Wow, a rare X2 sighting. I'm still using 3, 1 at home, 1 at practice, 1 at a jam place. All have been extremely trouble proof and play well with my SushiBox pedals.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
The Sushi Box FX Secret Society
- Thread starter kranahan
- Start date
Pedal engaged, with or without the loop patched, you get tube in your signal. I left it on all night, so regardless of the HXFX status, I got the tube buffer action. My tone was quite nice last night, largely because my whole signal chain is awesome, still the Greenhouse had a positive influence. I think my favorite use so far is with a clean boost in the loop driving the output.
Yup, it’s been about 15 years for me. I happened upon my first one somewhat by accident, and was very very impressed with its performance. So I made a small investment in rechargeable 9 Volt batteries. When gas took hold and I wanted to upgrade, all the potential victims I was considering did not use 9 V. Used X2’s were so reasonably priced back then, I just stock piled. I still have three receivers and two transmitters. I tried replacing the input jack on a transmitter and my soldering skills destroyed it.
Just a little more UA appreciation - earlier this week I was doing some recording at a bandmate's home studio, basically UA into a DI into the interface. I was hearing some not very pleasant fizzy distortion and wondered if maybe that ECC803S I put in there running at high gain wasn't really what I want.
So this morning I plugged it into my little mixer at home and plugged in my good headphones, and started twisting knobs. No, the problem was not the UA at all. At moderate gain I can get a really nice crunch on hard attacks - exactly what I want - and turning the gain up beyond that transitions smoothly into a rather pleasant tube overdrive. I don't usually use it like that, but I found it a little reminiscent of Jack Casady's distortion that I think is from his Versatone amp (listen to the Crown of Creation album to hear what I'm referring to). I need to experiment some more with that!
So I'm putting it down to a problem in the gain structure, it could have been anywhere from the interface, through ProTools, and out through a (pardon my language) Behringer headphone mixer and phones. I'm not sure my bandmate knows how to check levels through ProTools (he's a heck of a good keyboard player, though!)
So this morning I plugged it into my little mixer at home and plugged in my good headphones, and started twisting knobs. No, the problem was not the UA at all. At moderate gain I can get a really nice crunch on hard attacks - exactly what I want - and turning the gain up beyond that transitions smoothly into a rather pleasant tube overdrive. I don't usually use it like that, but I found it a little reminiscent of Jack Casady's distortion that I think is from his Versatone amp (listen to the Crown of Creation album to hear what I'm referring to). I need to experiment some more with that!
So I'm putting it down to a problem in the gain structure, it could have been anywhere from the interface, through ProTools, and out through a (pardon my language) Behringer headphone mixer and phones. I'm not sure my bandmate knows how to check levels through ProTools (he's a heck of a good keyboard player, though!)
Does the MORE color the tone at all? I want something that's going to give a little more roundness and punch to my tone and am weighing up the Sushibox MORE vs the Aguilar DB 925. Thoughts?
Yes but it's very subtle. I'd rather have one of the Sushi preamps with its' own eq and run it cleanish, but that's just my subjective .02
So the preamps have a baked in tone? Which one would you suggest trying first. Thanks.
I’m gigging the PMLE on my current (Nano) live board, and have the Venus Z on my more general (Nano+) board; which includes my home brew Alembic Series I power supply box. I replaced the 12AX7’s in both preamps with 5751’s, with outstanding results.
I would call both preamps, which have similar circuits, extremely transparent; NOT voiced.
I’m currently on a binge running the preamps into QSC monitors for my stage mix. Been using the K10.2, which is monster for being “merely” a single 10” driver cab. Just picked up a K12.2, in case I need more of a “backline” capability. SushiBox + QSC.2 is = peas ‘n carrots. Amazing.
I should add that I still have a pair of Mesa Subway 112/115 stacks, each of which is driven by my trusty Demeter Minnie 800D power amps; and both boards rock those as well. Just starting to wonder if I will ever “need” them. (HAHAHAHA)
One last thing. I do still have the first SB preamp I purchased - the UA. The main difference I observed is how easily overdriven that circuit is vs the PMLE or Venus. I didn’t hear a whole lot of voicing diffs between them otherwise; seemed like more of a drive thing. My sense was that the UA is most at home with the slightly overdriven P type of sound. That pre didn’t play so well with my higher output active instruments. I go more for CLEAN / CLEAR as a pref. YMMV.
I would call both preamps, which have similar circuits, extremely transparent; NOT voiced.
I’m currently on a binge running the preamps into QSC monitors for my stage mix. Been using the K10.2, which is monster for being “merely” a single 10” driver cab. Just picked up a K12.2, in case I need more of a “backline” capability. SushiBox + QSC.2 is = peas ‘n carrots. Amazing.
I should add that I still have a pair of Mesa Subway 112/115 stacks, each of which is driven by my trusty Demeter Minnie 800D power amps; and both boards rock those as well. Just starting to wonder if I will ever “need” them. (HAHAHAHA)
One last thing. I do still have the first SB preamp I purchased - the UA. The main difference I observed is how easily overdriven that circuit is vs the PMLE or Venus. I didn’t hear a whole lot of voicing diffs between them otherwise; seemed like more of a drive thing. My sense was that the UA is most at home with the slightly overdriven P type of sound. That pre didn’t play so well with my higher output active instruments. I go more for CLEAN / CLEAR as a pref. YMMV.
Last edited:
They do, but the UA and the blue channel of the Dreamcatcher are both the same circuit based on the Alembic F2B with a passive Fender tone stack, so they CAN be set flat if desired (mids maxed, bass/trable at zero). The Elementary is the same as the lower gain channel of The Detective and based on the HiWatt DR103. Those cannot ever be completely flat/are always at least a tad relatively scooped. All these can be run anywhere from clean through filthy and all accept 12ax class tubes of different gain factors that allow the user to run 'em super clean/ or NOT as desired. Venus Z is the only current active preamp offered and is clean but CAN be pushed into OD with a boost before it. My suggestion for the most versatile and best/smallest/ cheapest / 1st Sushi Box is the UA. Since it also has an eq bypass toggle, and since having the eq engaged slightly reduces the gain, toggling the eq off can be used as a boost and return to flat eq with the flip of a switch. To complete the picture/fill in the gaps...the Dreamcatcher red channel is higher gain and a unique circuit created by Nathan (can also be run clean). The Red channel of the Detective is a higher gain version of its' lower gain blue channel. Lastly, if I was asked for a "buy once, cry once" choice, it'd be the Dreamcatcher
Last edited:
They do, but the UA and the blue channel of the Dreamcatcher are both the same circuit based on the Alembic F2B with a passive Fender tone stack, so they CAN be set flat if desired (mids maxed, bass/trable at zero). The Elementary is the same as the lower gain channel of The Detective and based on the HiWatt DR103. Those cannot ever be completely flat/are always at least a tad relatively scooped. All these can be run anywhere from clean through filthy and all accept 12ax class tubes of different gain factors that allow the user to run 'em super clean/ or NOT as desired. Venus Z is the only current active preamp offered and is clean but CAN be pushed into OD with a boost before it. My suggestion for the most versatile and best/smallest/ cheapest / 1st Sushi Box is the UA. Since it also has an eq bypass toggle, and since having the eq engaged slightly reduces the gain, toggling the eq off can be used as a boost and return to flat eq with the flip of a switch. To complete the picture/fill in the gaps...the Dreamcatcher red channel is higher gain and a unique circuit created by Nathan (can also be run clean). The Red channel of the Detective is a higher gain version of its' lower gain blue channel. Lastly, if I was asked for a "buy once, cry once" choice, it'd be the Dreamcatcher
Highly detailed response, thanks!
I picked up a K12.2 in April and will be using it next weekend for an acoustic set.
Those monitors sound really good and project well.
I JUST picked up a 12.2. Been gigging the 10.2 for the past 3 months; and it’s been MORE than sufficient for stage mix on some VERY large outdoor festival stages with fairly loud-ish mixes. The 12.2 is even more of the same. The 10.2 stacks pretty well on top of the 12.2, if I ever want a larger backline rig. Both alone or together have me seriously questioning whether I will ever use a standard bass amp on the backline again.
They do, but the UA and the blue channel of the Dreamcatcher are both the same circuit based on the Alembic F2B with a passive Fender tone stack, so they CAN be set flat if desired (mids maxed, bass/trable at zero). The Elementary is the same as the lower gain channel of The Detective and based on the HiWatt DR103. Those cannot ever be completely flat/are always at least a tad relatively scooped. All these can be run anywhere from clean through filthy and all accept 12ax class tubes of different gain factors that allow the user to run 'em super clean/ or NOT as desired. Venus Z is the only current active preamp offered and is clean but CAN be pushed into OD with a boost before it. My suggestion for the most versatile and best/smallest/ cheapest / 1st Sushi Box is the UA. Since it also has an eq bypass toggle, and since having the eq engaged slightly reduces the gain, toggling the eq off can be used as a boost and return to flat eq with the flip of a switch. To complete the picture/fill in the gaps...the Dreamcatcher red channel is higher gain and a unique circuit created by Nathan (can also be run clean). The Red channel of the Detective is a higher gain version of its' lower gain blue channel. Lastly, if I was asked for a "buy once, cry once" choice, it'd be the Dreamcatcher
everyone beginning with sushi pedals should try the high gain 12aX7, but also the 12aU7... it can still break up a little, but also sound real clean and great.
I use a 12AU7 in mine and am able to dial in a full range of sound with a passive P, but with a more in front I can get a really saturated sound as well.
edit: responding about the UA, but this is applicable to anything sushi.
get out there and try for yourself!
I am 100% IEM on all my gigs, I picked up the K12.2 to dial in my Nano boards for FOH.
I have used the K12.2 at a jam session, and I have an acoustic gig, first one ever, with my tribute band that I will be using the QSC for. It sounds fantastic through the QSC, no need for a bass amp if you have FOH support, which I do all the time.
@bucephylus
Here is a pic at a jam session for fun.
I will be using this bass along with the QSC for the acoustic gig.
Here is a pic at a jam session for fun.
I will be using this bass along with the QSC for the acoustic gig.
I do the same thing with a pair of K10.2s. Usually just need 1. I really like the pedalboard to a PA lifestyle.
Agreed. Perhaps, needs it’s own thread.
The only thing I might disagree with here is that I find that bypassing the eq on a UA is a large amount of boost. Somewhere in the vicinity of 25db depending on how the eq is set. You can flip it but I wouldn't just flip it willy-nilly.They do, but the UA and the blue channel of the Dreamcatcher are both the same circuit based on the Alembic F2B with a passive Fender tone stack, so they CAN be set flat if desired (mids maxed, bass/trable at zero). The Elementary is the same as the lower gain channel of The Detective and based on the HiWatt DR103. Those cannot ever be completely flat/are always at least a tad relatively scooped. All these can be run anywhere from clean through filthy and all accept 12ax class tubes of different gain factors that allow the user to run 'em super clean/ or NOT as desired. Venus Z is the only current active preamp offered and is clean but CAN be pushed into OD with a boost before it. My suggestion for the most versatile and best/smallest/ cheapest / 1st Sushi Box is the UA. Since it also has an eq bypass toggle, and since having the eq engaged slightly reduces the gain, toggling the eq off can be used as a boost and return to flat eq with the flip of a switch. To complete the picture/fill in the gaps...the Dreamcatcher red channel is higher gain and a unique circuit created by Nathan (can also be run clean). The Red channel of the Detective is a higher gain version of its' lower gain blue channel. Lastly, if I was asked for a "buy once, cry once" choice, it'd be the Dreamcatcher
