My new (cheap) pedals

[JAM]

FedEx just dropped off the package with two Arion Tubulators. MF had (maybe still has) a sale on these. I got two for about 24 bucks. Figured for that price I can modify one (install a 'comp-cut' switch,etc).

For that price these pedals sound great!

[curtisstetka]

Cool.

How does the Tubulator compare to the Bad Monkey? Geez, at that price, the Bad Monkey is expensive!

[JAM]

I don't know, guess the Bad Monkey will have to be my next pedal!

[photoweborama]

I've compared them to the TS9. I've got sound samples too.
That's one of my favorite pedals. Have a write up on it also.

It also has a JRC 4558 chip in it. I got phtots to prove it.

[curtisstetka]

Mark, I know you've got both. How does the Tubulator stack up to the Bad Monkey? Are they similar in sound? Wildly different?

[photoweborama]

I'll do some testing and post some clips..
Against a tubescreamer, it slightly brighter. My guess it will sound simlilar to a Bad Monkey because the B.M. is brighter than the TS9

[photoweborama]

Ok, Here you go. I'm no Gravity Jim, so the clips are very basic.

I'm running the Tubulator and the Bad Monkey on similar settings into my J-Station driving the Blackface amp model. No reverb or delay.

The Tubulator Clip

The Bad Monkey Clip

Seems the BM has the edge on the low end.. that would make sense since you have a control for that..

[curtisstetka]

Hey, you sound great, Phtot! Your drummer needs a little work though.

Thanks for posting the clips. The Tubulator sounds a bit brighter to me. Still good though. Heck, for $12 or whatever MF is charging, how could I not get one? Or three?

I'll have a pedal board made up entirely of Bad Monkeys and Tubulators! And it'll be worth less than $100.

I don't think I've purchased an Arion product since I was 15! I remember having some sort of Arion delay pedal. Back in those days I was primarily a DOD kind of guy.

[photoweborama]

I had three at one time, but I gave one away, I still have one, and I traded one to a guy for a TS9 that has a bad circuit board. I use if for recording now. You can't turn it off. That's ok for recording.

I saw him last month at this big music showcase thing, and he was still using the Tubulator, direct into the PA of all things...

[Guitar_Mc]

I thought your tubulator recording sounded better.

Damn you, I.......don't.......need........any........more... ......pedals............

Crap, I'm gonna end up with another overdrive pedal.

[photoweborama]

yes, but at least it won't cost you $100.00 a pop...

They are really good. When I used them exclusively, I always ran them in pairs..
Get at lest two of them.

[Guitar_Mc]

JAM & Photo

I HATE you guys. Curse both of you.

My pedals should be here next week.

[JAM]

Hey, it's less than a tank of gas. (no pun intended)

[Guitar_Mc]

Hey, it's less than a tank of gas.

Thats exactly what I'm gonna tell Mrs. Guitar_Mc when another package shows up.

Actually, (in further self justification) if I end up really liking them, I can start sending off some of my other pedals to the bay.

Oh yea, and I don't Really hate you guys. Its more of a self loathing. But I'm OK with that.

Thanks for the tips on the pedal. And Photo, you probably saved me the cost of a Bad Monkey overdrive.

[photoweborama]

JAM & Photo

I HATE you guys. Curse both of you.

My pedals should be here next week.

When I read this, I almost spit my lunch on the monitor

[photoweborama]

I thought your tubulator recording sounded better.

Funny you should say that.. The guy I traded the tubulator for the TS9 said the same thing.. He said the Tubulator sounded much better than the TS9...

[Guitar_Mc]

My Tubulators are here. They have the JRC 4558 chip as photo said.

They even came with 9V batteries included.

JAM & Photo,
Curse you.
I mean thank you.
No, I mean curse you.
No, I mean.....

I'll try them out tonight, and maybe pull out a soldering gun this weekend to see how much destruction I can do to one of them.

[JAM]

Cool, I think you'll like them. I've got some spare diodes if you need some and want to try out the mod I posted in the other thread.

[Rickenjangle]

I hate you, JAM. I've already got the TS9, DTII, Super Overdrive, Overdrive Preamp 250. Now I think I've got to try the Tubulator. And the Bad Monkey.

Come to think about it, I don't own a single distortion or fuzz; they're all overdrives. Yikes.

[JAM]

I'll make it even easier to hate me:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...dal?sku=150509


No affilliation of course

[Guitar_Mc]

Before this turns into too much of a hate thread for JAM and Photo, I plugged ran my ASAT Classic through it into my Laney LC15. I think it sounds pretty GD good. I was very pleased.

I only had a few minutes last night, but this weekend I am planning on pulling out a bunch of pedals and checking them out back to back.

It is not in the strongest of housings, but I got 2 of them so I'm covered. Also, for a mere 72% of the cost, you can get GOLD coverage.
(and if that temps you, you should probably just buy 3 of them)

[Guitar_Mc]

Oh, and JAM, thanks for the diode offer. I emailed you my address.

Thanks.

[photoweborama]

I may try that mod on my last remaining one...
By the way the housing... yes, it's plastic, but I've put mine through a lot and it never broke. I dropped it a few times, and the last time was a couple of weeks ago. I was talking to the host at the blues jam and I dropped it on the cement.

Still works fine.

You know what I think it is, is that everyone says the case is light and cheap plastic, but because it is so light, you do very little damage to it when you drop it also..

[JAM]

Oh, and JAM, thanks for the diode offer. I emailed you my address.

Thanks.

No problem, they're on their way.

[photoweborama]

Hey Jam.. interested in writing up something for my review web site?

[JAM]

Hey Jam.. interested in writing up something for my review web site?

Sure, sounds cool.

[photoweborama]

Just go to the member’s links area and take a look at the site and it will give you a general idea.

I already have a Tubulator review, but a write on your mods, a few photos, what they do and a bit of theory would be cool.

It all fun! I may actually register a real domain name for it. It costs me only $3.00 for the domain name and 12.00 a year to redirect it to a directory on my regular site..

I am going to need to use real names.. I hope that is not a problem.

[JAM]

Hey Jam.. interested in writing up something for my review web site?

I sent an e-mail, but no response yet. I'd like to write something up for your site.

[photoweborama]

Oh, I was just waiting for you to send it! sorry.. my error!

[Guitar_Mc]

Tubulators are now down to $9.99.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...dal?sku=150509

[Don]

Wow! And if you spend another $89.01 you get free shipping!

[greent]

Wow! And if you spend another $89.01 you get free shipping!

Buy ten Tubulators and give them as Xmas gifts!

[Guitar_Mc]

Buy ten Tubulators and give them as Xmas gifts!

Then your at the price of a TS9, only you've got a JRC 4558 chip in it.

And, you have pedals to mod and (TFF) friends to give pedals to.

Only I'd probably throw in a Crate powerblock since they have them for $99 right now. I've played one and they sound pretty decent and make a great light weight backup.

Only I REALLY don't need anything else right now.
Except maybe the ashtray, the remote control, the paddle game, this magazine and the chair.

[flintpunk]

Tubulators are fantastic budget pedals. I recently found another budget pedal I love though...Danelectro Tuna Melt Tremolo! My only complaint with my Blues Jr. is no trem. The dano sounds great and I got it for $16!

[nabskater]

What is the advantage of two of these? Can it give you really good/long sustain? Cause thats what im kinda looking for right now Thanks

[flintpunk]

In my case, I like to set one up with a lot of drive and one with just a little. I run the more overdriven one first and the cleaner one second. I can cover most classic rock and country that way. Together it goes over the top for metal, although I usually change to a humbucking or P90 equipped guitar for that.

[Jonnda]

I spent $38 of borrowed money on a bad monkey and you tell me i can get the same basic thing minus a knob for $12?







Oh well, I like my low-end knob.