Pedals with valves in them

[Nadz1lla]

Hey guys, I was looking to push more tone out of my rig. I am using a Pod XT, would one of these help get more dynamics out of my set-up?
http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/16256494/Blackstar-HT-Boost-Valve-Boost-Pedal/Product.html?_%24ja=tsid:11518|cat:16256494|prd:16256494

[Jonny]

Would this help instead, http://uk.line6.com/supportarchive/thread/19721 ?

[Nadz1lla]

Hmm, I guess what I'm asking is more will it give something like a Pod (or any modeler) a more "amp-like" quality? I didn't know whether the valves would make it sound more "real", in a sense. I know I could put pedals in the chain and give it a tonal boost etc, I'm more kind of after a more realistic amp quality in the mix.

[Jonny]

Hmm, I guess what I'm asking is more will it give something like a Pod (or any modeler) a more "amp-like" quality? I didn't know whether the valves would make it sound more "real", in a sense. I know I could put pedals in the chain and give it a tonal boost etc, I'm more kind of after a more realistic amp quality in the mix.

Not to coin Top Gear too obsessively but this is like the case with the Rolls Royce Ghost, "because you couldn't afford the Phantom."

But really, 'Nadz1lla' (it's awkward not knowing your name), I'd stick to digital stuff than mixing. I generally don't think it works as well. But that's not to say you can't get a good sound out of it.

Or if you're still confused at what I'm trying to say; "Buy an amp. Then buy the boost if you're still wanting more."

[Transcend]

What i would do in your case is get a rack valve preamp,

you can sometimes come across great deals on ebay

and then disable the amp sims etc and either use the line6 cab sims or impulses.

that would work a lot better and you could probably find something for a similar price as that blackstar pedal if you keep your eye out

at the end of the day though you would be better off buying an actual valve amp which you can get some great deals on every now and then on ebay

[Nadz1lla]

But really, 'Nadz1lla' (it's awkward not knowing your name), I'd stick to digital stuff than mixing. I generally don't think it works as well. But that's not to say you can't get a good sound out of it.

Or if you're still confused at what I'm trying to say; "Buy an amp. Then buy the boost if you're still wanting more."

Cheers dude, fair point, hehe. And you can call me Nadz, my real nickname is Nadzilla, but my mates call me Nadz for short.   :)

(And it's not for the reason you might think...there is nothing unusual about my man-parts, it's just a play on words, heh. Long story.  :lol:)

Thanks all for the input!

I did used to hate Marshalls, but I plugged into my mate's JVM400 at practice a few weeks ago and BLAM! Not much fiddling with the EQ and I got the exact tone I wanted, it was amazing. So I think it might be time for me to shake off the "I'm getting an AxeFX because they own all!" mentality and actually go back to traditional means. Albeit with some kind of an attenuator, of course. We live in a terraced house with paper-thin walls, the neighbours just wouldn't understand!

[Transcend]

the JVM 205h sounds pretty awesome at bedroom levels.

i was considering getting one for a while.

[richard]

DO NOT try running the Blackstar Boost into your POD. It is designed to overdrive the pre-amp stage of a valve amp. It will not work at all well with a POD. It sounds like you'd just be happier getting a valve amp.

[Nadz1lla]

Aye it's looking that way. The problem is it's so easy to DI a Pod and get exactly what you hear in to the computer, it's much harder to mic up an amp properly and get it to sound good. I think I'm just afraid of that battle, heh.

[Telerocker]

My Emma Reezafratzitz (handmade in Denmark, crazy name) distortion sounds more amplike then a lot of amps an it's.... not a valvepedal, just a highgrade pedal.

[Transcend]

I find it far easier to get a good sound micing than using my pod.

At first its a little tricky but after a few goes it just gets easier and easier.

Just read up a bit on it and watch a few videos and you'll find it easy

[Ratrod]

If you want the sound of a tube amp, get a tube amp.

Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Who etc. All those recordings were done with small Fenders, Supros, Valcos and stuff like that. Miced up and cranked.

[musicmaker29]

Hmm, I guess what I'm asking is more will it give something like a Pod (or any modeler) a more "amp-like" quality? I didn't know whether the valves would make it sound more "real", in a sense. I know I could put pedals in the chain and give it a tonal boost etc, I'm more kind of after a more realistic amp quality in the mix.

Not to coin Top Gear too obsessively but this is like the case with the Rolls Royce Ghost, "because you couldn't afford the Phantom."

But really, 'Nadz1lla' (it's awkward not knowing your name), I'd stick to digital stuff than mixing. I generally don't think it works as well. But that's not to say you can't get a good sound out of it.

Or if you're still confused at what I'm trying to say; "Buy an amp. Then buy the boost if you're still wanting more."

there are times when mixing digital and valves work, just not the way around that the OP is proposing.  I have a Line 6 Spidervalve and that has a digital preamp with a valve poweramp and a couple of preamp tubes thrown in for 'feel', it is a massive improvement on the standard 'spider' range!

however, overdriving a digital preamp with any sort of OD pedal will sound horrible as these pedals are solely for use with valve amps.

[Transcend]

ive actually used a TS into my toneport gx with very favourable results in the past

[XxpapertigerxX]

These get you great tube sound, mainly because they have a tube in them. It's ridiculous how much like amp distortion they sound.

http://proguitarshop.com/store/effects-distortion-pedals-c-602_12/blackstar-ht-distx-p-1625
http://proguitarshop.com/store/effects-overdrive-pedals-c-602_6/blackstar-ht-dual-p-1624