Valve Warper: Flexible Overdrive
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The Audiofab Valve Warper is a discrete overdrive and is our version of the rare (only 152 of the original were made) and revered Dinosuaral Tube Bender. Scroll to the bottom for a video demo.
Originally published in Guitar Magazine (UK) as a DIY project in 2003 (and clearly inspired by the Differential Distortion from August 1995 Popular Electronics). The commercial version of the pedal was optimized and tweaked compared to the magazine version to improve the tone and responsiveness. The resulting pedal is a tonal hybrid of the Tone Bender and Tube Screamer.
Our version incorporates a cut switch that enables two levels of treble cut, providing optional settings for a more “scooped” sound.
According to Effects Database, the original Tube Bender is “a simple, useful accessory that creates valve-like (tube) distortion without a valve amp, or pushes a "real" valve amp just that bit harder, to enhance what it already does to some degree. All this and then beyond into rich, sustaining fuzz distortion. Uses super-quiet analogue Class A discrete transistor circuitry for ultimate in sound quality and transparency of tone.
The Tube Bender can be set semi-clean and used to push a bigger level into the input of a valve amp, thereby adding a subtle distortion and tonal fatness. Also, its Drive control gives a progressively variable distortion content, ranging from just perceptible, gentle overdrive to blatant fuzz, with a far more gradual action than that of other overdrive devices, which rarely cross both territories. Used in this way, it can easily be tweaked to become a permanent part of the musician's sound rather than an occasionally used effect.”
Features:
True bypass switching
High quality switches, jacks and potentiometers
Internal 9V battery and external 9V PSU input
LED indicator
Rugged 1590B aluminum enclosure
Controls:
Level: Adjusts the output level (and can provide a massive boost)
Drive: Adjusts the amount of overdrive -- from mild tube overdrive to full-on distortion
Tone: Adjusts the treble of the output signal
Cut: A three-position switch offering no treble cut or two levels of treble cut
Available as a fully assembled pedal, a PCB with an optional key parts kit. Assembly instructions, an interactive BOM and pedal artwork are available on the Downloads page.
Visit our Store to purchase.