Tube distortion pedals

[ciki]

Noob question, are the tubes in tube driven pedals the same as those tubes in amps? and will changing the tubes change the tone/sound?As ive gt a tube distortion pedal and was think to change the tube.or rather can it be change?? :lol: Thnx...

 

[wasp]

I'm no expert in this , but from some reviews of pedals I've read the owners did change the tubes and claimed there are differences in sound depending on the type of tubes

 

[ciki]

so it means tat thoses tubes are the same as those used in amps rite?? any recommends then? :lol:

 

[chimaera]

I have the mesa v1 tube overdrive running on 2 12AX7 mesa tubes. Yes changing the tubes to a different 12AX7 will change the character of the tubes. Better still change to the lower output ones like the 12AT7 etc.
Versatile way of getting different types of od tone...

 

[Marksman]

But yeah, these kind of pedals costs a bomb...

 

[Phil]

I've always had the impression that tubes in pedals are, more often than not, a gimmick.

I don't really think the voltage in pedals will be enough to induce much of an effect upon the tubes.

Hopefully some experts will help clarify this matter. :wink:

 

[gsonique]

Tube pedals do give a certain tube flavour but can't be compared to a tube amp due to the DC voltages induced.
And most tube pedal incooperate a dual opamp(chip) with clipping diodes to give smoother dirt like an ordinary drive pedal.
I prefer transistor based as the can operate to maximum required potential at lower power eg 9v to 18v.

IMHO get a tube amp and transistor drive pedal of choice...rock on !!

 

[edder]

high voltage does makes a difference in tube based pedals.

Some pseudo tube pedals with yellow LED light show that runs on 9VDC are running on starved voltage. Its still distortion but hey hey... if you like that sound, no one can fault you. Us snobbish techies will keep saying otherwise... cos we're uptight and snobbish like that.

However there are preamp tube based pedals that actually runs on high voltage. These variants can be simply looked at as taking the preamp section of a REAL tube amp and stuff it into a box. Take out the output power tubes, big ass Output transformer and big wooden cabinet.

Take for example the EH English Muffin. Its being fed with a 12VAC power supply into a small transformer in the PCB to scale it up to 300VAC. YUM YUM. Does this preamp sounds like a vintage Marshall amp? I don't really think it does but then do I have the rest of the complementing ingredients like a tube power amp into a nice cab? NO. So who am I to say this or that?

It could be an EXACT copy of a Marshall preamp and I believe it is.

You can mess around with the preamp tubes. There are loads of them out there. 12AX7 AFAIK have the highest gain. There are 12AT7, 12AY7, 12AU7 that goes even lower in gain. I've played around these tubes with the EH English Muffin and had a lot of fun hearing how these tubes interact with each other. In the end, I prefered the sound of the low gain preamp tubes in the English Muffin.

There's no right or wrong in sound. Its whether you like the sound or not.

 

[Qkumba]

enlightening..

 

[chimaera]

KOWTOWS !!!!!! edder u got low output preamp tubes, can contact pm me.. u da man...

 

[subversion]

tube inclusion in pedals is actually a novice lure for tone dileanators, calling it a gimmick is really going quite over-board because there are tonal differences, just a matter of whether it appeals to the user or otherwise.

the layperson would deem the tube pedal preferable because chances are, he would have been impressed with a tube amp prior to this exposure. there must be the understanding that tubes in pedals have a different chemistry than their applications in amps.

i've tried many distortion/ fuzz/ drive units- if it's impressive, it's impressive, regardless if it's tube inclusive or otherwise.

if there's a tube distortion that i like (i prefer amp drive, period), it has to be:

 

[ciki]

Thnx for the replys guys, my current tube pedal gives a very bassy fuzz type of tone when turn up gain but a warm overdriven tone when turn gain low.cant realli gt a crunchy distiortion tone after tweaking the eq.(dont realli noe hw to describle tone) :lol: so will changing to a cetain tube be able to achive tat?? As in higher output tubes??

 

[edder]

only will know when you try it. all talk in forum won't lead to much conclusions.

and you're not even telling us your tube pedal. :wink:

 

[awexome]

I have a bulldog distortion (VOX) suppose to be tube but somehow I dont think it sound like tube to me. The distortion is too sharp for a human ear.

I am using a SG standard any advice?

 

[subversion]

awexome: it might might the amp's fault... what amp would that be?

 

[awexome]

Tried in a few jamming studio. Marshall, Line 6 and my personal Crate amp.

 

[Marksman]

How about we compile a list of tube OD/Distortion pedals that we know of?

Damage Control (http://www.damagecontrolusa.com/)
-Demonizer
-Womanizer
-Liquid Blues
-Solid Metal

Seymour Duncan Twin Tube Classic

Add to the list hehe.

 

[gsonique]

 

[penguin]

ya ..true edder..i got a hunch that its a tonebone...
Ciki is that what you have??

abt this 12ax7 thingy, seen in many compressor,mic preamp ..the truth is dunno if its really effective(as in warm up the tone)some are that cheap i find its could be just a gimmick ..

 

[Indigo_blues]

Be careful those fingers!!