What's a nice pedal that sounds somewhat like a cranked EL34?

Johtosotku

Johtosotku

New member
Help me out here, I'm pretty new to the pedal market. I've recently learned to love the sound of my Koch more and more... with vol and gain both on 10. I'd like something similar for lower volume times and for some more versatility when I run it on full. The amp sounds nice with just the preamp distortion but of course it's not the same.

I know that no pedal will sound exactly like a cranked tube amp. But what sounds pretty close, and more importantly, overall nice? In any price range? Something more affordable is nice, but I'm willing to spill the big bucks for an outstanding unit.

Thanks!
 
Re: What's a nice pedal that sounds somewhat like a cranked EL34?

Johtosotku said:
Help me out here, I'm pretty new to the pedal market. I've recently learned to love the sound of my Koch more and more... with vol and gain both on 10. I'd like something similar for lower volume times and for some more versatility when I run it on full. The amp sounds nice with just the preamp distortion but of course it's not the same.

I know that no pedal will sound exactly like a cranked tube amp. But what sounds pretty close, and more importantly, overall nice? In any price range? Something more affordable is nice, but I'm willing to spill the big bucks for an outstanding unit.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Can you give us a particular amp tone you're trying to copy? The tubes themselves don't make the amp's tone,but the entire circuit that the tubes are in does..:13:
 
Re: What's a nice pedal that sounds somewhat like a cranked EL34?

STRATDELUXER97 said:
Can you give us a particular amp tone you're trying to copy? The tubes themselves don't make the amp's tone,but the entire circuit that the tubes are in does..:13:
Click to expand...

Well, I really like my Koch Twintone II combo. It's a dutch amp, about a year old. You can check it out at http://www.koch-amps.com/ It has four 12AX7 tubes and two EL34 tubes. I don't know what else to say, I'm not one of those more technical guys. But ask and I'll answer if I can!
 
Re: What's a nice pedal that sounds somewhat like a cranked EL34?

Nobody will agree with me here, but I think that the boss distortion pedals will get in that ballpark. DS-1 or DS-2 (on the normal mode) sound like an el-34 cranked.
 
Re: What's a nice pedal that sounds somewhat like a cranked EL34?

I used to have a twin tone! I think you should check out the MI Audio Crunch Box.
 
Re: What's a nice pedal that sounds somewhat like a cranked EL34?

GuitarStv said:
Nobody will agree with me here, but I think that the boss distortion pedals will get in that ballpark. DS-1 or DS-2 (on the normal mode) sound like an el-34 cranked.
Click to expand...

I sure don't. :laugh2: The DS-1 sounds nothing like an EL-34 amp cranked. It sounds like a hord of angry bees in stock form.

The Carl Martin Plexi-Tone sounds pretty darn good to my ears. The Boss SD-2 Dual Overdrive has a nice Marshally sound on the Lead setting. Can't forget the old black Marshall Guv'nor either.
 
Re: What's a nice pedal that sounds somewhat like a cranked EL34?

DITTO!!! :headbang:
 
Re: What's a nice pedal that sounds somewhat like a cranked EL34?

+1 for the MI Audio Crunch Box, nothing beats it for that sound.

Cheers,

CJ
 
Re: What's a nice pedal that sounds somewhat like a cranked EL34?

ErikH said:
I sure don't. :laugh2: The DS-1 sounds nothing like an EL-34 amp cranked. It sounds like a hord of angry bees in stock form.

The Carl Martin Plexi-Tone sounds pretty darn good to my ears. The Boss SD-2 Dual Overdrive has a nice Marshally sound on the Lead setting. Can't forget the old black Marshall Guv'nor either.
Click to expand...

Agreed....The stock DS-1 is not the answer as it'll give you fuzzy crap riding over your notes!...I will give another vote though for the Carl Martin Plexitone which I own and love! Really does a convincing early cranked up Marshall tone..The Marshall Jackhammer and Bluesbreaker pedals are nice sounding and not too expensive also.I use the Jackhammer myself.
 
Re: What's a nice pedal that sounds somewhat like a cranked EL34?

OCD if you wanna get the tone of your own amp cranked - good Plexi type tones outta it.
 
Re: What's a nice pedal that sounds somewhat like a cranked EL34?

Gunny47 said:
OCD if you wanna get the tone of your own amp cranked - good Plexi type tones outta it.
Click to expand...

That's a funny pedal cause I sold mine and felt the Plexitone was a better sounding pedal? :13: My OCD sounded synthetic and hi fi sounding..Not warm and tube sounding,but I may have had one that was built late Friday afternoon or something? :laugh2:

I'm also very anti Fulltone stuff and no longer own any Fulltone products at all...Long story!
 
Re: What's a nice pedal that sounds somewhat like a cranked EL34?

john, if you havent told the story on the forum could you pm me and fill me in?
 
Re: What's a nice pedal that sounds somewhat like a cranked EL34?

jeremy said:
john, if you havent told the story on the forum could you pm me and fill me in?
Click to expand...

Jeremy...No big deal really.I just haven't ever had good customer service with Mike or anyone I've ever spoken to on the phone about any of their products.I once called and spoke to Mike about sending my Mini Deja Vibe to him to have it upgraded to the Robin Trower version.Upon calling and getting a complete run around,Mike asks me if I'm having trouble with the unit...I'm like "No but I want it upgraded" how much to upgrade my Deja Vibe"....Again I get a run around....I no longer own any Fulltone stuff and just recently sold my Mini Deja Vibe to Midnite Man...Communication isn't one of my weak points and realizing how busy Fuller's company is and all and that being the reason to blow me off,I just choose to not use any of his products anymore...
 
Re: What's a nice pedal that sounds somewhat like a cranked EL34?

Thanks for your opinions! Quite unanimous so far, it seems that the MI Audio Crunch Box and the CM Plexitone are the most recommended ones. About what I expected, actually. It looks like I can get the Crunch Box for about 110e and the Plexitone for about 250e... quite a big difference. Has anybody had both to compare?
 
Re: What's a nice pedal that sounds somewhat like a cranked EL34?

Johtosotku said:
Thanks for your opinions! Quite unanimous so far, it seems that the MI Audio Crunch Box and the CM Plexitone are the most recommended ones. About what I expected, actually. It looks like I can get the Crunch Box for about 110e and the Plexitone for about 250e... quite a big difference. Has anybody had both to compare?
Click to expand...

Jeff H is a great guy! See if he still has his like new Plexitone for sale in the traders post?
 
Re: What's a nice pedal that sounds somewhat like a cranked EL34?

I think the Marshall Guvnor Plus can be pretty convincing.
 
Re: What's a nice pedal that sounds somewhat like a cranked EL34?

5 replies...
We said Plexitone only after 5 replies...

Rid, you're getting sloppy. :laugh2:


But yeah, the Plexitone is a good choice.
 
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