BK Butler Tube Driver Advice

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ceremony5150

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I am considering buying a BK Butler Tube Driver- there are so many options out there. Can anyone give me advice on which model is the most desirable?
 
IMO, the one to get is the original direct from BK. He sells them on ebay for $299.
 
yeah. dont. there's a lot better options out there for tube pedals that aren't starved plate .

if you do though, dont get the tube driver or the blue tube, each have 5 knobs....both a weak sounding and thin.
 
I love the sound of the BK Tube Driver (at least from what I've heard online. . .never actually played one). What are some other ODs that get that Eric Johnson vibe, like the Tube Drivers do?
 
I had the rack mount version with the countour and bias knobs. Total Eric Johnson violin sustain when going into another amp (not power amp) and the best overdrive for bass I've ever heard.
 
I have one. It's pretty weak sounding if you plan on using significant amounts of gain. If you plan on using it for just a little grit or to smooth out a Fuzz (a la Gilmour), then it's pretty cool... but huge and AC powered.
 
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good one.

real tube and blue tube are heinous sounding and thin (to my ears)
 
Most people use these with an already overdriven amp, right? Used as a boost/overdrive, not a stand alone tone generator into a clean amp.
 
reverymike":19k3lmvj said:
Most people use these with an already overdriven amp, right? Used as a boost/overdrive, not a stand alone tone generator into a clean amp.
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Even as an OD, i find mine to be very loose and lacking any low end. I think that is why people like to push them with a fuzz.
 
I have an orginal Chandler "designed by B.K. Butler" tube driver from 85. I love it. Works best with an already slightly breaking up amp to my ears. There are a lot of versions of this pedal and its variants, but if you search the web, there's tons of good info to help identify the good ones.
 
I like it into a marshall-y amp that's just on the edge of breakup. That gets you into the Timmons/EJ tones that the pedal excels at. Starved plates or whatever, IMO it sounds great and there is something to the attack that is very unique.
 
Thanks, I plan on using it in conjunction with the crunch channel of my SLO
 
I own or have owned all the different variants (both original and newer versions) of these pedals with exception to the Blue Tube enhancer. I have to disagree with previous post that the Real Tube OD is weak and thin sounding. With each of these units, you need to experiment with different tube offerings and 12--- types to get to where you want to be. Good luck!
 
50MkII":1rdmjqrh said:
I own or have owned all the different variants (both original and newer versions) of these pedals with exception to the Blue Tube enhancer. I have to disagree with previous post that the Real Tube OD is weak and thin sounding. With each of these units, you need to experiment with different tube offerings and 12--- types to get to where you want to be. Good luck!
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i messed with mine for hours....at least put 50 tubes in it...i even have a recorded test i did.

mine was weak sounding no matter what. possibly caps, or something, not sure. checked it over though, and couldnt find anything.

the treble and bass knobs are for shit in those things
 
I've got the BK Tube Driver with the bias mod.
The bias mod allows you to control the "bite".
IMO, as a pedal in front of a clean channel it sounds not-so-special.
It's strong point is to add a bit of oomph to an overdrive channel. 10:00 on the gain is about its sweet spot.

If you decide to pick one up, let me know. Mine is collecting dust since I switched over to modelers.
 
I had an original one (three knobs only) and it kicked ass.

As some above had previously mentioned, experimentation is key in figuring out what you can get out of this pedal. I settled on a 12AU7 as it helped smooth the highs and give a little more low end.

Mainly used this to push an amp that was already at the edge of breakup. It can get thin and tinny when it's played at low volumes and with gobs of gain.

To me, it was like adding an extra gain stage to an amp. So if there was an existing gain knob, it needed to be turned down; not maxed out in tandem with this pedal.

Marshalls love this thing. Hell, even my Dual Showman cranked dug it too.
 
I'm a big EJ fan so at some point I'd love to get a similar rig and just geek out but volume wise and versatility wise it's not that practical for the gigs I play. I'll still prob get around to it at some point though lol.
 
I had two of the reissues thru the years. Both w/ the Bias control. I kinda wish I'd hung onto one.

There are a ton of YT demos toi get a good read on the sound of it. There is something it has on the pick attack which is cool and sounds like EJ.
The Bias can be used to get that stuttering type lead tone EJ has used as well.
 
To the point earlier about the Real Tube OD one sounding thin, I recently purchased the one to the right (an original one) and have had the one on the left for some time. Note: the knob settings on the one I just purchased were what I generally decided on. I ran the original one through my Friedman BE in BE mode with master set to around 10-11' and gain around 7-8 through a Marshall 4x12 with stock quad of Heritage Celestion G12H30 (55c/s) speakers that sounds good! The one to the left has a chinese 12AU7 in it. It was not until I went to take the pic of them side-by-side that I noticed the settings. The original one did not at all thin the tone out of the BE just thickened it up and added another layer of gain to an already gainy amp. Did not muddy things up either. The key with these units is to run the Output up fairly high (usually not past 3' is the limit) and Drive fairly low (in the neighborhood of 8'+- 11' at best) to get the best usage out of it depending on the 12A--- type being used. Tone knobs vary somewhat. It was my intent as an extensive owner of these pedals to post up what I hope someone finds useful information. Darn IMG link is not working.
https://s1030.photobucket.com/user/50MkI ... state=copy
 
ceremony5150":fxxjxz2k said:
Thanks, I plan on using it in conjunction with the crunch channel of my SLO
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Id get an old Marshall Drivemaster or Guvnor man.
 
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