Sweet mother mary... EBS Valvedrive is phenomenal!!!

[anyonefortennis]

I still hate it how they use an LED under the tube to make it look like it's glowing. Stay classy EBS!

 

[stflbn]

Do you run VT -> Valvedrive?

Yes... right now as simple as VT > Valvedrive > Tuner > GenzBenz NeoPak

 

[MetroBass]

If you have a teeny weenie amp that needs punch, BAM buy a EBS VD or a VT Bass (for much less than a EBD VD that does the same thing). But if you calculate the costs of effects and compare that to a very nice amp with a tube pre you're wasting your money on effect. Most good effects will set you back 200-300 dollars. A good amp will set you back 500-700 dollars.

Moral of the story: trying to make a cheap amp “with no tube pre” sonically sound like a good tube amp will cost you a lot more with effects than buying a good tube amp from the start. Does this make since ($$).

 

[bongomania]

No, and it doesn't make sense either. However one prominent exception is: what if you have a really nice quality solid state amp, and you want to add a footswitchable tube channel to it. That's a totally sensible time to buy a nice tube pre pedal.

 

[stflbn]

or, if you're already happy with the gear you have and you'd like other options... it's sensible. I also like to stay lightweight now that I've gone light weight. Personally I've not heard a mini or micro amp that can sound as good as what I feel I have now.

 

[noiseboy79]

I know what you mean about the eq stack, flat is mid at full, treble and bass at minimum. What I find is once I touch the bass knob at all, the sound gets quite rumbly. My signal chain is fairly uncomplicated, Geddy Lee with Fralin pickups- tuner- EBS Multi-Comp- Valve Drive- Tone Hammer- Amp. I'm fairly conservative with my settings generally, I like to hear the sound of the instrument itself mostly. And when I've tried the Valve Drive on its own through other setups, it's tended to produce a similar sound. Probably no harm to try the Tung Sol!

 

[noiseboy79]

Thought I'd post an update, having lived with the Tung Sol in the pedal for a little over a week now. To cut a long story short, it's magic. As I mentioned, I use it as a drive pedal as opposed to a pre-amp, and it's achieving the sound I had in my head now. Set flat, it sounds very usable, and the eq is now producing more discernible changes. Before, when I pushed the treble to get more bite, it was just making the sound harsher. Now, it's alot sweeter, there's more harmonic content, and it just sounds more musical. Very happy that I changed it!

 

[stflbn]

I know what you mean about the eq stack, flat is mid at full, treble and bass at minimum. What I find is once I touch the bass knob at all, the sound gets quite rumbly. My signal chain is fairly uncomplicated, Geddy Lee with Fralin pickups- tuner- EBS Multi-Comp- Valve Drive- Tone Hammer- Amp. I'm fairly conservative with my settings generally, I like to hear the sound of the instrument itself mostly. And when I've tried the Valve Drive on its own through other setups, it's tended to produce a similar sound. Probably no harm to try the Tung Sol!

I'm with you on the simple aspect.

Mine is Compressor (ToneCore Constrictor), VT-bass, Valvedrive, MXR 6-band EQ, Tuner (Then Echo, Roto, and Chorus modules for the ToneCore Pedal as I need them).

I'm happy with the tone out of the Valvedrive as my main PreAmp, but I'm interested in the Tung Sol.

 

[RCCollins]

No, and it doesn't make sense either. However one prominent exception is: what if you have a really nice quality solid state amp, and you want to add a footswitchable tube channel to it. That's a totally sensible time to buy a nice tube pre pedal.

Careful Bongo, this is the effects forum and you know nobody in here ever spent more than 180 bucks on an amp!

 

[sanfi4u]

I've got myself EBS ValveDrive recently and I really like the tone it produces. I was expecting more distortion range out of it after listening to a few YouTube samples. But as I was mainly looking for a tube preamp able to add just minor bite with its distortion function I'm quite happy with what it does. I'll try Tung Sol next week though.

 

[sanfi4u]

I managed to try Tung Sol. It's a great tube. It brings more transparency and gain to the sound. But ValveDrive looses its original warm, dark sound in result. So I stay sticked to original Svetlana tube. I understand why EBS recommends it. I think Tung Sol is a good choice for Hi-End Tube Audio Preamp.
I like this pedal much. Recently tried T-Rex Bass Juice -> EBS ValveDrive chain. BJ helps to add some punch to the sound if you need it. This nice pair provides many good tonal options.