The Sushi Box FX Secret Society

[Poke]

I’d like to hear this. Everybody loves the 300 but I could not get along with the thing. No clean anywhere on the gain dial no matter what I did. I want smooth tube like overdrive, not in your face distortion.

Same experience here. Could not get it to clean up. The SBVT sounds intriguing.

 

[Lowendtech]

I'll go on record that I love the Super 300 and I love the SBVT, but for different reasons. They are definitely different Preamps. I was going to wait until I was able to make some recordings but it might be a bit before I can so ..

Spoiler: Super 300 vs SBVT without sound

The SBVT and S300 are pretty different. The number one issue that folks have with the 300 is the gain structure - not a lot of room before you start getting OD. I personally don't have that issue, but I can tell you that the SBVT has a lot more gain before you start hitting OD and it's also a softer, more gradual approach to OD. In other words, the 300 OD is more abrupt. That being said, the 300 will get hairier, much more OD and distortion than the SBVT, so there is a trade off.

The SBVT doesn't have a "bright" footswitch, which is something that I love on the 300. I can dial my gain up to the point just below OD on the 300 and then kick into good OD with the "bright" on. The SBVT OD is super, super smooth tho.

I think the SBVT sounds really good on fretless, I find that I have to tweak the 300 a little more.

I think the best way to sum up the differences between the two is like this (and I hope this makes sense) - the SBVT is a preamp based on the SVT while the Super 300 is more like an SVT in a box. The SBVT is more transparent - the good qualities and the flaws on the bass come thru, while the SVT takes on more characteristics of playing thru an SVT with an 8*10. The SBVT is definitely smoother - I chalk that up to the tubes - but the S300 is dirtier and grungier, and it also has the bright footswitch.

All in all they are both winners. I've been looking for something like the SBVT for a long, long time - a preamp that imparts some character but doesn't overwhelm the sound, and the 8 position mid switch is fantastic, esp for fretless. If I could have one change I would make the mid freq variable rather than 8 position, but this is a small gripe. I vastly prefer the SBVT over a lot of pedals with true parametric.

The S300 fulfills a different purpose, and it's purpose it to ROCK. Thick, grindy, juicy. It reminds me of playing through a big old tube amp, and the OD is top notch.

Thanks. Now I’m intrigued to try a SBVT.

 

[Kendescending]

Haven't had too much time on the SBVT yet, but it seems very different from the Super 300. Same flavor with different characteristics. I can get a lot of cleans out of the SBVT, but it's also very bright. Seems like it's based on the bright channel of the SVT. Can anyone confirm?

On a side note, the Space Heater really surprised me. I knew it'd be good, but I'm blown away by it so far...

 

[dedpool1052]

On a side note, the Space Heater really surprised me. I knew it'd be good, but I'm blown away by it so far...

Details, please.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

Question for people who have a PAX. I have gigs booked solid for the next few months and preparing for a gig tonight I tested all the gear I will be using.

I have a Lehle D loop that I run two loops through. Loop A is my tuner only. Loop B has a Milk Box Compressor, into a PAX, into a Broughton always on HPF, back to the D loop out to my Fender Rumble 500 Combo.

My plan is to have Loop B always on. At unity gain, when I engage the rumbles OD channel the volume and OD significantly drops to an unusable level. No problem, if I turn off the PAX it comes back up to volume with OD.

Now for the big issue. I bought a Radial SB-2 passive DI. I had that running from the Lehle out from the thru of the Radial out to my amp input and the DI out to a FOH board.

Same situation at the board with the Radial as with the OD channel. Volume drop with no headroom at the board but the output to the amp is fine.

When I go out of the amp DI to the board and there is no issues.

Should I get a Radial SB-1? And does anyone know if you have to run phantom to pass the thru signal to the amp?

I don’t usually run IEM but in case I do, because I have them, I would like to know my options.

I was looking at the Hotone Omni as well, but I can work around with what I have. Just asking for future uses.
Thanks

 

[Sushi Box FX]

Haven't had too much time on the SBVT yet, but it seems very different from the Super 300. Same flavor with different characteristics. I can get a lot of cleans out of the SBVT, but it's also very bright. Seems like it's based on the bright channel of the SVT. Can anyone confirm?

On a side note, the Space Heater really surprised me. I knew it'd be good, but I'm blown away by it so far...

I was pretty sure I did the normal channel, but I also thought it was a little bright, when I use mine I keep the ultra lo switch always on and it darkens it beautifully.

Glad you're enjoying the Space Heater, I've been pretty pleased with how flexible it is for how simple it is.

 

[dedpool1052]

So, I had an idea for a new pedal, but I'm not sure how into it Señor Sushi would be.


Basically a sort of hybrid dirty boost.
Tube side, the boost, providing color and warmth, with a gain control tied to a MOSFET gainstage, bringing in crunch and "sparkle".

I got a name too,
Harmonic Convergence.

 

[Pedalnetics]

So, I had an idea for a new pedal, but I'm not sure how into it Señor Sushi would be.


Basically a sort of hybrid dirty boost.
Tube side, the boost, providing color and warmth, with a gain control tied to a MOSFET gainstage, bringing in crunch and "sparkle".

I got a name too,
Harmonic Convergence.

How much different do you imagine it'd be than the LabRatX? I can get a pretty clean drive, through distortion, and it has the tube boost stage.
Invalid Link Removed

 

[dedpool1052]

How much different do you imagine it'd be than the LabRatX? I can get a pretty clean drive, through distortion, and it has the tube boost stage.
Invalid Link Removed

I can't honestly answer that, as I've never tried a LRX.

The main idea, is basically a LR, but reversed, so tube boost first, and then a MOSFET providing the gain, like a FAT RAT, but with a neutral EQ curve, rather than the mid-hump you get with a typical RAT.

I have two pedals based on the RAT, and while they're cool, the clipping/distortion doesn't sound as natural, to my ear, as the ones that use MOSFET.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

So, I had an idea for a new pedal, but I'm not sure how into it Señor Sushi would be.


Basically a sort of hybrid dirty boost.
Tube side, the boost, providing color and warmth, with a gain control tied to a MOSFET gainstage, bringing in crunch and "sparkle".

I got a name too,
Harmonic Convergence.

So typically when you have one stage feeding a second you want the first to be variable gain and the second to be fixed so you can control how hard the first one pushes the second, and the usual way to do it would be a FET stage pushing a tube stage so you're really only hearing the tube, but the FET pushed it into a heavier drive, like running a FET boost on the input of a tube amp. No reason you can't do the tube first and have that feed the FET stage, but I've only ever seen that done once, it's usually the other way.

 

[dedpool1052]

but I've only ever seen that done once,

A pedal or amp?
Can you name it here?

 

[Sushi Box FX]

A pedal or amp?
Can you name it here?

It was a pedal, Hagerman Boost, but now that I looked it up I'm seeing they actually use the MOSFET as an output buffer, not a gainstage.

So with that in mind I can say I have never seen anyone use a tube stage to push a FET stage, always the other way around (like Kingsley Harlot).

 

[dedpool1052]

So with that in mind I can say I have never seen anyone use a tube stage to push a FET stage, always the other way around (like Kingsley Harlot)

So, it sounds like I need to order a KN once slots are reopened.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

So, it sounds like I need to order a KN once slots are reopened.

I mean yeah, probably. Obviously I won't discourage people from giving me money. KN in the higher gain modes uses a JFET (J201) to push the tube into heavier drive.

 

[dedpool1052]

So, obviously, I'm no technical genius,

But, what if you run parallel stages, one going through a tube, and one run through MOSFET at higher gain.
A master volume, that controls the tube and overall output, and a gain that controls, well, how much gain goes through the MOSFET side, and is mixed in with the overall signal.


Again, no clue if this is possible, or would even sound good, really just curious.

 

[kevmac]

Statistically speaking the most commonly ordered pedal has been a matte black Slampegg. Just thought everyone should know.

Finally had a good long time to play with my Sunday Drive X and it's a heck of a pedal.Gives me the range of tones I like from round and throaty to hurts my ears full blown distortion.More hair than a Greatful Dead concert.It has volume to spare,forget about the boost feature but the bright switch can be useful.Between the gain and regular volume controls it seems to have no end of loudness.I see how this could be an always on pedal.The tone controls (bass,mid and highs) are pretty responsive and the unit responds to ones playing.It also reacts distinctively to different basses and it is dead quiet.Lastly the graphics and purple knobs look lovely. I think I'll keep it! Nice job SBFX.

 

[kevmac]

I had a chance to play with the SBVT a little more before (between ending work and heading out for dinner) and I gotta say that it sounds fantastic. You can definitely hear the SVT roots in it - it's got that classic rock tone. Gain low, it's smooth, has a little bit of that SVT bite. Throw the "ultra low" switch on, and you get that nice SVT grunt, the "ultra high" switch gives you glassy, airy highs and robust harmonics. My preference ATM is "low" on and "high" off.

The EQ works great, it's responsive, but also in some ways a little subtle. As mentioned, it's very clear and smooth at lower gain positions, but at higher gain it gets some good OD (for me, with an active Sadowsky NYC) once I get past 1:00 on the gain knob, i start to hear some good OD which eventually turns into that classic SVT grind that we all know and love(more gain = more grind). It doesn't get into fuzz territory, but it will do a hefty grundy (that a combination of grindy and grunty) that put a big smile on my face.

One thing that is nice is the 8 position switch, it is really helpful in finding the right mid freq boost to enhance a fretless.

I need to spend more time with it, but all in all so far it's a winner. Also - it's dead, dead quiet. No noise whatsoever, which is amazing since i live about 500 feet from the WWOZ broadcast towers.

Nice! I know one will end up in the cave along with my ridiculous amassment of toys.
In a way,no make that definitely it's a good thing the summer production break is happening .I need to put the breaks on in the purchasing dept.Things are getting out of hand.

 

[moon-bass]

View attachment 4300380
Finally had a good long time to play with my Sunday Drive X and it's a heck of a pedal.Gives me the range of tones I like from round and throaty to hurts my ears full blown distortion.More hair than a Greatful Dead concert.It has volume to spare,forget about the boost feature but the bright switch can be useful.Between the gain and regular volume controls it seems to have no end of loudness.I see how this could be an always on pedal.The tone controls (bass,mid and highs) are pretty responsive and the unit responds to ones playing.It also reacts distinctively to different basses and it is dead quiet.Lastly the graphics and purple knobs look lovely. I think I'll keep it! Nice job SBFX.

Man this really makes me want one even more.

One thing I've noticed about Sushibox pedals is that they really respond well to different basses, i.e. the character and individuity really shines thru.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

So, obviously, I'm no technical genius,

But, what if you run parallel stages, one going through a tube, and one run through MOSFET at higher gain.
A master volume, that controls the tube and overall output, and a gain that controls, well, how much gain goes through the MOSFET side, and is mixed in with the overall signal.


Again, no clue if this is possible, or would even sound good, really just curious.

I have no idea what it would sound like, but absolutely possible. So like fixed gain on the tube side, FET stage running in parallel to the tube with variable gain, you can run the FET as dirty or clean as you want, then you blend the two on the output? Could be neat. Didn't Mesa do something like that where you could blend a FET and tube preamp? Or was that just switchable between the two?

View attachment 4300380
Finally had a good long time to play with my Sunday Drive X and it's a heck of a pedal.Gives me the range of tones I like from round and throaty to hurts my ears full blown distortion.More hair than a Greatful Dead concert.It has volume to spare,forget about the boost feature but the bright switch can be useful.Between the gain and regular volume controls it seems to have no end of loudness.I see how this could be an always on pedal.The tone controls (bass,mid and highs) are pretty responsive and the unit responds to ones playing.It also reacts distinctively to different basses and it is dead quiet.Lastly the graphics and purple knobs look lovely. I think I'll keep it! Nice job SBFX.

Excellent, glad you're enjoying it. If you don't need extra dirt you probably won't use the boost much, but you can also run the boost clean by itself when the preamp is turned off, I rather like the sound of it.

Man this really makes me want one even more.

One thing I've noticed about Sushibox pedals is that they really respond well to different basses, i.e. the character and individuity really shines thru.

Thanks, I do my best Obviously the goal of having a preamp is to get a certain sound, but you don't want it to neutralize the sound of all the other sweet gear you have running with it. So I won't say that anything I make is transparent by any means, but they don't make every input sound exactly the same on the output. The flavor coming out will depend heavily of the flavor coming in.

 

[moon-bass]

Thanks, I do my best Obviously the goal of having a preamp is to get a certain sound, but you don't want it to neutralize the sound of all the other sweet gear you have running with it. So I won't say that anything I make is transparent by any means, but they don't make every input sound exactly the same on the output. The flavor coming out

You do a great job and imo fill out a missing area in the market place. You have really transparent preamps (Broughton Messenger, Para DI, Tonehammer) and really "colorful" preamps (most Sansamp, Valvedrive, SV-Pre, etc.) And from my experience the two Sushibox pedals fall in between. I've been thru a lot of preamp pedals and I think these two are very well done.