The Sushi Box FX Secret Society

[CH Design]

So I finally got around to doing a true A/B of More and A Little More tonight, and it's no contest. In isolation A Little More doesn't sound bad, but when compared to the full-size More it sounds anemic, for lack of a better term. More is thicker, fuller, and has more "presence", it just feels better. The difference is clearly audible, and More sounds significantly better to the point where it doesn't make sense for me to pursue A Little More any further.

Would it make any sense to try again with parallel gain stages without a buffer and/or parallel buffers without a gain stage?

 

[lomo]

...... it doesn't make sense for me to pursue A Little More any further.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

Would it make any sense to try again with parallel gain stages without a buffer and/or parallel buffers without a gain stage?

I don't think so. Parallel gainstages without a buffer is probably neat, but part of what makes More get along with everything is a nice high input impedance and a nice low output impedance. Losing the buffer would probably keep a lot of the tone, but lose some of the stability/flexibility.

Losing the gainstage and just doing a parallel buffer is exactly what Vampire Slayer is/was, Vampire Slayer used parallel buffer stages.

 

[PotsdamBass8]

I’m sure this has been asked before but I haven’t found it yet. What would be considered the closest setting to “flat” on the Slampegg?

 

[CH Design]

I don't think so. Parallel gainstages without a buffer is probably neat, but part of what makes More get along with everything is a nice high input impedance and a nice low output impedance. Losing the buffer would probably keep a lot of the tone, but lose some of the stability/flexibility.

Losing the gainstage and just doing a parallel buffer is exactly what Vampire Slayer is/was, Vampire Slayer used parallel buffer stages.

Thanks for the explanation.

If the following is a dumb question for anyone that knows anything about electronics, I apologize in advance. I just like to ask questions.

Could a solid state buffer and parallel gain stages get you most of the tone with a single tube. I get that solid state buffers aren’t something you do, but if it’s doable, it might be an acceptable workaround when a tube buffer isn’t an option.

The Vampire Slayer happened before I started following this thread. I'm guessing it didn't sell that well since it's been discontinued, but what were the sonic benefits?

 

[Derek Williams]

I’m sure this has been asked before but I haven’t found it yet. What would be considered the closest setting to “flat” on the Slampegg?

That should be switches off, treble and bass at noon.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

Thanks for the explanation.

If the following is a dumb question for anyone that knows anything about electronics, I apologize in advance. I just like to ask questions.

Could a solid state buffer and parallel gain stages get you most of the tone with a single tube. I get that solid state buffers aren’t something you do, but if it’s doable, it might be an acceptable workaround when a tube buffer isn’t an option.

The Vampire Slayer happened before I started following this thread. I'm guessing it didn't sell that well since it's been discontinued, but what were the sonic benefits?

It's possible, but it would likely have to go into the same size enclosure as the current More anyway, so the only benefit would be the power savings of one tube vs two.

I'm reluctant to change More, especially when it comes to adding solid-state devices, as the current version of More seems to be perfect. I have yet to find a situation where it doesn't make things better. I'm completely happy with the sound and I'm completely content with the size. I understand the power draw is higher than a singel tube would be, but I consider it to be worth it, especially with the number of power supplies on the market capable of powering it.

In my opinion Vampire Slayer didn't sell that well because it wasn't very exciting. Preamps and overdrives are sexy, standalone buffers just aren't. When you need a buffer they're extremely important to have, but it's hard to really get excited about a buffer. It worked very well, it had a nice high input impedance and a nice low output impedance, and while it was largely transparent it still gave (in my experience) a different "feel" to the playing. It's not a night and day difference, but it's not nothing.

That should be switches off, treble and bass at noon.

^ This is correct. Both treble and bass at noon on a baxandall/james stack is pretty close to flat.

 

[bassbrad]

IMHO the MORE and UA are perfect as they are, the only upgrade might be a MORE DI.

 

[Hasty]

IMHO the MORE and UA are perfect as they are, the only upgrade might be a MORE DI.

I could probably be talked into buying a MORE DI (very little taking involved on that one). At that point in my chain I tend to only want a preamp and a DI so it would probably be perfect. Don't get me wrong, I love my UA and I love my DIY Space Heater/DI lunchbox that I made... but I've been intrigued by the idea of the More and that would probably be the catalyst push me over the edge.

 

[3rdcurve]

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.

View attachment 4981517

I was there! drove up from MO and enjoyed some Giordano's pizza.


Question: Is the More pedal basically a clean boost/tube saturation box?

 

[bassbrad]

Question: Is the More pedal basically a clean boost/tube saturation box?

MORE does not saturate, it is an clean enhancer with lots of headroom and boost. To me it is the equivalent to plugging into a high end tube studio mic pre or other tube driven device which in essence it is.

 

[PotsdamBass8]

^ This is correct. Both treble and bass at noon on a baxandall/james stack is pretty close to flat.

On mine all setting flat, with the gain around 9 o clock and master around 3 o’clock (which gives a balanced level to bypassed and mostly clean tone) has a pretty dark sound. I have to crank the treble up pretty high to bring back those highs. This is also going through my genzler BA10-2 which is like a microscope on high mids, but curious if that’s normal?

 

[bassbrad]

On mine all setting flat, with the gain around 9 o clock and master around 3 o’clock (which gives a balanced level to bypassed and mostly clean tone) has a pretty dark sound. I have to crank the treble up pretty high to bring back those highs. This is also going through my genzler BA10-2 which is like a microscope on high mids, but curious if that’s normal?

That is also my experience with the Slampegg Bee, that darkness is just what the B15 is all about, they were never designed to be bright boxes.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

On mine all setting flat, with the gain around 9 o clock and master around 3 o’clock (which gives a balanced level to bypassed and mostly clean tone) has a pretty dark sound. I have to crank the treble up pretty high to bring back those highs. This is also going through my genzler BA10-2 which is like a microscope on high mids, but curious if that’s normal?

Sounds about right. So I guess "flat" just refers to the effect of the EQ and does not account for any tonal characteristics of the tube stages themselves, which naturally are not transparent or flat. With both knobs set in the middle you effectively hear what the preamp would sounds like (at least with regards to frequency response) if it didn't have a tonestack.

 

[kevk]

Received my MORE pedal today…amazing addition, and exactly what I wanted to hear. I’m now in the middle of rewiring my pb—pic later.

Chain…
Effectrode PC-2A>MORE>mThumpinator>Berg Super Pre preamp.

Noticeably improves my PC-2A dynamics…a touch more ‘pillow’ and ‘sparkle’ effect. Take it out of the chain…definitely miss/want it back in! I tried MORE at the beginning of my chain, and no question preferred it after the PC-2A…seems to enhance pedals that come before it.

Anyway…very happy with this purchase, though doubt I’ll use the stomp button (lol)…seems to me, it’s an always on-type pedal.

 

[lomo]

On mine all setting flat, with the gain around 9 o clock and master around 3 o’clock (which gives a balanced level to bypassed and mostly clean tone) has a pretty dark sound. I have to crank the treble up pretty high to bring back those highs. This is also going through my genzler BA10-2 which is like a microscope on high mids, but curious if that’s normal?

Agreed. I found the Slampegg to be much darker than the UA......which is why I find myself with 2 UAs and no Slampegg.

 

[bassbrad]

Received my MORE pedal today…amazing addition, and exactly what I wanted to hear. I’m now in the middle of rewiring my pb—pic later.

Chain…
Effectrode PC-2A>MORE>mThumpinator>Berg Super Pre preamp.

Noticeably improves my PC-2A dynamics…a touch more ‘pillow’ and ‘sparkle’ effect. Take it out of the chain…definitely miss/want it back in! I tried MORE at the beginning of my chain, and no question preferred it after the PC-2A…seems to enhance pedals that come before it.

Anyway…very happy with this purchase, though doubt I’ll use the stomp button (lol)…seems to me, it’s an always on-type pedal.

IME the more you feed the MORE the better the result.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

Received my MORE pedal today…amazing addition, and exactly what I wanted to hear. I’m now in the middle of rewiring my pb—pic later.

Chain…
Effectrode PC-2A>MORE>mThumpinator>Berg Super Pre preamp.

Noticeably improves my PC-2A dynamics…a touch more ‘pillow’ and ‘sparkle’ effect. Take it out of the chain…definitely miss/want it back in! I tried MORE at the beginning of my chain, and no question preferred it after the PC-2A…seems to enhance pedals that come before it.

Anyway…very happy with this purchase, though doubt I’ll use the stomp button (lol)…seems to me, it’s an always on-type pedal.

Yeah I tend to think of the footswitch on most of my pedals as more of a failsafe. If something were to go wrong (tube failure, power supply explodes, someone spills beer on your pedalboard, etc) in the middle of a gig, you could quickly bypass the pedal to finish up then sort everything out after the gig.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

Well the design still needs a little work, but the idea shows promise. We'll see what happens with this one.

 

[4Mal]

Love the cosmetics on that one!