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My preamp journey

#422
goldenboy12981 said:
So is the UA really that much more friendly to the lower frequency spectrum compared to a PA? I’m not really looking for tube breakup since I’ve got my dirt needs covered, just a good alembic fender tone stack with rich, warm cleans and good lows.
Click to expand...
I haven’t gone as far as asking for the EQ points. But I do know at least for the PAX you were able to select voicing for either Bass or Guitar.
 
#423
goldenboy12981 said:
So is the UA really that much more friendly to the lower frequency spectrum compared to a PA? I’m not really looking for tube breakup since I’ve got my dirt needs covered, just a good alembic fender tone stack with rich, warm cleans and good lows.
Click to expand...

When you want something that closely resembles the Alembic F2-B, the PA is that.
If I remember the chronicles of Sushi Box FX correctly, there were two pedals.
The Particle Accelerator, which was the Sushi take on the F2-B and the London Underground, which is based on a 200W tube amp of a company that is in the middle between red and yellow.
The PA had the tonestack going for it and it was a great choice if you wanted super clean tube sounds.
The LU had such a sweet breakup. You can ride it completely clean - just back off on the gain, but there is this range where breakup just starts with a few added rich, singing harmonics - and that range is wide.
Mr. Sushi decided that those pedals were to have a worthy successor, one that holds the advantages of both.
The Underground Accelerator was born. You can pretty much make it sound like a PA, but it has a little bit more low end if you're into that. It sounds a bit warmer, I want to say more refined. And then, there is breakup.
On my version with my bass, I have clean tones with the gain below 10 o'clock. That sweet spot where we're in the no man's land between clean and fully saturated, which on other pedals can often only be set with using a long pair of pliers because it's not there at noon and you're past it at 12:01, is from 10 o'clock to about 2 o'clock.
It's huge.
I have mine set so the lows are warm, rich and clean, but when I pluck a chord beyond fret 12, the notes saturate. Just a bit, though. Like a musical singing saturation that does not feel dirty yet.
 
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#424
el murdoque said:
When you want something that closely resembles the Alembic F2-B, the PA is that.
If I remember the chronicles of Sushi Box FX correctly, there were two pedals.
The Particle Accelerator, which was the Sushi take on the F2-B and the London Underground, which is based on a 200W tube amp of a company that is in the middle between red and yellow.
The PA had the tonestack going for it and it was a great choice if you wanted super clean tube sounds.
The LU had such a sweet breakup. You can ride it completely clean - just back off on the gain, but there is this range where breakup just starts with a few added rich, singing harmonics - and that range is wide.
Mr. Sushi decided that those pedals were to have a worthy successor, one that holds the advantages of both.
The Underground Accelerator was born. You can pretty much make it sound like a PA, but it has a little bit more low end if you're into that. It sounds a bit warmer, I want to say more refined. And then, there is breakup.
On my version with my bass, I have clean tones with the gain below 10 o'clock. That sweet spot where we're in the no man's land between clean and fully saturated, which on other pedals can often only be set with using a long pair of pliers because it's not there at noon and you're past it at 12:01, is from 10 o'clock to about 2 o'clock.
It's huge.
I have mine set so the lows are warm, rich and clean, but when I pluck a chord beyond fret 12, the notes saturate. Just a bit, though. Like a musical singing saturation that does not feel dirty yet.
Click to expand...

Well said. To be fair, I have to add that I did not give the UA much of a chance after having invested a lot of time experimenting and tube rolling with the PAX. Having landed on what I really wanted with an old low gain 12AT7 tube (and having other options for breakup on my board), I traded my UA away for a Smoothie.


upload_2022-1-20_10-35-47.png
 
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#428
el murdoque said:
When you want something that closely resembles the Alembic F2-B, the PA is that.
If I remember the chronicles of Sushi Box FX correctly, there were two pedals.
The Particle Accelerator, which was the Sushi take on the F2-B and the London Underground, which is based on a 200W tube amp of a company that is in the middle between red and yellow.
The PA had the tonestack going for it and it was a great choice if you wanted super clean tube sounds.
The LU had such a sweet breakup. You can ride it completely clean - just back off on the gain, but there is this range where breakup just starts with a few added rich, singing harmonics - and that range is wide.
Mr. Sushi decided that those pedals were to have a worthy successor, one that holds the advantages of both.
The Underground Accelerator was born. You can pretty much make it sound like a PA, but it has a little bit more low end if you're into that. It sounds a bit warmer, I want to say more refined. And then, there is breakup.
On my version with my bass, I have clean tones with the gain below 10 o'clock. That sweet spot where we're in the no man's land between clean and fully saturated, which on other pedals can often only be set with using a long pair of pliers because it's not there at noon and you're past it at 12:01, is from 10 o'clock to about 2 o'clock.
It's huge.
I have mine set so the lows are warm, rich and clean, but when I pluck a chord beyond fret 12, the notes saturate. Just a bit, though. Like a musical singing saturation that does not feel dirty yet.
Click to expand...
Regardless of my ongoing curiosity about the PAX, you definitely sold me on the UA. I think I might definitely check it out very soon. Even though I've got my dirt needs covered like I mentioned, having a large range of breakup to saturation is very nice and makes me want to experiment with it. Now only if I had the chance to try out the handwired version which I missed in the classifieds recently...
 
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#436
moon-bass said:
I will for sure my friend! One thing a out me is that my mind is always changing ... :)
Click to expand...
Hey trust me, I'm in the same boat! Indecisiveness and GAS go together perfectly, don't they? Haha. Also I ended up A/Bing a Barbershop and a Blackberry for my low-gain needs and ended up going with the Blackberry - love the thickness and versatility with the body and depth controls! Great recommendation moon!
 
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#437
goldenboy12981 said:
Hey trust me, I'm in the same boat! Indecisiveness and GAS go together perfectly, don't they? Haha. Also I ended up A/Bing a Barbershop and a Blackberry for my low-gain needs and ended up going with the Blackberry - love the thickness and versatility with the body and depth controls! Great recommendation moon!
Click to expand...
Love it! The Blackberry is fantastic!

And I have even gotten to the point where I am indecisive about GAS. I have been - for months - trying to convince myself that I don't need a Rickenbacker. I can't even decide if I have GAS for a Rick :-)
 
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#439
Got the Fatdrive today. Out of the three I've owned, this one is by far in the best condition. Man, I forgot how good these things sound.

Maybe third time's the charm and I'll keep this one. Or maybe I'll partially trade it for a Rick ...
 

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