SFX-03 twin tube - too little distortion?

[Hanzl]

Hi there,

I bought my sfx-03 by the sound samples and the guitar world review video on YouTube.com.

Now I find too little distortion (compared to these samples) in the rhythm channel playing my vintage 57 strat. the lead channel is fine.

Any similar experiences or comments?

Grettings from Vienna
Gery

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: SFX-03 twin tube - too little distortion?

I found myself wanting "more" as well. It just didn't do it for me. It's nice, but not for me.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: SFX-03 twin tube - too little distortion?

The Rhythm channel is just that way. It's like "channel 2" of a 3 channel tube head. The only way to fully saturate the Rhythm channel when playing a vintage Strat style guitar is to use the Pickup Booster. If you set your controls right, a booster or TS/OD can give you 4 usable sounds always available. But the Lead Channel should provide enough gain even with a low output single. The Twin Tube Classic does respond extremely well to a Tube Screamer style OD/Boost on the front end, exactly how you'd expect a high end tube amp to respond.

 

[Hanzl]

Re: SFX-03 twin tube - too little distortion?

Thanx for the answers!

So you mean everything is OK with my SFX-03? The reason, why the sound and video samples have a more distorted/saturated sound because of humbuckers, stronger pickups and/or boosters?

What do think of less gain because of component tolerances (resistors, caps, tubes) as often seen with analog tube amps?

Gery

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: SFX-03 twin tube - too little distortion?

My SFX-03 has plenty of gain on tap for my needs. Like Frank said,If you need more gain? You can Goose it with any dirt box dujuor.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: SFX-03 twin tube - too little distortion?

Find some FET based clean booster, or some compressor...if you use a strat with singles

 

[guitarded]

Re: SFX-03 twin tube - too little distortion?

All my guitars have Humbuckers, but what you describe sounds like correct behavior. The strong point of the rhythm channel is it's ability to clean up and respond to your guitar controls. It is definitely more of a Marshally classic rock type distortion then say a recto or Soldano high gain setup.

I think as others have mentioned with S.C.'s you may have to hit the input a little harder if you need more gain out of that channel.

Hi there,

I bought my sfx-03 by the sound samples and the guitar world review video on YouTube.com.

Now I find too little distortion (compared to these samples) in the rhythm channel playing my vintage 57 strat. the lead channel is fine.

Any similar experiences or comments?

Grettings from Vienna
Gery

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: SFX-03 twin tube - too little distortion?

Lavabox maybe then?

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: SFX-03 twin tube - too little distortion?

Also make sure your pickup height is optimized.

If you've got hot humbuckers, then the Rhythm channel can really overdriven.

Lava Box is a different overdrive entirely. It could be used as a front end booster for the Twin Tube, but it's designed as a very different sounding overdrive pedal. It does clean up based on pick attack and guitar volume, though. So from that standpoint cascading the Lava Box (at low gain settings) into the Twin Tube Classic should yield some pretty dynamic usable sounds. If it were me, and I only had a Strat, I'd get the Pickup Booster. It will come in handy whether you play the Twin Tube Classic, or any other tube amp.

 

[guitarded]

Re: SFX-03 twin tube - too little distortion?

The Carl Martin Plexitone reviews seem to suggest it's got a lot more gain than the sfx-03.

Lavabox maybe then?

 

[guitarded]

Re: SFX-03 twin tube - too little distortion?

I would just throw a full size humbucker on the bridge. IMO the bridge pup on the strat is pretty useless as a single coil anyway.

Also make sure your pickup height is optimized.

If you've got hot humbuckers, then the Rhythm channel can really overdriven.

Lava Box is a different overdrive entirely. It could be used as a front end booster for the Twin Tube, but it's designed as a very different sounding overdrive pedal. It does clean up based on pick attack and guitar volume, though. So from that standpoint cascading the Lava Box (at low gain settings) into the Twin Tube Classic should yield some pretty dynamic usable sounds. If it were me, and I only had a Strat, I'd get the Pickup Booster. It will come in handy whether you play the Twin Tube Classic, or any other tube amp.

 

[Guitar Guy]

Re: SFX-03 twin tube - too little distortion?

It had a lower amount of gain than i expected. The first channel was kind of cleanish to tubescreamer like and the second channel was like two tubescreamers. Didn't have as much gain as what i was expecting but it had great tube tone!

 

[Hanzl]

Re: SFX-03 twin tube - too little distortion?

I tried a Les Paul, more distortion - as expected. I definitely will not put a booster stompbox before my sfx-03 stompbox, that's ridiculous for me.

Greetings
Gery