Tubes for modeler

[Wildwind]

Not long ago (within the last 3 or 4 months I'd guess), I saw an ad (might even have been a small review) in a guitar magazine (Guitar Player or Premier Guitar) for a very small, hand-built tube amplifier designed to be used inline with a modeler to add some tube goodness. It was pricey, at least $300, maybe more like $500.

Now I'm interested in buying one but can't remember the name of this thing or who makes it. I searched without success.

Can anyone here help me out?

Thanks!

Greg

[lp_bruce]

This is not a new concept. The EHX-2ube is a "preamp" that can be used to add some "tubiness" to digital models. I know there are others. I own a 2ube, and the effect is subtle but there. YMMV.

Peace,

[leftyvic]

This is what you want ... originally developed for steel guitars, but works fantastic with modelers.

http://www.sarnomusicsolutions.com/products/sgbb.html

Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead is currently using one with his Eleven Rack.

[Axe-Man]

I personally think that the 'right' tube poweramp is the holy grail to add that extra dimention to a modeler personally.

A preamp tube may warm things up a little but the signal going through a nice poweramp tube with a bit of volume to drive it would make the most noticable difference I would think.

[Wildwind]

Agreed Axe-Man.

Thanks for the replies - but neither of these products is the one I saw. SGBB may well do the same thing, though. I'll look into that more closely.

[zenotal]

I think I saw the ad in the back of Guitar Player a few months ago, it caught my interest too. l still have the mag. Will try to dig it out and let you know the name. I think it was $300.

[Wildwind]

Thanks! I've been looking too, but can't seem to find it. I have Googled this at length without success. Kind of making me nuts. Not that I wasn't already.

[razorbladeSD]

It was the Red Iron Buffer2 -

http://www.redironamps.com/buffer.html

[Wildwind]

Yes!!! That's it! I thought it was Red Iron or something, but never had the thought when I was near a computer. Thanks man!

Now if anyone has actually tried one of these...would love to hear about it. I'm trying to use it with a POD X3. I'm already very pleased, but the quest never ends, you know?

[TTripp]

Originally Posted by Wildwind

Yes!!! That's it! I thought it was Red Iron or something, but never had the thought when I was near a computer. Thanks man!

Now if anyone has actually tried one of these...would love to hear about it. I'm trying to use it with a POD X3. I'm already very pleased, but the quest never ends, you know?

I use to use a VHT Valvulator Tube Buffer for the same purposes (touted the same as the Red Iron) in front of a POD. Not really much of a difference, and certainly not $300 dollars worth. When it went tits up I never missed it.

[Wildwind]

I've seen these too. Like you said, very expensive. And huge and heavy, if I recall. Thanks for the review. You confirmed my suspicions.

I have tried a couple of things. I use a Harmonic Converger, have for years. Well worth it, won't leave home without it. But the tone quest is a demanding master...so I continue to dabble here and there and long for tubes.

I have an ART Tube preamp, one of those you can buy for $30 now. It actually is kind of cool and may be just as effective. I need to dig it out and try it again. I also bought an Xotic EP Booster. Not cheap, but very small and built like a tiny tank. It does some nice things for modelers.

My best friend and his friend are dabbling in the custom, hand-wired amp business and have had some success with their first designs. I'm trying to talk them into building something like the Red Iron, thinking there is a market - but a lower price point. Most modelers are used by young players who can't afford to double their money for a questionable tone boost, or old guys like me who have to use modelers (we run silent stage, have for ages). I love what I'm getting from my X3 (the result of much tweaking and learning the tricks), but figured maybe a tube or two would get me up another level, hopefully one noticeable by more than just me.

[dspellman]

I've got two tube amplifier solutions for my modelers -- a pair of Atomic Reactors and a Carvin TS-100 stereo tube power amp. Ultimately, I've decided that the tubes really don't add much to the modelers, though I've no plans to get rid of either setup for now. I think buying a Red Iron Buffer may be an excellent way to toss away $300, however.

[Wildwind]

Yeah, me too. Except it's $400 now.

I'd love to hear an Atomic, but it won't matter. I have to run direct. Not a complaint as it works really well for us, but sometimes I miss my old Mark IIC+.

I used to run my POD now and then through the FX return of my Mesa .22+. It sounded fantastic, so I would think the Atomic might be as good or better.

Good choice on the Carvin - love their amps and that stereo tube amp must be sweet!

Thanks for the reply!

[stvnscott]

I use a similar device. Mine is a high voltage tube overdrive pedal. I just turn the gain all the way down and the level up to unity. It sounds much better to me than any of the low voltage tube preamps out there. Its input stage is wired just like a tube amp's input, so it sounds and feels just like being plugged into a tube amp. I think it makes a huge difference with the cheaper modelers and with software plugs, but not so much with my AFX or 11R.

[Wildwind]

What are you using? I used to have a Siegmund MicroTube, should have kept it as I think it would have done the job. It used a military tube that was hard-wired, but I believe ran at full plate voltage (don't know much about this, but know many tube devices run at much lower than optimum voltage).

I had a Mesa V-Twin - didn't work well with the X3, though maybe I needed lower-gain tubes. It added way too much distortion and color, plus the stacked preamp thing often isn't a good plan, at least not with digital devices.

I'd love to hear an Axe-FX. As good as the X3 is, if the Axe-FX is really that much better... I may pull the trigger one of these days.