Pedals with tubes in them?

[stratguy23]

What experiences have people here had with distortion/overdrive pedals with actual tubes in them?

A few that come to mind are the Blackstar HT series, Ibanez Tube King, EHX English Muff'n, and I guess the tube in the original Zoom G5.

With pedalboard clean power amps like the Powerstage 170 and ISP Stealth Ultra-Lite, the question naturally comes to mind (mine, at least) - why not get a tube(s) somewhere in the pedals that are now acting like a preamp?

This would sort of be the reverse of the typical "run a digital modeler through a tube power section" scenario. Here you'd run tube-enhanced dirt through a solid state power section.

Thinking out loud, I'm guessing the result might be something like hybrid amps like the Blackstar HT or Orange Micro amps.

I remember Scott Henderson saying something to the effect of not liking pedals with tubes in them b/c the tones get mushy. But maybe he was thinking of a typical tube amp scenario.

I realize that a lone tube or two might not make a world of difference...but it might be enough to spice things up. Any real world experience you guys can share?

 

[ICTGoober]

Re: Pedals with tubes in them?

Rare as hens teeth, the Thesis Audio Power Valve was a preamp pedal with tubes that KILLED.
Eric Johnson bought 2 as I remember.
They sold really well in Japan, too.

http://files.effectsdatabase.com/gear/pics/thesisaudio_powervalve_001.jpg

 

[Coma]

Re: Pedals with tubes in them?

I really wonder if it's not just a design gimmick. Tubes in amps have a lot of voltage running through them. In a stompbox - not so much.

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Pedals with tubes in them?

I run a Zoom G5 into a solid state amp (Fender Champion 100) as part of my normal rig and use the tube booster as a solo boost. I like the results... it increases the volume significantly and the dirt just a little. It's definitely a little muddier sound, though, than without... not as great for most rhythm work, but solos cut right through with a nice fat tone.

Funny thing is that I have no experience whatsoever with tube amps (just never felt the need for one), so it's hard for me to give you a comparison.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Pedals with tubes in them?

It depends on the pedal. Some sound like fairly run-of-the-mill solid-state distortion boxes. Others feel and sound more like amps.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Pedals with tubes in them?

If you haven't subscribed to That Pedal Show, you really should.

https://youtu.be/ZC9ZABIKrEs


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[NoOnesFang13]

Re: Pedals with tubes in them?

If you haven't subscribed to That Pedal Show, you really should.

https://youtu.be/ZC9ZABIKrEs


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Was thinking the same. As to the OP, I run an HT-DistX into the fx return of my amp to essentially use it as a preamp and it sounds great, I never liked it into the front of my particular amp so I tried it into the loop and it was the sound I was looking for, also the ISF on those pedals really does help to shape the tone you have. The only thing I really noticed that may be of concern is that there is a lot of response to your playing so its harder to hide your mistakes.

 

[The JEM Ghost]

Re: Pedals with tubes in them?

I personally don't like pedals with a tube in them, the only application that I did like it was in a Zoom G7.1ut (if you can call that a pedal), in the Zoom I found it useful to use like BriGuy described, to give a slight boost and to dial a little (I never get the knob past 3) tubesound to warm up some sounds. But in general I don't like most pedals with a tube in it.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Pedals with tubes in them?

I've used a couple and thought they sounded good but not good enough to keep.

I use a Fender tube amp (Blues Deluxe) and have great result with tubeless pedals for boost and drive on my amp.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pedals with tubes in them?

SD had the Twin Tube series. Mesa had the V-Twin. I dig the idea, but I am not sure you couldn't reproduce the results without the tube. I like SD's current overdrive, the 805, better than the Twin Tube. The Mesa always sounded harsh to me.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Pedals with tubes in them?

I've owned a few and they seemed like more of a marketing gimmick than anything else.

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[Demanic]

Re: Pedals with tubes in them?

I really wonder if it's not just a design gimmick. Tubes in amps have a lot of voltage running through them. In a stompbox - not so much.

That depends on the pedal. My Twin Tube Mayhem runs tubes at high voltage and it sounds fantastic.

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[nsnate02]

Re: Pedals with tubes in them?

The AMT pedals are great. There is a distinct difference in tone (in a good way) between that and some of the other staples of pedal boards. Add to the fact that it essentially adds 3 channels (clean, 2 dirties) and you gain a lot of versatility.

 

[stratguy23]

Re: Pedals with tubes in them?

Wow, lots of good info here. Thanks, everyone!

As to the OP, I run an HT-DistX into the fx return of my amp to essentially use it as a preamp and it sounds great, I never liked it into the front of my particular amp so I tried it into the loop and it was the sound I was looking for, also the ISF on those pedals really does help to shape the tone you have.

How does the pedal compare to the actual Blackstar HT amps?

 

[stratguy23]

Re: Pedals with tubes in them?

My Twin Tube Mayhem runs tubes at high voltage and it sounds fantastic.

I didn't know about this pedal until now, and it intrigues me. Does it respond like a tube amp? If you hit it with a high output pickup, does it saturate, compress, sag, etc.?

 

[stratguy23]

Re: Pedals with tubes in them?

The AMT pedals are great. There is a distinct difference in tone (in a good way) between that and some of the other staples of pedal boards. Add to the fact that it essentially adds 3 channels (clean, 2 dirties) and you gain a lot of versatility.

Which of the AMT tube pedals have you tried (and which would you recommend)?

I'm looking for pedals to create a 3-channel type of setup, so now these pedals interest me.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Pedals with tubes in them?

I didn't know about this pedal until now, and it intrigues me. Does it respond like a tube amp? If you hit it with a high output pickup, does it saturate, compress, sag, etc.?

I don't know about sag, I think that it definitely compresses, and depending on where you set the gain, it's got quite a bit of saturation. It basically sounds like a tube pre amp to a high gain amp. I usually run my TS-7 tube screamer in front of it for when I want to tighten up the bottom and add some sizzle to the top. I do have to be careful though, because it will get out of control if I add too much treble and distortion.

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[NeedForPower]

Re: Pedals with tubes in them?

putting a tube in a pedal is like putting a china shop in a bull ring...they don't call them stomp boxes for nothing.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Pedals with tubes in them?

Not so much a problem when the tube was designed to function as part of a ballistic missile guidence system.

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[nsnate02]

Re: Pedals with tubes in them?

Which of the AMT tube pedals have you tried (and which would you recommend)?

I'm looking for pedals to create a 3-channel type of setup, so now these pedals interest me.

I had the SS-11a. I was using them for worship type setup so I was running them pretty clean. Worked great. I did change the tubes to a Millard and EHX and out really warmed it up.