The Sushi Box FX Secret Society

[Sushi Box FX]

Just pulled the trigger on a Grandslampegg, (partly as I promised myself one a birthday present this month, and my dad passed away last night, him also having been a bass player and a musician seemed appropriate) my rig will be completed once it get this pedal.

Also....... Effectrode is high up on my wanted list (As is the Doc Lloyd DLA 2A)
....... then my board will be completed!

Looking forward to pairing the GS with the Single Slice.

My sincerest condolences to you and yours, I wish I had something better to say but words are tricky. Obviously no words can take away grief, but I hope you allow yourself sufficient time to grieve, everybody needs that. I sincerely hope you enjoy the pedal, and hope you and your family are doing okay.

 

[SteveFromBerlin]

I'm sorry to hear that, my condolences. I hope it's okay if I continue posting some Sushi-related stuff.

I tried using the search function, but could not find much.

After a couple of weeks with different engagements I have finally (pun intended) a big tour coming up were I will use my new Finally V3 full time on my board. While experimenting at home, I made some observations and wanted to ask you lovely bass nerds if I could get a little bit more out of it for my usecase.

Regarding the stock tube in the Finally V3:

I do like the added sheen / sparkle and slight natural compression that I get from the pedal. I don’t really like the typical „farty“ tube overdrive so I am pleased that there is a lot of headroom and even slight grit available before it does that. I also like that my signal is not sounding completely different.

My question is, is there a different tube that would give me just a little bit more of warmth and compression? That maybe multiplies the things I like about the pedal right now? I do hear and feel a difference, but to be honest, it is rather minute. I’d love to get a little more out of it. Right now it feels like playing a really good Hi-Fi system that's intended to just sound very clear and linear.

I know the pedal was designed to be at the end of a signal chain and that’s how I will use it. But if I am going straight into it and use it between my bass and my amp, the difference in sound is quite small and I have to turn up the gain knob almost all the way to hear and feel a difference.

I have tried a 12AX S4GB Clean Highgrade valve that I REALLY liked in the Shiftline Olympic and Fender TBP-1 preamp. I do like how it sounds but it is WAY TOO LOUD with the Finally. I can’t really make use of the level knob because it is so loud.

I am looking for just a little more low end, grit, compression before it farts out. Or is there maybe a tube that does distort the highs earlier than the lows?

Anyway, maybe someone can point me in a certain direction. Thanks!

 

[_Tay_]

Just pulled the trigger on a Grandslampegg, (partly as I promised myself one a birthday present this month, and my dad passed away last night, him also having been a bass player and a musician seemed appropriate) my rig will be completed once it get this pedal.

Also....... Effectrode is high up on my wanted list (As is the Doc Lloyd DLA 2A)
....... then my board will be completed!

Looking forward to pairing the GS with the Single Slice.

So sorry for your loss Greg.

 

[RobD_BritBass]

I'm sorry to hear that, my condolences. I hope it's okay if I continue posting some Sushi-related stuff.

I tried using the search function, but could not find much.

After a couple of weeks with different engagements I have finally (pun intended) a big tour coming up were I will use my new Finally V3 full time on my board. While experimenting at home, I made some observations and wanted to ask you lovely bass nerds if I could get a little bit more out of it for my usecase.

Regarding the stock tube in the Finally V3:

I do like the added sheen / sparkle and slight natural compression that I get from the pedal. I don’t really like the typical „farty“ tube overdrive so I am pleased that there is a lot of headroom and even slight grit available before it does that. I also like that my signal is not sounding completely different.

My question is, is there a different tube that would give me just a little bit more of warmth and compression? That maybe multiplies the things I like about the pedal right now? I do hear and feel a difference, but to be honest, it is rather minute. I’d love to get a little more out of it. Right now it feels like playing a really good Hi-Fi system that's intended to just sound very clear and linear.

I know the pedal was designed to be at the end of a signal chain and that’s how I will use it. But if I am going straight into it and use it between my bass and my amp, the difference in sound is quite small and I have to turn up the gain knob almost all the way to hear and feel a difference.

I have tried a 12AX S4GB Clean Highgrade valve that I REALLY liked in the Shiftline Olympic and Fender TBP-1 preamp. I do like how it sounds but it is WAY TOO LOUD with the Finally. I can’t really make use of the level knob because it is so loud.

I am looking for just a little more low end, grit, compression before it farts out. Or is there maybe a tube that does distort the highs earlier than the lows?

Anyway, maybe someone can point me in a certain direction. Thanks!

View attachment 7238840

I really like running a 12AT7 in my v2 finally, with the gain up around 1 or 2 o'clock it starts to really bring in the colouration without driving super hard and is a manageable level (although I'm running mine into a power amp rather than the front of the amp so the extra level is welcome)

 

[macmanlou]

Just pulled the trigger on a Grandslampegg, (partly as I promised myself one a birthday present this month, and my dad passed away last night, him also having been a bass player and a musician seemed appropriate) my rig will be completed once it get this pedal.

So sorry for your family's loss. May your dad's memory always be for a blessing.

 

[SteveFromBerlin]

I did some reading. Maybe I should look out for a 12AY7. According to this article, the 12AU7 that comes with the pedal should have a gain of 19 and a 12AY7 has a gain of 45, whereas the 12AX7 that I tried has a gain output of 100. That explains a lot.

 

[DustyBottom]

I did some reading. Maybe I should look out for a 12AY7. According to this article, the 12AU7 that comes with the pedal should have a gain of 19 and a 12AY7 has a gain of 45, whereas the 12AX7 that I tried has a gain output of 100. That explains a lot.

For your reference:

 

[Parzival]

I did some reading. Maybe I should look out for a 12AY7. According to this article, the 12AU7 that comes with the pedal should have a gain of 19 and a 12AY7 has a gain of 45, whereas the 12AX7 that I tried has a gain output of 100. That explains a lot.

I think the 12ax7 is worth a try if you have not tried it. Gain doesn't have as much headroom, but you can keep it lower and get some great slight breakup. I wouldn't call it farting out even with moderate gain applied.

 

[Parzival]

Quick question. I just switched my 12au7 back into my Finally v2 last week. I go back and forth with the 12ax7 depending on what I am yearning for at the time. Anyhow, I had adjusted the level down (attenuated) inside the pedal and I want to ratchet it back up a bit and I can't remember if you turn those dials on the inside clockwise or counterclockwise to get more level and less attenuation.

 

[SteveFromBerlin]

I think the 12ax7 is worth a try if you have not tried it. Gain doesn't have as much headroom, but you can keep it lower and get some great slight breakup. I wouldn't call it farting out even with moderate gain applied.

I did try the 12AX7. While it sounded good, it had such a high output that I could not really find a sweet spot with the Level control. I was managing the level knob between zero and one, really. So this particular tube (S4GB) was way too hot for my Finally V3.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

Quick question. I just switched my 12au7 back into my Finally v2 last week. I go back and forth with the 12ax7 depending on what I am yearning for at the time. Anyhow, I had adjusted the level down (attenuated) inside the pedal and I want to ratchet it back up a bit and I can't remember if you turn those dials on the inside clockwise or counterclockwise to get more level and less attenuation.

Clockwise for more level, counterclockwise for less level

 

[Parzival]

CLockwise for more level, counterclockwise for less level

Thanks!

 

[darev]

my dad passed away last night, him also having been a bass player and a musician seemed appropriate)

I am so sorry. I lost my father as well. All the best to you and your family.

Also....... Effectrode is high up on my wanted list (As is the Doc Lloyd DLA 2A)
....... then my board will be completed!

I have an LA-1A and I love it. However, I recommend buying one used if possible. I bought it new in the summer of 2024 and in the end it was US $620. When they appear on the used market I see them around $450~$500. That is a significant drop in price plus shipping time from UK.

It is a great piece of kit that is so quiet and it can be used recording so many other sound sources as well. And it is pricey for a good reason but if you ever are thinking of flipping a new one you might take a bath selling it. Markets change of course and I don't regret buying it new because I don't sell. However, if you find it for <$500 snap it up.

The Grand Slampegg has had my attention for a while now as well. I'm sure you will enjoy it.

 

[bassbrad]

@SteveFromBerlin I have an original Finally [V1 perhaps] with a 12AX7 I can usually get plenty of gain saturation but when I really want it to break up I will add an OD, preamp, EQ or boost pedal in front to give the input more gas.

 

[Rev_Slinky]

I'm sorry to hear that, my condolences. I hope it's okay if I continue posting some Sushi-related stuff.

I tried using the search function, but could not find much.

After a couple of weeks with different engagements I have finally (pun intended) a big tour coming up were I will use my new Finally V3 full time on my board. While experimenting at home, I made some observations and wanted to ask you lovely bass nerds if I could get a little bit more out of it for my usecase.

Regarding the stock tube in the Finally V3:

I do like the added sheen / sparkle and slight natural compression that I get from the pedal. I don’t really like the typical „farty“ tube overdrive so I am pleased that there is a lot of headroom and even slight grit available before it does that. I also like that my signal is not sounding completely different.

My question is, is there a different tube that would give me just a little bit more of warmth and compression? That maybe multiplies the things I like about the pedal right now? I do hear and feel a difference, but to be honest, it is rather minute. I’d love to get a little more out of it. Right now it feels like playing a really good Hi-Fi system that's intended to just sound very clear and linear.

I know the pedal was designed to be at the end of a signal chain and that’s how I will use it. But if I am going straight into it and use it between my bass and my amp, the difference in sound is quite small and I have to turn up the gain knob almost all the way to hear and feel a difference.

I have tried a 12AX S4GB Clean Highgrade valve that I REALLY liked in the Shiftline Olympic and Fender TBP-1 preamp. I do like how it sounds but it is WAY TOO LOUD with the Finally. I can’t really make use of the level knob because it is so loud.

I am looking for just a little more low end, grit, compression before it farts out. Or is there maybe a tube that does distort the highs earlier than the lows?

Anyway, maybe someone can point me in a certain direction. Thanks!

View attachment 7238840

I love running a 5751 in my Finally v1. I keep it right at the place where it's warm and wooly as a good sweater.

 

[Thumper]

The PMLE landed today (thanks Parzival) and it's all I hoped it would be. IMO this pedal is a Home Run. I first became enamored with a bass EQ of bass/low-mid/high mid with the Darkglass Tone Capsule in my Dingwall SJ4XXX. Of course Natan went one better and added treble to the mix, as well as other stuff. I replaced the More on my home board with it for trial purposes and it sure brought things even More to life. Most notably the on-board bass controls on my Thunderbird VP Pro, which were effective are even more so, like those on an active bass. This thing is going on my gig board!

 

[JackFawkes]

My question is, is there a different tube that would give me just a little bit more of warmth and compression? That maybe multiplies the things I like about the pedal right now? I do hear and feel a difference, but to be honest, it is rather minute. I’d love to get a little more out of it. Right now it feels like playing a really good Hi-Fi system that's intended to just sound very clear and linear.

I know the pedal was designed to be at the end of a signal chain and that’s how I will use it. But if I am going straight into it and use it between my bass and my amp, the difference in sound is quite small and I have to turn up the gain knob almost all the way to hear and feel a difference.

I have tried a 12AX S4GB Clean Highgrade valve that I REALLY liked in the Shiftline Olympic and Fender TBP-1 preamp. I do like how it sounds but it is WAY TOO LOUD with the Finally. I can’t really make use of the level knob because it is so loud.

I am looking for just a little more low end, grit, compression before it farts out. Or is there maybe a tube that does distort the highs earlier than the lows?

Correct. That pedal comes with a 12AU7 by default, and while that tube maintains a nice "clean" linear response, it's much too subtle and "hi-fi" for my taste as well.
I do also agree that a 12AX7 is too "gain-y", loud, and "edgy" for the Finally in most use cases.

I have long recommended either the 5751 or 12AY7 in the Finally.
12AY7 if you want lots of "clean" headroom with a little more character than the 12AU7, and
5751 if you want more character, texture, and the ability to dial in distortion or "grit".

Unfortunately, there is no tube make or model that distorts highs earlier than lows; in fact, lows are normally what overwhelms the bandwidth of most audio devices and distorts first.
(That's why High Pass Filters are such a powerful tool for dialing in deep powerful bass that doesn't become "farty", they trim away the lowest-end frequencies that most equipment can't gracefully handle)

Jack

 

[SteveFromBerlin]

Correct. That pedal comes with a 12AU7 by default, and while that tube maintains a nice "clean" linear response, it's much too subtle and "hi-fi" for my taste as well.
I do also agree that a 12AX7 is too "gain-y", loud, and "edgy" for the Finally in most use cases.

I have long recommended either the 5751 or 12AY7 in the Finally.
12AY7 if you want lots of "clean" headroom with a little more character than the 12AU7, and
5751 if you want more character, texture, and the ability to dial in distortion or "grit".

Unfortunately, there is no tube make or model that distorts highs earlier than lows; in fact, lows are normally what overwhelms the bandwidth of most audio devices and distorts first.
(That's why High Pass Filters are such a powerful tool for dialing in deep powerful bass that doesn't become "farty", they trim away the lowest-end frequencies that most equipment can't gracefully handle)

Jack

Thank you so much, now I know in which direction to head.

 

[Tassieviking]

One tube that never gets any mention is the 12BH7, it will fit in for a 12AU7 but it only has a gain of 16.5 so its lower then the 12AU7 at 20.
I have never tried one in any Sushi pedal or C2CE pedal but I know if I change the 12AU7 with a 12BH7 in my little 1 watt power amp I get about 30% more power, I try not to work that out because I am at the age where scratching my head too long could cause a bald patch.
The 12BH7 uses more power for the heaters as well and with less gain then the 12AU7 I see no reason to even try it in a preamp pedal, the 12BH7 can handle more power as well so I presume that's why I get a power increase in the little amp.

 

[rickdog]

My RCA tube manual says a 12BH7A needs twice the filament current of a 12AU7. Authoritative advice will come from @Sushi Box FX, but I definitely wouldn't put a 12BH7 in a Sushi pedal.

12BH7A has lower plate resistance than 12AU7 in the example class A circuits in the manual, so it makes sense it could make more power in a small power amp.