BK Butler Tubedriver

[fdesalvo]

Just ordered one - Butler is actually back in biz handbuilding these with the bias mod option!  I'm so stoked and can't wait to receive this.  My freind had one in the late 80's when I started palying guitar and I thought it was a realy neat pedal. 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270933733001

 

[Doughboy]

I just orderd one w/ the bias option. Should be here by next week.

I love Andy Timmons tone & he was a tube driver user for years before he switched to Xotic, which, imo, is the maker of the best distortion pedal EVER made. The BB pre amp is tone in a box.

 

[fdesalvo]

Brother amen to everything you just said. I love his tone from the Resolution album!

I also ordered the 5-knobber and now I'll have to focus on my technique haha.  Funny thing is my friend had one of these pedals when we were 14 years old and we discounted it because it wasn't metal enough lol.  I actually value tone now and miss a heap of gear that I let slip thorugh my fingers.  But that's another thread.

 

[fdesalvo]

 

[Jusatele]

I have an older one, had to add the bias myself
the thing sounds better the older it gets and when you finally have to change the tube it starts all over again, I cracked the tube once, I know.

Oh guys, quiet about the bias thing, there are guys here who claim you cannot bias a preamp tube :toothy12: :toothy12: :toothy12:

 

[fdesalvo]

:guitarplayer2: ccasion14:

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Oh guys, quiet about the bias thing, there are guys here who claim you cannot bias a preamp tube :toothy12: :toothy12: :toothy12:

:laughing7: :laughing7: :laughing7:

 

[RobR]

Bk is a good guy and makes good stuff.... glad to see his pedals still selling!

 

[Who?]

I bought one about a year ago.  I think you will enjoy it very much.

 

[fdesalvo]

Gigged it outdoors last night and it sounded spectacular through the stiletto. 

 

[fdesalvo]

Going to try a JAN Phillips 5751, RCA 12AU7, RCA 12AT7, and a OPA2134 in the pedal this week just for kicks.

 

[fdesalvo]

Doughboy, did you get yours yet?

 

[Patrick from Davis]

Oh guys, quiet about the bias thing, there are guys here who claim you cannot bias a preamp tube

Not quite correct there.  Just people that mess up the details of fixed bias and cathode bias.  But, there are those that don't grasp the particulars of the compound radius either around here.  You just have to roll with it.
Patrick

 

[fdesalvo]

Tested a JAN Phillips 5751 (Joint Army Navy military tube) and it's def a bit smoother than the Ruby 12AX7-A that was in there prior. Will test in a live situation soon, then try out the RCA 12AU7.  If I end up keeping this pedal, which I am inclined to do, I will transfer the guts into a smaller enclosure.

 

[Doughboy]

Doughboy, did you get yours yet?

I got mine a few days ago. I can't seem to dial the fuzz out & the bottom end gets REALLY loose & flabby. Do you have any settings you can recommend?

The best I can get it to sound is at this setting:

Level 5
High 6
Low 4
Drive 5 
Bias all the way clockwise when facing it from the back

 

[Jusatele]

Dougboy, you need to just turn on that unit and let the tube cook for a few days, well maybe not all at once, but that tube needs 30 or 40 hours o break in and get gritty.
I have had mine so long I had to replace the tube, at first I thought I had bought a bad tube till I remembered the older the tube gets the more you love the pedal.

 

[fdesalvo]

I use mine to add  a little gritty edge to the clean channel of my amp -

Level just above unity
High 8;00
Low 9:00
Drive one or two clicks from 0
Bias 12:00 - 5:00

I have found that with the way the treble and bass are voiced, it's best to start your tweaking with these controls all the way off.  Any extreme settings will sound like crap.  For every amazing tone in this pedal, there are at least 5 crappy ones.

I changed the 12ax7a to a nos 5751 and it smoothed out the gain, but I am waiting on a 12au7 which is supposed to be where it's at with these pedals if you are looking for a creamier tone.  Personally, I bought this pedal for the gritty edge of breakup tone and it does that really well. I've got a diff op amp to play with, but will mess with that later on during rehearsal.  I didn't buy this pedal to create a lead tone, though many do rely on it as their fundamental sound.

I'm not sure how Timmons get's his tone - it sounds like his bias is internally modded to be where our pots would be at the 10:00 or lesser position.  This is where you get a gnarled and spitty distortion not unlike ZZ Top. With the bias all the way up, I can hear Eric Johnson's tone.  Again, this pedal is all about judicious use of the tone controls.  Start from 0 and slowly bring em up.

I just bought a Timmy and will likely sell my TD - not for lack of tone - for it's godawful size; I can't close the lid on my pedal board .  It sounds amazing for edge of breakup tones and I wish it was smaller so I can tour it.

 

[Doughboy]

Dougboy, you need to just turn on that unit and let the tube cook for a few days, well maybe not all at once, but that tube needs 30 or 40 hours o break in and get gritty.
I have had mine so long I had to replace the tube, at first I thought I had bought a bad tube till I remembered the older the tube gets the more you love the pedal.

Thanks for the tip. I'm going to leave it on & see what happens in a week.

 

[Doughboy]

I use mine to add  a little gritty edge to the clean channel of my amp -

Level just above unity
High 8;00
Low 9:00
Drive one or two clicks from 0
Bias 12:00 - 5:00

I have found that with the way the treble and bass are voiced, it's best to start your tweaking with these controls all the way off.  Any extreme settings will sound like crap.  For every amazing tone in this pedal, there are at least 5 crappy ones.

I changed the 12ax7a to a nos 5751 and it smoothed out the gain, but I am waiting on a 12au7 which is supposed to be where it's at with these pedals if you are looking for a creamier tone.  Personally, I bought this pedal for the gritty edge of breakup tone and it does that really well. I've got a diff op amp to play with, but will mess with that later on during rehearsal.  I didn't buy this pedal to create a lead tone, though many do rely on it as their fundamental sound.

I'm not sure how Timmons get's his tone - it sounds like his bias is internally modded to be where our pots would be at the 10:00 or lesser position.  This is where you get a gnarled and spitty distortion not unlike ZZ Top. With the bias all the way up, I can hear Eric Johnson's tone.  Again, this pedal is all about judicious use of the tone controls.  Start from 0 and slowly bring em up.

I just bought a Timmy and will likely sell my TD - not for lack of tone - for it's godawful size; I can't close the lid on my pedal board .  It sounds amazing for edge of breakup tones and I wish it was smaller so I can tour it.

I'm going to order a 12au7, as I like creamier warmer tones.

I also have a Timmy & it's really nice. Low gain & smoooth. However, my 2 favorite distortion pedals are the original Xotic BB pedal & the 2nd version of the Andy Timmons BB pedal. Both are super warm & creamy with the later being thicker sounding as well.

Here is a pic of Andy's old rig so you can check out his tube driver setting. He used the old version with less controls.

 

[fdesalvo]

^ Thanks, man.  Let me know how the 12AU7 works for you.  I think this may help you, as well -

Burr-Brown OPA2134PAG4