Peavey Tube Sweetener

This was very intuitive. Only took about 5-6 minutes to get exactly what I was looking for from it.

This goes in the effects loop of my Vox AC30 CC. The effects loop on this amplifier is IC driven, and was hitting the signal processor's input a bit too hard ( Alesis Midiverb 4). I was attempting to overcome a digital clipping that was happenint at the input of the delay/ reverb machine. This adds just a tiny bit of peak limiting, in a very pleasant way.

Ultimately simple device. This should be basically bullet proof for a ling time.

If you are able to find one of these, I highly suggest to get it. I think this will be one of the pieces that will take a good rig into the next level.

Nothing to it. Three controls per channel - Sugar (tube drive - usually set on 8 or 9), Spice (Tone - I leave it flat) and Level (Out). On the back you have 1/4 and RCA ins and outs. Mine came with a manual, but really didn't need one. Also features true bypass (with relays).

I was looking for a tube preamp to warm up the sounds of my Boss GT-6 and GT-8 processors. Not to change the sound, merely "sweeten" it a little. I use it for direct recording or through a PA, using any of a number of guitars - LP, Strat, Jackson Dinky DK2S, Peavey T-60, a Washburn acoustic/electric, even an acoustic/electric mandolin.

Noisy? It's got tubes - yeah, a teeny bit. Not enough to be an issue at all. Tracks recorded through it are clean.

This honey takes a few minutes to warm up before the tubes "start to cook". After about 30 minutes of playing, it's heaven. I go GT-X --> Tube Sweetener --> Firepod recording interface.

It does exactly what I want it to - not color the sound or change it. Just add that wonderful tube compression and saturation. Subtle, but noticeable. Took the digital "edge" off of the signal. Added warm harmonics. Metal or clean acoustic or anything in between, it adds "that sound". I'm very pleased with it. Now a dedicated part of my signal chain.

This unit was made circa 1999, and I bought used on ebay. Have had it about a month. The original tubes are still in it - a pair of Sovtek 12ax7s and a Philips 12at7. Still working fine. Built like a tank in the USA. About the only things that will fail in there are the tubes. All analog, baby - the way they used to make 'em, with 250 volts on the plates.

If the audio dies, you can bypass both channels. If it should lose power or blow a fuse, the relays kick into bypass mode. Not much to it, again. Simple is good.

I certainly feel I can depend on it, and as far gigging without a backup - carry a couple of spare tubes, and you're good to go.

I've heard wonderful things about Peavey's Customer Service, but I haven't needed to use them. I don't expect to find parts available for this unit given it was discontinued so long ago, but about the only thing I'd be worried about are the transformers. Tubes and capacitors I can source at any number of places.

I play all styles - a lot of different stuff, am experimenting a lot with different sounds, effects and instruments. Not a pro, just an enthusiastic hobbyist. Been playing a total of about 5 years.

No dislikes - it does what it does. Not a night and day difference, won't make a cheap little amp sound like a Marshall stack or anything, just warms whatever signal you put in it. It works wonderfully for my application with a modeler/processor.

I looked at a number of rack units with a tube preamp. I tried a Presonus Blue Tube DP - but that worked out better as a mic preamp. Looked at some other "vintage" units, and new ones. Didn't have a lot of money, this looked like it might work at a price I could handle.

If it were lost or stolen, I'd look for another one. There doesn't seem to be anything else quite as simple as this out there, either old or new.

It is very easy to get a good sound out of it. No editing patches as it is all analog and all tube. The manual is O.K., but I think that the manaul should talk about various places that it can be put into the signal path and why. I will rate this section an 8 because I fell the manual should have went into more detail.

I have the Tube Sweetener set-up between my Marshall JMP-1 preamp and my Marshall 9200 power amp. I wanted to warm up my signal and this unit by Peavey has done just that.

It is a tad noisy, but there are 3 tubes in it so there would be some noise. I can easily get the sound I want out of it because this is simple just a compliment for my Marshall pre-amp.

When I put SUGAR Dial and the SPICE dial on full, I get a very Fenderish tube/ speaker overdrive sound. Wow! It sounds great.

One negative: Because one of the tubes is shared by both channel one and channel two, there is some very slight sound bleed from channel 1 into channel 2 and vise versa. I tested it out, so that's why I noticed it. With normal use, you couldn't tell.

I have only had it for about a week, so I don't really know. I could depend on it in my studio use of it. I would not bring an expensive rackmount system to some bar gig. That's what I have my Delta Blues for.

I phoned Peavey and spoke to someone immediately without being put on hold. Anthony helped me out on where I should place it in the audio pathway. Big Help. I have to rate Peavey a 10, because they are one of the best at customer service in the business.

I won't go into what kind of music I play. I have been playing for around 25 years, so I know what I am talking about.

The other great aspect about the Tube Sweetener is that it does not skimp out on the tubes and is affordable. Not many of us can a afford a thousand dollar unit that does the same thing. I am glad I took a chance and bought it without testing it.(There wasn't one in the store for me to test out.)

Peavey's site has all the info about this unit.

Would I buy it again, Yes. This unit may fall into the same FAME as the Peavey Valverb.

P.S. Remember I am the guy who has more Peavey Rockmaster pre-amps than anyone else in the entire world. I have three.