hvyj
692 posts
Oct 10, 2010
2:32 PM
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Other than maybe a compressor or an equalizer (or a delay if the amp doesn't have reverb) I tend not to use effects pedals with my tube amps. Generally speaking, I think the tube amps mess with the sound of the effects and the effects degrade the tone of the tube amps. When I use my pedalboard I go into my SWR Baby Baby Blue bass amp which has a tube preamp and solid state power stage.
I like the MicroPOG on my pedalboard, but that is a particularly problematic effect to use with a tube amp. It's not true bypass, and the "dry" signal (when the effect is not engaged) drives pretty hard creating potential feedback problems if used with a tube amp. I don't necessarily need the entire array of effects on my little pedalboard to gig, but the MP is a particularly powerful effect and my band and the other band I play with regularly have certain tunes on which I am expected to use my MP. So, I was concerned about what I would do if for some reason I had a problem with my SWR and had to use my Super Reverb or Princeton Reverb for a gig.
Solution: Analogman does a true bypass mod for the MicroPOG. So I ordered a spare MP from Analogman with the TB mod. Result: On the MP with the TB mod there is a dramatic difference in volume when the effect is on or off, BUT you can compensate for this effectively by turning down the settings while keeping the settings at the same relative proportions--just lower. This means the TB MP will be putting out less gain WHEN ENGAGED as well as when disengaged = less potential for feedback.
So, the modded MP is much more controllable for use with a tube amp than the stock MP. I put a compressor in front of it (which I tend to use with my Super Reverb anyway) and I'm good to gig with one of my tube amps if my SWR is not available.
Now, in general, I prefer the stock MP. But for use with a tube amp, IMHO, the MP with the Analogman TB mod has definite advantages. But, YMMV. Just thought I'd pass this along FWIW.
Last Edited by on Oct 10, 2010 3:39 PM
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