subversion
Moderator
CMAT-Mods: Tube Slammer
List: $198
So you’ve tried both the Ibanez & Maxxon Tubescreamer units & thought that the tone is a little too spongey to your liking. You wish for an unmodified unit with added girth but still retaining the much loved Tubescreamer warmth- check out the Tube Slammer.
CMAT-Mods’ reputation lies with their preoccupation with, you guessed it, pedal mods & custom specified makes. You’d forgive them for working on tried & tested formulae only to churn out an interesting interpretation of what the original manufacturer would have shunned. The Tube Slammer is an unashamed Tubescreamer imitation but this pedal addresses the midrange nuance more acutely than what the original has to offer. Included in this little ditty are the RC 4558 chip & EH 3DPT true bypass switch; a clear, tonal intention by the manufacturer as how the output should be. Despite quality assurances, the chassis cosmetics (dented, hammer-tone finish, according to the manufacturer) will either repel or attract your visual attention. Adding on to the insult are the manual insciptions of the control labels; Level/ Drive/ Tone, which are easily erasable.
In use, the Tube Slammer remains to be a mild drive-type pedal. Things only come to life upon its incorporation with a tube/ driven amp. What you’ll hear from this stomp box is an augmented midrange response from the already too familiar Tubescreamer tone. In isolation, it gives a very pleasing blues-type crunch. In conjunction with an already driven amp, the Tube Slammer’s presence is marked. One could hear a fat, warm response in the midrange so the issue of clarity here is arguably unquestionable. The drive control ensures a useable range for players who are either drive conscious or in need of added intensity. The Tube Slammer works equally well with single coil/ humbucking pickups, the former would benefit from a thickened bottom end with the appropriate tweaking of the tone control.
A quick peek into the Tube Slammer’s internals reveals, sadly, a shoddy workmanship. If you refer to the picture above, note the number of bent components & excessive glue application, very unbecoming for a brand name which propels reputable tone. Nevertheless, this reviewer wishes to assure interested parties that the mess here did not, in any way, affect the tone the pedal generates.
The Tube Slammer is believeably a good alternative to the conventional Tubescreamer. However, we note that owners can obtain a souped up version of the latter in the form of a Keeley inception. The price tag itself suggests a boutique standing so potential buyers need to evaluate their needs before parting with cash. If you are game for a boutique Tubescreameresque tone, the Tube Slammer is a winner’s purchase.
Rating: 7.5/10
Likes:
*Effective tonal enhancement
*Rigid exterior
*Economical size
*Not a battery-drainer
*Very bright LED
Dislikes:
*Workmanship (circuitry)
*Battery access (baseplate removal)
Worthy contenders:
• Ibanez Turbo Tubescreamer TS9DX
• Keeley TS9 Baked Mod[/b]
PS: Thank you Tymusiccentre for the review invitation
