Real Tube Overdrive Pedals [Current Faves Vs Thorpy Electric Lightning & CTC Space Charged]
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
- Fancy some vacuum tubes in your overdrive pedal? Step this way…
Welcome to the show. There has been a resurgence in valve-equipped overdrive pedals in recent years. And we don’t mean dedicated preamps - we mean actual, pedalboard-friendly, into-the-front-of-the-amp overdrive pedals.
Regular viewers will know that Dan and I currently have such beasts on our own personal boards, and that a recent guest and dear friend - Mr Chris Buck - has one on his too. What better excuse then to fire up the heaters and start dissipating some voltage? Tube-y or not tube-y… erm, we’ve made that gag before.
Enjoy the show!
Interesting bits and go to sections…
0:00 Intro playing
Pedals & Stuff used in this show
• TheGigRig Three2One
www.thegigrig....
• Sonic Research Turbo Tuner 200
Australia: bit.ly/3AIinS5
• Ibanez Soundtank TS5 Tubescreamer
No longer made
• BK Butler Tube Driver
butleraudio.co...
• Kingsley Harlot (links to V3)
kingsleyamplifi...
• Crazy Tube Circuits Space Charged V2
UK & Europe: bit.ly/3zaTX5Z
• Thorpy Electric Lightning
UK & Europe: bit.ly/3zaTX5Z
Australia: bit.ly/3z75289
• Vahlbruch Kaluna Drive
www.vahlbruch-...
• Diamond Memory Lane
UK & Europe: bit.ly/3zaTX5Z
Australia: bit.ly/45A02oK
• TheGigRig G3S
www.thegigrig....
Amps used in today’s show
• Benson Bellringer 1x12 combo with Benson Custom Ceramic 12-inch speaker
USA: sweetwater.sjv...
• Fender ’65 Deluxe Reverb with stock speaker
UK & Europe: bit.ly/3zaTX5Z
USA: sweetwater.sjv...
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Thought the opening bit where the amp was turned up to 10 was a story told in itself. dB meter topped out about 101-102 which shows the amp just got more saturated instead of unbearably loud. Very nice!
Totally that! Doesn’t get any louder past about 5
I love that you guys still use actual amps to demo pedals, rather than amp sim /IR pedals. Thanks!
Yah. The day we use amps sims is the day we come off the air.
@@ThatPedalShow Love it. Nothing like Real Tubes.
@@ThatPedalShowwhat did you think of the hx stomp xl as used on Chris Buck's board?
Tubes into tubes into tubes
So glad to see a TS5 featured. It was my first pedal back in the earky 90s, and I still go back to it, frequently.
I just got off the phone with Simon (ordered a Harlot!). Thanks for bringing this delightful pedal to my attention. All great new information I learn seems to come from TPS these days! Thanks for all you do! P.S. I thanked Simon for all he does as well!
Great show guys. Love the Electric Lightning - sounds awesome - great job Thorpy! Thanks for including the Harlot...small note: as it is a V1 Harlot it does not have any low end control. The leaning out of the low end is totally available on the V3 with it's 3-way Lows switch. All the best and keep up the great work!
I’m glad you guys came through on this one! I have a Roland Jazz Chorus and was looking for some tube pedals to get a more tube amp sound sometimes but there wasn’t an extensive guide until now! I actually am running a tube preamp thing someone gave me for free a while back for fun right now to get some breakup.
This is going to be a great episode. About to go down the valve pedal rabbit hole and wonder if i should skip the intermediate steps and go straight to the finale - The Juggler 😅
I’ve been fortunate to spend significant time with the Page, Harlot, Maiden, Jouster, Jester, and a Troubador and they are pretty awesome. I’m a simple man and found myself trying to push them all to a narrower set of eq that I wanted/drive level.. part of the tone journey…ah that’s me. Got an Analogman Red Dot Sunface and it had me right in there right where the fuzz starts to cleanup a bit. I ended up selling the Kingsley Pedals because I found my sound. I miss them from time to time, but ultimately I now know where home is located. Personally I think I could go with any of them,but possibly settle on the jester V2 with sizzle
I’ve had almost every Kingsley pedal and I always come back to the minstrel.
Tube Driver and Space Charge[d] seemed like pedals that make you guys want to play.
I really liked your chops with those two pedals.
“We digress…” “welcome to TPS”. Hahaha
Its the best part!
That should be the under title of the name of the channel
FYI, Kaluna V2 is out now feature a three way toggle for Low, Standard and High Gain modes
Correct, and FWIW, I can absolutely confirm that it is awesome (in all caps)!
That electric lightning sounds phenomenal with the LP
Deluxe on 10, sitting around 100db. “We use pedals to get that sound at lower volume”…. the rest of the show at 105db 👌😂
I find this fascinating for the simple fact that, to my ears, none of these pedals had that ozone, fried bacon high-end harshness that I hear with modelers. That seems like the sweet spot for tubes or even analog generated tones. Thanks for another great video.
Man, I'd have a hard time choosing between the Harlot and the Lightning. Incredible.
one legendary valve over drive is the mesa v twin. would love to have a listen to one again.
Thank you leg-ends. Tones and tangents! Increase and persist!
I have nothing of value to add except, Screaming tubes & lightning very very frightening me, Mick & Danno Mick & Danno Magnifico oh oh oh oh 🧐
Great sounds !! And much appreciation for the editorial comment on the cost of Manufacturing plus Research and Development
Love your videos, guys! And these OD pedals sound amazing.
Space charged sounds FANTASTIC
The Deluxe Reverb and Lester takes me straight back to TPS Experience Day, 'twas epic!!
Hello Adam!
They’ve got to bring the honk horn back!!!
There is a Kaluna 2 now. I just got it and compared to the first version there are way more sounds in it, especially the feeling under the fingers change with the different settings. You should check it out…
The Harlot sounds perfect
Yeah. That electric lighting pedal is absolutely amazing
I went budget. TC electronic Tube Pilot. Proper valve distortion and you can upgrade the valve. Like an old amp foot switch.
Clear winner for me by a country mile, the Kaluna
I'd love to hear how the Elec Lightning pairs with a gainy JTM45, if it isn't bass heavy compared to the others, great overdrive whilst keeping the bottom end under control
would be interesting to hear these with non tube amp, just to compare
Wow Man I need a Deluxe Reverb
Nice sounds guys👍
Eric Johnson keeps both EQ settings at zero on his Tube Driver. For a long time, his Tube Driver didn't have the white center cap on the tube drive knob, so it's hard to know exactly where he had that set. He has since replaced that knob (much whiter, while the other three have yellowed considerably), and in a video showing a close-up he had the level about 3, and the drive at five.
The Tube Driver being "the worst of the bunch is like being the slowest Ferrari. When you've got a good driver, it kinda doesn't matter.
I didn't love the Electric Lightning with a Tele into my Voxy backline. It worked a lot better with the TV Jones T90's in my Gretsch Jet thought it sounded particularly great with the SG here. Ultimately it returned it as I'm mostly a Tele guy. I'm looking forward to getting my Kingsley Mason to supplement the Page that has been such a big part of my rig for the last couple of years.
Expensive boost that Tube Driver, but I guess you use it for some sag without much dirt? I can see that. My understanding is tubes (and other gain components) sag and clip more abruptly & unstably and darken at lower V. The high V pedals are not only brighter, but the harmonics are more stable, and clipping more gradual, but the high-end does duck dynamically as the Z increases on previous gain stages with more gain. The original rack mount Chandler Tube Driver (I once used when it first came out in the mid 80s) included a Contour knob that smoothed the midrange so higher gain settings wouldn't get too wild. It may have been a LNFB circuit.
Killer episode. The electric lightning was my favorite as well. But I aspire to be like Chris so I’m a bit biased. Opening with the Deluxe on 10 was a great way to start this episode. Thanks 🦵🏻 ends. Have great weekend!
Boost footswitch engages BOTH volume and gain boosts, level of which you set with the knobs. I assume gain boost is pre, vol boost is post
Les Paul -> TS5 -> Cranked 65 Deluxe Reissue - instant killer tone. *sigh* I think I try too hard sometimes. lol
I still use my Mesa V-Twin pedal - using the clean and blues settings -- these new ones do sound amazing - I would love to hear some older, well thought of, tube pedals against the best of the new ones? Vintage vs New Valve Pedals??
What happened to the "go to" time stamped sections?? Looks like you started to put them in but stopped? it's so hard to jump around to the sections!!
you can make the tube driver sound a lot better by swapping the tube to a vintage mullard i63, the best low mids known to man. you can also lower the gain by swapping to an at or au 7.
The best one ever though, is the Zendrive 2!
Open up a bk butler pedal it has beautiful hand wiring inside
The copter wrapping Inside is like artwork. Eric Johnson.
Bk butler is a awesome pedal
Thank s for eq input bk. I set very low. And then I saw Eric Johnson was set low. And Gilmore.
TC Electronic do a tube driver like called the "tube pilot" that's great if you want to try it at not too much money.
Suggestion for the store: olives with a little guy in there.
Tube Driver killed the Harlot.
I listened to this episode on a tube amp
You have to have a look at Tubesteader.
Chewb dryva!
1. Tube Driver
2. Kaluna
3. Harlot
4. Space Charged
5. Electric Lightning . . in that order . . subjectively 😉
YES not a live Q&A
Don't sleep on the EHX tube series pedals everyone out there. Phenomenol but shitty power supply. But can be had on the cheap and some of the best pedals out there. Very large though.
I have a tube zipper that is great sounding but super noisy so it has left my board.
@@dr.gregoryweisswassernd7251 I doubled down and have two Tube Zippers and am acticely trying to raise their value. The English Muff'n and Wiggler are also incredible. Like smack across the face good.
Do you guys ever use a modeller? Just curious.
No. Used em all, have mates who do. But us, no.
"Utterly ridiculous question to ask, right? So let's ask it..." This is why this is the best channel. Hands down.
Hahahaah! Thank you!
I lived on the road for the majority of 96-2004 touring, mostly US, Canada, Mexico and South America with a few European legs and a handful of shows in Russia and Japan. My entire road rig for those 8 years was nothing but those little black plastic ladybug looking Soundtank pedals by Ibanez. Despite nearly a decade of constant abuse, I never had a single one croak on me. Seeing one of them pop up just now on a TPS thumbnail brought back so many great memories. The value those pedals offered was insane. The Echomachine, Black Noise and CrunchyRhythm need to be revived, they were my favorites but all of them were great. For 'budget' plastic pedals, they were surprisingly durable and the effects themselves were incredible.
PS: to anyone who has an issue with the footswitch on these being finnicky, I had the same issue at first too then our first time in Europe we played in Belgium and one of the sound guys showed me the design flaw, Ibanez made the pedals so that it looks like you're supposed to press where the 5 dots are but this isnt' where the actual mechanism is inside.. actually you wanna aim your foot to push down as high as you can on that foot switch area, above the 5 indentions/dots, just below the battery cover (where the colored label is that says the pedal name), it's sort of an awkward feel under the foot to press down there but you'll get a 100% success rate switching on/off the pedal, promise
I still can't believe this content is just available on the internet for everyone to see. So much knowledge, high quality of production and sound and most of all just pure FUN!!!
Cheers guys, I wouldn't be the player I am today without your videos!
Thanks
Thanks so much mate 🤓🙏
I love my Tube Driver. A rare drive pedal that works equally well in clean (how Gilmour uses it) and dirty amps (how EJ uses it). Though I’d happily use any of these other options.
Kingsley makes the best pedals. So squishy and touch responsive.
I also like the Radial stuff, but Kingsley is undefeated.
Glad you touched on people hammering UK and USA builders over their prices when they're providing jobs, paying a proper wage instead of scraping their employees for every penny, and manufacturing with quality components. It's really frustrating that people are so aggressive/negative over what is ultimately a non-essential purchase, a pedal being expensive does not mean you will be starved to death or lose your house, it just means you have to save for longer or you don't buy it!
There's so much affordable gear now that if certain items are unaffordable, there are plenty of great alternatives.
There's simply no need to attack builders for setting a price that they feel is fair value for their product, if they get it wrong then it won't sell and will come down in price, if they get it right then clearly there's plenty of people who agree that it's fairly valued.
Anyway, moving beyond my own mini-rant, enjoyed the show as always! Have a good weekend guys!
Very well said
Thank you for this!
Spot on!
@@gejskelly exactly. I’m actually happier spending my GAS money on quality gear from small businesses close to home (within reason). “Fenner”, “Gobsin” et al don’t need my money.
Bk butler The copper wrapping. inside. Is like artwork. Eric Johnson fave.
You have reminded me that it's been too long since I've turned my Fender DRRI up to 10. Hold my beer...
@@brittmurray9818 I felt the same way. Grab the Les Paul and turn it all the way up.
Sometimes I stop listening for the tonal nuances and seem to be more sensitive to how Mick or Dan are responding to the pedal.. I know it's about personal taste but I can hear when they are inspired by the sound and that's what gets my attention.
Also I just like to take a moment every now and then on these videos to appreciate the quality of their playing as it's developed over the years. The confidence with which they play and the stability etc of their intonation - plus the recording quality, it's top notch and you guys should be so proud. The value we get out of these videos has been amplified through the years. Thanks. I mean cheers.
Thank you Michael, that is a very thoughtful comment, cheers!
In my young age, I played in a Zeppelin cover band, mostly playing the tunes from the first album, the majority of the set was my tele into my cranked deluxe reissue, with a Danelectro as a backup. That sound is just intoxicating
Hell yeah! I plug my tele into a little vox ac4 with some fuzz in front, pretty much nails that tone from the first album. I have a lot of fun with it.
To me, the Kaluna and White Lightning are 1a/1b can’t really pick a fav between them. Then there’s a big gap for me between those two and the Space Charged and Harlot, which both sounded only okay to me then a huge gap again to the Tube Driver which I really did not like the sound of at all. Too wooly and not enough clarity. I like bite in my tone.
That Space Charged sounds fantastic.
My two favorite UA-cam guys, Donald and Mack 😅
Hahahah!
Donald Dan and Steamboat Micky
@@CorbCorbin - lol!
Donald Pleasence (or is it Presence), aka Blofeld. The nemesis of 007 decibels.
thought mick was about to give us some Black Hole Sun around 0:35
27:43 thats the tone right there!
🤓 5 years 10 1/2 months to get to the top of the list for a KOT, just got the email yesterday. 🥳...
Holy moly. Enjoy!
I would love for Dan and Mick to get ahold of some Tubesteader pedals. They seem like just the sort of thing the guys would dive into
I have never tried a real tube OD that I've liked. The ones I have experience with don't do the "hair on top" thing very well. There is always an unpleasant fizz on the top end. Maybe the newer ones do this better?
The Electric Lightning sounds the best to me by far, but a used Kaluna for under £300 is the one that's realistically tempting to me
Not that there is anything wrong with Thorpys pricing, I get it I just can't afford it!
That CTC stole my heart. Also the information from maker, that you can change the tubes to get more or less gain is golden. As it start with 12AY7, you can easy get gainier with 12AX7 or less gain with 12AT7. And oh my giddy aunt, does it sound awesome.
Not like the other pedal not, just this one has the grit in the places, where I want them to be.
PS: so which one do I like the least? None of them, that will be unfair, they are all stellar.
Plugged in my proper wired headphones for this episode (often use Bluetooth out of laziness) wow the show is sounding so good, great job, great episode. Fav was Kaluna with Dans Red and Crazy Tube for the Lester. Have a great weekend catch ya Monday for VCQ
What microphones are you using to mic the cabs?
First, I love my tube overdrive pedals almost to a Pokémon level (got to catch ‘em all!), but on the point of a fully cranked Fender having awesome overdrive…I had a Fender Quad Reverb (mega amp) and one gig I had a fail in my pedalboard right on the big finale so I ripped out my cable, ran it straight into the amp, then ran my palm over the amp controls putting everything on 10. It must have been louder than the hounds of hell but it sounded incredible and the audience went nuts! Rock and Roll Heaven. 🎸
I saw Everclear at a festival in the 90s and the guitarist did that same move to start the show! Sounded huge.
I worked for a band that would run the deluxe reverb into a Marshall 4x12 with greenbacks. Sounded great!!
Another wonderful show gents! I hope you two get a Kingtone Rise on the show soon, pretty ridiculous pedal
Going full Segeborn on the Kaluna there, Dan.
Sweet. The quest for overdrives never really dies does it? Although after getting my Harlot it very nearly did. Fortunately I was able to resuscitate it.
Really enjoyable episode! Some of Mick’s best playing ever!
The Space Charged Les Paul combo was epic.
🤘👍🏿 Kingsley kills it. I’ve got the Page v2 (thanks TPS for that bit of GAS), Artisan and Mason now. Such a rabbit hole.
I got home from work and found a new TPS episode waiting for me! My god, that Electric Lightning sounds incredible! Thanks for all you do, guys!
I absolutely loved the brief discussion on the pedal price! Utterly important and urgent discussion we need to have (not just in guitar world - but everywhere). We need to support companies that pays fair wages, respect employees rights and respect our environment. That will come with a cost and perhaps we will not have the money to buy 10 different cheaply made overdrives. I see a lot of complaints about how companies treat their employees and we continue to employ their services (Amazon being a prime example). Thank you for that!
Nothing like a TELE!🙌🏼💯🔥🔥
Can you check the Evolution Orange Under Drive by Mad Professor? Having your tube amp for gain and then cleaning that up it’s a cool concept
Just continuing my question; simply by having it (tube driver)plugged in, but not engaged, it changes my clean tone as well as the tone with all other pedals on my board - have you noticed this,mick? Why is this? And how can I get around this so I can have it on my board like you do without it taking over the tone of everything else when it’s not even turned on? much less when it is turned on? I’m running a board with basically a clean boost and a tube screamer into a super reverb and everything sounds different just by having it plugged in and connected to the others.not even on.what a drag.
Listening whilst doing some work on me computer, i couldn’t tell when you were switching from the TS5 and the others. Maybe it’s an ‘in the room’ thing and my ipad can’t convey the subtleties. But the TS5 certainly didn’t deserve the sniggers throughout the episode. It may still be the worst, but was a lot closer than many would like to admit, i’ll wager....
The sniggers aren’t pejorative David! They’re at the ridiculousness of the comparison, especially in terms of price. We think it sounds pretty fab!
I'm doing the same, but once my purchasing disease kicked in, I put my headphones on and all the subtle differences magically appeared.
They say in space no one can hear you scream but they clearly haven't seen this episode.
I have the Kaluna. It's simple and easy to use, love it. And the tone stack is so similar to an amps tone stack.
Next time you do this,(we all know there will be a next time) maybe try a TC Electronic "Tube Pilot" as its a real tube (12AX7) overdrive for under a hundred dollars.
An overview of the Grossman ISO Cab and FatBox for silent home recording vs IRs would be swell.
See 5 Things We've Learned Recording Guitars & Amps At Home - That Pedal Show
I went from OD/dist pedals to TC Tube Pilot to the Friedman Fuzz Fiend - a huge jump both times in getting closer to the sound I prefer. Friedman Fuzz Fiend is more of an overdrive, incredibly warm and responsive. TC Tube Pilot needs the valve/tube replacing, and it's still low voltage so less dynamic, but still good value.
I used a Chandler Tube Driver pedal for years in the 80s with my JC-120H (in stereo of course). Then moved to their rack version… such a glorious sound!
As Linus from Linus Tech Tips says: Something can be expensive but that doesn't mean it's overpriced.
Wow. Think I need a valve overdrive now. Great stuff. Thanks as always Maurice & Donald.
I own a BK Butler Mini Matrix (was originally named Mini Boogie) that I bought at an Op Shop for $10.00 Australian.
Spicy little number, that one.
New T-shirt:
That Pedal Show: We digress.
Awesome 🙌
I have a real tube overdrive pedal; THE ‘Real Tube’ by Tube Works. I think it’s a variation of the Tube Driver because it’s also designed by BK Butler. It does that punch at the front of the pick attack that Dan loves really well.