The best tube pedal I ever tried and/or owned. Paid about $315 with silver wire option. I sold it a while back, because I came to the conclusion that (at my giggin volumes) I don't like tube pedals in front of a tube amp. It just gets too compressed, flubby, and loses definition at high volumes with any tube pedal for me.
Having said that, I loved the pedal at medium gigging levels or for sessions. This one was so versatile with just the few controls it had. (drive, volume A, volume B, voltage, tone) Sounded great running 2 amps, too. New Mexico tone is bada*s!
The controls were extremely interactive and I was able to get many great tones from semi-clean and dynamic, ZZ top, modern rock, slide tones, fat SRV type tones, wailing lead tones, etc. Tubes do make a great difference in tone and noise factors, too. Tried a bunch. (go for a Mullard CV4024 or CV4004, Amperex for brighter tones, GE 5 star 12AU7(5963) for fat and cleaner tones)
The tubester just flat smokes, but there was a fine line for me. Either I had to be at about 5 on a 40W amp clean channel, running it w/ 12AU7 into a loud plexi, or I wasn't happy. The trade off was too great for me since I like to run my clean amp at about 7. (that had the aforementioned effects on the tone for me)
Awesome unit, though, and I may pick one up again in the future if I do more blues, rock, and Americana gigs. Try one!
Posts: 1298 | Location: Austin, TX. USA | Registered: May 04, 2002
naw, I'm sure you made a well-informed decision. I just happen to not like tube pedals into tube amps, but this one was the best I tried. after the tubester I gave up, but you may really dig it. great pedal.
Forward mobility in life is fueled by the passion to which we must yield for existence.
Posts: 1298 | Location: Austin, TX. USA | Registered: May 04, 2002
a bunch of em. the pedals I mainly use for giggin now are the burn unit, blues devil, klon, tbiac, red snapper, and tone pump. the tbiac, bd, and burn go into my main pedalboard while the others are for blues gigs mainly.
Forward mobility in life is fueled by the passion to which we must yield for existence.
Posts: 1298 | Location: Austin, TX. USA | Registered: May 04, 2002
Music Toyz.com Forum ! 
the pedals I mainly use for giggin now are the burn unit, blues devil, klon, tbiac, red snapper, and tone pump. the tbiac, bd, and burn go into my main pedalboard while the others are for blues gigs mainly.
