EBS Valve Drive; close . . .

Here is . . . the 10,000,000th OD thread question.

In my search for the OD I'm after, I heard some clips of an EBS Valve Drive and did a back-flip. Damn! Sounds amazing! But this thing is huge, and EXPENSIVE! I mean, c'mon man, are there no cheaper and smaller alternatives that will get me even a shade closer to the 'warm-edge-of-grit-with-a-bit-of-aggressiveness-without-loosing-bottom- I'm after?

I've come very close to purchasing the Valve Drive. I'm talking cursor on the buy button. But I always get that "I'm not really going to do this, am I?" feeling. I just keep thinking something smaller and less expensive is out there.

Will someone just tell me what to do? (Besides practice and stop worrying about effects?)

[ehque]

The Valvedrive is physically and sonically similiar to a few other products, like the DHA tube pedals and the EHX English Muff'n. You might not be able to try the DHA, but certainly put the Valvdrive against the Muff'n before diving into one or the other.

All 3 are tube pedals with a huge footprint, but the sound is almost impossible to replicate otherwise.

[RickenBoogie]

I've never used any DHA products, but Valve Drive vs. English Muff'n is a fair comparison, but the Valve Drive has a much deeper bottom.

Thanks all. I'll try to AB the Valve and the EHX.

I didn't figure there was anything else. Just thought I'd give it a shot.

[Higgins666]

It might be worth trying a Blackstar pedal aswell, something like the Blackstar HT-Drive

Believe it or not, a Turbo Rat + Sansamp BDDI has given me what I was looking for.

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by Higgins666

It might be worth trying a Blackstar pedal aswell, something like the Blackstar HT-Drive

The Blackstars give much more gain, with less low end, but IMO, sound great on bass, I have the HI-DISTX. Very, very different sound.

I rreally want a Valve Drive though.

[bigchiefbc]

Originally Posted by ehque

The Valvedrive is physically and sonically similiar to a few other products, like the DHA tube pedals and the EHX English Muff'n. You might not be able to try the DHA, but certainly put the Valvdrive against the Muff'n before diving into one or the other.

All 3 are tube pedals with a huge footprint, but the sound is almost impossible to replicate otherwise.

I currently own a DHA VT1, and I have previously had an English Muff'n, so I can give my opinion about those two. Never tried the Valve Drive.

First of all, as for size, the DHA is smaller than both the Muff'n and the Valve Drive. It is about the same size as the bigger EHX XO pedals.

Second of all, I think the DHA is warmer, but lower gain than the Muff'n. Even on the lower-gain settings, I found the Muff'n to be hairier and fizzier than I expected. The DHA is much cleaner, and doesn't really get furry until the Gain and I/P Pad knobs are up well above noon. Below that, you just get a fat, round tubey thickness. I will say that if you're looking for higher-gain tube distortion sounds, that is where the Muff'n pulls ahead.