Crazy Tube Circuits

Notes: HI POWER is Crazy Tube Circuits' next endeavour in pedal + amp-in-a-box overdrives recreating legendary sounds, following the success of Crossfire and Unobtanium.

It was inspired by the sonic combination of two British tone machines. The almighty Colorsound Power Boost meets the blistering high-headroom Hiwatt amp.

While the combination of these two units directly hints at the gear setup of David Gilmour and especially the gear used on Pink Floyd's album: Wish You Were Here (think the guitar solo sounds of "Shine on you Crazy Diamond", "Have A Cigar") the sonic options are endless.

The orange enclosure silicon transistor circuit (Colorsound Power Boost) can deliver from a transparent clean boost to an all-out fuzz driving a tube amp to sonic bliss. Crazy Tube Circuits set out to clone the original unit featuring the true-to-the-original spec BC184 transistors running on 18V DC (via an internal voltage booster circuit).

The ultra-flexible 2-band Baxandall EQ circuit can add bite and low-end rumble to any setup. Crazy Tube Circuits used a reverse log gain pot (labelled as volume), compared to the linear taper pot found in the original units and acted as an on/off switch, to be able to set the amount of boost/overdrive more precisely. While the earlier units didn't feature a master volume control (only as an aftermarket mod - Pete Cornish made an external unit master volume for David Gilmour's Power Boost) Crazy Tube Circuits chose to include one that is setup in a way so that when it is all the way clockwise it is bypassed. Later versions of the Power Boost had 9V power supply and were renamed as the "Overdriver" due to the lower headroom and their ability to drive the signal earlier. They were offered in a grey enclosure and can be seen in the gear setups of Jeff Beck, Marc Bolan, etc. Crazy Tube Circuits chose to incorporate this version as well with a flip of a toggle switch (PWR-ODR toggle switch).

On the left side of the HI POWER you will find an all-analogue circuit set out to emulate the sound and feel of a Hiwatt amp. Following the path of the famed British tube amplifier, this circuit offers authentic amp tone and feel resembling guitar tones from guitar greats like David Gilmour, Pete Townsend, Jimmy Page, Noel Gallagher to name a few. From the big bold high-headroom clean sounds to the face-melting crunchy tones.

True to the last detail, Crazy Tube Circuits have included the full EQ section along with a presence control located at the negative feedback of the power amp simulation circuit. A headroom toggle switch selects between the high headroom 100w power section provided by a quartet of EL34s (think Hiwat DR103), or the lower headroom and compression provided by a 50W power section with a pair of EL34s when hit hard (think DR504). Similar in operation to the original amps the master volume was designed to produce more gain at higher settings.

Crazy Tube Circuits taken the design a step further by adding a switch to select between input channels of the amplifier. You can select between the full response of the normal channel of the amplifier, the increased presence and tight low end of the bright channel input or the "Gilmour-ish" enhanced frequency response and added gain of those inputs linked together. This follows the modifications that Pete Cornish did to all David Gilmour's Hiwatt amps.

Like their other dual overdrive/amp-in-a-box designs, Crazy Tube Circuits also included a passive effects loop to give you the option to connect your beloved pedals between your booster/overdrive and amp in a box or use the two sections as separate and independent effects when using an external bypass switcher/looper. Gilmour enthusiasts will love to insert their Big Muff, Tube Driver and Phase 90 in there. Note that all pedals inserted in the passive effects loop are still in the signal chain when any or both sections of HI POWER are in bypass.

HI POWER features a power-up bypass/engage pre-set function for the footswitches. That way you can select which state your pedal will go to when you plug the power supply. This function comes in especially handy to people that use remote pedal switchers / loopers as they only set the state of the pedal once and then operate from the controller.

All-analog dual booster/overdrive - amp in a box.
Recreates the tones of the legendary setup used by David Gilmour in the recordings of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here album.
Right side: Faithful reproduction of the Colorsound Power Boost/Overdriver circuits with true-to-the-original-spec BC184 transistors.
Controls: gain, bass, treble, master, voicing toggle.
Wide gain range control: from transparent boost to gnarly and fuzzy overdrive.
Two-band (treble & bass) Baxandall EQ.
Master knob sets overall output. Huge amount of dB boost available.
Toggle switch to select between the 18V Power Boost style circuit or the 9V Overdriver style circuit.
Left side: Hiwatt AMP in a box overdrive.
All analog simulation of the preamp and power amp sound and response.
Controls: gain, bass, middle, treble, master, input channel toggle switch, headroom toggle switch.
Gain control: from clean to big bold British crunch/overdrive.
3-band Hiwatt style EQ (bass, middle, treble).
Presence control follows the original design/is located at the negative feedback of the power amp simulation circuit to control the amount of upper mid and high frequencies.
Master knob sets overall output volume. Designed to respond like the original control producing more gain at higher settings.
Input channel toggle switch selects between normal, bright, or linked input channels of the AMP for different voicing and gain levels.
Headroom toggle switch selects between the high headroom and dynamic response of a 100W amp or the lower headroom and compression of a 50W power amp.
Independent operation of the BOOST/OVERDRIVE and AMP sections
Click-less true bypass design via high-quality relays for each section.
2 Footswitches / 2 Status LEDs - one for each effect section.
Power-up bypass/engage preset function for the footswitches.
Top-mounted jacks
Passive series effects loop to connect pedals between the two sections or use them separately as independent effects.
Power Supply: Use only 9V DC, 2.1 mm x 5.5 mm, center negative (not included).
Runs internally at 18V DC (via voltage doubler circuit) for higher headroom and tube-like performance.
Current consumption: 84mA.
British Racing Green die-cast enclosure with color-coded lettering for the control section (orange for BOOST/OVERDRIVE section, white for AMP section).
Dimensions: (W x L x H): 119 x 97 x 53 mm.
Weight: 444 g.
Made in Greece.

Notes: Memphis Vibrato was designed as the "small brother" of Crazy Tube Circuits' Killer V- this was born out of high demand for a true pitch shifting amp-like vibrato pedal, without the drive section.

It features all analogue LFO and true-to-the-original-amp 2-stage pitch shifting circuit powered from an internal voltage multiplier for high headroom and improved dynamic response. A clean period correct preamp with up to 20db boost takes you back to the late 50s / early 60s.

With the intensity and speed knobs you can add a subtle shimmer , or a pronounced 3D acoustic image and musical feel with ear- pleasing vibrato effect for instant classic Lonnie Mack / Robert Ward sounds!

ALL WET - DRY / WET toggle switch selects between 100% modulated signal or places the dry unmodulated signal in parallel with the modulated signal. The latter setup was found in some of the original amps through "stereo" inputs and yields whirling phaser / vibe sounds.

Notes: The perfect companion now comes in a smaller package - introducing Sidekick JR by Crazy Tube Circuits!

Drawing inspiration from the original Sidekick pedal released back in 2019, the aim was to create a compact pedal that combines the most widely used time-based effects, suitable for any gear setup seeking 80s tones and beyond.

From the jangly, ambient, and shimmering sounds of New Wave, Shoegaze, and Synth Pop to the wet tones of Hair / Glam Metal. Crazy Tube Circuits' Sidekick JR offers even more sounds / algorithm selections compared to the original unit.

The modulation effects / algorithms take inspiration from classic 80s stompboxes. The "Ensemble" algorithm replicates warm and mild modulated chorus sounds, while the "dimension" algorithm enhances the 3D image of your sound without the typical chorus warble. The "flanger" algorithm draws from a classic flanger pedal set up as a slow chorus with mild feedback added for a more metallic sound.

The Echo / delay section provides the sweet and vibrant sound of a tape echo with a freshly installed tape running through a colourful preamp, or the pristine repeats of an 80s digital delay rack unit.

The Reverb section in Sidekick JR is inspired by definitive examples of 80s reverb rack units and offers two algorithm banks. Bank A includes all-time classic reverb sounds like "plate," "spring," and "hall," while Bank B features signature 80s reverb sounds like "gated," "exciter" (Crazy Tube Circuits' trademark big-hall reverb algorithm with almost infinite reflections and decay), and octave-up "shimmer."

To provide full flexibility in the smallest enclosure possible, Crazy Tube Circuits has devised a smart switching setup. The delay and reverb effect sections of Sidekick JR operate independently from each other, and the modulation is assignable to any of these sections as standard. With the addition of the XT footswitch (available separately), the modulation section becomes entirely independent and can be switched on/off (true bypass) on its own.
Crazy Tube Circuits' Sidekick JR also features a power-up bypass/engage pre-set function for the onboard footswitches. This feature allows users to select the state the pedal will go to when the power supply is plugged in. It's particularly useful for individuals who use remote pedal switchers /loopers, as they can set the power-up state of the pedal once and then operate it from the controller.

Notes: Inspired by the first digital delay rack units introduced at the beginning of the "digital audio revolution" in the mid-late 70's. These units had lower bit resolution and bandwidth compared to today's digital delay standards.

TI:ME is not your typical sterile and ultra clean digital delay. With separate analogue and digital paths to get best of both worlds, this retro inspired echo effect will warm up your tone. An all analogue signal path featuring a high quality opamp is used for the best reproduction of your dry signal. Two digital recording devices, along with carefully tuned filtering, placed in parallel with the dry path give you the most ambient delay unit you have ever heard. Think of a Model 113 rack unit; the repeats are really musical, reminiscent of worn tape echoes.

Each TI:ME unit is hand lacquered in copper colour and one of a kind!

Notes: Seeking to recreate the sounds of the Klon Centaur overdrive pedal and Dumble guitar amps, the Crazy Tube Unobtanium combines the holy grails of germanium diodes and all-analogue amp-in-a-box tone. Incredible value.

Supplier's Notes:
Introducing the Unobtanium, a rare sonic element born out of legendary tones.

A mythical overdrive meets the tone and feel of two iconic amplifiers. Crazy Tube Circuits have accurately recreated the circuit of the high headroom overdrive with the magic blend of clean and overdriven tones and added extra features for versatility. The amp-in-a-box section uses an all-analogue circuit to capture the essence of two legendary D-style tube amplifiers. From tube-like compressed fat clean to sweet singing overdrive with blooming harmonic overtones. Combine both sides for near infinite smooth sustain and enter sonic bliss while a passive series effects loop gives you the option to connect your beloved pedals between the overdrive and amp section, building your ideal rig

Right side: K-style pedal overdrive circuit including the fabled germanium diodes
Controls: gain, treble (tone), volume, bypass mode and clipping / compression
Wide gain range control: from transparent boost to high headroom overdrive
Treble control is an active circuit to boost or cut treble
Volume knob sets overall output. Huge amount of dB boost available
Toggle switch to select between the original buffer bypass to add clarity and run long cables or
true bypass
Toggle switch to select between stock clipping / compression or enhanced gain and
headroom/output

Left side: D-style Amp in a box overdrive
Controls: gain, emphasis, tone, volume, amplifier voicing toggle
Gain control: from clean boost to sweet singing overdrive
Emphasis control is a pre-drive EQ to control presence and bottom end response
Tone knob controls the amount of post overdrive high end frequencies
Volume knob sets overall output. Match bypassed volume or use as a clean boost or preamp
Toggle switch selects between 2 distinct D-style overdrive circuits
SSS: clean and transparent overdrive with natural organic compression
ODS: higher gain overdrive with enhanced mid frequencies and harmonic overtones
External footswitch input to select amplifier voicing (bypasses on board toggle switch)
Internal trimmers adjust EQ and volume boost of D-style overdrive voicings

Features:

Dual overdrive with independent operation
Two legendary sonic elements combined in one device
Passive series effects loop to connect other pedals between the two sections or use them separately
Runs internally at 18V DC for higher headroom and tube-like performance
Exceptional pick attack response - almost infinite smooth sustain when both sides are combined
Top mounted jacks
Click-less True Bypass design via high quality relay
Power Supply: Use only 9V DC center negative power supply (not included)
Current consumption 83mA
Pebble grey die-cast enclosure with black ink in old school type print
Made in Greece

Notes: External footswitch. Accessory for Sidekick JR.

Use the XT footswitch to control the operation of the modulation section of the Sidekick JR independently. Engage or true bypass the modulation effect.

XT footswitch bypasses the onboard modulation operation assign toggle switch of the Sidekick JR.

Connect to the XT jack input of the pedal.

Passive operation - no power needed for the XT footswitch to operate properly - use standard TS instrument jacks / cable only.

XT footswitch function is not affected by the power-up bypass/engage preset function of the onboard footswitches of Sidekick JR.

Dimensions (W x L x H) : 54 x 51 x 49 mm
Weight 0.91 kg
Made in Greece