Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: HTH AMPS on August 16, 2009, 10:04:00 PM

Title: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 16, 2009, 10:04:00 PM
I've been messing round with a prototype design of a valve overdrive pedal for a while now (on/off when the mood takes me).  I'm happy enough with the tone to let you good people have a listen - looking forward to your comments...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOMPIJpjA3U&eurl=http://www.youtube.com/user/TeleCustom72&feature=player_profilepage

The pickups are an Abraxas set in my 1990 Les Paul standard.  The amp is my own creation too, class A, 10w, EL34 - Fender cleans to Marshall scream (beyond JCM800 territory).

Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: sgmypod on August 16, 2009, 10:06:26 PM
Am liking that alot well done...when you starting production/selling these
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: horsehead on August 16, 2009, 10:10:42 PM
mate thats ounds nice...what are the chances of hearig it pushing a bit more though please?

Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: Andrew W on August 16, 2009, 10:11:14 PM
That sounds fantastic: drive and clarity and the personality of the guitar is still really present.  I'm seriously impressed: a possible customer right here. :)
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 16, 2009, 10:30:04 PM
Thanks for the kind words.  Its a prototype in the sense that the layout needs finalised, but in terms of tonality, thats it really.

It will give quite a bit more gain than in the video above - enough for rock anyway.  It's also really nice into an already overdriven amp to saturate your tone.

I'll record more clips tomorrow with higher gain settings.

If anyone is interested, it's point to point wired with the same attention to detail and quality you'd see in my amps (or any quality handwired amp).  They're built to order but I can build these quite quickly, so there is only a short lead time.  In other words, they're available to buy now (PM for details).

btw, here's the amp I used in the above video set with more gain.  I'm happy with the way it turned out - 10w class A from a single EL34... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut38iY4-h7o
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: dave_mc on August 16, 2009, 11:31:45 PM
that sounds pretty nice :) nice playing, too
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: Lew on August 17, 2009, 01:10:51 AM
sweet 8)
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: FernandoDuarte on August 17, 2009, 03:58:50 AM
Will have a listen when I arrive home :)
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: sgmypod on August 17, 2009, 09:26:39 AM
amp sounds great too
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: hunter on August 17, 2009, 10:17:46 AM

This is great stuff, also love that little amp! You're up to some nice designs there!

No complaint, just a suggestion: If you want your business to take off you should spend some time to build a proper website with product and pricing information, I'm sure you'd soon be booked out building stuff!
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: Dreichlift on August 17, 2009, 10:56:52 AM
Both videos are great, really impressive, keep it up.
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: Ratrod on August 17, 2009, 11:23:53 AM
Sounds very nice. I'm surprised by the Stratty tone.

How'd you get that tone?
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: tomjackson on August 17, 2009, 11:43:21 AM
Sounds great!
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: Mr. Air on August 17, 2009, 12:19:50 PM
I'm with all the others here. Really nice sounds. I certainly dig your amp. What a sweet tone that little thing delivers!
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on August 17, 2009, 02:12:02 PM
That amp looks familiar!

Can't wait to get it!
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: FernandoDuarte on August 17, 2009, 04:37:21 PM
Sounds really cool!
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: indysmith on August 17, 2009, 05:24:34 PM
Amp's gorgeous, pedal's delicious. Top work!
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: 38thBeatle on August 17, 2009, 10:29:47 PM
Very very nice indeed and I love the choice of song to demonstrate.
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 17, 2009, 10:42:42 PM
some higher gain stuff as requested...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPU44xpGMD0

I think the camera was too close to the amp on this one - sounds a bit raspy
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on August 17, 2009, 10:42:57 PM
I loved the video clips and bear in mind that HTH used the movie record function on a normal digital camera rather than a Dv camera - I suspect the tone will only be much better

I like that the amp can do both Fender like tones as well as Marshall like tones
We made the slope resistor that governs much of the tone a variable resistor on a pot so we could dial in just the right sound.
Also featured is a rotary switch for changing the mid frequency (a Lee Jackson style tweak that was on the Metaltronics and Ampeg amps)
It can go from clean plexi, bassman type tones to crushing hot rodded Marshall tones
My basis was that it needed to do stones , Led Zep, AC/DC, Free through JCM 800 tones and into hot rodded tones for 80s hair metal - Dokken, EVH, GNR, and stuff like Scorpions  (Matthias Jabs tone was a benchmark)
And it was all to be in a 10W Single ended (just 1 power tube) design.

I will do a full piece on the amp when it arrives
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: gwEm on August 17, 2009, 11:26:04 PM
I loved the video clips and bear in mind that HTH used the movie record function on a normal digital camera rather than a Dv camera - I suspect the tone will only be much better

I like that the amp can do both Fender like tones as well as Marshall like tones
We made the slope resistor that governs much of the tone a variable resistor on a pot so we could dial in just the right sound.
Also featured is a rotary switch for changing the mid frequency (a Lee Jackson style tweak that was on the Metaltronics and Ampeg amps)
It can go from clean plexi, bassman type tones to crushing hot rodded Marshall tones
My basis was that it needed to do stones , Led Zep, AC/DC, Free through JCM 800 tones and into hot rodded tones for 80s hair metal - Dokken, EVH, GNR, and stuff like Scorpions  (Matthias Jabs tone was a benchmark)
And it was all to be in a 10W Single ended (just 1 power tube) design.

I will do a full piece on the amp when it arrives

all the right buzzwords listed here ;)
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: Twinfan on August 17, 2009, 11:27:16 PM
I'd like to hear some better quality clips.............
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 18, 2009, 02:08:09 AM

This is great stuff, also love that little amp! You're up to some nice designs there!

No complaint, just a suggestion: If you want your business to take off you should spend some time to build a proper website with product and pricing information, I'm sure you'd soon be booked out building stuff!

Tell me about it Hunter - I just haven't got the time or money to improve the website.  I'm looking for someone who's willing to know me up a website in return for some amp work, or maybe one of my OD pedals as payment - someone I can work with on an ongoing basis so the website can be updated regularly.

Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 18, 2009, 02:10:06 AM
Sounds very nice. I'm surprised by the Stratty tone.

How'd you get that tone?

Stratty? - its a Les Paul with an Abraxas neck pickup.  That neck pickup is quite percussive though for a neck humbucker.  The amp was also set for quite a Fendery tone with plenty of treble and the mids pulled back, so that will have helped with the Stratty tone.
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 18, 2009, 02:14:14 AM
I'd like to hear some better quality clips.............

I love to TF, but I'm restricted by what I have available to me - these clips are just teasers.

I've got a Mbox2 soundcard to setup at the weekend, so I should be able to hook up an SM57 and my Palmer Junction to get some better tones.

Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: Twinfan on August 18, 2009, 08:48:47 AM
Sounds like you need to sort out a website and clips.  I can't really get a feel for how it sounds based on the YouTube stuff, so I for one couldn't order based on that.
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: tomjackson on August 18, 2009, 09:14:04 AM
some higher gain stuff as requested...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPU44xpGMD0

I think the camera was too close to the amp on this one - sounds a bit raspy

Sounds good but you need some decent shoes like Gearmandude, your bare feet won't shift the pedals...

But in all seriousness I bet there's a few forum members that could help you with the web side of things in exchange for your amp/electrinics knowledge.

I'd be interested based on these clips alone, if I wasn't skint that is :(
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: _tom_ on August 18, 2009, 09:15:41 AM
If you want a simple website doing I could knock one up quite cheaply, give me a PM if you're interested :)

Will have a listen to the clips later, on the laptop at the minute so anything will sound cr@p through these speakers.

edit - have just listened, that amp sounds so good. I'll do a website with one of those as payment :P
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: Plexi Ken on August 18, 2009, 10:13:01 AM
Amp sounds great, pickups sound great, pedal sounds great... great  8)
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: jpfamps on August 19, 2009, 06:08:27 PM
Top job.

I would interested to here more about the amp tonestack too....
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: gingataff on August 19, 2009, 06:18:07 PM
Nice work, amp and pedal.

The amp especially is right up my street. It might be heresy but I bet running a tubescreamer as a boost would be great in front of the amp at full bore. Even at 10 watts I would probably still need some power attenuation though  :?
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 20, 2009, 10:34:50 PM
Nice work, amp and pedal.

The amp especially is right up my street. It might be heresy but I bet running a tubescreamer as a boost would be great in front of the amp at full bore. Even at 10 watts I would probably still need some power attenuation though  :?

it still sounds great at lower master volume settings, but not whisper quiet at 3am (I don't think ANY amp does). 

with my valve OD in the front end, it will out-Mesa a Mesa - serious chunk.
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: Twinfan on August 20, 2009, 10:44:28 PM
with my valve OD in the front end, it will out-Mesa a Mesa - serious chunk.

That's a serious claim my friend...........
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 21, 2009, 12:51:20 AM
with my valve OD in the front end, it will out-Mesa a Mesa - serious chunk.

That's a serious claim my friend...........

I'm sure Jonathon will post a comprehensive review when he gets the amp and confirm this to be the case.
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: Afghan Dave on August 21, 2009, 01:04:39 AM
This amp sound like a rock god-send... amp heaven.

Egnater racks + Lynch Box and next this amp... Jon get ALL the BEST toys!

At least we can count on an informed opinion when this bad-boy hits Croydon, he knows his amp onions..
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 21, 2009, 01:52:47 AM
This amp sound like a rock god-send... amp heaven.

Egnater racks + Lynch Box and next this amp... Jon get ALL the BEST toys!

At least we can count on an informed opinion when this bad-boy hits Croydon, he knows his amp onions..

Jon's standards are very high, thats why this has taken a wee bit longer than expected - I wanted everything to be spot on.

Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: Afghan Dave on August 21, 2009, 02:17:19 AM
The concept of this amp is one of those that you feel SHOULD exist yet up till now didn't...

It makes so much sense for an amp to cover this tone territory at this sensible volume level. We can't all use stacks and racks in urban flats!

I look forward to this amp with baited breath!  PDT_015
Title: Re: HTH's valve overdrive pedal, it's alive, alive!!!
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 23, 2009, 12:41:44 PM
The concept of this amp is one of those that you feel SHOULD exist yet up till now didn't...

It makes so much sense for an amp to cover this tone territory at this sensible volume level. We can't all use stacks and racks in urban flats!

I look forward to this amp with baited breath!  PDT_015


I agree 100%.  The problem with having this kind of tone at lower volumes is that the output valve has quite a noticeable effect on the tone of the amp.  This means that to get EL34 crunch and grind, you really need to use an EL34.  a single EL34 at approx 10w can still be LOUD, could probably even gig with it (with some help from the PA), stage volume would be fine.