The red llama sounded good up to halfway on the gain control. The hot tubes seems like it wasn't doing much below eight o'clock but once you got passed that it came one strong and kept coming. I'd take a hot tubes if I were picking between the two.
Cameltoe is great, but equally as good is the Hot Wax from EHX. Its the Hot tubes and Crayon - serves pretty much the same purpose. I have Hot tubes on my board whenever I need beefing up my guitar tone. And it goes extremely well together with a transparent overdrive, like Timmy. That's the combination I use.
Great video. I've had a hot ubes nano for years, no matter how many pedals I go through that one has stayed and will always be in my gig bag. It's so versatile, I like the red llama but it sounded like a one trick pony. B
The Red Llama has a few tricks up it's sleeves. One of which, is a great volume boost after pedals. Another, is how well it works after fuzz pedals. They are both great pedals and I would use them for different reasons.
My Hot Tubes pairs extremely well with my MXR Distortion + (a 2000s version. Not sure the exact age) I run it into the MXR and just get that extra bit of fuzziness. The Red Llama has more detail in the run of the volume and gain controls. Two boxes in the same family but not twins.
My understanding is that the Hot Tubes has way more MOSFET clipping inside compared to the Red Llama. It's based of the same circuit, but the Hot Tubes has way more clipping available.
@@TheToneLounge Has much more gain on tap. Gets very fuzz like at max gain, very ragged tweed amp going into meltdown vibe . Does the whole guitar volume knob cleanup thing.
i love that you do a level sweep. it's annoying when pedal demoers don't touch the level knobs ever because the pedals react differently and hit the amp differently depending on how loud they get! personally prefer the red llama here wonder what other alternatives to it there are out there
I think it's important to explore the controls. As you mentioned, they can react differently with your amp. As for alternatives to the Red Llama, there are a lot of clones on the market. Chicago Stomp Works has a clone called Legitimate Beef.
If you have one OD, it's the EH for flexibility. If you stack, then it's the Llama for better tone lower on gain, which can be boosted by the stacked pedal. Could be biased as I have the Red Llama :-)
The Hot Tubes is a bottom heavy pedal, so pairing it with a thinner sounding pedal is almost mandatory. I tried the Hot Tubes with my old Gibson amp, and it wasn't a good fit. Way too much bass for that little combo amp. Were I to try it again (which I almost likely will) I will use the Green Rhno or T-Rex Diva Drive.
Chicago Stompworks Legitimate Beef on-sale is a good budget option, no Tone control. Also, since you posted this, a WHRL "smalls" version was released. Great demo, enjoy just listening to the great riffage.
I remember you telling me about them. I tried reaching out, but they never replied. The Smalls Red Llama looks like it's very cool too. If they had them here in Europe I would buy one to do a demos, alas...
I just sold my Hot Tubes after having it on the market for like a year. I liked it, but didn't want to have to choose between that and a different overdrive, so I got the Hot Wax to replace them both. I use the volume of the Hot Tubes to boost the front end of the amp and the overdrive is just barely breaking up, it's an "always on" deal. And I use the Crayon side as an overdrive to boost distorted tones, of course. I think the Red Llama sounds cool but wouldn't shell out the extra cash for it, especially since it doesn't even have a Tone knob.
People keep telling me about the Hot Wax, I really need to get my hands on one. I like how you dial in your pedal, sounds like something I would do. Would you say that the Hot Tube sounds different to the Hot Tubes version in the Hot Wax?
@@TheToneLounge Yeah it's a nice pedal. I do think it sounds the same, though I haven't tested it. There wasn't any noticeable difference, but there is the compromise of having a shared EQ, so you don't have the same control as you do on the Hot Tubes unless you want to change the sound of the Crayon as well. If you do get one, it would be cool to see if there are any differences! 👍
@@Just-Michael the thoughts of all of us, if there is any tonal compromise on the hot tubes being cohoused with another effect unit in the same box. we will see
@Kyle Dege For sure, a separate EQ for the Hot Tubes side would be perfect. But I guess that's the compromise for having both pedals. Still a great pedal.
This has cured my red llama GAS, and will cause me to use my hot wax at my next gig, always sounded good but was scared to use ehx drives at stage volume. We shall see!! Thanks for the demo!
Thanks! One pedal you might want to put on your radar is the Xotic BB Preamp, I have the cheap B-Box clone (which is supposedly very close to the Xotic), I was really surprised how well it paired with my av4tv
I would have kept a Hot Tubes nano forever but the noise it introduces and how it amplifies over pedals noise exponentially is the biggest detractor for me. It sound good multiple different ways, never that tight of a sound and can be slightly scooped in the mids too. A SHO boosting a HT is killer but now we city, so don't stop playing or use a really good noise gate.
The Hot Tubes is a fun and great sounding pedal. My only issue with it is how much low end it produces. It overwhelms my old Gibson GA-15RVT. I just can't use it with that amp the way I can use the Red Llama. Side by side, the Hot Tubes seems to have far more going for it than the Red Llama. In practicality, the Red Llama wipes the floor with it in terms of versatility...with just two simple knobs.
That's a valid point. Is the price tag indicative of the quality of the tone produced by the pedal? Or is the price point rather a byproduct of supply and demand?
@@TheToneLounge I'm not sure, but for me I find that I'm more likely to buy a pedal for a good price if it's been discontinued. I was originally going to wait until WayHuge came out with a Smalls version of the Red Llama, but when they discontinued the Red Llama mk2 and the Cameltoe mk2, I jumped on the Cameltoe before it was all gone. Similar thing recently happened with the Mad Professor Supreme as well.
I like the sound of the Hot Tubes a bit better but the Red Llama seems a bit more flexible. I believe Mike Campbell uses the Red Llama or that same type circuit in another pedal.
Amp: 2017 Vox AC15c1/Greenback GTR: 2016 Squier CV with heavy mods GTR: 2000 MIM Tele with heavy mods GTR: stock 2008 Gibson SG Special GTR: stock 2019 es339 The preamps are those in my PreSonus Studio 192 Mobile. Cheers
Hot Tubes wins for me. More flexible and cooler sounding, although I could imagine a Red Llama being easier to deal with on a live pedal board because its mids are a little more normal.
They are both cool, but although they stem from the same circuit, I think they were designed to perform different tasks. The Hot Tubes is better on it's own, as a light to medium OD. The Red Llama is better at stacking on top of an already overdriven tone, or used as a clean boost.
@@TheToneLounge I can see that. I used to have a Red Llama clone that a friend (who was actually a pedal builder) made for me. I could never really find a use for it, but I was playing through a clean amp at the time.
I ended up with Hotwax because I saw it for 64.99 thought why not I ended up liking crayon side of it as well thought the video was great keep them coming 😎
Between the two? Hard to say. As you saw in the video, both react differently to my Green Rhino (which is a TS-808). The Red Llama gets more aggressive with a TS while the Hot Tubes remains more articulate.
@@TheToneLounge one had the SLIGHT edge over the other in certain situations and vice versa IMHO the main thing I really liked about this Video is how competently and comprehensively you compare them both and made me convince myself that I don’t need a red llama because I already have a hot wax pedal Thanks for subduing my G.A.S and saving me money (my neighbours AND bank manager thanks you also!)
⚡ 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼𝘀:
🔴 VFP series: ua-cam.com/play/PLeAo3au6SN1kfdYcyp8bvHttqkPinQ2Wt.html
🔴 AC15 series: ua-cam.com/play/PLeAo3au6SN1mEE4I1YYC2GtP7Y9sZ4VKT.html
The Red Llama has always been on the back burner of pedals to buy. This video just shot it straight to the top! Good stuff! GAS has intensified!
I'm glad I could help...although maybe I didn't...😄
The Hot Tubes sounds so awesome cranked! I just got one and am loving the loud fuzziness
Yeah, this circuit makes for a great fuzz pedal. What amp are you using?
@@TheToneLounge Boss Katana MKII
+1 for the EHX Hot Tubes, much more versatile in gain and tone.
Man those higher gain tones were great. Both pedals sound killer through that Vox, good stuff.
This type of circuit is often overlooked, but they work great with a Vox amp.
Looking forward to this one
Just two more days...:)
The red llama sounded good up to halfway on the gain control. The hot tubes seems like it wasn't doing much below eight o'clock but once you got passed that it came one strong and kept coming. I'd take a hot tubes if I were picking between the two.
Both have their pros and cons. I'd love to stack two Red Llamas.
Cameltoe is great, but equally as good is the Hot Wax from EHX. Its the Hot tubes and Crayon - serves pretty much the same purpose.
I have Hot tubes on my board whenever I need beefing up my guitar tone. And it goes extremely well together with a transparent overdrive, like Timmy. That's the combination I use.
Many people have recommended the Hot Wax over the last few years. I guess I should get one and try it. lol
Can't wait! I dragged out my old Hot Tubes yesterday. I don't play it enough.
You have the version with the actual tube/valve?
@@TheToneLounge Alas, no. It's the reissue, I purchased it several years ago.
Just got my Hot Tubes and I love it!
I'm happy to hear that!
Great video. I've had a hot ubes nano for years, no matter how many pedals I go through that one has stayed and will always be in my gig bag. It's so versatile, I like the red llama but it sounded like a one trick pony. B
The Red Llama has a few tricks up it's sleeves. One of which, is a great volume boost after pedals. Another, is how well it works after fuzz pedals. They are both great pedals and I would use them for different reasons.
My Hot Tubes pairs extremely well with my MXR Distortion + (a 2000s version. Not sure the exact age) I run it into the MXR and just get that extra bit of fuzziness. The Red Llama has more detail in the run of the volume and gain controls. Two boxes in the same family but not twins.
My understanding is that the Hot Tubes has way more MOSFET clipping inside compared to the Red Llama. It's based of the same circuit, but the Hot Tubes has way more clipping available.
@@TheToneLounge Has much more gain on tap. Gets very fuzz like at max gain, very ragged tweed amp going into meltdown vibe . Does the whole guitar volume knob cleanup thing.
i love that you do a level sweep. it's annoying when pedal demoers don't touch the level knobs ever because the pedals react differently and hit the amp differently depending on how loud they get!
personally prefer the red llama here wonder what other alternatives to it there are out there
I think it's important to explore the controls. As you mentioned, they can react differently with your amp.
As for alternatives to the Red Llama, there are a lot of clones on the market.
Chicago Stomp Works has a clone called Legitimate Beef.
@@TheToneLounge i saw that on reverb a while back! i almost pulled the trigger but wasn't quite sure cuz i hadn't heard of chicago stomp works before
@@AudreyYun I hadn't until recently either. Never tried their stuff though.
You could just get the new smalls version. It'll get you there!
If you have one OD, it's the EH for flexibility.
If you stack, then it's the Llama for better tone lower on gain, which can be boosted by the stacked pedal.
Could be biased as I have the Red Llama :-)
The one thing I am a bit disappointed in, is that I don't like how these two stack.
With the tone knob able to be disengaged the Hot Tubes gets my vote for good sounds and flexibility.
Sounded ace pushed by the Rhino!
The Hot Tubes is a bottom heavy pedal, so pairing it with a thinner sounding pedal is almost mandatory. I tried the Hot Tubes with my old Gibson amp, and it wasn't a good fit. Way too much bass for that little combo amp. Were I to try it again (which I almost likely will) I will use the Green Rhno or T-Rex Diva Drive.
Chicago Stompworks Legitimate Beef on-sale is a good budget option, no Tone control. Also, since you posted this, a WHRL "smalls" version was released. Great demo, enjoy just listening to the great riffage.
I remember you telling me about them. I tried reaching out, but they never replied. The Smalls Red Llama looks like it's very cool too. If they had them here in Europe I would buy one to do a demos, alas...
I just sold my Hot Tubes after having it on the market for like a year. I liked it, but didn't want to have to choose between that and a different overdrive, so I got the Hot Wax to replace them both. I use the volume of the Hot Tubes to boost the front end of the amp and the overdrive is just barely breaking up, it's an "always on" deal. And I use the Crayon side as an overdrive to boost distorted tones, of course. I think the Red Llama sounds cool but wouldn't shell out the extra cash for it, especially since it doesn't even have a Tone knob.
People keep telling me about the Hot Wax, I really need to get my hands on one. I like how you dial in your pedal, sounds like something I would do. Would you say that the Hot Tube sounds different to the Hot Tubes version in the Hot Wax?
@@TheToneLounge Yeah it's a nice pedal. I do think it sounds the same, though I haven't tested it. There wasn't any noticeable difference, but there is the compromise of having a shared EQ, so you don't have the same control as you do on the Hot Tubes unless you want to change the sound of the Crayon as well. If you do get one, it would be cool to see if there are any differences! 👍
@@Just-Michael the thoughts of all of us, if there is any tonal compromise on the hot tubes being cohoused with another effect unit in the same box.
we will see
@Kyle Dege For sure, a separate EQ for the Hot Tubes side would be perfect. But I guess that's the compromise for having both pedals. Still a great pedal.
This has cured my red llama GAS, and will cause me to use my hot wax at my next gig, always sounded good but was scared to use ehx drives at stage volume. We shall see!! Thanks for the demo!
Now that's a great video.
Thanks Nico! Did you prefer one of the two pedals?
@@TheToneLounge I could use m both. The EHX for wall of sound purposes maybe.
Thanks! One pedal you might want to put on your radar is the Xotic BB Preamp, I have the cheap B-Box clone (which is supposedly very close to the Xotic), I was really surprised how well it paired with my av4tv
I actually have one a did a demo a while back. It's a great pedal.
The EHX Hot Tubes seems to be a lot more versatile than the Red LLama. I prefer it. I have ordered one I will check that quite soon.
Let me know your thoughts on it.
I'm biased since my all time fav is the HT with the switch engaged ALWAYS, knob at 2 o'clock.
The Hot Tubes is a bit of a one trick pony, but that trick is awesome.
Red Llama MKII into a already driven amp is gorgeous. After MKII they not they same.
I have not tried the new ones, but did hear that they weren't quite the same.
damnit. now I just want both.
You can start with the most affordable one first! ;)
I have the Electro harmonix hot wax duel overdrive I'll stay with it ..
I would have kept a Hot Tubes nano forever but the noise it introduces and how it amplifies over pedals noise exponentially is the biggest detractor for me. It sound good multiple different ways, never that tight of a sound and can be slightly scooped in the mids too. A SHO boosting a HT is killer but now we city, so don't stop playing or use a really good noise gate.
The Hot Tubes is a fun and great sounding pedal. My only issue with it is how much low end it produces. It overwhelms my old Gibson GA-15RVT. I just can't use it with that amp the way I can use the Red Llama. Side by side, the Hot Tubes seems to have far more going for it than the Red Llama. In practicality, the Red Llama wipes the floor with it in terms of versatility...with just two simple knobs.
You might prefer the Hot Wax as the Hot Tubes bass can be tamed with separate bass and treble controls
@@blueguitar8479 possibly, the Pigtronix Disnortion is supposed to be similar and I want to try the micro and full sized one some day.
Supposedly a tubescreamer/vintage overdrive in front of the hot tubes tames this issue.
I have both the EHX Hot Wax double OD ($100CAD used) and the WayHuge Cameltoe v2 ($515CAD new), I prefer the Cameltoe, but not 5 times as much.
That's a valid point. Is the price tag indicative of the quality of the tone produced by the pedal? Or is the price point rather a byproduct of supply and demand?
@@TheToneLounge I'm not sure, but for me I find that I'm more likely to buy a pedal for a good price if it's been discontinued. I was originally going to wait until WayHuge came out with a Smalls version of the Red Llama, but when they discontinued the Red Llama mk2 and the Cameltoe mk2, I jumped on the Cameltoe before it was all gone. Similar thing recently happened with the Mad Professor Supreme as well.
@@kosmicwizard someone near me has a Cameltoe for sell. It's really bugging me. 300 euros.
@@TheToneLounge I would say it's worth it, and especially if it's a V1 ...
Muy buenos los 2, pero me quedo con el hot tubes. Buen video.
Los Hot Tubes son un gran pedal. Suena muy bien.
Hot tubes with the rhino 😎👍
What do you prefer about that combination?
@@TheToneLounge sounds like a tone that 3rd eye blind would use in the 90s.
@@brandonanderson2066 yeah I could see that. Losing a whole year has some awesome guitar tones.
I like the sound of the Hot Tubes a bit better but the Red Llama seems a bit more flexible. I believe Mike Campbell uses the Red Llama or that same type circuit in another pedal.
He uses the Cameltoe, which is a Red Llama and Green Rhino in one enclosure.
@@TheToneLounge I have one in the post at the moment. Was about to buy a green rhino and found the camel toe for the same price.
The RED LLAMA sounds better on every setting IMO. What kind of guitar and amp or preamp were you using?
Amp: 2017 Vox AC15c1/Greenback
GTR: 2016 Squier CV with heavy mods
GTR: 2000 MIM Tele with heavy mods
GTR: stock 2008 Gibson SG Special
GTR: stock 2019 es339
The preamps are those in my PreSonus Studio 192 Mobile. Cheers
It sounds muddy compared to the HT.
Excited!
A few more hours to go.
Hot tubes for me
Great pedal at a great price.
Hot Tubes wins for me. More flexible and cooler sounding, although I could imagine a Red Llama being easier to deal with on a live pedal board because its mids are a little more normal.
They are both cool, but although they stem from the same circuit, I think they were designed to perform different tasks. The Hot Tubes is better on it's own, as a light to medium OD. The Red Llama is better at stacking on top of an already overdriven tone, or used as a clean boost.
@@TheToneLounge I can see that. I used to have a Red Llama clone that a friend (who was actually a pedal builder) made for me. I could never really find a use for it, but I was playing through a clean amp at the time.
I like the ehx hottubes better but way huge red llama sounds good too
They are both excellent. If I didn't own the Red Llama, I would be happy with just the Hot Tubes.
I ended up with Hotwax because I saw it for 64.99 thought why not I ended up liking crayon side of it as well thought the video was great keep them coming 😎
Thanks Jeff! I'll see if I can get my hands on a Hot Wax and do a demo. Cheers
Hot Tubes for tonal versatility
It's got more options, but the Red Llama is deceivingly versatile.
EQD Westwood vs Timmy would be nice
I'll see what I can do.
I like stacking a tube screamer over my amp distortion. Witch one would you recommend?
Between the two? Hard to say. As you saw in the video, both react differently to my Green Rhino (which is a TS-808). The Red Llama gets more aggressive with a TS while the Hot Tubes remains more articulate.
G R E A T CHANNEL!!!
Thanks for the kind words. Did you prefer one pedal over the other?
@@TheToneLounge one had the SLIGHT edge over the other in certain situations and vice versa IMHO
the main thing I really liked about this Video is how competently and comprehensively you compare them both and made me convince myself that I don’t need a red llama because I already have a hot wax pedal
Thanks for subduing my G.A.S and saving me money (my neighbours AND bank manager thanks you also!)
Close enough to not matter. Hot Tubes is cheaper as is Hot Wax which looks like a bargain.
I've heard a lot of great things about the Hot Wax. Have you tried any of these pedals?