The Sushi Box FX Secret Society

[Snake101st]

Hard to say definitively yet, but I did a bunch of knob twiddling and comparing with my Origin SV on the settings I like on that vs the SBVT II settings I landed on, and I'm really digging it!

I'm hearing more heft on the lows and low mids, and being able to use 1.2k vs 800hz for the mids is awesome. Going to be testing it at a gig tomorrow and will report back

 

[Spanish Pirate]

I opened the UA to see the internal computer and a question came up that I don't remember reading about. There's a small switch that says Line or Instr, it came up as Line... is that correct or should I put it as Instr? And the small potentiometer to give it more or less output is gone?

 

[WRM]

I opened the UA to see the internal computer and a question came up that I don't remember reading about. There's a small switch that says Line or Instr, it came up as Line... is that correct or should I put it as Instr? And the small potentiometer to give it more or less output is gone?

Guessing that is the DI level on the XLR out (instr is ~20dB lower than line level). I'd leave it be unless you need an instrument level to the board.

 

[Tassieviking]

I think it is the XLR output level as well, Sushi Box pedals are always changing for the better I think.
In my opinion as we discover the the pedals and give feedback on what we like Nathan is also learning more and improving his craft.
Its not like there were any textbooks where he could look up what a good pedal should be like, it's nearly like we all get custom pedals that are refined to what we all like the most.
I just love it.

 

[Spanish Pirate]

Guessing that is the DI level on the XLR out (instr is ~20dB lower than line level). I'd leave it be unless you need an instrument level to the board.

The UA does not have an XLR output.

 

[eeyorebass]

I opened the UA to see the internal computer and a question came up that I don't remember reading about. There's a small switch that says Line or Instr, it came up as Line... is that correct or should I put it as Instr? And the small potentiometer to give it more or less output is gone?

It replaces the trim pot that used to set the output signal. Most people either turned it way up or way down, so a switch made more sense (is my understanding).

I would switch it to Inst. Unless you're using it to drive a power amp directly, Line is probably too hot.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

I opened the UA to see the internal computer and a question came up that I don't remember reading about. There's a small switch that says Line or Instr, it came up as Line... is that correct or should I put it as Instr? And the small potentiometer to give it more or less output is gone?

As mentioned, that switch replaces the trimpot that used to be inside UA as I wasn't completely satisfied with the way it worked.

I ship UA with the switch set for line level output, as I have noticed people tend to like a hot output. If it's too hot and you would like it more manageable, you can switch it to instrument level output. It won't affect the tone or the overall operation of the pedal, it's just an output attenuator.

 

[Spanish Pirate]

As mentioned, that switch replaces the trimpot that used to be inside UA as I wasn't completely satisfied with the way it worked.

I ship UA with the switch set for line level output, as I have noticed people tend to like a hot output. If it's too hot and you would like it more manageable, you can switch it to instrument level output. It won't affect the tone or the overall operation of the pedal, it's just an output attenuator.

Ok, I understand, thanks. My idea is to place it in front of the Ampeg SGT-DI, which I send to the return of the Darkglass M900... so, is there a more "ideal" configuration or would it be worth trying and assessing?

Testing today with the DAW and with Línea, how it was going, it is true that to maintain a unitary volume, especially with the equalizer deactivated, the control was difficult to obtain, you had to make millimeter changes

 

[rickdog]

You might need to look at the manuals for the SGT-DI and the M900. Can the SGT-DI handle a line level input, or is it intended only for instruments? Is the M900 effects loop instrument level or line level? I have an amp (Ampeg SVT-3Pro) that has a line level effects loop, it's great for rack mount devices, but it tends to overdrive pedals. And putting too hot a signal back into the effects return clips inside the amp resulting in a sound that goes beyond and is more like (like "did I just damage something?").

Based on what Nathan said, you may get better results with the UA switched to instrument level - this should make the Master control more manageable. Now that I know about this switch, I may set mine to "instrument" because I like Gain way up and Master is rather touchy.

 

[Spanish Pirate]

I think I'll start testing with the instrument level instead. Thanks to everyone for their responses.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

Ok, I understand, thanks. My idea is to place it in front of the Ampeg SGT-DI, which I send to the return of the Darkglass M900... so, is there a more "ideal" configuration or would it be worth trying and assessing?

Testing today with the DAW and with Línea, how it was going, it is true that to maintain a unitary volume, especially with the equalizer deactivated, the control was difficult to obtain, you had to make millimeter changes

Yeah I would say if you're running it at the end of the chain it's probably safe on line level, but if you're running it in front of something else, it's probably better to keep it at instrument level for gain staging.

 

[Beatnicht]

Made a slapdash recording as a single track. Assume all caveats of skill and preparation. This is my Metroline P with stainless flats. The parts are as such:
1. Bass straight in via a JDI
2. Same exact playing through the SBVT set flat
3. Bass knob cranked
4. Ultra low flipped on
5. Ultra low and ultra hi flipped on
6. Gain cranked, everything else flat
7. A quick lick with the mid boost cranked and stepping through each mid freq

Quick Samples

 

[_Tay_]

Made a slapdash recording as a single track. Assume all caveats of skill and preparation. This is my Metroline P with stainless flats. The parts are as such:
1. Bass straight in via a JDI
2. Same exact playing through the SBVT set flat
3. Bass knob cranked
4. Ultra low flipped on
5. Ultra low and ultra hi flipped on
6. Gain cranked, everything else flat
7. A quick lick with the mid boost cranked and stepping through each mid freq

Quick Samples

Sounds really good! and some great examples there! Would love to hear the gain cranked with ultra low/high too and a pick.

 

[Snake101st]

Hard to say definitively yet, but I did a bunch of knob twiddling and comparing with my Origin SV on the settings I like on that vs the SBVT II settings I landed on, and I'm really digging it!

I'm hearing more heft on the lows and low mids, and being able to use 1.2k vs 800hz for the mids is awesome. Going to be testing it at a gig tomorrow and will report back

View attachment 7323961

Unfortunately I had a strange issue last night - the SBVT II wasn't outputting audio via 1/4" with the switch on the pre setting, so I had to use the pedalboard into my amp with the SBVT II set to dry instead... So I couldn't test it.

Did some quick trouble shooting during sound check and couldn't figure it out - strange since it worked fine at home via the opus for headphone practice, but it was receiving no audio with the pre engaged at the venue. Will have to mess with it more, hopefully it's not an issue with the pedal and just user error somehow

 

[carl-anton]

So, I’ve searched and read myself blind, and I’m sure my questions have been answered already somewhere I overlooked. Apologies.

I’ve just acquired an UA and already love the sound (not deaf yet, luckily). I use it always-on with eq off and gain at around 9. Just want a little warmth and “3D”. Will a 12AU7 tube give me more of this? Can someone recommend a 12AU7 with good midrange?

Oh, how do I get the tube out?! I’ve watched the videos and I’m wriggling, wriggling and nothing happens except I’m afraid to damage something.

 

[Graham Potts]

Received my SBVT II today (I’m in the uk) put my stringray special 4hh through it, sounds incredible!! Already have the more and finally preamps but this is on a whole new level.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

Unfortunately I had a strange issue last night - the SBVT II wasn't outputting audio via 1/4" with the switch on the pre setting, so I had to use the pedalboard into my amp with the SBVT II set to dry instead... So I couldn't test it.

Did some quick trouble shooting during sound check and couldn't figure it out - strange since it worked fine at home via the opus for headphone practice, but it was receiving no audio with the pre engaged at the venue. Will have to mess with it more, hopefully it's not an issue with the pedal and just user error somehow

Definitely let me know how it goes. Was the XLR output still working? What power supply were you using?

 

[rickdog]

So, I’ve searched and read myself blind, and I’m sure my questions have been answered already somewhere I overlooked. Apologies.

I’ve just acquired an UA and already love the sound (not deaf yet, luckily). I use it always-on with eq off and gain at around 9. Just want a little warmth and “3D”. Will a 12AU7 tube give me more of this? Can someone recommend a 12AU7 with good midrange?

Oh, how do I get the tube out?! I’ve watched the videos and I’m wriggling, wriggling and nothing happens except I’m afraid to damage something.

A little leverage underneath the tube doesn't hurt. I used (very carefully!) a small flat blade screwdriver. Push the tube one way to get a little space under it then pry gently while continuing to wiggle it. Don't scratch the glass.

I tried a 12AU7 in mine, I didn't care for it - it seemed to stay clean until the Gain knob was way up, then saturated in a way I didn't like. Next tube I put in was a JJ ECC803S, which is just a little lower gain (as claimed on the eurotubes.com website, but curiously not on the datasheet) than the original ECC83S. That one stayed in, the lower gain gives me more resolution on the Gain knob, and I like its saturation characteristics better. It's funny, I didn't like that tube in anything else I've tried it in, but it pleased me in the UA.

My experience might be different from yours, I always have the EQ on (except when I scare myself by accidentally bumping that little switch with my toe). So maybe the 12AU7 with its lower gain will work better for you.

Another tube you might want to try is a 12AT7/ECC81, medium gain. I might still try one of these in my UA, but right now I'm happy with what I have.

I have the impression that Nathan's circuits are especially responsive to different tube characteristics. A tube claimed to have "good midrange" in someone's tests in some other device might not behave the same way in the UA.

 

[Jonathan49]

So, I’ve searched and read myself blind, and I’m sure my questions have been answered already somewhere I overlooked. Apologies.

I’ve just acquired an UA and already love the sound (not deaf yet, luckily). I use it always-on with eq off and gain at around 9. Just want a little warmth and “3D”. Will a 12AU7 tube give me more of this? Can someone recommend a 12AU7 with good midrange?

Oh, how do I get the tube out?! I’ve watched the videos and I’m wriggling, wriggling and nothing happens except I’m afraid to damage something.

A 5751 sounds really great in the UA

 

[Snake101st]

Definitely let me know how it goes. Was the XLR output still working? What power supply were you using?

I wasn't using the xlr out in this case

Was using the power supply that came with it, to not draw too much from my cioks