The Sushi Box FX Secret Society

[dedpool1052]

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?

Yes!

 

[dedpool1052]

Didn't Mesa do something like that where you could blend a FET and tube preamp? Or was that just switchable between the two?

No idea.

But I think Genz-Benz did a Head like that.
Solid state and tube side that was blendable.

 

[moon-bass]

No idea.

But I think Genz-Benz did a Head like that.
Solid state and tube side that was blendable.

Eden and Markbass both had amps like that, I am sure there are more.

 

[Pedalnetics]

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

So if I'm following...
When the Radial is splitting the signal to amp & board, with Zero of your Lehle loops on, turning on the Fender OD results in the board losing a good chunk of its signal gain?

And for the PAX, can you reproduce it going straight guitar->PAX->Fender, and flipping OD on with PAX enabled?

 

[Kendescending]

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?


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.


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.

IIRC, my old Mesa M2000 amp did this. It could be changed between the FET and tube preamp or they could be blended with a mix control. I had problems setting all 3 options at the same output level, so I sold sold it in 2003. It really needed a level control for the mixed preamps

 

[gh0st42]

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?

Sounds like the Mesa Boogie Basis M-2000 you might be thinking of. Or maybe the new TT-800.

The TT-800 is a solid state channel and a tube channel based on the 400+ amps. Just switchable and not blendable.

The M-2000 had a FET channel and tube channel, both with compressors, separate effects loops, Graphic EQs on each channel, and could be switchable or blendable. Cool amp, but very complex and fairly prone to issues.

Hard to dial in, but sounded awesome if you put the work in.

 

[moon-bass]

IIRC, my old Mesa M2000 amp did this. It could be changed between the FET and tube preamp or they could be blended with a mix control. I had problems setting all 3 options at the same output level, so I sold sold it in 2003. It really needed a level control for the mixed preamps

I thought that for both the Eden and the Markbass there was little difference between the tube and the solid state pres. It seemed like all that the tube version did was add a fairly transparent tube to the solid state signal path. I really didn't think the mix did much and both "sides" sounded pretty much the same. I don't know if they were just "vanity" tubes, but I would have preferred two options that sounded different. A tube preamp that sounded the same as the solid state preamp didn't make much sense to me.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

So if I'm following...
When the Radial is splitting the signal to amp & board, with Zero of your Lehle loops on, turning on the Fender OD results in the board losing a good chunk of its signal gain?

And for the PAX, can you reproduce it going straight guitar->PAX->Fender, and flipping OD on with PAX enabled?

Sorry.
When the PAX is on and in the signal path the OD on the rumble is wonky.

I have tried it bass>PAX>Fender and get the same result.

I can work around this issue if I need to though.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

Just got home from a gig and had a great time. I ran my PAX in front of my Rumble and it was great! I love it.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

Sorry.
When the PAX is on and in the signal path the OD on the rumble is wonky.

I have tried it bass>PAX>Fender and get the same result.

I can work around this issue if I need to though.

Your gig next weekend is about 30 minutes away from me, I'll see if I can swing by and take a listen to what it's doing and see if I can help.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

Your gig next weekend is about 30 minutes away from me, I'll see if I can swing by and take a listen to what it's doing and see if I can help.

lol thanks But that’s ok. Not an issue really since I only use OD on one song “Stacked Actors” and I can work around that.

You are more than welcome to come check us out, especially if you like Foo Fighters.

We will be playing in your back yard at Rochaus in West Dundee later this year.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

lol thanks But that’s ok. Not an issue really since I only use OD on one song “Stacked Actors” and I can work around that.

You are more than welcome to come check us out, especially if you like Foo Fighters.

We will be playing in your back yard at Rochaus in West Dundee later this year.

I definitely dig Foo Fighters, so I may still come out next weekend, but you should definitely let me know when you're at Rochaus, that's like a mile from my house.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

I definitely dig Foo Fighters, so I may still come out next weekend, but you should definitely let me know when you're at Rochaus, that's like a mile from my house.

Will do. I love that place. It is very nice and they did a great job renovating it. They take care of us there.

We have plenty of gigs booked with festivals and stuff this summer, but I love the theaters the best. Keep an eye out and let me know. I would be happy to add you to the guest list.

 

[kranahan]

California side jack PA in the classifieds. No affiliation.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

California side jack PA in the classifieds. No affiliation.

Pretty sure those will be collector's items one day.

 

[Kendescending]

Details, please.

The Space Heater has a really nice fat juicy sound to it. Seems to add richness to the mids a little while sweetening up the low end and retaining the highs. It goes from very clean to a heavy distortion with the gain control, and everything in between.

It sounds really cool with the gain up as well. I can't tell if it starts to lose a little low end at high gain, or if the mids are accentuated from the overdrive. Either way, the low end doesn't sound "flubby" at high gain like so many other distortion pedals do.

 

[dedpool1052]

The Space Heater has a really nice fat juicy sound to it. Seems to add richness to the mids a little while sweetening up the low end and retaining the highs. It goes from very clean to a heavy distortion with the gain control, and everything in between.

It sounds really cool with the gain up as well. I can't tell if it starts to lose a little low end at high gain, or if the mids are accentuated from the overdrive. Either way, the low end doesn't sound "flubby" at high gain like so many other distortion pedals do.

Awesome!
I've got a SH in the June batch.
I look forward to putting it through its paces.

 

[kevmac]

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?


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.


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.

Use the boost for MORE dirt? I need a whip and chair to tame it as it is.It's a beast!

 

[kevmac]

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.

Truth!

 

[dedpool1052]

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.

So, Señor Sushi,
Does this seem like something you'd be interested in prototyping/exploring?