In New Condition.
One of the most touch-sensitive, organic-sounding overdrive pedals available. Runs a 12AU7 valve for REAL valve overdrive! It sounds as good as the overdrive from a vintage valve amp - it's like your amp has an extra channel! The only valve-equipped pedal series in the world that can run on batteries.
If you want the best overdrive for your setup - this is what you need!
Preserve your amp’s warm, silky tone while pushing your sound into overdrive! The tube-powered Big Ben Overdrive pedal responds to your playing dynamics and cranks out that extra firepower when you really dig in and want to cut through. The Gain knob varies the overall gain of the pedal from bluesy and mellow to fat and saturated, while the Tone knobs adjusts that overall tonality of the pedal. As with all COOLTRON pedals, the Big Ben’s true bypass allows you to let your signal flow through untouched.
Specifications:
- Big Ben Overdrive controls Gain, Tone, Volume
- True bypass switch
- Tube: 12AU7
- Power: 4 x AA batteries (allows 20 hours of operation)
- Dimensions: 16.84 cm (W) x 15.55cm (H) x 6.4cm (D)
- Weight (without batteries): Big Ben Overdrive 1.02kgs
- Options: 9V AC adapter (not supplied)
How VOX's Cooltron Circuit works:
Valve tone in a stomp box. How did VOX design a 12AU7 preamp valve to run for up to 20 hours on 4 AA batteries in a guitar effects pedal?
Normally valves require voltages too high to be powered by batteries. VOX has redesigned the circuit, splitting the signal path in two. First is a servo circuit which fools the valve into thinking it is operating at a much higher voltage than the batteries are providing. Second, a patented low voltage power supply, which reduces the amount of heat in the valve, is required to get the current flowing. A bit technical, but the result is a valve in an effects pedal.
What is so special about a valve's sound compared to a transistor's? Overdrive a transistor amp into distortion, and it sounds shrill and brittle like breaking glass. Overdrive a valve amp, and it sounds fuller and louder. The reason is when clipped (overdriven) a valve adds lots of even order harmonics to the signal, which our ears find pleasant. Clipping a transistor amp adds both odd and even harmonics. Our ears dislike the odd harmonics, as they are not harmonically related to the fundamental tone. The VOX Cooltron Bulldog Distortion Pedal provides a valve amp's distorted tone even when using a transistor amp.
