The Sushi Box FX Secret Society

[Pedalnetics]

Would someone give me the low down on the mini tube and x tube or just point me to where I can read about the differences? Mini and X are turning out to be very common search terms. Thanks.

Sushi used to build pedals with 6N21B subminiature tubes. For a while, he offered "X Series" pedals, which were the same pedals with "normal" guitar 12XX7 tubes. Eventually, he got rid of the 6N21B pedals as the X series were generally better: sold better, took less power to run, possible to tube swap.

Some users still prefer buying the submini tube pedals when they show up in the classifieds, and what was the "X Series" is now just what's sold: 12XX7-based pedals.

There are users who say the 6N21B sounded better, but their ears are far better than mine. I sold off all of my submini pedals, minus by modded-crazy Dr. Wattson, here's a photo (adding via mobile shortly...)

 

[rwkeating]

Sushi used to build pedals with 6N21B subminiature tubes....

Is there an easy way to tell which is which? I bought a used Underground Accelerator here on Talk Bass. I am curios as to what I got. On the other hand, it really doesn't matter as I love how it sounds ... just curious.

 

[Pedalnetics]

Theyre very easy to tell, heres a photo of a submini pedal. The tubes are legit a whole different size. There was 2 tubes in there (I ripped one out during some mods)

 

[Pedalnetics]

And heres a submini tube next to a normal 12xx7

 

[gh0st42]

Would someone give me the low down on the mini tube and x tube or just point me to where I can read about the differences? Mini and X are turning out to be very common search terms. Thanks.

Mini Tube uses a, you guessed it, mini tube like Sonic mentioned!

Mini Tube is physically attached to the circuit board, and can't be swapped without sending back to Sushi, or busting out a Soldering Iron.

X versions, and now all current tube versions, are full sized socketed tubes, so you can replace them yourself if one goes out, or try different brands and types of tubes to find one you like best. (Tube Rolling).

The X and full size tubes give you more gain, need less power, run cooler, but have a little less headroom from what I remember, so they can get that Tube Compression thing going on a little quicker.

Mini needs more power, runs hotter, less, gain, but more headroom, so a little less compressed sounding until you really start slamming them with more input gain.

Like anything tone related, some folks fall on both sides of the fence for which one sounds better.

Think Sushi and some other folks covered the key points back here:
The Sushi Box FX Secret Society

 

[gh0st42]

Sushi used to build pedals with 6N21B subminiature tubes....

Is there an easy way to tell which is which? I bought a used Underground Accelerator here on Talk Bass. I am curios as to what I got. On the other hand, it really doesn't matter as I love how it sounds ... just curious.

Post a pic of the one you got, and we can probably tell you which version it is!

 

[JackFawkes]

Everyone has already covered most of the discontinued subminiature tube differences pretty well, but I'm not sure if anyone mentioned one of the most important differences that really led to them becoming discontinued: they're very prone to microphonics.
Nathan used to have to do a lot of QC'ing submini tubes to sort out the microphonic ones from the non-microphonic ones before building... and even then, over time many of those "good" ones would eventually end up going microphonic anyways.
12A_7 tubes are easier to find, easier to replace, and less prone to microphonics than the subminis.

As for how to tell the difference, subminis are also known as "pen tubes" because they're about the same width as a pen or pencil, about the size of a AAA battery. 12A_7 tubes are about the size of a C battery.

 

[rwkeating]

Here ya go.

 

[JackFawkes]

That Underground Accelerator is definitely an X-Series (one that uses a 12A_7 tube).
Furthermore, it looks like it's an SMD model (rather than a handwired), and finished in Rainbow's End (black sparkle) with full artwork printed on it.

 

[gh0st42]

Here ya go.View attachment 4654479

Looks like a Full Size tube to me!

 

[Sushi Box FX]

That Underground Accelerator is definitely an X-Series (one that uses a 12A_7 tube).
Furthermore, it looks like it's an SMD model (rather than a handwired), and finished in Rainbow's End (black sparkle) with full artwork printed on it.

That is actually full color over raw, the top is black in the print but I finish all raw and white pedals with a sparkly clear coat, so dark color prints pop really nicely.

 

[JackFawkes]

Ahh... thanks for the correction! I'm sure I'd have guessed more correctly about the finish if I'd have been able to see the side of the pedal, haha...

 

[mmbass21]

@tombowlus as someone else said pictures don't do rainbow's end justice. The colored sparkles change from every viewing angle. In this pic it just looks like white but in no way does it look like this in person.

 

[MTN.bass72]

@tombowlus as someone else said pictures don't do rainbow's end justice. The colored sparkles change from every viewing angle. In this pic it just looks like white but in no way does it look like this in person.

View attachment 4654525

That's actually really cool! I might have to twist my own arm and order an Underground Accelerator in this finish

 

[tombowlus]

@tombowlus as someone else said pictures don't do rainbow's end justice. The colored sparkles change from every viewing angle. In this pic it just looks like white but in no way does it look like this in person.

View attachment 4654525

Thanks!

 

[mmbongo]

• Sushi used to build pedals with 6N21B subminiature tubes....

Is there an easy way to tell which is which? I bought a used Underground Accelerator here on Talk Bass. I am curios as to what I got. On the other hand, it really doesn't matter as I love how it sounds ... just curious.

That’s an easy one because underground accelerator was never offered as a mini tube pedal. It was introduced after He stopped using mini tubes.

 

[mmbongo]

S

There are users who say the 6N21B sounded better, but their ears are far better than mine. I sold off all of my submini pedals, minus by modded-crazy Dr. Wattson, here's a photo (adding via mobile shortly...)

I will freely admit that I love my mini-tube Particle Accelerator and London Underground, they are what got me hooked on Sushi Box back in the day. I will also admit that indeed I did not like the X versions of the PA and LU nearly as much so I was kinda bummed, and yes I bought up some older mini-tube versions to have as spares.

However, when the Underground Accelerator dropped, all became right with the world! I got a UA when they first became available and I ran it side by side with my LU w/PA tone stack for a while and I honestly cannot tell them apart. I also have a mini-tube Slampegg so I need to get an X to compare them

 

[johnk_10]

HW DW ordered.

 

[Derek Williams]

A new compressor has arrived! I'll be testing it against my other compressors later. This one is quite the underdog, but we'll see how it goes! @Sushi Box FX Is this one tuned for bass like the Renewal Compressor?
View attachment 4653822

I tested the Squeeze Box out last night. I'm not used to the compressor controls that this one has, and not quite sure of the relationship between Sustain and Clip (help me @Sushi Box FX!), but cranking the Sustain up to almost 100%, and Clip at 50% seems to work best for me. This pedal seems to have a tilt EQ that is hard wired to boost the lows and reduce the highs, so probably not a great always on compressor but I definitely liked it for getting a beefy, fat bass sound. Because of this, I think I'll find it more useful than if it was just a transparent compressor. So thumbs up from me.

 

[mmbongo]

I tested the Squeeze Box out last night. I'm not used to the compressor controls that this one has, and not quite sure of the relationship between Sustain and Clip (help me @Sushi Box FX!), but cranking the Sustain up to almost 100%, and Clip at 50% seems to work best for me. This pedal seems to have a tilt EQ that is hard wired to boost the lows and reduce the highs, so probably not a great always on compressor but I definitely liked it for getting a beefy, fat bass sound. Because of this, I think I'll find it more useful than if it was just a transparent compressor. So thumbs up from me.

Have you ever used a Diamond Bass Comp to compare?