The Sushi Box FX Secret Society

[kcducttaper]

Question: has anyone who has done the polarity fix continued to experience noise/whining post-fix? Just curious if it is a fix or THE fix for the issue.

I am. Currently working with Nathan to figure it out with my 2nd hand Slammpeg and Space Heater. Weird thing is, by themselves, or with the other pedals on my board (Darkglass, Sansamp, and Boss), they're fine. It's only when paired with another Sushi Box pedal in the chain that the whine appears. Super weird.

 

[warptheory]

I haven't been by in awhile and thought I'd pop in. My preamp purchases have slowed down, but I realized that I missed my PA and never should have sold it, then realized I had never tried the UA, and Nathan had one in stock so .... I'm going to add it to my Helix Stomp XL to access quick tones and tweaks.

I have my Finally attached to the Stomp and it's killer. For anyone that says the Helix stuff is sterile, there's your answer. Not only does it add tube warmth, but it's also a quick volume contole. Adding the UA should also give me a little grind when I need it.

Anyways, looked through the back posts and that Venus looks super cool. This thread is bad for my GAS, but good for my soul

I have a Stomp XL as well and trying to decide if I want the Finally or MORE after. I usually don't play with a PA, but if I did I would probably just use the DI on my amp.

The Finally would be nice to have just in case I have an issue with my amp (however unlikely) and to get the HX Stomp sound a little less sterile. I'd have the gain set relatively low so it would be clean but get some of the tube sound. Then would go into my amp. DI if needed.

If I got a MORE, would still go after the HX Stomp to add some tube goodness, then go to the amp, but wouldn't have the flexibility of a DI in the off chance it's needed.

 

[sloppy_phil]

If I got a MORE, would still go after the HX Stomp to add some tube goodness, then go to the amp, but wouldn't have the flexibility of a DI in the off chance it's needed.

Well, at that point, if you had to use one of the standard "house" DI boxes (I don't know too many venues that don't have a few Radial etc. passive DIs kicking around), at least you'd still have the More providing some tube warmth and saturation to your DI line. That won't suddenly disappear because you're feeding it to a passive box instead of a Finally, you just won't get that extra little tube push. But would that really a dealbreaker? My only Sushi is a UA, and that provides a brilliant character to my DI line all by itself, can't imagine a More by itself failing to colour your sound in the way you'd hope!

 

[lomo]

My only Sushi is a UA, and that provides a brilliant character to my DI line all by itself, can't imagine a More by itself failing to colour your sound in the way you'd hope!

More is a very subtle tone sweetener; the UA can go from subtle to double chocolate sundae with extra caramel and maple syrup

 

[jmmyoh]

I have a Stomp XL as well and trying to decide if I want the Finally or MORE after. I usually don't play with a PA, but if I did I would probably just use the DI on my amp.

The Finally would be nice to have just in case I have an issue with my amp (however unlikely) and to get the HX Stomp sound a little less sterile. I'd have the gain set relatively low so it would be clean but get some of the tube sound. Then would go into my amp. DI if needed.

If I got a MORE, would still go after the HX Stomp to add some tube goodness, then go to the amp, but wouldn't have the flexibility of a DI in the off chance it's needed.

Just get both, you won't regret it.

 

[bassbrad]

Well, at that point, if you had to use one of the standard "house" DI boxes (I don't know too many venues that don't have a few Radial etc. passive DIs kicking around), at least you'd still have the More providing some tube warmth and saturation to your DI line. That won't suddenly disappear because you're feeding it to a passive box instead of a Finally, you just won't get that extra little tube push. But would that really a dealbreaker? My only Sushi is a UA, and that provides a brilliant character to my DI line all by itself, can't imagine a More by itself failing to colour your sound in the way you'd hope!

To add to your point as much as I love my various DIs and I will always have one in my kit, many house sound people will prefer their DI over an unknown one, even one of the uber exotics. When I did sound I know I preferred using a known device over something else. Keep in mind a live sound person has to grapple with many things, not just the most important of all bass tone . Mixing a live band is a challenge that unless you have done it you will never understand. Using a known DI, mic or technique makes things a lot faster and more reliable. Our job as a live or studio bassist is to deliver the best possible sonic product and often that means working WITH not Against the sound person.

One venue I regularly played in the past the sound guy insisted I bring my Polytone MBIII so e could mic it rather than a DI, even though he used a mic that I hated it was a device he knew very well, the sound result was not to be argued with as all the recordings I've heard my bass sounded perfect.

 

[Valveman]

Question: has anyone who has done the polarity fix continued to experience noise/whining post-fix? Just curious if it is a fix or THE fix for the issue.

I have a HW Space Heater and it has had the "fix" and its still noisy. My latest attempt to put it into service was ahead of the Bergantino Super Pre. There was an oscillating frequency changing like a siren in the background. Rolled tubes and changed power supplies to no avail. However by running it through the effects loop on the Super Pre the sound disappeared. The HW-SH sounded great.

 

[One Two]

Venus X will have an external ground lift switch. I'm going to continue looking for a better place for it as we work on the other mods, but this turned out to be a better setup than I expected it to be.

View attachment 5027935

Hi @Sushi Box FX re. ground lift, I also would vote for either a push button in the current side position, or having the toggle on top. Toggle on the side just seems to be asking for trouble if it's going to be used for regular gigging.

 

[laklandplayer]

I am. Currently working with Nathan to figure it out with my 2nd hand Slammpeg and Space Heater. Weird thing is, by themselves, or with the other pedals on my board (Darkglass, Sansamp, and Boss), they're fine. It's only when paired with another Sushi Box pedal in the chain that the whine appears. Super weird.

Try powering one of the SB pedals with it’s own power supply, not in a chain or part of a power block with the other pedals. There may be a grounding issue or loop causing it to whine.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

I promise I'm still reading everything but I'm going to be a little slower to answer for the next couple days. I'll try to answer emails and PMs when I get back to the hotel each night.

 

[4Mal]

Looks like Cirque Du Soileil to me ! ;-)

Have fun at NAMM guys and do not bring home NAMM'Thrax!

 

[TonyP-]

Looks like Cirque Du Soileil to me ! ;-)

Have fun at NAMM guys and do not bring home NAMM'Thrax!

Oh man. I hope not

 

[4Mal]

Well have fun! If Jorgensen is playing the Saga Gitane night...just be there...

 

[ImTheOnlyOne]

First, a tech question: Does relaxing the attenuator in a SushiBox lead to significantly shorter tube life?

To follow-up on tube rolling with my new UA, I've tried the stock JJ 12ax7, an EHX 12at7, and an EHX 12au7, each with a couple of different trim pot settings. I'm leaving it for now with the 12au7, attenuator up CW 1 1/2 ticks (gain increase). Set there, I can leave the gain maxed.



The au7 has the least gain of the bunch and, set as pictured, the UA does not breakup. There is grit, enhanced sustain, very mild compression, valve-enriched harmonic content, and slight tightening in the low end as with an HPF.

In this state of course the pedal won't do OD or 30dB boost. However, it adds pronounced valve tone in front of a SS amp, or added saturation going into a tube head - a trade-off worth playing around with.

 

[eeyorebass]

First, a tech question: Does relaxing the attenuator in a SushiBox lead to significantly shorter tube life?

To follow-up on tube rolling with my new UA, I've tried the stock JJ 12ax7, an EHX 12at7, and an EHX 12au7, each with a couple of different trim pot settings. I'm leaving it for now with the 12au7, attenuator up CW 1 1/2 ticks (gain increase). Set there, I can leave the gain maxed.

View attachment 5029506 View attachment 5029507

The au7 has the least gain of the bunch and, set as pictured, the UA does not breakup. There is grit, enhanced sustain, very mild compression, valve-enriched harmonic content, and slight tightening in the low end as with an HPF.

In this state of course the pedal won't do OD or 30dB boost. However, it adds pronounced valve tone in front of a SS amp, or added saturation going into a tube head - a trade-off worth playing around with.

As I understand it, the attenuator is basically just a tiny volume pot at the very end of the pedal circuit. It doesn't affect anything before it at all. So, no, tube life shouldn't be affected.

 

[kcducttaper]

Try powering one of the SB pedals with it’s own power supply, not in a chain or part of a power block with the other pedals. There may be a grounding issue or loop causing it to whine.

I tried that along with about 28 other things including literally alligator clipping the pedals together to ground them out. The "warble-buzz" just keeps sticking around no matter what I do.

 

[Parzival]

I tried that along with about 28 other things including literally alligator clipping the pedals together to ground them out. The "warble-buzz" just keeps sticking around no matter what I do.

I had a More with the fix, a Finally from 2022 I think had the fix, and a UA I don’t think had the fix due to older with no EQ bypass. Together, they were fine to FOH unless I wanted a lot of gain. To the amp, I run in front due to no return and if the amp gain was turned up any, got a loud whine. Now with just the UA and Finally, it’s ok, but starting getting a little whine if amp gain is way up, but don’t have to have it way up.
Question is, if I got a new Dreamcatcher and Elementary and didn’t run them together, always at least one bypassed, I wonder if there would be any issue?

 

[laklandplayer]

First, a tech question: Does relaxing the attenuator in a SushiBox lead to significantly shorter tube life?

To follow-up on tube rolling with my new UA, I've tried the stock JJ 12ax7, an EHX 12at7, and an EHX 12au7, each with a couple of different trim pot settings. I'm leaving it for now with the 12au7, attenuator up CW 1 1/2 ticks (gain increase). Set there, I can leave the gain maxed.

View attachment 5029506 View attachment 5029507

The au7 has the least gain of the bunch and, set as pictured, the UA does not breakup. There is grit, enhanced sustain, very mild compression, valve-enriched harmonic content, and slight tightening in the low end as with an HPF.

In this state of course the pedal won't do OD or 30dB boost. However, it adds pronounced valve tone in front of a SS amp, or added saturation going into a tube head - a trade-off worth playing around with.

I put a 12AU7 in my UA and it improved the sound of the EQ and gives it a lot more usable range. Thanks for the tip regarding the trim pot, I’ll have to try it.
I have no need for overdrive, just a clean sound with tube warmth and presence.

 

[ImTheOnlyOne]

I put a 12AU7 in my UA and it improved the sound of the EQ and gives it a lot more usable range. Thanks for the tip regarding the trim pot, I’ll have to try it.
I have no need for overdrive, just a clean sound with tube warmth and presence.

My runner-up was the 12at7, dialed back 1 tick CCW.
Fuller low-end, less warmth than the au7, with option for OD.

Each tube felt like a compromise as to where you get the usable control ranges. au7 allows contour via eq, warmth from maxing gain, volume boost or cut with master. I like to reserve the head's eq for traditional room/cab eq-ing.

Stock ax7, eq off, can get hot and lively. As I understand it, like a Space Heater, and it's sensitive to small turns of its Master, with loads of gain on tap.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

First, a tech question: Does relaxing the attenuator in a SushiBox lead to significantly shorter tube life?

As I understand it, the attenuator is basically just a tiny volume pot at the very end of the pedal circuit. It doesn't affect anything before it at all. So, no, tube life shouldn't be affected.

Correct. The attenuator trimpot does not affect the way the tubes are actually running, it's just like another master volume in front of the master volume.

Question is, if I got a new Dreamcatcher and Elementary and didn’t run them together, always at least one bypassed, I wonder if there would be any issue?

I wouldn't expect there to be any issue.