Crazy Tube Circuits

Notes: For those about to rock... Crazy Tube Circuits have created the Heatseeker!

The sound of a classic wireless system meets three iconic amps that helped shape the history of rock. From its inception/invention, in the mid-70s, this wireless system has been the secret recipe to major rock guitar rigs. The magic ingredient lies to its analogue preamp/ tone enhancer circuit that expands the dynamic response and harmonics of any signal that goes through it. By producing a modern recreation of this hidden gem, there is enough percussive attack to spice up your tone.

Utilizing an all-analogue JFET circuit, running on 27 volts via an internal voltage boost, Crazy Tube have captured the tone and feel of three British tube amplifiers synonymous with the sound of rock and roll with excellent clean-to-mean dynamic response. The "WoS" (Wall of Sound) circuit opens up the soundstage by increasing output and adding thundering lows and dense high mids. The effect is similar to "adding" a wall of amp heads and full stacks to your rig!

A passive effects loop gives you the option to connect your beloved pedals between the two sections, building your ideal rig.

Follows the successful concept of Crazy Tube's "Unobtanium", "Hi Power", and "Crossfire": All-analogue dual pedal designed to recreate a legendary pedal and amp combination.

Inspired by the tones of the gear setup used by Angus Young.

Right side: re-creation of the preamp/tone enhancer circuit of the Schaffer Vega Diversity System.

Left side: 3 distinct Marshall amps-in-a-box: JTM45, 1959 Super Lead, JMP 2203.

Passive series effects loop to connect pedals between the two sections or use them separately as independent effects.

Notes: The ultimate overdrive? Raw version of the Unobtanium pedal adds hand-selected NOS germanium transistors to the circuit. Filthy 60s vibes on tap here. Hard to beat.

Supplier's Notes:
A rare sonic element with alternate refinement - meet the new Unobtanium RAW edition!

The main composition has stayed the same as the standard version of the pedal: A recreation of the K-style overdrive true to the last detail finds its place at the right section of the pedal while the left section features two D-style amplifier voicings, the most unobtainable tube amplifiers in the world.

For the RAW edition, Crazy Tube Circuits have added a couple of magic ingredients to the clipping section of the K side: a set of hand selected New Old Stock Mullard/Valvo labelled OC45 germanium transistors from the 60s.

This is the first K-type circuit to feature germanium transistors!

Many germanium transistor types and found that the OC45 transistors added a supernatural feel with organic compression for increased gain and sustain. Fear not - the standard sounds are still there in the stock setting where you listen to germanium diodes clipping like in the original unit.

The amp-in-a-box side of the RAW version is glassier and punchier than the standard version. Think of singing blues rock and classic rock sounds that cut through the mix, flawlessly performing with all kinds of different guitars/ pickups combinations. Think of having the rock/jazz toggle switch set in the rock setting.

As with the standard version, Unobtanium Raw features a passive effects loop to give you the option to connect your beloved pedals between your booster/overdrive and amp in a box or use the two sections as separate and independent effects when using an external bypass switcher/looper.

Note that all pedals inserted in the passive effects loop are still in the signal chain when any or both sections of are in bypass mode.

Unobtanium Raw features a power-up bypass/engage pre-set function for the footswitches. That way you can select which state your pedal will go to when you plug the power supply. This function comes in especially handy to people that use remote pedal switchers/loopers as they only set the state of the pedal once and then operate from the controller.

Main sonic differences between standard and RAW versions:

K-side:

Standard version: MOD setting = silicon diodes added in combination with the stock germanium diodes in the clipping section for higher output/less compression.

Raw version: OC45 setting = New Old Stock Mullard/Valvo OC45
germanium transistors used instead of stock germanium diodes for
clipping resulting in higher gain and sustain/compression.

D-side:

Standard version: Smoother jazz/blues oriented tones.

Raw version: Glassier blues rock oriented tones.

The RAW version will not replace the standard one, that will continue to thrive. It will be built in limited quantities, and will stay out there for as long as there is stock of the beautiful NOS Mullard/Valvo OC45.

Warning: This unit was designed for 9V DC input only. Do not use a higher voltage power supply

Notes: Updated version of the White Whale pedal follows the same formula of 60s-inspired tremolo and spring reverb, with an improved power amp for higher fidelity. The essence of iconic amp effects in a single pedal.

Supplier's Notes:
Inspired by the match-made-in-heaven of vintage effects found on 60s American amps, White Whale V2 sets out a new objective to pack bigger real spring reverb and tremolo sounds in the same pedalboard friendly enclosure (17 x 12,5 x 7,5 cm).

The 3-spring reverb tank assembly housed inside White Whale's enclosure has remained the same, but Crazy Tube Circuits have upgraded the power amp driving the springs for increased headroom and wider frequency response. Following the signal topography of vintage units, Crazy Tube Circuits have also upgraded the dwell control to allow you to dial the right amount of signal that goes into the springs for a mellower or splashier reverb sound. Real spring reverb found in 60s American tube amps and external reverb units featured a tube power amp driving the spring assembly via an output transformer, so analogue circuit has been delicately tuned to emulate the tube and output transformer saturation that was produced on higher dwell settings.

Each of these vintage units had its own reverb effect qualities so Crazy Tube Circuits tried to categorize them according to the most emblematic ones with a toggle switch selecting the size and decay. The user can select between the milder reverb qualities of a short to medium 2-spring reverb tank, the liveliness of a medium to long 2-spring reverb tank as found in most blackface amp designs and the dense reverb qualities of a long 3-spring reverb tank assembly. A reverb's tone control comes after the recovery stage at the output of the reverb tank and affects only the wet sounds for lively and drippy or smooth and mild reverb tones. Use the mix control to blend your desired amount of wet signal on top of the dry guitar signal. Higher reverb mix settings tend to get lost in the mix, so we've made sure you'll be heard loud and clear by incorporating a volume control capable of up to 20db boost.

The tremolo section has also been upgraded to feature harmonic tremolo, besides the opto and tube bias found in the previous incarnation of Crazy Tube Circuits' "marine mammal". This hypnotic and mesmerizing effect originated on certain models of the brown and blonde era amps and does frequency-based modulation by shifting between high and low frequencies compared to the amplitude-based modulation (opto and tube bias) that shifts between volume levels. Crazy Tube Circuits have made sure to include the two most significant variations of harmonic tremolo, as found in the original amps, that differentiate in the range and sweep of pulsating frequencies. The depth control sets the intensity of modulation while the range of the speed control has been extended beyond the span of vintage amps' to make sure we'll maximize your creativity. The volume control will boost the signal, if needed, even in the hardest throb settings.

Another upgrade found in the White Whale V2 is that the two effect sections are now completely independent and you can select the effects order so that the tremolo effect comes before the reverb or vice versa. This gives you the option to make heavenly combinations as optical and tube bias style tremolo usually sound better when placed after (post) the reverb effect while the harmonic tremolo usually sounds better when placed in front (pre) of the reverb effect. The two onboard footswitches are used to engage or bypass each effect section and feature a power-up bypass/engage pre-set function. That way you can select which state your pedal will go to when you plug the power supply. White Whale V2 also features a remote switcher input jack where you can control the bypass state of each effect section remotely via your favourite external effects switcher or via the matching artwork remote control dual footswitch (sold separately). Reverb's mix can also be controlled via an expression pedal and tremolo's speed can be controlled by either an expression pedal or external tap tempo footswitch (expression pedals / tap tempo footswitch are not included).

The surf-friendly light green colour adds to the overall drippy experience of a real spring reverb and tremolo that will fit on your pedalboard. If your amp setup doesn't have these effects by design, you have now found your perfect match.