll let you know how it comes out.

btw - I have the schematic for this almost done. I'll send you a copy when its all "neatened up."
(If you want it.)

Artie

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Arion Tubulator mini review. (Thanks Frank.)

Hmmmm.... interesting, as I was messing with my DS-1 the other day, wishing it cleaned up a little more at the minimum setting.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[Artie]

Re: Arion Tubulator mini review. (Thanks Frank.)

We compared the Arion side by side with the DS-1. We both liked the Tubulator better. Don't get me wrong - the John-modded DS-1 is killer, but its a much more in-your-face type distortion. An A/B box to select between the two might be the hot ticket.

Edit: I was thinking of sending one to John, and seeing if he could work his magic on it. (I'll call him this weekend.)

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Arion Tubulator mini review. (Thanks Frank.)

Thats exactly what I was thinking of doing. My "new" one came in yesterday, and I took it over to "visit" my first one. We tried the one-into-the-other trick but neither of us was impressed with that. We did, however, like the ability to select between two different settings easily. I'm thinking of snagging one more and putting both circuits into a common chassis. I'll use one switch to do true bypass, and the other to select between the two - in A/B fashion. I'll let you know how it comes out.

btw - I have the schematic for this almost done. I'll send you a copy when its all "neatened up."
(If you want it.)

Artie

Artie. There's a simpler solution to what you are thinking of doing. Why not use a 3PDT stomp switch and concentric pots for the enclosure? Same basic principal and only one pedal to enclose. Much more compact.

Seraphim has been using this pedal forever and I've been using it since May 12 of this year. You haven't been listening to us shouting the praises for this pedal from the rooftops? :eek13: :smack: :23: :9: :laugh2:

Send me a copy of your schematic when you get it worked up. I think it's basically a hopped up tube screamer. Same circuit, but different values. :fingersx:

 

[SeraphimTN]

Re: Arion Tubulator mini review. (Thanks Frank.)

We really need to see if John can mod these things......anybody?

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Arion Tubulator mini review. (Thanks Frank.)

I thought about what you could do to them, but sonically, they really float my boat as-is. Even if a pedal guru looks one over and sees room for improvement, I'm happy as they are. True bypass and an A/B in a dual box might be enough. But let me reiterate-these pedals sound extremely transparent when off. It doesn't NEED a true bypass mod. To me it's much better when off than my SD-1, TS, and my Morley wah.

Artie-you made me want to do an A/B instead of using two true bypass switches, but now I think I want to do an A/B and an A+B stacker switch, that way there's still only one on/off switch, and the A/B/Cascade can be pre-selected regardless of the on/off status.

LED's: Blue=warm bluesy tone RED=hotter treble boosted tone WHITE=cascaded face melter.

Artie you said you weren't that floored with the cascade, it took me awhile to see it's potential. It's all in the way you vary the knobs. It's not that great if you set them both for TS grit and just double them up. You have to use the first one with a huge (perhaps cleaner) volume boost, or maxed treble boost, or something to really vary the sound going into the second one. Then the second one can have the tone turned down, maybe less volume but near maxed distortion, etc.

 

[Artie]

Re: Arion Tubulator mini review. (Thanks Frank.)

Artie. There's a simpler solution to what you are thinking of doing. Why not use a 3PDT stomp switch and concentric pots for the enclosure? Same basic principal and only one pedal to enclose. Much more compact.

Thats not a bad idea. Could look cool if done properly.

Seraphim has been using this pedal forever and I've been using it since May 12 of this year. You haven't been listening to us shouting the praises for this pedal from the rooftops?

Sorry guys. The fact is, I don't come into the "amp" part of the forum very often . . . 'cause I don't have one. :blackeye:

Send me a copy of your schematic when you get it worked up.

I will.

Artie you said you weren't that floored with the cascade, it took me awhile to see it's potential. It's all in the way you vary the knobs. It's not that great if you set them both for TS grit and just double them up. You have to use the first one with a huge (perhaps cleaner) volume boost, or maxed treble boost, or something to really vary the sound going into the second one. Then the second one can have the tone turned down, maybe less volume but near maxed distortion, etc.

Yeah . . . to be fair, we didn't really have the time, or the right environment, (getting into evening), to check it out properly. I'm going over there again tomorrow and we're going to give it another go. I'll let you know how it goes.