Tube Driven OD Pedals

[Inder_Cine_Mann]

Never played one. Won't anytime soon unless I just order one.

I think in the near future I want another flavor dirt box, besides my tube screamer.

What's the consensus with tube driven OD pedals?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Tube Driven OD Pedals

They're more fragile, usually large, and require an AC cable or DC wallwart. There's no generalities about the tone because some may sound really good and some don't at all.

I personally don't care for them, because there's a zillion solid state OD's that sound great and require no maintenance.

I'd suggest finding a Bogner Ecstasy Blue pedal. It sounds like a real channel added to your amp, plus it's own boost. It's got a lot of tweakability, so if you can't find a great sound with it, the problem isn't the pedal.

I like the XTC Red just as much as the Blue. It's higher in gain, but also sounds great at what it does. These pedals aren't cheap, but they're far more advanced than your typical OD/Dist pedals. You'll know why they cost more once you have it in your hands.

 

[Inder_Cine_Mann]

Re: Tube Driven OD Pedals

They're more fragile, usually large, and require an AC cable or DC wallwart. There's no generalities about the tone because some may sound really good and some don't at all.

I personally don't care for them, because there's a zillion solid state OD's that sound great and require no maintenance.

I'd suggest finding a Bogner Ecstasy Blue pedal. It sounds like a real channel added to your amp, plus it's own boost. It's got a lot of tweakability, so if you can't find a great sound with it, the problem isn't the pedal.

I like the XTC Red just as much as the Blue. It's higher in gain, but also sounds great at what it does. These pedals aren't cheap, but they're far more advanced than your typical OD/Dist pedals. You'll know why they cost more once you have it in your hands.

Ok cool thanks man. You basically answered my main questions.

Only heard great things about the Blue pedal.

Love your signature btw.

 

[IM4Tone]

Re: Tube Driven OD Pedals

I really like the Seymour Duncan Twin Tube. Yes, it's larger, and requires AC power...but I don't find it fragile (at least excessively so). Tone from this twin is excellent, with two channels; both with a wide range of tonality. They're discontinued, but a few months back there were new ones to be had on ebay.

 

[DreX]

Re: Tube Driven OD Pedals

What I'd like to know is if there's an electrical argument to be made for incorporating a 12AX7 versus diode clipping, or does the tube pedal use diode clipping also? Does it really give you tube warmth and a more rounded attack, or is it all a huge gimmick? Same questions apply for valve pre-amp amps, like the Marshall Valvestate line.

I haven't been inclined to but a tube stomp because it seems to me that the power stage is where tubes are most relevant anyway, and there's a lot of solid state pedals I have yet to try that cost less bla bla bla.

I've always had a good idea in my head of what an ideal valve based stomp would sound like, and that sound was exceeded by the Klon / EHX Soul Food, which goes to show, IMO, that the magic is in the fine details of the circuitry, not whether a tube is or isn't present. Compared to the Klon/Klone, I don't think the a Tube Screamer sound tube-like at all, not that it's supposed to either, but it goes to shows that sounding tube-like isn't a requisite for a great OD.

 

[trevorus]

Re: Tube Driven OD Pedals

I had a Rocktron Silver Dragon, and it was pretty cool, but I don't see a huge benefit in my particular sound to having tubes. I also had an English Muff'n, and it was pretty cool, but the odd power adapter and the huge case were big turn offs. My particular example was a bit bright, too.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Tube Driven OD Pedals

Love my tube king - had it for 16 years now.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Tube Driven OD Pedals

I have a Real Tube 901 on my board with a 12AU7 tube. I prefer to get my distortions from TUBES, and I don't like 99.9% of the solid state boxes...they don't sound like a tube.

I use Mesa amps, so I don't use the Real Tube very often, but for some things it is perfect.

Bill

 

[Oinkus]

Re: Tube Driven OD Pedals

+1 on the Tube King but it really is just an OD, only matters if it sounds good to you , has nothing to do with having a tube in it or not.

 

[DreX]

Re: Tube Driven OD Pedals

+1 on the Tube King but it really is just an OD, only matters if it sounds good to you , has nothing to do with having a tube in it or not.

There are actual tonal qualities associated with tube power amps in contrast with solid state amp, I think the question of whether those actual differences translate in the pre-amp only / pedal context that goes beyond subjective preference, which if you had fancy oscilloscopes and spectrometers you could see directly. Is there an audible impact on the compression characteristics and attack, is my question.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Tube Driven OD Pedals

I used to have a Kingsley Jester. I wasn't all that crazy about it, although people online seem to think it's the best pedal ever. I heard a warm and smooth overdrive without much presence or bite and it wasn't anything that I couldn't get as good or better in a solid state design and that's after tube rolling with it. I also had a Siegmund Missing Link that had some warmth, but the high end was piercing at times and it used a rare tube. Cool design, pretty good clean boost, but still, nothing that I felt I couldn't get elsewhere.

One day I'd really like to try the stuff from SIB, but history has not shown me that tube pedals are that great, especially when you already have a tube amp you're pushing with it. Dean DeLeo from STP likes the Varidrive, so there could very well be some merits to it with the right designs.

 

[LReese]

Re: Tube Driven OD Pedals

I have a Real Tube 901 on my board with a 12AU7 tube. I prefer to get my distortions from TUBES, and I don't like 99.9% of the solid state boxes...they don't sound like a tube.

I have one of those and a BK. I have a 12AV7 in both.

If I can tame the noise in that Real Tube, it might be my go to. Its unbearable at times. Its got something my BK doesn't.

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: Tube Driven OD Pedals

I agree with everything GearJoneser said.

I've owned the English Muf'n, the Twin Tube Classic, TT Mayhem, a Digitech RP-14, and a couple of the Vox modelers. I think these each bring something unique to the party. My favorites on the list are the TT Classic, the RP-14, and the Vox.

In the non-tube category, the Xotic EP boost is very warm, and the Way Huge Pork Loin "soft clipping" sounds different. I just got the Bogner Blue pedal also, which I like so far but it's too early for me to really review it. As much as I like these units, I doubt I'd mistake them for any of the tube units.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Tube Driven OD Pedals

LOVE my 12AX7 driven EHX Hot Tubes.

Can go from slight OD to full-on Over Drive, right up to chewing, sludgy goodness

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Tube Driven OD Pedals

My Moen Raw Tube is awesome as an overdrive in front of the dirty channel...really thickens/tightens things up & sweetens solo's a lot too..plus it's the size of a regular Boss pedal. Runs with a 15V wallwart.

The Behringer Vintage Tube Monster is really raunchy/fat/sweet and great for blues/hard rock...even 80's metal, especially after I swapped the stock tube for a JJ.

They're not the same thing as a regular SS OD/Distortion pedal.



As for high gain...this is a real beast! Wish I could get my hands on one

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Tube Driven OD Pedals

My Moen Raw Tube is awesome as an overdrive in front of the dirty channel...really thickens/tightens things up & sweetens solo's a lot too..plus it's the size of a regular Boss pedal. Runs with a 15V wallwart.

The Behringer Vintage Tube Monster is really raunchy/fat/sweet and great for blues/hard rock...even 80's metal, especially after I swapped the stock tube for a JJ.

They're not the same thing as a regular SS OD/Distortion pedal.



As for high gain...this is a real beast! Wish I could get my hands on one

Yeah dont get me started on the SVS stuff. That video has been around a few uses yet no one can get a hold of one. I had my Ukrainian friend try for me for over a year and they kept jerking him around.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Tube Driven OD Pedals

There are actual tonal qualities associated with tube power amps in contrast with solid state amp, I think the question of whether those actual differences translate in the pre-amp only / pedal context that goes beyond subjective preference, which if you had fancy oscilloscopes and spectrometers you could see directly. Is there an audible impact on the compression characteristics and attack, is my question.

How a tube clips the signal is different from how a transistor does. There are many things that can be heard and more importantly felt when you play that you CAN NOT measure on an oscilloscope. The downfall to tube pedals are usually the other associated tone networks or their power supplies. Much more to a circuit than just the diodes that are used for clipping.

 

[DreX]

Re: Tube Driven OD Pedals

I'm tempted to get the Behringer VT999 tube overdrive, but it's so outrageously large that I worry that if I love the sound, I'll be condemning myself to the hassle of always making room for it. Ignorance is bliss sometimes.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Tube Driven OD Pedals

I'm tempted to get the Behringer VT999 tube overdrive, but it's so outrageously large that I worry that if I love the sound, I'll be condemning myself to the hassle of always making room for it. Ignorance is bliss sometimes.

Ever tried one? I recall it being noisy and nasty (not in a good way). Looks good on paper.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Tube Driven OD Pedals

Ever tried one? I recall it being noisy and nasty (not in a good way). Looks good on paper.

Swap the tube...experiment a little with them..it makes a big difference. You probably had a microphonic/noisy tube in the one you tried. They do have an open, fat, raunchy kind of sound though..I liked that about them..