The Sushi Box FX Secret Society

[Sushi Box FX]

The power requirements for the big tube vs the mini tube pretty much tanks the idea of the mini tube pedals in my opinion.

Yup, even ignoring subjective differences in sound, power requirements and ease of tube swapping are huge. I actually postponed getting my board put back together until I can get X versions of everything (Black Eye X boards arrived today, along with other guitar-oriented preamps).

 

[LightForce104]

I do think that the mini tubes are nice for the multi tube pedals, since the form factor can be much smaller.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

I do think that the mini tubes are nice for the multi tube pedals, since the form factor can be much smaller.

And that's true, there's no way I can fit more than one full size tube in a box that size.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

I do think that the mini tubes are nice for the multi tube pedals, since the form factor can be much smaller.

And now because of this comment I had to measure the inside of a box and measure a couple of tubes. And because of those measurements I'm sitting at the computer drawing the biggest circuit board that can fit in that box that will hold a pair of 12AX7. And because of how that board looks I'm trying to squeeze Black Eye X onto it. Anything else would be too many pots, there is zero room for pots on here, but Black Eye is only 3 pots so I may be able to make it work. As an engineer "impossible" is one of my least favorite words

 

[gtirard]

@Sushi Box FX did you ever consider create your interpretation of the "Boogie chanel" of the Subway TT-800?
It's modern version of the all tube legendary MESA BOOGIE 400+ I used to have long ago, the best amp I ever owned. God it would be so great if you could capture that tone in a sushi box pedal. But I'm sure it would be impossible to fit that circuit in a sushi box, would it?

 

[Sushi Box FX]

@Sushi Box FX did you ever consider create your interpretation of the "Boogie chanel" of the Subway TT-800?
It's modern version of the all tube legendary MESA BOOGIE 400+ I used to have long ago, the best amp I ever owned. God it would be so great if you could capture that tone in a sushi box pedal. But I'm sure it would be impossible to fit that circuit in a sushi box, would it?

Anything can fit in a box, I may just have to change the size of the box Unfortunately I can't find any schematics for the Subway on the internet, which complicates things as that would mean getting my hands on one and trying to trace it, which is a big investment of time and money.

 

[cavemanbass]

So.... You guys ready for me to discontinue the mini tube builds yet?

View attachment 4183806

Ok by me! I have two mini tube pedals in the April run, no problem if you want to change those to X

 

[Sushi Box FX]

@Sushi Box FX did you ever consider create your interpretation of the "Boogie chanel" of the Subway TT-800?
It's modern version of the all tube legendary MESA BOOGIE 400+ I used to have long ago, the best amp I ever owned. God it would be so great if you could capture that tone in a sushi box pedal. But I'm sure it would be impossible to fit that circuit in a sushi box, would it?

I read through this post again and realized I misunderstood a bit. So I can't find a schematic of the Subway TT-800, but I absolutely have a schematic of the Bass 400, that preamp would be doable in a pedal for sure.

 

[gtirard]

I read through this post again and realized I misunderstood a bit. So I can't find a schematic of the Subway TT-800, but I absolutely have a schematic of the Bass 400, that preamp would be doable in a pedal for sure.

I'm sure it would be amazing This amp was soooo goood. Of course, the power stage was also pure tube, so you could only get part of the magic, but it's the same for the SVT… Let's say: 70% of the magic, 1% of the weight, arround 10% of the price.

 

[gh0st42]

I read through this post again and realized I misunderstood a bit. So I can't find a schematic of the Subway TT-800, but I absolutely have a schematic of the Bass 400, that preamp would be doable in a pedal for sure.

400 based pre would be awesome.

Mesa Boogie D-180 based would be even cooler with it’s Master volume distortion trick.

 

[tombowlus]

400 based pre would be awesome.

Mesa Boogie D-180 based would be even cooler with it’s Master volume distortion trick.

+1 cascading gain stages for the win!

 

[krfoss]

I'm sure it would be amazing This amp was soooo goood. Of course, the power stage was also pure tube, so you could only get part of the magic, but it's the same for the SVT… Let's say: 70% of the magic, 1% of the weight, arround 10% of the price.

Throw a good power amp sim behind it and you're that much closer.

 

[krfoss]

400 based pre would be awesome.

Mesa Boogie D-180 based would be even cooler with it’s Master volume distortion trick.

Could you explain for us uninitiated?

 

[map34157]

400 based pre would be awesome.

Mesa Boogie D-180 based would be even cooler with it’s Master volume distortion trick.

If you would be able to make a pedal based on the D180, I’d buy it in a heartbeat. By far, my most favorite tube amp. I’ll never make the mistake of selling mine. Glad I was able to pick up another one.

 

[gh0st42]

Could you explain for us uninitiated?

If I remember correctly, the D-180’s master volume works very strangely, as a current limiter on one of the tubes. Master at max and you get a cleaner sound. The further down you turn it from max, the more it turns into a crazy unique sounding dirt/overdrive cascading gain stage.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

So I found this in an older forum post here: Looking at the D-180 schematic I'm not really sure why backing off the master would increase gain, unless they had it wired backwards. It does have a similar thing to the Hiwatt though, where the master isn't at the very end of the preamp, it's between stages, so it acts as both volume and interstage gain control. Definitely worth a look down the road, but I may have to take a vote and make everyone choose between Bass 400 and D-180, I don't really want to do two different Mesa bass preamps. I'll put it on my list,

 

[kranahan]

D-180 hands down.

 

[moon-bass]

The 400+ uses the Fender tone stack. How different from the PA would that be?

 

[moon-bass]

Btw, the 400+ is my favorite amp ever. It's one of the reasons why I love the Fender tone stack. That, and my first real bass amp was a Fender Baseman 10

 

[donahue]

Interesting. I asked Josh to build me an accurate D-180 pre long time ago and he said something about difficult, 400 volts etc. so definitely do your homework. It may have to be 115v mains powered.