I wanna add a little tube-type sustain...suggestions?

[quadrogong]

i run a sadowsky,active..through a solid state head,
(the little mark II)
I was thinking of something to add a tiny bit of "hair' to the tone..I'm not happy with the way the LMII sounds with the gain knob cranked, I keep the gain fairly clean on the amp..
Thinking of something liuke a sansamp DI or a distortion unti turned very low..
something to add sustain and a little bit of grind when I dig in.
I can achieve this nicely when the amp's cranked,but not at lower levels,and I'd like to be able to control the level.
My general "phobia" of effects tells me that no matter what I put in my signal chain will decrease fidelity
(which happened with 3 or 4 pedels,a multi effect stomp,rack mounted effect multi effect unit,a cry-baby and a compressor stomp box which I've tried in the past,so I'm skeptical)

I have an effects loop in the head,and I'm looking for something warm and organic,to tube-ify my sound a bit,and give me some sustain..

[dannybuoy]

My DHA VT2 tube pedal does the job for me. I usually have it on all the time with barely any overdrive, and use the boost channel when I want things to get hairy. I've put up a post with clips for it, but most are med-high gain, I'll do some more with the gain right down so you can hear what I mean.

Or how about a tube compressor like the DHA one or the EHX Black Finger? Also the EBS Multicomp has a tubesim mode that sounds luvverly.

[ehque]

English Muffin, especially if its your only pedal.

[dannybuoy]

Yeah, I really want to try one of these out and compare it to the DHA... I've not heard many decent clips for it, but so many people rave about it I'm intrigued... Plus it would be handy for recording my guitarist!

[santucci218]

try the EBS Valvedrive maybe?

[lomo]

Originally Posted by santucci218

try the EBS Valvedrive maybe?

Agree. If you want fidelity, quality, bullet-proof construction and true bypass (with added eq bennies) and are willing to pay 299., this is THE ticket IME. I ran one througha LM2 with great results, but sold it after getting my Orange head.

[EricF]

Based on the effects you've tried in the past, I'd say your experince is limited as to the possibilities with effects. Don't judge all effects by what you've tried so far. Just to appease your "phobia" look for a pedal that has true-bypass switching. This will help relieve the mentality that you're losing signal fidelity when it's off. Now, go find a pedal that you also like the sound of when its on. There are lots of options...

SansAmp BDDI or GT2, English Muff'n (a lovely tube -driven beast), DHA, Fulltone, etc.....

[stingray56funk]

I have the ULTIMATE ANSWER!!!

Buy the VHT Valvulator I! It is a tube buffer/line driver. It has 2 1/4" outputs, 1 1/4" input, all tube path (12ax7), and 4 9volt adaptor lines to run effects. It also boosts your signal running it into your amp for the optimum signal (works great with Passive basses).

They can easily be found on Ebay (sometimes) or ordered direct from GC.

I use one in my signal chain for my LMII and for my DI signal to have some "tubeyness" to my signal!

[Bass Boy]

I play Sadowskys through an LM2 as well. I was looking for the same thing. I happened to pick up a Bass Floor Pod for the synth but fell in love with the svt and b-15 models. (I know guys slam the POD alot but if you are a tweaker it really comes alive) I use a Radial Bigshot Mix so I can keep my original signal pure as well. It did the trick for me.

[mdiddium]

It may not be tube, but you might want to consider the Aguilar AGRO preamp. I have the AG500 so it's already built in, but I use the "saturation" channel quite a bit to add some dirt and warmth. It has a nice range from a tad gritty to full on fuzzy. Great way to add thickness at spots.

[Bass Boy]

Originally Posted by stingray56funk

I have the ULTIMATE ANSWER!!!

Buy the VHT Valvulator I! It is a tube buffer/line driver. It has 2 1/4" outputs, 1 1/4" input, all tube path (12ax7), and 4 9volt adaptor lines to run effects. It also boosts your signal running it into your amp for the optimum signal (works great with Passive basses).

They can easily be found on Ebay (sometimes) or ordered direct from GC.

I use one in my signal chain for my LMII and for my DI signal to have some "tubeyness" to my signal!

Do you have any audio clips of this? I'm very interested in this pedal.

[Loel]

I have a LM II and have used sabddi,
but i do favor Presonus Tube Pre w/jj tube!

i haven't tried many but this works for me..

[GreyBeard]

Believe it or not, I like the Behringer unit.

[thedude77md]

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

My DHA VT2 tube pedal does the job for me. I usually have it on all the time with barely any overdrive, and use the boost channel when I want things to get hairy. I've put up a post with clips for it, but most are med-high gain, I'll do some more with the gain right down so you can hear what I mean.

Or how about a tube compressor like the DHA one or the EHX Black Finger? Also the EBS Multicomp has a tubesim mode that sounds luvverly.

I second the use of any DHA unit. I have a VT1-MK3 and its great with little gain. Will give you nice tubey tone at any volume. Of course it can get some sick heavy OD too.

[RickenBoogie]

+3 for the EBS Valve Drive. (it's the only od I ever recomend, and I've had dozens)

[modulus763]

EBS Valve Drive all the way IMHO. I also have a Sansam programmable DI and a Boss Overdrive. I use them all in different places where they are each called for.

But when it comes to just getting down and dirty and creating my own sound....The EBS does it for me. I keep the drive down low.

I'd have two but they are a little pricey. :0 Built like a tank!!!

I use:

Modulus Sweet Spot 5
Kern BP777
Stewart 1.6
DIY Cabs

[bongomania]

I haven't used the EBS Valvedrive to compare, but I own a DHA VT1 and I used to own an English Muff'n. The Muff'n imparts less fatness but has more potential for grindy/gritty distortion when driven hard; the DHA is fat and gets fatter the harder you drive it- it does start to sound like "distortion" at high gain, but IMO it has more of a smooth natural quality at all gain levels when compared to the Muff'n. I also feel the DHA has a bigger low end than the Muff'n.

[fenderx55]

Does anyone have a mfc link for DHA? no amount of googling or youtubing is helping me right now and I'm going through the same thing (mostly for a little bit of overdriven fattness though) [/derail] thanks

[beggar98]

I play Warwick through an EA Micro 300, which is even cleaner sounding than the LMII. I just got an OLC Flipster for the exact purpose you're looking for and it works really well. Fatten up my tone and adds that perfect bit of break-up when I really dig in. If you're good with a soldering iron, I would suggest ordering the kit and building it yourself because they are completely swamped with orders for pre-built pedals and are running pretty far behind on shipping those orders.

[James Hart]

Originally Posted by beggar98

I play Warwick through an EA Micro 300, which is even cleaner sounding than the LMII. I just got an OLC Flipster for the exact purpose you're looking for and it works really well. Fatten up my tone and adds that perfect bit of break-up when I really dig in. If you're good with a soldering iron, I would suggest ordering the kit and building it yourself because they are completely swamped with orders for pre-built pedals and are running pretty far behind on shipping those orders.

I was gonna recommend the same!
I know Mark just shipped a bunch of stuff out yesterday... my Orange Peel & blender should be coming up in the list soon.