The Sushi Box FX Secret Society

[gh0st42]

Westinghouse in the Classifieds.

No affiliation.

Also a mini tube Lab Rat.

Totally affiliated on that one.

 

[CochinoBass]

After a lot of thought, I have decided to wait for the SMD version of the Smoke Signal when it comes available in June. Having essentially two pedals and the cabsim Rec out is worth it.

 

[MTN.bass72]

Either the UA or the Smoke Signal once revised. The Abbey Road amp was a Fender Bassman with a 2 band Bax tone stack where Chris Squire always blended a clean powerful bass amp with his saturated Marshall Major. @Sushi Box FX is developing a Bassman style preamp and the JC Emerald is closest to the Marshall being JCM800 based.

The UA is a perfect melding of a versatile gain stage with a flexible tone circuit into a perfect package, from warm/clean through crunch into a hard but pleasantly saturated with plenty of tone variations. Dr Wattson or any of the dual tube pres will have a richer drive voice due to the additional tube gain stages which is why I suggested the SS to get both in one box.

DANGIT!!! I don't ***need*** to order another pedal, yet..

But this description of the UA, which I've already been eyeballing, is twisting my arm

 

[mmbass21]

Does the UA stay clean for you guys? I'm all for a little grit but I'm trying to use it as an always on preamp and would like it cleaner. I have the master practically dimed and as little gain as possible to make it audible. Guess I'll have to try a different tube for a more clean approach. I'm also finding it that it doesn't stack well with another overdrive pedal after it. On its own it's amazing but maybe I'm not using it to the best of its intended ability.

 

[lomo]

Question from a 1st time buyer off the Sushibox web site: I placed an order for a May build and paid, but I received no order confirmation or acknowledgement from SB. Is this normal routine or has the order possibly not been received/gone through? I'd hate to find out after all the May slots are gone that there has been a SNAFU.

 

[ahbass2500]

Question from a 1st time buyer off the Sushibox web site: I placed an order for a May build and paid, but I received no order confirmation or acknowledgement from SB. Is this normal routine or has the order possibly not been received/gone through? I'd hate to find out after all the May slots are gone that there has been a SNAFU.

Check your junk mail folder. I received an email with "Your Sushi Box FX order has been received!" as the subject line.

 

[mmbongo]

Does the UA stay clean for you guys? I'm all for a little grit but I'm trying to use it as an always on preamp and would like it cleaner. I have the master practically dimed and as little gain as possible to make it audible. Guess I'll have to try a different tube for a more clean approach. I'm also finding it that it doesn't stack well with another overdrive pedal after it. On its own it's amazing but maybe I'm not using it to the best of its intended ability.

Yep, I seek ZERO dirt from my UA. I run the gain at around 9 o clock and the master about Noon.

You can hear it here..this is a post about the MP40 pedal but the 'mtnclean' sound file is my Dingwall into the UA.
NEW Sansamp Geddy Lee MP40 Preamp Pedal

 

[Sushi Box FX]

Does the UA stay clean for you guys? I'm all for a little grit but I'm trying to use it as an always on preamp and would like it cleaner. I have the master practically dimed and as little gain as possible to make it audible. Guess I'll have to try a different tube for a more clean approach. I'm also finding it that it doesn't stack well with another overdrive pedal after it. On its own it's amazing but maybe I'm not using it to the best of its intended ability.

There's an internal "attenuator" trimpot that limits the output level, if you turn that fully clockwise it will help get high levels without cranking the master. Swapping tubes (12AT7 for a little grit or 12AU7 for no grit) would also help.

Question from a 1st time buyer off the Sushibox web site: I placed an order for a May build and paid, but I received no order confirmation or acknowledgement from SB. Is this normal routine or has the order possibly not been received/gone through? I'd hate to find out after all the May slots are gone that there has been a SNAFU.

Shoot me a PM with either your email address or full name (anything I can use to look up the order) and I can let you know if it went in or not.

 

[gh0st42]

Does the UA stay clean for you guys? I'm all for a little grit but I'm trying to use it as an always on preamp and would like it cleaner. I have the master practically dimed and as little gain as possible to make it audible. Guess I'll have to try a different tube for a more clean approach. I'm also finding it that it doesn't stack well with another overdrive pedal after it. On its own it's amazing but maybe I'm not using it to the best of its intended ability.

Might be worth swapping the 12ax7 for a 12at7, or possibly all the way down to a 12au7 if you are shooting fir very low gain and high headroom.

 

[Killing Floor]

Does the UA stay clean for you guys? I'm all for a little grit but I'm trying to use it as an always on preamp and would like it cleaner. I have the master practically dimed and as little gain as possible to make it audible. Guess I'll have to try a different tube for a more clean approach. I'm also finding it that it doesn't stack well with another overdrive pedal after it. On its own it's amazing but maybe I'm not using it to the best of its intended ability.

UAX is clean at the lower gain range. There is room to play in the warmth before it gets gritty and overdrives. Right on the edge is great too, the bite on hard playing.

 

[Killing Floor]

Check your junk mail folder. I received an email with "Your Sushi Box FX order has been received!" as the subject line.

You can also log onto the account on the website and click my orders.

 

[Justin Keoni]

There's an internal "attenuator" trimpot that limits the output level, if you turn that fully clockwise it will help get high levels without cranking the master. Swapping tubes (12AT7 for a little grit or 12AU7 for no grit) would also help.

Is there a brand of 12AU7 tube you’d recommend for a completely clean sound?

 

[Sushi Box FX]

Is there a brand of 12AU7 tube you’d recommend for a completely clean sound?

I'm partial to NOS tubes and am spoiled in that regard, so Mullard and Amperex are my favorites if you can get them. Otherwise modern production JJ/Tesla still sound great, and JJ 12AU7 are what I always used in Vampire Slayer and Deep Dish.

 

[Killing Floor]

I’ll add that I also have the Particle Accelerator X and I love that pedal but it goes to overdrive earlier. I haven’t tried different tubes.

 

[bassbrad]

Does the UA stay clean for you guys? I'm all for a little grit but I'm trying to use it as an always on preamp and would like it cleaner. I have the master practically dimed and as little gain as possible to make it audible. Guess I'll have to try a different tube for a more clean approach. I'm also finding it that it doesn't stack well with another overdrive pedal after it. On its own it's amazing but maybe I'm not using it to the best of its intended ability.

I found that the UA works best at the end of my chain, I run the levels as close to unity as possible and have the UA gain just below 9 for pristine and a bit past 10 for light toasty warm, between 11 & Noon for vintage.

 

[4Mal]

I tried a Jj 12au7 in the Particle Accelerator and thought it was an improvement... for my use.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

Welp, looks like I have bad news and bad news.

I spent a few hours on SMD Smoke Signal last night, and I wasn't able to make it work. In frustration I asked "this is the same circuit as the handwired version, why doesn't the handwired version have the same problem?" So I plugged the handwired version in and cranked it, and... it does have the same problem when the gain is above 2:00. So both handwired and SMD versions of Smoke Signal have a low frequency oscillation when gain is up, and I wasn't able to get it fixed last night.

So I have a couple threads to pull on with the design, but I also just did a backup redesign of the board with an "alternate" design to see if I can get rid of the oscillation. I have a handful of orders for handwired Smoke Signals, and I don't want to have to cancel or postpone these orders, so fixing Smoke Signal will be my main developmental focus for the next few weeks. I would like to fix the current design without drastically changing the circuit as I love the sound, but I have a backup plan with small changes and a backup-backup plan with more drastic changes. I'm hopeful for the current design, confident in the backup plan, and extremely confident in the backup-backup plan, so I do not expect this to be a long-term issue, it's just going to come down to how much I'm willing to negotiate with the circuit.

Just thought you all should know.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

Well I guess Smoke Signal is getting 99% of my focus for development. I was just informed that circuit boards for Greenhouse and More have been delivered this afternoon, so I'll spend a little time tonight to see if they fire up, but if they don't come up first-try then I'm shelving them until Smoke Signal is ready to go.

 

[bassbrad]

Welp, looks like I have bad news and bad news.

I spent a few hours on SMD Smoke Signal last night, and I wasn't able to make it work. In frustration I asked "this is the same circuit as the handwired version, why doesn't the handwired version have the same problem?" So I plugged the handwired version in and cranked it, and... it does have the same problem when the gain is above 2:00. So both handwired and SMD versions of Smoke Signal have a low frequency oscillation when gain is up, and I wasn't able to get it fixed last night.

So I have a couple threads to pull on with the design, but I also just did a backup redesign of the board with an "alternate" design to see if I can get rid of the oscillation. I have a handful of orders for handwired Smoke Signals, and I don't want to have to cancel or postpone these orders, so fixing Smoke Signal will be my main developmental focus for the next few weeks. I would like to fix the current design without drastically changing the circuit as I love the sound, but I have a backup plan with small changes and a backup-backup plan with more drastic changes. I'm hopeful for the current design, confident in the backup plan, and extremely confident in the backup-backup plan, so I do not expect this to be a long-term issue, it's just going to come down to how much I'm willing to negotiate with the circuit.

Just thought you all should know.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

So I guess the good news is these look neato.