Stomp boxes with vacuum tubes -- introducing a special little effector

This is the third time I’m introducing a special effector.
This time I’m writing about several at the same time, but if you send me a request by Twitter or email, I will make it into a blog any time.

So, this time, I will talk about stomp box effectors equipped with vacuum tubes.

When you think of vacuum tubes, do you usually think of amplifiers?
It's true that well-known amp makers like Marshall and Fender make a wide variety of tube amps, but only a few makers have tubes built into their effectors.
Compared to the previous two, the count is much higher, but it is still a small share of the entire stomp box market.
Let me introduce some.

TC ELECTRONIC / TUBE PILOT OVERDRIVE

This is the cheapest tube-equipped overdrive that you can get easily.
Although the price is less than 7,000 yen, it is equipped with an Electro-Harmonix 12AX7 vacuum tube and is tailored as a simple overdrive pedal.
Since the tube can be replaced by opening the back cover, you can also replace it with your favorite vacuum tube and enjoy the effector even more.

MAXON / TOD9 True Tube Overdrive

TOD9 claims to be the "smallest stomp box in the world" with a vacuum tube.
It's probably the smallest now, along with Ibanez's NTS NU TUBE SCREAMER, but it was definitely a breakthrough when it first went on sale.
There are some reviews that say the vacuum tube cannot be replaced, but as a countermeasure, it is equipped with a system that extends the life of the tube.

Ibanez (Ibanez) / NTS NU TUBESCREAMER

A tube screamer (TS) equipped with a Korg "Nutube" micro vacuum tube.
Unlike the normal TS series, it is possible to mix input sound and distortion.
The characteristic appearance of the green line and caramel switch on a white background has a TS-like appearance, but it is also a style that sets it apart from the others.

BLACKSTAR / HT-DISTX DX-1

From amp maker BLACKSTAR, this is a simple-looking vacuum tube overdrive.
It features a high gain that is closer to distortion than overdrive, and is a ferocious stomp box that requires a dedicated power supply.
It's too big to fit into an effects board, but...

ALBIT / A1FD pro

What can I say? The huge ALBIT preamp series.
The pro is equipped with two vacuum tubes and provides the "ultimate sound".
There are several types, such as those that focus on the equalizer/DI without a foot switch, and those that actively create distortion, while calling themselves a preamplifier, and the suitable stomp box will change depending on your desired sound creation.
As with the HT-DISTX, a dedicated power supply is required.

VOX / VALVENERGY SILK DRIVE

An overdrive equipped with the same Nutube as the Ibanez NTS NU TUBE SCREAMER.
It has a function similar to that of an amp simulator, and each of the four types in the series has a different sound.
It also features a display that gives you a visualization of distortion.

Beyond / Beyond Tube Over Drive

Lastly, I would like to introduce a vacuum tube pedal made in Japan.
In addition to the overdrive, they manufacture several types of distortion, preamplifiers, buffers, boosters, and so on in a stomp box size equipped with vacuum tubes.
They also manufacture an acoustic preamplifier equipped with a vacuum tube, which is extremely rare, and it supports a wide variety of musical instruments with a wide range of series development.

■ Dig Digression: The story of vacuum tubes

ELECTRO-HARMONIX / 12AX7EH Vacuum Tube Miniature / mT

As you can see from a vacuum tube, it is a structure with several terminals inside the tube.
Using the Electro-Harmonix 12AX7 pre-tube as a reference, for musical instruments, there are three other tubes, a power tube and a rectifier tube, each of which has different usage and effects.
That said, it's just an electronic part, so it's not that difficult to explain.

There are several types of vacuum tubes such as bipolar tubes and triodes. The bi-polar one "heats the cathode and recovers thermionic emission from the anode". The three-pole tube "provides an (electrical) network that collects some of the thermions emitted from the cathode on the way, and finally collects the thermions that have passed through at the anode."
More specifically, they are "passing current in only one direction" and "amplifying the input and outputting it to another system", respectively.
These are the functions that are the basis of semiconductor diodes and transistors, and amplifiers that use them are called solid state amplifiers to distinguish them from vacuum tube amplifiers.

It is good to use diodes and transistors because the drive voltage is much lower, there is no heat generation, components can be miniaturized, they are cheap and highly reliable. But why are vacuum tubes often used in music systems??? Because in one cool word: they’re romantic.

My story went awry.
The high drive voltage and heat generation of vacuum tubes are the biggest issues in product development, and since it was essential to incorporate a booster circuit, strengthen the power supply section, and install a heat dissipation plate, there were no concerns even if the size increased.
However, these problems are serious with existing vacuum tubes when incorporating them into effector boxes, and when it comes to solving them, it is inevitable to increase the size and adopt a dedicated power supply.
The Nutubes installed in the VALVENER GY and NU TUBE SCREAMER are expected to solve all of these Designed and manufactured by Noritake Itron, and planned and sold by KORG, this small vacuum tube has the advantages of being inexpensive, highly reliable, and consumes only about 2% of the power of existing vacuum tubes, despite its ultra-long life.
By the way, the existing vacuum tube glows red and emits light, but the Nutube glows blue-green.
They have also opened a store like KORG at a technology expo called Maker Faire Tokyo, and developed and introduced not only effectors using Nutube but also headphone amplifiers, and we can see the potential of Nutube that is not just for musical instruments.
Sound House sells Nutube effector do-it-yourself kits.

KORG / Nu: tekt OD-S Overdrive Assembly Kit

Regular tubes usually require complex circuitry, but with this kit the entire board can be machined.
A schematic for customization is also included.
The case is also painted and it is a complete kit, and it may be good to make your own vacuum tube overdrive.

That's all for today. Next time, we will talk about synthesizers and keyboards.

Reference link: Sound House vacuum tube cheat sheet

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