Thermionic Overdrive is a pedal based around a BS170 MOSFET stage, followed by a tonestack, followed by a 5840 submini pentode stage. ‘Warm’ and ‘Hot’ modes selectable on the MOSFET stage. ‘Triode’ and ‘Pentode’ modes selectable on the tube stage. An in-built voltage multiplier feeds the tube some real hot juice!
My good friend and tame shredmaster Rich Russell did some great soundclips for me.
Thermionic Overdrive soundclip by Rich Russell
The Thermionic soundclips was recorded directly into a Valve Junior set to clean, all the drive you hear is coming from the Thermionic. Rich used a USA Fender Telecaster. No other effects except a touch of reverb. Microphone was a Shure SM58.
Many uses for this pedal. Turn the MOSFET stage right down and you have a clean tube boost, using the tonestack to dial in the frequencies you want to boost. Or use the MOSFET stage to drive the tube stage into a warm, saturated overdrive reminiscent of the finest tube amplifiers. Flick over from ‘Warm’ to ‘Hot’ and your really into crunch territory. The ‘Triode/Pentode’ switch adds another level of cool tone options. Thermionic Overdrive has been designed to be powered from a 9 volt regulated (it consumes around 200ma) DC power pack (not supplied) and so can be seamlessly integrated into your pedalboard.
Soundclips! As people will know, I’m not a legendary guitarist or bassist. Please be forgiving, listen to the tone and not the technique:
Guitar clips: Thermionic Guitar
Audio path: Rick’s fingers >>> Telecaster Custom bridge pup (HB) >>> Thermionic Overdrive >>> Roland Bolt 60 watt tube combo >>> Shure SM58 >>> Wavelab
Bass clips: Thermionic Bass
Audio path: Rick’s fingers >>> Washburn RB2500 five string active >>> Thermionic Overdrive >>> Roland Bolt 60 watt tube combo >>> Shure SM58 >>> Wavelab
Thermionic Overdrive is available now at £200.00 GBP plus shipping.
For orders and queries please contact me at:
frequencycentral@yahoo.com