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Anyone Used an EBS Valve Drive?

#2
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.
 
#3
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.
 
#6
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.
 
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#8
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.
 
#14
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!
 
#16

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