@Sushi Box FX
This question may not even make sense, but how much gain (dB?) would be lost going from 3 gainstages down to 2 gainstages?
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The Sushi Box FX Secret Society
- Thread starter kranahan
- Start date
@Sushi Box FX
This question may not even make sense, but how much gain (dB?) would be lost going from 3 gainstages down to 2 gainstages?
Well.......I figure that as helpful as reviews by others can be, in the end, I have to get my own grubby hands and wizened ears around a pedal to decide how much I like it. I really love the concept of 2 switchable preamps in 1 box, and since one channel of the Dreamcatcher is apparently a kleen-ish UA (which I know for sure has become my favourite/ default sound, by a wide margin), I experienced a yolo moment and clicked on a Dreamcatcher (dirty magic/silver knobs/green LEDs). I will pop 12at7 and au7 tubes in the dirtier channel to see how it reacts to those as well. Sushi may be a pricey eardiction, but at least it won't shorten my life expectancy 
- Aug 21, 2003
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Hey Gang,
Tony here, I just received Venus X 3.1 and we are making some more tweaks with the EQ.
This is the first "Active EQ" by Sushi Box so its not like taking a high end baxandall tone stack and putting it in box, this unit is very different.
This unit will have a lot more mids at your disposal.
Hang Tight...The wait will be worth it.
Tony here, I just received Venus X 3.1 and we are making some more tweaks with the EQ.
This is the first "Active EQ" by Sushi Box so its not like taking a high end baxandall tone stack and putting it in box, this unit is very different.
This unit will have a lot more mids at your disposal.
Hang Tight...The wait will be worth it.
Wait, I can do this? I have a Dreamcatcher and figured it used both tubes all the time for both channels. Could I leave the clean UA side as is, then swap the other tube for the higher gain channel for something else? I usually run it pretty low gain as the drive on it isn't to my liking but maybe a lower gain tube would help?Well.......I figure that as helpful as reviews by others can be, in the end, I have to get my own grubby hands and wizened ears around a pedal to decide how much I like it. I really love the concept of 2 switchable preamps in 1 box, and since one channel of the Dreamcatcher is apparently a kleen-ish UA (which I know for sure has become my favourite/ default sound, by a wide margin), I experienced a yolo moment and clicked on a Dreamcatcher (dirty magic/silver knobs/green LEDs). I will pop 12at7 and au7 tubes in the dirtier channel to see how it reacts to those as well. Sushi may be a pricey eardiction, but at least it won't shorten my life expectancy
I am no 'lektrik engineer and don't have the circuit diagram, but that is my understanding, and I am certain you cannot harm the unit by trying.....as I intend to. 12at7 or au7 will reduce your gain on tap. Unfortunately, other than describing the DC's 2nd channel as high gain/dirty and being a new design, the site doesn't comment on its' preservation of low end or what the tone stack actually is, nor do I see sound samples. Since the cleaner channel is rooted in the UA I presume its' a Fender stack......perhaps Sushi Box FX can chime in? I hope the 2nd channel isn't mainly suited for geetar (I assumed not, since the inspiration/ Smoke Signal was designed for bass), in which case I'd change my order......
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The impetus for the original Smoke Stack was to provide an option for the discontinued Verellen Meatsmoke . There was a second version that had the UA Blue channel after many users requested theirs be modded, like myself, but retained the original high gain red channel that should have a wider range of gain saturation. The Dreamcatcher is totally a @Sushi Box FX design with the UA Blue and an original Red Channel. If tube rolling will make a difference I would certainly wait to hear from @Sushi Box FX for an opinion.
The Smoke Signal is excellent on both bass and guitar, mine is currently driving my guitar/piccolo bass rig and sounds great. The Red Channel is very driven which I sometimes like for higher notes but too massive on bass for me.
Sorry, Nathan is busy and can't come to the phone right now. He'll give a more detailed response on the Smoke Signal when he gets home.
Mmkay, so Dreamcatcher is an interesting beast. The clean channel only uses one tube, but the dirty channel uses both tubes. So if you put a low output tube in the clean (UA) side it will lower the gain of the drive side as well, and if you have the clean channel exactly where you want it but want the drive channel cleaned up, swapping V2 will not affect the clean channel at all.
I hope that answers the question, let me know if I misunderstood.
On an unrelated note, Muse has been one of my favorite bands since high school, and as a christmas gift my wife got me tickets to see them (first time for her, 4th time for me) tonight. They continue to be an incredible live show with phenomenal musicianship paired with excellent visual effects, I highly recommend seeing them live if you ever have a chance.
I hope that answers the question, let me know if I misunderstood.
On an unrelated note, Muse has been one of my favorite bands since high school, and as a christmas gift my wife got me tickets to see them (first time for her, 4th time for me) tonight. They continue to be an incredible live show with phenomenal musicianship paired with excellent visual effects, I highly recommend seeing them live if you ever have a chance.
I’ve got tickets to see them (with Royal Blood opening) later this year, looking forward to it. For some reason there is a lot of concerts happening all at once: I’ve got tickets for Sting, Peter Gabriel, and Muse all within a one week period in June.
Looks like an awesome show, never seen them live but I bet it was great. Nice seats too!
Cool, so I can swap out one tube on the DC and it will just affect the high gain channel leaving clean as is. I haven't opened mine up, are they labeled V1/V2?
Is there a cheat sheet for tubes and gain characteristics? I feel myself going down another rabbit hole...
Sushi Box FX
Thanks for the response. Glad you dug the show. Sorry to bother with more questions, but I do have a couple more:
-Re D-Catcher....I assume the tone stack is Fender for the UA/channel 1; what is it for the dirtier channel?
-how much gain is there on tap in the dirtier channel (ie if I go with a lower gain tube like au7 or at7 will there still be enough on tap)? Any guidance with respect to the lower gain tube most likely to get significantly cleaner but not totally clean appreciated....
Many thanks again.
Thanks for the response. Glad you dug the show. Sorry to bother with more questions, but I do have a couple more:
-Re D-Catcher....I assume the tone stack is Fender for the UA/channel 1; what is it for the dirtier channel?
-how much gain is there on tap in the dirtier channel (ie if I go with a lower gain tube like au7 or at7 will there still be enough on tap)? Any guidance with respect to the lower gain tube most likely to get significantly cleaner but not totally clean appreciated....
Many thanks again.
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OK, here is a question that I don't think has been asked. I have a 4003 and I am wondering what two SB preamps would be best for replicating the Geddy/Squire tone using the Rick-O-Sound? I'm thinking UA or Elementary for the "clean" channel neck pickup and JC Emerald or Black Eye II for the "drive" channel bridge pickup? I know I could just buy a Sansamp YYZ pedal but it doesn't have TOOOOBz!
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@Sushi Box FX, I finally completed one of my DIY Space Heater PCBs. Sounds great but very loud. Is there an easy way to add trim pot?
Dirty channel of Dreamcatcher has the same tonestack as the clean channel, exactly the same.
I could do math and tell you the theoretical amount of gain, but I'm not sure how helpful it would be. Suffice to say with the gain full up it gets close to fuzz territory. 12AT7 (mu of 65) would still allow you to get plenty dirty. 12AY7 (mu of 45) is less gain but also still probably safe. 12AU7 (mu of 20) is enough less that I would start tobworry about it not being able to drive anymore.
These are just estimates and guesses that I haven't tried personally, but hopefully gives you a decejt starting place.
Not super easy for a trimpot, but I've had a couple people add a resistor between the board and one of the lugs of the level pot to get a fixed output attenuation.
That could be useful, for someone wanting two clean channels and voicings.
I would probably recommend 1M, the output is pretty hot as-is and 1M would put it around the level I used to set the ones at with a trimpot.
I have no idea what Geddy used but Chris used a Marshall Super Bass aka Major for the middle pickup and a Maestro Brass Master iirc. IMHO the JC Emerald has got the goods to deliver that tone.
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Yes - Chris Squire Bass Rig Gear and Equipment
How Chris Squire got his iconic bass tone
