The Sushi Box FX Secret Society

[LightForce104]

So yes and no. I obviously do the Lab Rat, which is a LM308 op-amp into a 6N21B output stage, and I also have a pretty good sounding prototype of the Glass Clover, which is a JRC4558 op-amp with a tube input stage and tube output stage. These are both essentially an op-amp pushing a tube, they're not operating separately.

But as for doing a pedal with a tube preamp and a solid-state device emulating a tube preamp, nope I've never considered it. Generally the big reason people use solid-state devices is for simplicity and power. Taking a 9V (or whatever) input and turning it into 6.3V for heaters and 200V for plates is not a trivial thing. So if I already have all that in my pedal for the tube section, I don't see why I need to also have a solid-state device emulating a tube stage. I've heard a lot of great-sounding FET-based tube emulation circuits, but I've never heard one that I like better than an all-tube version of the same circuit.

Kind of on that same train of thought, how do you feel about a tube drive with a clean blend and a HPF for the drive side only?

 

[johnk_10]

i made a quick clip of my london underground (with the PA tonestack). it starts with it bypassed, then clicked in basically clean and flat (bass @ 12:00, mid dimed, treble @ 11:30), then increasing the gain and finally lowering the gain at the end:

 

[Lammchop93]

That sounds great. Very useable even with the gain cranked, which you don’t find often in pedals.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

Thank you, Señor Sushi.
How about a hybrid of solid-state and tube-driven breakup?

I don't know, I'm not sold on the idea. I am largely of the opinion that all things being equal, tube breakup is superior to solid-state breakup. Tube breakup is pretty much my niche

Kind of on that same train of thought, how do you feel about a tube drive with a clean blend and a HPF for the drive side only?

I think it's a reasonable idea, most drives tend to incorporate HPF anyway, be it intentionally or unintentionally, which is why clean blends are so popular with bass drives.

i made a quick clip of my london underground (with the PA tonestack). it starts with it bypassed, then clicked in basically clean and flat (bass @ 12:00, mid dimed, treble @ 11:30), then increasing the gain and finally lowering the gain at the end:

That is absurdly tasty. One of my favorite things about building pedals is hearing them used by someone that's better than me (which is not hard to do). Thanks for sharing

 

[Lowendtech]

i made a quick clip of my london underground (with the PA tonestack). it starts with it bypassed, then clicked in basically clean and flat (bass @ 12:00, mid dimed, treble @ 11:30), then increasing the gain and finally lowering the gain at the end:

Nice. Sounds great.
I think I need one of those.

 

[Lammchop93]

Out for delivery!!

 

[Zbysek]

i made a quick clip of my london underground (with the PA tonestack). it starts with it bypassed, then clicked in basically clean and flat (bass @ 12:00, mid dimed, treble @ 11:30), then increasing the gain and finally lowering the gain at the end:

Sounds great!

 

[Ethereal Thorn]

I cant wait to see what that violet sparkle paint looks like

I mean...should I start doing cabsims?

I'd rather see you do a sort of faux tube power stage or simulation that you could pair with a impulse loader that's the only real weak point left in most signal chains for doing a ampless iem rig imho. Having the tube warmth of a power amp adds so much to the sound especially for overdriven sounds and grit. I guess what I'm suggesting is kind of similar to what swr did with the interstellar overdrive preamp except no one could/ or has done so in a pedal format yet. I hope what I'm describing makes sense.

 

[CATFISHMcC0Y]

i made a quick clip of my london underground (with the PA tonestack). it starts with it bypassed, then clicked in basically clean and flat (bass @ 12:00, mid dimed, treble @ 11:30), then increasing the gain and finally lowering the gain at the end:

0:29 seconds......oh yeah

 

[NKBassman]

i made a quick clip of my london underground (with the PA tonestack). it starts with it bypassed, then clicked in basically clean and flat (bass @ 12:00, mid dimed, treble @ 11:30), then increasing the gain and finally lowering the gain at the end:

Ohhhh that's nice.

 

[Lammchop93]

It’s here! I had 10 minutes to play with it before a work meeting. Initial impressions:

tons of volume on tap. I have gain around 1 o clock and have to have the master under 9 to keep it at a good headphone level. Bass control has tons of variety from left to right. It gets very bassy. Mid control is a good range as well, but I don’t hear much swing in the treble. I noticed if I cut the mids, I hear more range on the treble knob, but once I boost the mids, there’s not much I hear.


The only concern I have is that when my master is all the way off, I still get a small signal when the pedal is engaged. If the gain is dimed, it’s pretty obvious, but as your turn the gain back it’s a faint signal. At 9 o clock it’s almost nonexistent, but if you cut it back even more, it actually get slightly louder.

Doesn’t really matter to me since this is my recording interface preamp and headphone amp, so it will be always on. But for people using it as a drive pedal, they may run into issues since the master volume is so loud beyond 9 o clock.

However, the gain range is SUPER useable as a preamp. I like dirt to my tone, and this gets me that in spades. Still clear and not fizzy sounding, but tons of bite and very touch sensitive. I’m in love with this pedal. I’ll try and get a video demo in the coming days.

 

[labeledbass]

I'm not so much worried about shipping as I am about general every day use. My idea was to mount the tube to a small board with a connector on it that attaches to the main board. this would let me mount the tube super close to the top of the enclosure and still let you swap tubes because you can just unplug the small board from the main assembly, swap the tube, and put the board back in. I have both connectors epoxied to their respective boards, so they don't wobble at all by themselves anymore, but there is still a little bit of play in the connection, so shaking the pedal vigorously (not something most people would do, but still something you should be allowed to do) will make the connection rock back and forth. I don't think it would actually come loose and fall out, but it moves enough to make me nervous, so I don't want to deal with it. I've epoxied the connectors together on the prototype and mounted the board a little further down, so you should still be able to get the tube out, but it won't be as convenient. I'm going to swap for a soldered-in header connection between the two boards so they will be permanently attached and order another batch of boards sometime soon.
View attachment 4041080

What if you made a cradle on the tube end? I dont know it you can tell, the photo I posted last of that preamp, there is a stout foam strip on the backside, and when the top covers on the opposite side that sandwich the valves, of course this only cover 180 degrees protection where, say pcb board or poly material with a hole in it could cradle on the tube end, still leave enough room for fingers to get ahold. There is the collapsing valve shields you see on older amp chassis as well, they hold up very well. Just some ideas, I know there isn't much room in there

 

[Sushi Box FX]

What if you made a cradle on the tube end? I dont know it you can tell, the photo I posted last of that preamp, there is a stout foam strip on the backside, and when the top covers on the opposite side that sandwich the valves, of course this only cover 180 degrees protection where, say pcb board or poly material with a hole in it could cradle on the tube end, still leave enough room for fingers to get ahold. There is the collapsing valve shields you see on older amp chassis as well, they hold up very well. Just some ideas, I know there isn't much room in there

I thought about something to cradle the tube, but I'm really pressed for space in the box. A thick foam strip on the bottom would help for sure, that may be something to look into. The valve shields are excellent, but there's no way I would be able to fit one of those in a box that size.

On an unrelated note, while I still haven't verified any of the things I'm hoping to offer starting in January, I've had enough people ask about it that I decided it was time to open up the February slots, so those are live now.

 

[kranahan]

Get 'em while they're hot!

 

[labeledbass]

I thought about something to cradle the tube, but I'm really pressed for space in the box. A thick foam strip on the bottom would help for sure, that may be something to look into. The valve shields are excellent, but there's no way I would be able to fit one of those in a box that size.

On an unrelated note, while I still haven't verified any of the things I'm hoping to offer starting in January, I've had enough people ask about it that I decided it was time to open up the February slots, so those are live now.

OK, just trying to help - with the February pedals, with the upcoming X, is this covered under a standard Bee Pre or will more need to be added later?

 

[kranahan]

OK, just trying to help - with the February pedals, with the upcoming X, is this covered under a standard Bee Pre or will more need to be added later?

Purchase any pedal as a placeholder. You'll need to add money once the X is added to the lineup as I'm assuming it will cost more money.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

OK, just trying to help - with the February pedals, with the upcoming X, is this covered under a standard Bee Pre or will more need to be added later?

Purchase any pedal as a placeholder. You'll need to add money once the X is added to the lineup as I'm assuming it will cost more money.

Correct, X series will be extra, probably $50. You will also notice that the 125B-top jacks option is gone now, as I found a wholesale distributor that can even out costs so I won't need to charge extra for that anymore. It's coming direct from China so shipping will take a while, but I should have parts in stock by February.

 

[labeledbass]

Correct, X series will be extra, probably $50. You will also notice that the 125B-top jacks option is gone now, as I found a wholesale distributor that can even out costs so I won't need to charge extra for that anymore. It's coming direct from China so shipping will take a while, but I should have parts in stock by February.

I was shooting for the wireless option, but I guess I get what I get..

 

[benjobass]

Well, that escalated quickly. Just placed an order for 3 pedals as placeholders ...

 

[lesclaypoolsob]

In for 2 spots...