m
Know what you want...
This is NOT a copy of the Butler, only based on the design. With that said, it is an amazing sounding heavy overdrive. Just don't expect any clean sounds with soft "on the edge of breakup" from it. Starved plate, like most of the actually tube driven pedals, you can honestly find the same sound in most high gain diode clipping overdrives that don't need 400 mA power supply. I still love it for what it is. Put it in front of a dirty tube amp ;)
P.S.: don't forget to cut the power to it after use, or it's going to keep heating the tube (and the casing). The foot-switch only engages the bypass.
P.S.: don't forget to cut the power to it after use, or it's going to keep heating the tube (and the casing). The foot-switch only engages the bypass.
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JK
Incredible if you upgrade the valve
This is an incredible product: genuine valve drive in a portable pedal for a very reasonable price. But for best results, definitely upgrade the valve, and add EQ.
I have 2 of these, one with a JJ 5751 valve (~70% gain of a typical 12AX7) which I use for crunch/OD, and one with a Tung-Sol 12AX7 which works as OD2/full drive. I stack them on top of each other for a juicy, high-gain British lead sound.
The factory valves in my TC Tube Pilots were a Bugera 12AX7C (bought a few years ago) and a Bugera 12AX7D (bought last week). These are often the standard preamp valve used in small Bugera lunchbox amps, so... they are not bad, but they are not great. I thought they sounded quite dry and fizzy, especially without EQ.
The Tube Pilot has just 2 controls, volume and gain. This means out of the box, the unit can sound quite disappointing - a bit lifeless and flat. A solution is to add EQ, either from a pedal or maybe a multieffects unit, and the tone suddenly comes to life just like in a combo amp. There are 2 similar pedals to the Tube Pilot which have a preamp valve and EQ, the Behringer Vintage Tube Monster and the acclaimed Butler Tube Driver, but these are very large and the Butler is (for good reason) quite expensive.
The build quality is very good. The casing is a very solid tank, and the dials have a satisfying feel to them. That said, the kickswitch is odd – when off, it turns on when the switch is *released*; when on, it turns off when you *press* the switch. This might bother some but not others. I'm sidestepping the issue by using a loop controller. The current draw is 400mA which is quite a lot compared to most pedals.
Conclusion: Upgrade the valve and add EQ, and this is a cost-effective way of introducing awesome valve sound to your portable pedalboard setup.
I have 2 of these, one with a JJ 5751 valve (~70% gain of a typical 12AX7) which I use for crunch/OD, and one with a Tung-Sol 12AX7 which works as OD2/full drive. I stack them on top of each other for a juicy, high-gain British lead sound.
The factory valves in my TC Tube Pilots were a Bugera 12AX7C (bought a few years ago) and a Bugera 12AX7D (bought last week). These are often the standard preamp valve used in small Bugera lunchbox amps, so... they are not bad, but they are not great. I thought they sounded quite dry and fizzy, especially without EQ.
The Tube Pilot has just 2 controls, volume and gain. This means out of the box, the unit can sound quite disappointing - a bit lifeless and flat. A solution is to add EQ, either from a pedal or maybe a multieffects unit, and the tone suddenly comes to life just like in a combo amp. There are 2 similar pedals to the Tube Pilot which have a preamp valve and EQ, the Behringer Vintage Tube Monster and the acclaimed Butler Tube Driver, but these are very large and the Butler is (for good reason) quite expensive.
The build quality is very good. The casing is a very solid tank, and the dials have a satisfying feel to them. That said, the kickswitch is odd – when off, it turns on when the switch is *released*; when on, it turns off when you *press* the switch. This might bother some but not others. I'm sidestepping the issue by using a loop controller. The current draw is 400mA which is quite a lot compared to most pedals.
Conclusion: Upgrade the valve and add EQ, and this is a cost-effective way of introducing awesome valve sound to your portable pedalboard setup.
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D
Definitely a keeper
I've been using it for guitar, bass and keys. Sounds like what it is - an overdriven tube preamp. It lacks some bass. Like a TS does too. So if I keep using it for bass, I might try splitting the signal, mixing clean with overdrive.
Big downer for me is how the bypass engages when you release the button instead of pressing, unlike every other stompbox in the world. That will take some getting used to, or I'll have to send it through a loop switcher.
OMG the price! The p r i c e ! !
Big downer for me is how the bypass engages when you release the button instead of pressing, unlike every other stompbox in the world. That will take some getting used to, or I'll have to send it through a loop switcher.
OMG the price! The p r i c e ! !
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S
an amazing overdrive
I haven't had that much time with it so far but I already have to say I'm amazed.
considering how much this thing costs, it's a really good pedal.
I have a tubescreamer I use a lot and on their own, the tube pilot sounds much better to me.
definitely depends on the application however, I like using the tubescreamer to gun an already driven amp, but if you just want a simple overdrive in front of a clean amp, buy this and you'll be amazed. even with the gain at around 9 o'clock you get that "power sag" sound that occurs when you run a valve amp really loud
considering how much this thing costs, it's a really good pedal.
I have a tubescreamer I use a lot and on their own, the tube pilot sounds much better to me.
definitely depends on the application however, I like using the tubescreamer to gun an already driven amp, but if you just want a simple overdrive in front of a clean amp, buy this and you'll be amazed. even with the gain at around 9 o'clock you get that "power sag" sound that occurs when you run a valve amp really loud
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m
Natural tube overdrive sound
Great overdrive, but in my case I needed to replace tube. Mine has come with Bugera 12AX7C tube, wich has to much highs and brightnes for my taste and amp. In front of some amps this may be ok, but my tube amp has JJ ECC83S preamp tubes and the diference in coloring the sound is to much. I have replaced Bugera tube in pedal with JJ 12AY7 (for warmer sound and less gain), and adjusted trim pot (inside pedal) to minimum. For the same original amount of gain, I would chose JJ ECC83S or JJ E83CC (I'm thinking about buying one more:)). Now is almost perfect transparent overdrive, with only slight low end sound lose when it is ON. This gives me possibility to switch pedal ON when I need more natural tube overdrive without sound volume incrase. Perfect!
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f
Probably the best in its price range
Of course it may not be as punchy or as dynamic sounding as the original Butler Tube Driver, but still it's a sound that is very, very special and hard to achieve in a bedroom musician's studio (I am one of those guys, yeah). I don't have an amp, all my guitars go through Harley Benton American Sound and then into my cheap Pre-Eq-Comp-Audio Interface. This pedal was crucial in achieving a Dinosaur Jr - type sound (e.g. lazy tubey strum for verses, before the Big Muff comes to blow you away) with such limited means. Awesome! Could've used an EQ for fine tuning, though.
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s
Superb pedal
What can I say, it is a super good tube drive pedal, much better than all other drive pedals i have used, together with a hi gain pedal to push the tube inside it does magic!! switch the tube for some better and even better results!! can't go wrong with this one and with that price?? go for it!!
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MW
Great booster for digital multieffects
I swapped internal tube for EH12AX7 as soon as I received it. I am impressed with Tube Pilot how it reacts on tube swap.
I use it with Maxon OD808 to boost MOOER GE300 LITE's drive presets.
My digital toy turns into analog sounding monster.
TC Electronic Tube Pilot before MaxonOD808 with Mooer GE300 Lite give great heavy tone which you can not get from Mooer itself.
I had an idea, did not risk much because this thing cost just 40 pounds and finally I received amazing tone capabilities.
I use it with Maxon OD808 to boost MOOER GE300 LITE's drive presets.
My digital toy turns into analog sounding monster.
TC Electronic Tube Pilot before MaxonOD808 with Mooer GE300 Lite give great heavy tone which you can not get from Mooer itself.
I had an idea, did not risk much because this thing cost just 40 pounds and finally I received amazing tone capabilities.
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d
Not bad but...
I bought it for bass guitar and it has to much presence.
I boostet bass to max and cut mid and high to minimum on my preamp pedal and it was still to bright. Guitarist said it is what he want for his overdriven guitar.
I boostet bass to max and cut mid and high to minimum on my preamp pedal and it was still to bright. Guitarist said it is what he want for his overdriven guitar.
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T
Valve Pedal - Great Sound
This is a nice pedal - one of the best I've used, and I've used all the classics (Tube Screamers, Boss Blues Driver, Boss OD1, OCD, RATs, Catalinbreads, Mesa Boogies etc etc).
There's no point using it with a non valve amp - unless you've get a very clean Fender - it won't sing. I've tried it with an AC30, a Blues Junior and a '57 Champ. It doesn't improve the Champ but then not much can. It goes well with the AC30.
But with the Blues Junior it's fantastic and the best sound I can get out of it is a very unusual spluttery overdrive (overdriving the Blues Junior a bit too). Yes it does nice low gain stuff, yes you can crank it up (higher than I would use) but the splutter is brilliant and the reason I will keep it long term.
Also, it's about the best value seriously good overdrive there is. It is quiet, very little hum, well built, feels solid and the pots are nice to turn. It only really does one sound but it does it very well.
It eats power and doesn't take batteries so make sure your power supply can cope if you have lots of pedals.
Definitely have a go! You haven't much to lose and a lot to gain.
There's no point using it with a non valve amp - unless you've get a very clean Fender - it won't sing. I've tried it with an AC30, a Blues Junior and a '57 Champ. It doesn't improve the Champ but then not much can. It goes well with the AC30.
But with the Blues Junior it's fantastic and the best sound I can get out of it is a very unusual spluttery overdrive (overdriving the Blues Junior a bit too). Yes it does nice low gain stuff, yes you can crank it up (higher than I would use) but the splutter is brilliant and the reason I will keep it long term.
Also, it's about the best value seriously good overdrive there is. It is quiet, very little hum, well built, feels solid and the pots are nice to turn. It only really does one sound but it does it very well.
It eats power and doesn't take batteries so make sure your power supply can cope if you have lots of pedals.
Definitely have a go! You haven't much to lose and a lot to gain.
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