I've been deep into the "always on preamp" style pedal hunt. Benson, Rangemaster, Chickenhead, Various Optical Comps etc... Finally got around to trying the hudson.
Both are built with NOS oc71's from tube depot. Triad transformers etc. I had the cool neve knobs everyone loves on the big one, but my label design was too close and rather than do that over I downgraded it to match it's little brother. Shame.
As far as the sounds go..... I think I like the little guy better. it's always running at 24 volts but has three levels of gain on the tap and no internal trimmer. I like this because of the LESS than usual setting. instead of having to turn the gain all the way down to get good preamp sounds you can use it throughout it's range without it getting to noticeably hairy.
At high gain, when used as a fuzz both of them are great as well. I had figured I'd take to the big one since i would love to be able to do BOTH things, but the little guy does better for an always on. You have to have the trim down SO low on the double sided version that the higher gain sound is neutered. I'd love more control over both. As absolutely bonkers as it sounds I think I'd be best suited with 2 of the simulcasts in one enclosure. Just an issue of getting it to fit I'd say...
I'll probably flip the big one and keep the single one for now.
Both are built with NOS oc71's from tube depot. Triad transformers etc. I had the cool neve knobs everyone loves on the big one, but my label design was too close and rather than do that over I downgraded it to match it's little brother. Shame.
As far as the sounds go..... I think I like the little guy better. it's always running at 24 volts but has three levels of gain on the tap and no internal trimmer. I like this because of the LESS than usual setting. instead of having to turn the gain all the way down to get good preamp sounds you can use it throughout it's range without it getting to noticeably hairy.
At high gain, when used as a fuzz both of them are great as well. I had figured I'd take to the big one since i would love to be able to do BOTH things, but the little guy does better for an always on. You have to have the trim down SO low on the double sided version that the higher gain sound is neutered. I'd love more control over both. As absolutely bonkers as it sounds I think I'd be best suited with 2 of the simulcasts in one enclosure. Just an issue of getting it to fit I'd say...
I'll probably flip the big one and keep the single one for now.