Tube simulation

waylon

I was thinking about effects for tube simulation, like Tube Screamer etc. I found three cheap models. Which on is more "natural"?
https://musicsquare.co.uk/168127_XVive-V7-Tube-Drive-guitar-effect.html
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EastRiverOD
https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Behringer-VT999-Vintage-Tube-Monster-Effects-Pedal/BHH

Lester

In my experience, none of the overdrive or distortion pedals simulate a valve amp but they can be used with a valve amp to get a great sound.

nicholaspaul

Lester said:

In my experience, none of the overdrive or distortion pedals simulate a valve amp but they can be used with a valve amp to get a great sound.

I agree. It all depends on the amp you’re using. I doubt even a valve equipped pedal would do the trick. Personally, I prefer a valve power amp anyway.
If by natural you mean that it compresses and cleans up when you play softer you’re going to have to try them. Tube emulation is more about feel and only you can tell what that is like.

ESBlonde

Tough call. The original idea of a saturated valve sound (pre-amp and power amp) encompassed more than pure distortion. The Amp naturally saggs and compresses, the loudspeakers compress and impart thier own distortion. Your ears further compess to avoid damage. The Core of the output transformer distorts the signal.
Now to put those things (and more subtle nuances) into a transistorised or part preamp valve foot pedal is asking a lot. Also the sound you might have as your reference was miced up probably with an SM57 onto tape (real lo-fi by modern standars).
These days we might have an altogether different reference of some digital distortion via an MP3.

So as if that wasn't hard enough what are you going to plug this pedal into? How will you listen to it and what use will that sound be put to? (Yes the proverbial how long is a piece of string). I think you should use your ears and find one that works for you, lots of the cheap pedals can be quite good. don't forget the used market, a huge number of people are hunting utopia from hand painted copies of pedals (that never really sold well in the first place) and selling one on to get the next latest thing.

I still think some of that great tone, no matter how distorted, is the result of the player interaction and technique! I do own 3 different overdrive pedals though.

nicholaspaul

ESBlonde said:

I think you should use your ears and find one that works for you

Yup. I gave up trying to emulate anything years ago. If it sounds good to you, it’s a good tone. Sorry if that sounds dismissive, but it should empower you.

Pete_B

Sansamp GT2