The Sushi Box FX Secret Society

[JackFawkes]

I have both a Slampegg HW and a Finally HW coming.
The Slampegg is supposed to have a character somewhere between an Ampeg B-15N and B-25.
The Finally is just a Space Heater that can send it's signal through a Lightning Boy transformer to give a balanced XLR out, so if you you listen to any samples of the Space Heater (or the Particle Accelerator), that's pretty much what the Finally will sound like (Alembic F-2B territory).

 

[ahbass2500]

Handwired uses full-sized components that can operate at a higher voltage than the smaller SMD components can. Due to that, the tube in a handwired Sushi Box pedal runs at about 350V, while the tube in an SMD version runs at about 235V.
There haven't been a lot of comparison reviews between the two yet since the HW models are still fairly new, but supposedly running the tube at a higher voltage results in a slightly "bigger" or "fuller" character, but I'm just repeating that as second-hand information since I won't be receiving my first HW pedal until next month.

My ear says the HW sounds slightly better in the bigger/fuller way. However, I also know which pedal I am running when listening for a difference. I also have to stop and swap pedals to do the compare which makes it a little harder to AB without recording. When I get a chance to record a compare of the two pedals, I may leave them unlabeled for a bit to see if we can tell which is which. It will happen, but might take me a few weeks due to work being crazy right now.

 

[bassbrad]

@BentonvilleBass the Finally is an excellent tube powered DI that has the Space Heater gain stage based on the Fender Showman with a lot of headroom, depth and warmth but there is no tone shaping or real coloration. You will get the best result IMHO pairing it with another preamp of your choosing to provide tone control and color. If you want clean that could be as simple as an EQ or even your bass direct in if you like the sound of your bass, I have recorded that way and it sounds glorious. Pairing the Finally with a preamp with more character like a Slampegg, SBVT or Underground Accelerator gives the chance to get a harmonically fuller sound with control over tone.

 

[BentonvilleBass]

@BentonvilleBass the Finally is an excellent tube powered DI that has the Space Heater gain stage based on the Fender Showman with a lot of headroom, depth and warmth but there is no tone shaping or real coloration. You will get the best result IMHO pairing it with another preamp of your choosing to provide tone control and color. If you want clean that could be as simple as an EQ or even your bass direct in if you like the sound of your bass, I have recorded that way and it sounds glorious. Pairing the Finally with a preamp with more character like a Slampegg, SBVT or Underground Accelerator gives the chance to get a harmonically fuller sound with control over tone.

Ha! That’s exactly what I was thinking about, and how I’m going to explain to my wife TWO new pedals.

 

[MTN.bass72]

Well, well...
Got back from delivering my route today to find a box of Chi-town sushi on my case..View attachment 4685671
Can't wait to get home a try it out..
HW Space Heater, by the way. Hopefully my One Spot daisy chain will work to at least test it out, until I can get a proper power supply.

HOLY CRAP BALLS BATMAN!!!

I didn't expect this to look this absolutely amazing!!! Don't get me wrong, I knew it would be too notch, but daaaang!!
I already know that I'll have to invest in a new power supply... because my One spot daisy chain won't handle this, and other pedals sufficiently.

I don't/won't have a huge board. Trying to stay with a Nano... I'll have the Space Heater.. microThumpinator .. Cali 76cb... MBD2... Providence Anandime bass chorus... Korg Pitchblack..

Any suggestions on a supply that'll fit underneath.. I'm ok with less outlets, because I know I can daisy multiples of one outlet if needed..
Does the Strymon Ouija fit underneath??
Man I'm excited!!
Thank you! @Sushi Box FX

 

[ahbass2500]

View attachment 4685872
I don't/won't have a huge board. Trying to stay with a Nano... I'll have the Space Heater.. microThumpinator .. Cali 76cb... MBD2... Providence Anandime bass chorus... Korg Pitchblack..

Any suggestions on a supply that'll fit underneath.. I'm ok with less outlets, because I know I can daisy multiples of one outlet if needed..
@Sushi Box FX

What fits is going to depend on the board you are using. That said, Cioks 4 is fairly small and should handle your pedal load as long as you daisy chain a few. You could run the Space Heater on one outlet at 9V, the Cali76 on another at 18, then use the remaining two outlets at 9v to daisy chain your other effects.

 

[MTN.bass72]

What fits is going to depend not he board you are using. That said, Cioks 4 is fairly small and should handle your pedal load as long as you daisy chain a few. You could run the Space Heater on one outlet at 9V, the Cali76 on another at 18, then use the remaining two outlets at 9v to daisy chain your other effects.

Thanks, man.. that was my thoughts too. I had looked at the Eventide version, but 6 in one, a half dozen the other, so...
I'll probably go that route. Until I twist my own arm and get a Smoke Signal and screw up everything

 

[Jamie Hale]

I love my Cioks power supplies, very dependable and adaptable.

 

[bassbrad]

Ha! That’s exactly what I was thinking about, and how I’m going to explain to my wife TWO new pedals.

If it helps Finally is two pedals in one a Space Heater and a Lightning Boy Audio DI in one box ~ A tremendous value!

 

[eeyorebass]

Has anyone running more than one Sushi Box pedal tried putting them in a true bypass switcher? Assuming you run them one at a time, does that prevent the noise issues?

 

[ahbass2500]

Has anyone running more than one Sushi Box pedal tried putting them in a true bypass switcher? Assuming you run them one at a time, does that prevent the noise issues?

I can try it with my JHS mini AB at some point in the next few days.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

Has anyone running more than one Sushi Box pedal tried putting them in a true bypass switcher? Assuming you run them one at a time, does that prevent the noise issues?

Yes. I’ve ran mine in a Lehle D Looper without any issue, even with both loops engaged and all pedals running.

The Lehle is not cheap, but it is one of the best pieces of (pedalboard) gear you can buy.

 

[4Mal]

I have the Eventide 4 under a Pedal Train Mini. Slampegg X in one of the 660's and a 3 x cord for Lehle 3 at 1 switch, Morningstar MC6 and Future Compact. The other outlets are open but can run my wireless receiver if I have it by the board and also a Fishman Platinum Pro preamp I use with my UBass.

I have a Spectrum in bound but doubt that I can fit it on the board ...

The Cioks stuff is bullet proof...

 

[Kubicki Fan]

View attachment 4685872
HOLY CRAP BALLS BATMAN!!!

I didn't expect this to look this absolutely amazing!!! Don't get me wrong, I knew it would be too notch, but daaaang!!
I already know that I'll have to invest in a new power supply... because my One spot daisy chain won't handle this, and other pedals sufficiently.

I don't/won't have a huge board. Trying to stay with a Nano... I'll have the Space Heater.. microThumpinator .. Cali 76cb... MBD2... Providence Anandime bass chorus... Korg Pitchblack..

Any suggestions on a supply that'll fit underneath.. I'm ok with less outlets, because I know I can daisy multiples of one outlet if needed..
Does the Strymon Ouija fit underneath??
Man I'm excited!!
Thank you! @Sushi Box FX

Super-WOW

 

[mmbongo]

View attachment 4685872
HOLY CRAP BALLS BATMAN!!!

I didn't expect this to look this absolutely amazing!!! Don't get me wrong, I knew it would be too notch, but daaaang!!
I already know that I'll have to invest in a new power supply... because my One spot daisy chain won't handle this, and other pedals sufficiently.

I don't/won't have a huge board. Trying to stay with a Nano... I'll have the Space Heater.. microThumpinator .. Cali 76cb... MBD2... Providence Anandime bass chorus... Korg Pitchblack..

Any suggestions on a supply that'll fit underneath.. I'm ok with less outlets, because I know I can daisy multiples of one outlet if needed..
Does the Strymon Ouija fit underneath??
Man I'm excited!!
Thank you! @Sushi Box FX

Get a Cioks DC7 or Eventide PowerMax with the Cioks Grip mount. No drilling required, you'll have it installed in 5 minutes and will cover all you need and each pedal will be isolated.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

So I have a gig this Saturday at Q casino in Dubuque IA. My guitar player talked me into buying this.

So obviously I had to combine the best of my two nano boards to create this.

Sounds ridiculously great through the IEM’s. Can’t wait to put it through its paces.

 

[bassbrad]

So I have a gig this Saturday at Q casino in Dubuque IA. My guitar player talked me into buying this.
View attachment 4686117
So obviously I had to combine the best of my two nano boards to create this.
View attachment 4686118
Sounds ridiculously great through the IEM’s. Can’t wait to put it through its paces.

Nice setup, iem playing takes some adjustments and a really good monitor mixer.

 

[Ryan L.]

Got my HWSH on my board. I can definitely tell a difference between the SMD and HW version, through headphones anyway. The HW sounds bigger, definitely. Not sure it’ll be that noticeable through FOH, but, it will be through my IEM’s.

So now I’ve got a spare SMD Space Heater sitting here….maybe that needs to go at the end of my chain. More tubes=more better, right?

 

[BentonvilleBass]

I’ve seen some people posting about using two of these pedals or more at a time they start having issues with noise. Is that a common issue? If so is it something a gate would fix? I’m thinking about the Finally and maybe Dr Watson and was wondering if that would be an issue and how I could remedy it

 

[Sushi Box FX]

Hey everyone, I'm awake now. Sorry I was AWOL most of yesterday, it was a day.

I stumbled across Sushi Box FX by accident just yesterday but am really thinking about ordering one. I went to do so this morning before I could talk myself out of it only to discover that I was late to the party. How do I preorder for an upcoming month? Or am I so late that it is going to be many many months before it’s possible?

Welcome to the Secret Society The next batch will be for June, which will be an unusually small batch as I'm going to be out of town for part of the month and also because I have a lot of stuff to work on at the moment. I usually open up a batch about a month in advance, but for June it will probably open up a bit later, maybe this weekend. I will of course let everyone know. Usually I'll post on here so the Secret Society gets a head start, then a few hours or so later I'll send out an email to the mailing list announcing it.

@Sushi Box FX this should be a FAQ with a photo of each type of pedal side by side to illustrate the difference.

Good call, I thought I had done that but apparently not. I'll try to get something up today.

Good news is this came in today...
Bad news... I cannot easily AB test it with my existing Slampegg Bee Pre X. I get a ton of squeal out of the HW Slampegg when both pedals are plugged in (even if I move them around in the chain).

I’ve seen some people posting about using two of these pedals or more at a time they start having issues with noise. Is that a common issue? If so is it something a gate would fix? I’m thinking about the Finally and maybe Dr Watson and was wondering if that would be an issue and how I could remedy it

This isn't always an issue, but seems to be common enough that I've lost sleep over it. I've replicated the issue in my own setup, and weirdly it happened when I used my Cioks but not when I used a OneSpot daisy chain. I still haven't been able to determine exactly what's causing it, but my best guess is that the high voltage converters I'm using in the pedals are stacking noise on top of each other. But the weird thing is that it seems to be worse when a HW pedal is stacked with an SMD pedal, which is weird because the two of them have different oscillator frequencies (both well above audio range) so I would expect less noise overlap in that case.

I know that a single high-voltage converter is capable of powering multiple tubes so I thought about having an extra power jack on the pedals so you could bypass the high voltage part on one pedal and share the supply from another, so only one is working and there wouldn't be added noise, but then the issue is that you have a high-voltage line on the outside of the pedal, and if anything were to happen to that cable or connector it would be a HUGE safety hazard. So that's a non-starter.

I've tried adding some additional noise rejection to some of the newer designs and it seems to help, but I want to start looking into additional filtering stages for the high voltage line to see if I can completely get rid of the problem.

Tl;dr - It happens, I'm working on it, buffers between pedals usually help (but apparently not always), and I'm trying to find a solution that fixes it 100% of the time for 100% of scenarios.