how to emulate the overdriving tube sound

badeyebrian · #1 05-06-2008, 11:48 AM

does anyone know what pedal makes a great overdriving tube sound? all the sound files i can find are people who like that fuzzy sound, which sounds cool, but is not the sound im looking for. if anyone can point in the right direction that would be cool, thanks guys!

nad · #2 05-06-2008, 11:54 AM

Have you checked the Wiki? Lots of sound samples in there. Lots and lots, not limited to fuzz.

Also, are you talking about overdriving preamp tubes or power amp tubes? Big difference in tone.

thejohnkim · #3 05-06-2008, 12:21 PM

here is also a decent read from amptone.com that has a section on why some people greatly prefer power tube overdrive, and don't really like preamp tube overdrive.

http://www.amptone.com/distpedtypes.htm

although unlike the author, i think that both are just different flavors, and just personal taste.

badeyebrian · #4 05-06-2008, 12:32 PM

Thanks guys, i have to go to work, but ill take a look once i get back from work, i had no clue there was a difference between them, i guess the sound im looking for is when you turn the gain up on a Ampeg SVT-CL if that helps at all

Mytola · #5 05-06-2008, 12:57 PM

EBS MultiDrive would be my choice. I have one, and I love it.

Sound samples from the EBS site here

Video with the MultiDrive in use here.

That video clip isn't of a micced cab, but direct from my pedalboard, so it sounds even better IRL.

RickenBoogie · #6 05-06-2008, 02:05 PM

I use the EBS Valve Drive, and love it. After trying out about a dozen popular od units, I settled on this one. Very natural sounding, warm and gritty.

Joe P · #7 05-06-2008, 02:57 PM

Muff'n!

The EHX English Muff'n. Just spectacular, warm overdrive.

Joe

musicelectronix · #8 05-06-2008, 03:07 PM

There is no way to faithfully reproduce the overdrived power amp tone, other than overdrived power amp. You can either go with emulation like line6 or you can try to find a pedal that has a power tube in it, such as interstellar overdrive. Good luck scoring one though, I have been on the look out for one about a year now

4StringsEnough · #9 05-06-2008, 03:08 PM

Easy. Mojo Hand Cream Pie. Couple of threads recently about this pedal.

astralis · #10 05-06-2008, 03:21 PM

I really like the tone of lightly clipping mosfets with multiple gain stages. Circuits like the Fat-Boost or the Cream Pie will give you grit that will sound similar to tubes clipping.

I think the main thing is moderation, fets can sound heavenly when clipping lightly... but when you push them with an opamp or something thats not mosfet based... it tends to sound less 'tube-like'.

If I were you trying to get more fat tubey drive out of my solid state rig. I would get a pedal similar to the ones mentioned above and leave it on all the time.

judas jedermann · #11 05-06-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4StringsEnough

Easy. Mojo Hand Cream Pie. Couple of threads recently about this pedal.

+1 Best purchase for long time. Couldn`t be more happy.

bongomania · #12 05-06-2008, 05:40 PM

Please check out previous threads on "tube overdrive", as it's something we have discussed at length in literally hundreds of threads. My favorite option at the moment is the DHA VT1, but others really like the EHX English Muff'n, EBS Valvedrive, Fulltone Bassdrive, and scads of other overdrive options.

badeyebrian · #13 05-06-2008, 08:08 PM

Okay, so, i just showed my gutiarstist a song of the tone im looking at trying to get, and i thought it had a trasnperencey overdrive to it, but he said its not overdrive, its a high pass filter? anyone know anything about that?

bongomania · #14 05-06-2008, 08:38 PM

If you can post a sample of it, maybe an MP3 or a Youtube link, then we can tell you. Otherwise it's all guessing in the dark.

Mark Olson · #15 05-06-2008, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Please check out previous threads on "tube overdrive", as it's something we have discussed at length in literally hundreds of threads. My favorite option at the moment is the DHA VT1, but others really like the EHX English Muff'n, EBS Valvedrive, Fulltone Bassdrive, and scads of other overdrive options.

You should do some soundclips of that DHA! I've been curious about it but haven't been very impressed by the soundclips I've heard of it so far.

Sean S · #16 05-06-2008, 10:42 PM

or even tell us the name of the song

tomhanzo · #17 05-07-2008, 08:50 PM

well there is a band called tokyo police club. the bass player uses that head and gets the overdrive and the best way to immitate that sound is with a ibanez tubescreamer ts9. thats in my trial and errors of course

i2k · #18 05-10-2008, 08:39 AM

Easiest way to make tube overdrive soundalike :

Hookus · #19 05-10-2008, 10:51 AM

I don't know why he needs a hammer, looks like that should fit just fine.

Anyway, once again, I will nominate the SWR Interstellar Overdrive. You can even use it as a 5 watt practice amp. It is hands down the best tube overdrive I have ever played. Before I switched to it, my main tube sound was a Muff'n, which in comparison to the IOD, was much muddier, and the IOD has a larger range of both distortion and tone. The only IOD caveat is that you need to really let it warm up for 10-15 minutes to get the best sound, the distortion changes during warmup time.

Rickett Customs · #20 05-10-2008, 10:59 AM

Easy, Sans Amp (Tech21).
Link to Sound clips (Post #207):
SansAmp RBI vs RPM

I use this one, works great for me (plus i can have 3 different settings), YMMV.