Best Tube Effect

spendidfender · #1 12-12-2010, 05:01 PM

For those of us that have non-tube amps, what is the best "tube effect" pedal/device you have found?

Deluge Of Sound · #2 12-12-2010, 05:03 PM

As someone who owns a non-tube amp...

My tube amp.

Kromwarp · #3 12-12-2010, 05:04 PM

a rackmount tube preamp, such as the Sansamp RBI or RPM or the Tube Works Blue Tube RT 904

or

a preamp/DI pedal such as the Sansamp BDDI, Hartke Bass Attack, Aguilar Tone Hammer, EBS ValveDrive or Sansamp VT Bass

dieseldan · #4 12-12-2010, 05:08 PM

I like preset "tube tones" on digital amplifiers, you never know what kind of distortion you are going to get.

tomhanzo · #5 12-12-2010, 05:16 PM

I have an EHX Tube Zipper for a tube pre. It sounds amazing, gives breakup and adds a fatness to my tone.

spendidfender · #6 12-12-2010, 05:53 PM

Actually, to clarify, I do have one tube amp -a 1964 Ampeg B15 N, but it stays home.
So this is for playing out w/o a real tube amp.
Good input so far!!!

bThumper38 · #7 12-12-2010, 05:56 PM

Aguilar db680

Swift713 · #8 12-12-2010, 06:00 PM

I've tried the following tube emulation devices: Sansamp GT-2, VT Bass, Bass POD XT, Zoom B2, Line 6 M9 and the winner thus far...BJFE Blueberry.

spendidfender · #9 12-12-2010, 06:27 PM

To Swift 713

How do you get the BJFE Blueberry?
Only from Sweden?

Swift713 · #10 12-12-2010, 06:38 PM

Mad Professor Bass OD???

burk48237 · #11 12-12-2010, 09:33 PM

I would also check out Swell pedals out of Nashville. A lot of the hot studio guys down there have caught on to them. Tom, Vic and I checked them out at Summer NAMM and were real impressed. To me they just didn't sound like a pedal, they were the real deal. Real versatile, and basically you design your own as far as the kind of tube sound, boost or distortion you want.

http://www.swellpedals.com/index.php

cheapbasslovin · #12 12-12-2010, 10:12 PM

I use an EHX English Muff'n. It sounds pretty good by its lonesome, but placed after solid state dirt it sounds incredible IMO.

It has lot's of drawbacks, but every time I try to take it off my board it's back on - and always on - in short time.

depalm · #13 12-12-2010, 10:34 PM

Recently I have using my ADA MB1 Bass preamp again, it sounds really warm and if you crank it up you'll get a nice overdrive.

BFJE 3B OD gives a nice tube flavor but I think this guy likes passive basses best.

And of course my SansAmp BBDI and SansAmp Classic.

DUC1098 · #14 12-12-2010, 10:52 PM

The "ART Tube MP Studio V3 Mic Preamp" gives a really nice tone too.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com...amp?sku=180610

Swift713 · #15 12-12-2010, 11:41 PM

My Blueberry gets along just fine with my 55-02 and didn't have a problem with my OLP Tony Levin which was really hot. The 55-02 being a little quieter I can get a just about clean tone out of the Blueberry.

fivestringgecko · #16 12-13-2010, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

As someone who owns a non-tube amp...

My tube amp.

I'm a recent inductee to that club!

Picked up a 1972 (I think) Ampeg V-4B. Wow. That's all I got. WOW.

Since I also have non-tube rig and have searched/pondered the same thing as Spendidfender, I'll add a couple suggestions.

The Tubeworks BlueTube is my #1. Picked one up used a couple months ago and it FLOORED me from the go. Not terribly expensive, they go for about $100-ish. Unfortunately, Genz Benz bought Tubeworks and then discontinued it "to focus on the Genz Benz brand." The sticker on the bottom of mine says it's from Sept. '95. Awesome AWESOME overdrive, works great as a preamp too. Popular mod: switch the 12AX7 with a 12AU7. Thick, warm, rich overdrive.

The Catalinbread SFT is also plenty convincing, almost (it's *this* close!) tied with the BlueTube for me. I bought it based on hype around Talkbass, and it didn't let me down. I ended up dialing in pretty much identical settings as Catalinbread's Motown video (in which they do compare a B-15 to a solid-state amp with an SFT).

Already mentioned, but +1: Sansamp BDDI is also a great pedal for the job. Like the SFT, no actual tube, but has a bit more tube-like sound. Good or bad, it colors your sound much more than the two above. I personally like the sound, and when coupled with the DI, it's earned a permanent place on my board. Very handy and has a great sound.

All three function as fantastic overdrives, but they also work great as always on preamps. After picked up that V-4B, I've discovered that nothing will truly match an all-tube amp, but these three do a pretty darn admirable job.

5sg.

Hippos Melas · #17 12-13-2010, 12:14 AM

Nice thread. I've looked into the Sansamp and VT Bass but haven't been able to try either of those. Looking into it though...funds pending.

EDIT: Anyone tried the Markbass Distorsorre pedal or whatever it's called? That's a distortion pedal that's driven by an actual tube. For those who have tried it, does it compare to any of the above suggestions?

Growly Lytes · #18 12-13-2010, 12:20 AM

I use the Sansamps RBI & RPM in parallel. Im getting everything !! They work good together.

FaithNoMan · #19 12-13-2010, 12:37 AM

I agree, Growly.
Tech 21 is great. After owning my Tri-AC, and liking the grind better than the BDDI, I decided to go with its big daddy, the PSA-1:

It is voiced similar to the Tri-AC, but has loads more bottom and girth. It's more "Marshall" than "SVT" in character, it seems to me. My Rics sings through this thing.

tomhanzo · #20 12-13-2010, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheapbasslovin

I use an EHX English Muff'n. It sounds pretty good by its lonesome, but placed after solid state dirt it sounds incredible IMO.

It has lot's of drawbacks, but every time I try to take it off my board it's back on - and always on - in short time.

Thats how I am with my zipper. It has to have its own wall wart, its huge and the jacks are on the top.

I'll never get rid of it though.