I’m confident, that in hindsight, you will consider gain reduction indication a good business decision, blinding or not.
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The Sushi Box FX Secret Society
- Thread starter kranahan
- Start date
If there was a way to power it with standard 9v center positive that would get me interested. Or 110v iec plug. I’ve never made the jump to brick power supplies but am probably the exception here on tb.
It's going to be designed for 12V power supply like the original, since I'm actually using full size tubes on it and 12V is incredibly convenient for running the tube heaters at low current. The entire thing should pull less than 1A even with three tubes. I will try it with a 9V input, but I'm afraid I can't promise anything. I do 9V inptu on my submini tube builds, but for this one 12V just makes sense. I've never been a fan of IEC inputs on pedals, partially because I don't want a pedal big enough for it to even fit on, but mostly because that means there is going to be transformers inside.
I thought about going for an analog meter, and it would actually simplify things a little as I don't need an LED driver, but it would take up a bunch of space, and I'm trying to keep the size down.
Nixie tube display would be pretty cool for sure, but I don't really want to deal with all the additional things I would need to make that work, not to mention the extra space required
It's going to be designed for 12V power supply like the original, since I'm actually using full size tubes on it and 12V is incredibly convenient for running the tube heaters at low current. The entire thing should pull less than 1A even with three tubes. I will try it with a 9V input, but I'm afraid I can't promise anything. I do 9V inptu on my submini tube builds, but for this one 12V just makes sense. I've never been a fan of IEC inputs on pedals, partially because I don't want a pedal big enough for it to even fit on, but mostly because that means there is going to be transformers inside.
I thought about going for an analog meter, and it would actually simplify things a little as I don't need an LED driver, but it would take up a bunch of space, and I'm trying to keep the size down.
Nixie tube display would be pretty cool for sure, but I don't really want to deal with all the additional things I would need to make that work, not to mention the extra space required
Nixies are practically steam-punk, weird blip in the road between tubes and solid state, analog and digital.
Yup, I like them because of the pseudo-analogness of them. I actually have a nixie tube clock around somewhere, a tube burned out and I never got around to replacing it.
@Sushi Box FX I assume you are sticking with three tubes for gain staging and compression circuit. That is a must.
The LA-1A is such a killer device. I would like to see an XLR out.
This next comment totally violates all that is the LA-1A but a tilt EQ would be killer. Why? Some people feel the LA-1A adds unnecessary brightness. With overly bright instruments I can see that. On the other hand, using the LA-1A to add a little more shimmer up or add just a touch more bottom end combined with a XLR out could eliminate the need [want] for a separate preamp.
The LA-1A is such a killer device. I would like to see an XLR out.
This next comment totally violates all that is the LA-1A but a tilt EQ would be killer. Why? Some people feel the LA-1A adds unnecessary brightness. With overly bright instruments I can see that. On the other hand, using the LA-1A to add a little more shimmer up or add just a touch more bottom end combined with a XLR out could eliminate the need [want] for a separate preamp.
I've never used an LA-1A... wondering if the Boost section is necessary? I certainly wouldn't expect that on a compressor. However I understand the LA-1A is maybe as much a preamp as it is a comp.
@NKBassman I like to use the boost as an always on means to hit the tubes harder, not as a traditional boost to pop out of the mix function. That said, I would sacrifice the boost in favor of a tilt EQ and/or XLR out.
@Sushi Box FX
Slight change of topic: Any plans to add a Marshall-style pre in the future?
I ordered the London Underground for my bass rig, but I could probably use a tube based pedal pre for guitar too. I have this old Garnet tube slave amp head that needs a preamp... Fender tone stack is great, but I already have one of those in my Hot Rod Deville. A Plexi or JCM style pedal might be a good addition to the lineup.
Edit: I assume so, but I guess I should ask... can these pedals be used to drive a power amp?
Slight change of topic: Any plans to add a Marshall-style pre in the future?
I ordered the London Underground for my bass rig, but I could probably use a tube based pedal pre for guitar too. I have this old Garnet tube slave amp head that needs a preamp... Fender tone stack is great, but I already have one of those in my Hot Rod Deville
. A Plexi or JCM style pedal might be a good addition to the lineup. Edit: I assume so, but I guess I should ask... can these pedals be used to drive a power amp?
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The JCM and Plexi tonestacks are both Fender passive TMB stacks derived from the old Bassman circuit, but perhaps with the tonestack located in a different part of the circuit than the Fender? Given that most of the Sushi pedals are using some variation of that tonestack it may already be approximated in one of the available options (or may only require a few small component changes to an existing design).@Sushi Box FX
Slight change of topic: Any plans to add a Marshall-style pre in the future?
I ordered the London Underground for my bass rig, but I could probably use a tube based pedal pre for guitar too. I have this old Garnet tube slave amp head that needs a preamp... Fender tone stack is great, but I already have one of those in my Hot Rod Deville
Edit: I assume so, but I guess I should ask... can these pedals be used to drive a power amp?
Thanks! I thought so. I thought there was some change to the midrange EQ by the time it got to JCM, but there’s certainly plenty of people out there who know better than me.
Yeah I think you are right about that! It is amazing how much mileage that style of tonestack has gotten!
Sorry I was kind of absent today, but here's some late responses:
Good idea on the XLR out. I would think that a balanced XLR would be more desirable than a balanced TRS, I'm assuming the original went with TRS for the sake of space saving, but I think it's doable. I'll look into it. Also I keep meaning to order the D.I. transformers like we talked about a few months ago, I'm going to do that this week. I want to start offering that on some models, we'll probably start having some conversations about that soon.
I am planning to stick with the same tube compliment (2x 12AU7 1x 12AT7), at least for now. It's a little counterintuitive, but submini tubes actually take more current than full-size tubes, and three subminis in a box (like the Wrecking Ball) takes A LOT of current. At least with the 12A*7 series I can run at 12V and cut the current draw in half.
Good idea on the XLR out. I would think that a balanced XLR would be more desirable than a balanced TRS, I'm assuming the original went with TRS for the sake of space saving, but I think it's doable. I'll look into it. Also I keep meaning to order the D.I. transformers like we talked about a few months ago, I'm going to do that this week. I want to start offering that on some models, we'll probably start having some conversations about that soon.
I mean it can be perceived as a preamp depending on your definition, it's a gainstage (4 in parallel) into a cathode follower (2 in parallel) with some tone shaping. You can set it for minimum compression and it still adds some lovely flavor to your signal. I'm going to keep the boost in for now, just because I like the options it gives.
I actually have a JCM800 design (JC Emerald) that I built a prototype for and it sounds great, but it has some noise issues. I keep meaning to go back and redesign it (it's mostly the power section) but haven't gotten around to it. I actually thought I had it fixed and sold the prototype, but the buyer said it was noisy and sent it back. I do really like the sound, so if I can get that one running a litle quieter I may throw it on my personal board.@Sushi Box FX
Slight change of topic: Any plans to add a Marshall-style pre in the future?
I ordered the London Underground for my bass rig, but I could probably use a tube based pedal pre for guitar too. I have this old Garnet tube slave amp head that needs a preamp... Fender tone stack is great, but I already have one of those in my Hot Rod Deville
Edit: I assume so, but I guess I should ask... can these pedals be used to drive a power amp?
How small do you think you can make it while still incorporating 3 full size tubes AND a LED bar indicator? 1590BB? Similar size to the Lightning Boy Audio OP-2 Comp? I assume you plan on having the tubes exposed like the OP-2 and the LA-1A?
