Anyone Used an EBS Valve Drive?

Tacopastorius · #1 01-20-2011, 01:05 PM

I am thinking about picking up one of these guys to warm up my Ampeg Micro VR a little bit... I have read great reviews, but still don't know about dropping $300 yet. Any thoughts?

chuck3 · #2 01-20-2011, 02:25 PM

Yes, I use it 100% of the time to run a passive Fender Jazz through my pedalboard through a Genz Benz 6.0 Shuttle into a Schroeder 212. It really strengthens the signal and warms up the tone, and I am very satisfied with it for that purpose. Other players have played through this setup and complimented it.

I can't speak to your specific gear, though.

Tacopastorius · #3 01-20-2011, 02:41 PM

I have a Fender Jazz as well, with an Ampeg Micro VR and the SVT210AV cab that goes with it (about to buy a second cab as well). The amp head sounds nice, but a tad bit cold, as it is solid state, so I just want to get a little bit fatter sound, not just a distortion effect.

scotch · #4 01-20-2011, 02:43 PM

Have you tried searching "EBS Valve Drive" yet? There are many a thread & review.

Tacopastorius · #5 01-20-2011, 02:45 PM

I did search, but I didn't see much other than folks talking about it as a distortion effect, which isn't really what I will be using it for.

chuck3 · #6 01-20-2011, 02:46 PM

Then it will do you you want. I agree it's not cheap, but it's very effective for exactly what you say. I don't use it as an "effect" either, except that on a few songs I will turn the "gain" knob up somewhat to get a slightly overdriven tone - it does that fine, but you don't need to use it for that to get its value. Speaking of tone, I use the ValveDrive as a tone control as well. I actually put it on top the cabinet by the amp head, rather than on the floor, even though it has footswitches. I always keep it on "active" and "vintage" so I don't use the footswitches.

chuck3 · #7 01-20-2011, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tacopastorius

I just want to get a little bit fatter sound, not just a distortion effect.

^^^
This is what I was referring to by "that" in my prior post.

harmendebresser · #8 01-20-2011, 02:52 PM

It's a great little investment for spicing up any solid state amp.
Run it myself with every type of amp & speakers - making them all much more lively!
It has a passive tone adjustment so it won't alter the signal in the sense that it'll color your sound - nothing is gonna sound like a fridge that isn't one in fact.
If that's what you mean with fatter sounding? Warm - yes, fatter - nope.

Tacopastorius · #9 01-20-2011, 02:53 PM

I was thinking of putting it on top of the head as well to keep it out of the way; is it heavy enough that it will stay up there and not get dragged off by the cables?

scotch · #10 01-20-2011, 02:53 PM

try this 4-pager:

Sweet mother mary... EBS Valvedrive is phenomenal!!!

RCCollins · #11 01-20-2011, 02:58 PM

I've never been able to understand why someone would choose a micro rig and then add a bulky and expensive tube OD to it, no matter how much closer it sounds to a tube amp. At that point, you should just get a tube amp!

Tacopastorius · #12 01-20-2011, 03:05 PM

It's not bulky... it's just a pedal. And the reason is that the amp is totally modular, so I can take the head, the preamp, and the two cabs if I need to be loud, and just take whatever pieces I need if I don't.

Tacopastorius · #13 01-20-2011, 03:16 PM

Oh, and thanks for that link Scotch.

scotch · #14 01-20-2011, 03:36 PM

I've been playing full-time professionally for about 15 years. I tour and record for national and local acts as well as television/commercial spots. Ever since I purchased my Valve Drive, it has been on almost every track I've played on and every show I've done! I only turn it off when I want a very sterile, super-clean tone (which isn't very often).

I use it as an always-on 'preamp' to sweeten my tone a little and add just a little bit of "hair" when I dig in. It also really makes the occasional ss amp I've given to use (tour rentals) sound better & feel more familiar.

I keep wanting to ditch my Valve Drive & simplify my signal chain,.. but I always miss it when I try. It's an amazingly detailed and rich sounding box for being so small! It cleans up nicely, but also can really overdrive when you want to. It has more than enough output to drive a poweramp and is quiet enough for professional studio use. As long as you know how to use a Fender tone-stack, you'll love most likely love the Valve Drive as a preamp!

Tacopastorius · #15 01-20-2011, 03:52 PM

Yeah, I am leaning towards getting one... but I still really want to test one out first, and no one has them in the stores...

scotch · #16 01-20-2011, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tacopastorius

Yeah, I am leaning towards getting one... but I still really want to test one out first, and no one has them in the stores...

Here you go, man. I haven't ordered from Tone Factor yet, but they are highly regarded here on TB. PLUS, they have a great return policy. Check it out:

http://www.tonefactor.com/ebs-valve-...ive-pedal.html

RickenBoogie · #17 01-20-2011, 05:25 PM

The Valve Drive is a remarkable pedal. Unlike many "tube" preamp pedals, this one actually sounds as advertised- it's one of my most sacred effects pedals.

Tacopastorius · #18 01-20-2011, 07:23 PM

I will actually probably get it from Amazon, because I won't have to pay tax or shipping that way. Who knew they would turn out to be such a great place to order gear from?

Tacopastorius · #19 01-22-2011, 09:53 PM

Well, I am going to go ahead and pull the trigger on this thing tuesday when I get paid. I am expecting good things, but I doubt I will have a problem doing a return with Amazon if it doesn't pan out.

Chrisk-K · #20 01-22-2011, 10:40 PM

I buy effect pedals from Amazon if available. I returned a few and never had any problem whatsoever. I never intend to take advantage of Amazon's return policy. Unless I use a pedal with my rig, I just cannot evaluate it.