Tube Driver question (3-knob vs 4-knob version)

[glassjaw7]

I spent some time with a vintage 4-knob Butler Tube Driver and it rocked soo f'n hard with my Mark. Sounded great with my tube screamer, octafuzz and it stacks so well with a compressor.
I didn't have the $ or I would've bought it for sure.

My question-who has directly compared the 3 knob Tube Works version to the 4 knob version? The thing about the original 4 knob is that it runs the tube at proper voltage, while the 3-knob is just a standard 9-volt. I noticed that Andy Timmons uses the cheaper 3 knob version and his tone is great, obviously. He jams it in this video at 8:50 and it sounds just like the 4-knob I played. Is there a difference in feel more than sound?
FWIW, I have played both but it was so spaced out (I was much younger) that I couldn't remember how they compared...

3 knob version @ 8:50

 

[jlbaxe]

I had a 4 knob and a rack version. The rack version had the tube bias knob and they were both very close. I believe the Rack version had a little more tweak ability with contour master and bias knob but still very close tone wise. Sorry I haven't used a 3 knob

 

[glassjaw7]

I had a 4 knob and a rack version. The rack version had the tube bias knob and they were both very close. I believe the Rack version had a little more tweak ability with contour master and bias knob but still very close tone wise. Sorry I haven't used a 3 knob

Cool, so you had a Chandler and a Butler essentially. Butler (the original creator/owner) states that the Chandlers have a slightly different circuit and a grounding problem. Not sure that's true, think he might still be pissed about the lawsuit...

The 3-knobs are much cheaper (around $150 on evil bay) so that's why I'm wondering. thanks!

 

[jlbaxe]

I thought the early 3 knobs still had a 110v cord?

Yeah they both were great units and I think I used the pedal more. It was in my days of trying to build a rack to get Gilmour tones - the talent

 

[jlbaxe]

Wow 150 for the 3 knob and I sold my 4 knob for about 350 IIRC. Great pedals and if I had pedals again I would get another 4 knob along with a Maxon TS808

 

[Anonymous]

dont get the blues or tube driver....both run at starved plate voltage....hard to even tell differences between tubes.....i didnt love mine, sold it for 120$. bought it for 100$.

 

[Aristocat]

The one piece of gear I regret selling above all else.

I did some work for my father in law and in exchange for my service (demolitions-haha) he gave me an original 3 knob TD pedal.

I sold it for 40 bucks and three pedals to a friend from high school well before I had any knowledge of what it was worth.

It was so perfect and blended with anything I threw it in front of.

Haven't tried the four; but I'm thinking of buying one soon.

 

[glassjaw7]

dont get the blues or tube driver....both run at starved plate voltage....hard to even tell differences between tubes.....i didnt love mine, sold it for 120$. bought it for 100$.

Are you saying don't buy the 3-knob version?

 

[glassjaw7]

The one piece of gear I regret selling above all else.

I did some work for my father in law and in exchange for my service (demolitions-haha) he gave me an original 3 knob TD pedal.

I sold it for 40 bucks and three pedals to a friend from high school well before I had any knowledge of what it was worth.

It was so perfect and blended with anything I threw it in front of.

Haven't tried the four; but I'm thinking of buying one soon.

That sounds promising. Do you remember if it had an attached power cord (120V) or if it had a 9V adapter?

 

[50MkII]

[/quote]Cool, so you had a Chandler and a Butler essentially. Butler (the original creator/owner) states that the Chandlers have a slightly different circuit and a grounding problem. Not sure that's true, think he might still be pissed about the lawsuit...

The 3-knobs are much cheaper (around $150 on evil bay) so that's why I'm wondering. thanks![/quote]

I have owned pretty much all of the tube driver variants produced and still own a few. The Chandler version does have a different circuit and the EQ is not like the originals. Sounds very different from the original, not good to my ears. Owned one several years ago alongside 2 originals-one built by the man himself, the other, his wife. Sold it without much hesitation.I noticed how the 3-knob version seems to be commanding more of a price than they use to. This was after I saw Timmons' gear video where he says he is using it. Maybe that had a bit to do with some of the overpricing some people are requesting for this pedal. When I owned it I did not care much for that version at all. So much so that I sold it. It is not the same sounding pedal as the 4-knob versions if that helps any. Much like having a different pedal.

That sounds promising. Do you remember if it had an attached power cord (120V) or if it had a 9V adapter?

Runs off of an 9V adapter. Again, it sounds quite different than the originals.

 

[glassjaw7]

Cool, so you had a Chandler and a Butler essentially. Butler (the original creator/owner) states that the Chandlers have a slightly different circuit and a grounding problem. Not sure that's true, think he might still be pissed about the lawsuit...

The 3-knobs are much cheaper (around $150 on evil bay) so that's why I'm wondering. thanks![/quote]

I have owned pretty much all of the tube driver variants produced and still own a few. The Chandler version does have a different circuit and the EQ is not like the originals. Sounds very different from the original, not good to my ears. Owned one several years ago alongside 2 originals-one built by the man himself, the other, his wife. Sold it without much hesitation.I noticed how the 3-knob version seems to be commanding more of a price than they use to. This was after I saw Timmons' gear video where he says he is using it. Maybe that had a bit to do with some of the overpricing some people are requesting for this pedal. When I owned it I did not care much for that version at all. So much so that I sold it. It is not the same sounding pedal as the 4-knob versions if that helps any. Much like having a different pedal.

That sounds promising. Do you remember if it had an attached power cord (120V) or if it had a 9V adapter?

Runs off of an 9V adapter. Again, it sounds quite different than the originals.[/quote]




Thanks for this. Might have to wait until a 4-knob comes up relatively cheap.

 

[ratter]

Don't think I ever had a three knob. I had a rack and I had a recent one made by Butler. The Butler was GREAT for all the stuff you want one of these pedals for - EJ, Timmons, etc. And a while in, it developed an issue and he took care of it even though I wasn't the original owner. So my money would be on one of recent Butler built ones.

 

[glassjaw7]

Don't think I ever had a three knob. I had a rack and I had a recent one made by Butler. The Butler was GREAT for all the stuff you want one of these pedals for - EJ, Timmons, etc. And a while in, it developed an issue and he took care of it even though I wasn't the original owner. So my money would be on one of recent Butler built ones.

Cool, I think I'm sold on the 4-knobber from this thread and what I've read on other forums. Thanks guys!

 

[moltenmetalburn]

dude if youre liking the tube driver, check out the swell overdrive pedals though ONLY on the used market apparently he's out of business and still accepting payments!
http://www.swellpedals.com

also check out the kingsley pedals
http://www.kingsleyamplifiers.com/pedals/jester/

coopersonic
http://coopersonic.bigcartel.com/produc ... -overdrive

and the effectrode
http://www.effectrode.com

 

[50MkII]

dude if youre liking the tube driver, check out the swell overdrive pedals though ONLY on the used market apparently he's out of business and still accepting payments!
http://www.swellpedals.com

I have looking all over to verify this. How do you know this?

I own a Swell pedal and it is good. It will not give you the same sound as a Tube Driver though. The Effectrode Tube Drive is on my to try list and possibly purchase list down the road.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

dude if youre liking the tube driver, check out the swell overdrive pedals though ONLY on the used market apparently he's out of business and still accepting payments!
http://www.swellpedals.com

I have looking all over to verify this. How do you know this?

I own a Swell pedal and it is good. It will not give you the same sound as a Tube Driver though. The Effectrode Tube Drive is on my to try list and possibly purchase list down the road.

Well I typically do a lot of research before buying things. I spent weeks looking at the swell pedals trying to decipher voicings and decide which model I wanted. In that research I found dozens of recent posts on multiple forums saying they paid and never received the pedal. It turns out these we're all recent purchases. I continued looking for details as I was about to buy from their website. I looked at every dealer link on the swell site, only two have stock one has left over v1 pedals from like 2007 , the other has one or two but is in Nashville around the corner from swell. No appearance at namm this year. I also found one post from a person claiming to be best friends with a dealer who told him they couldn't get any more swell is going under.

For me it was all between the lines and not worth taking a risk , lots of boutiquers running away with funds these days.

Whether all or some of this is accurate I cannot say but it was enough for me to buy used on eBay and compromise on color scheme. Then again I got a great deal and scored one for less than half price.