SS-20
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becoming a legend known worldwide for it's AMAZING heavy metal style
tube distortion. Brother to the SS-11 preamp, but the SS-20 was
designed based on tigher, crunchier, more aggressive styles of guitar
playing. Incredible Clean, Overdrive, Distortion, and Lead tones in a
compact tube valve driven pedal. We are raising the bar and technology
in modern day pedal design and offer affordable high end guitar tone
pedals. This one is going to be finding its way onto lots of
pedalboards! Our principle and motto for this device is it is the valve
that sounds and sings, however, the transistors do their best to help
it sound in all its beauty and originality. Next best option to buying
an expensive amp head!
The Features of SS-20:
- High-grade high-voltage feed of triodes.
- Complete elimination of operational amplifiers traditionally used in hybrid preamps for sound amplification and processing.
- Application of special semi-conductor amplifiers modeling
triode-based harmonics and providing signal amplitude necessary for
high-grade valve operation.
In order to achieve the full opening of input valve cascades working in
the "hottest" conditions the giant amplitude of one hundred and more
volts is necessary. The dynamic properties characteristic to valve –
based preamps are implemented in SS-20 due to the elimination of signal
limiting OA (feed level of 20-25V) in the part of preliminary
amplification and using special cascades capable of reaching 250V
amplitude with nonlinearity similar to 12AX7 triode. Thus, we managed
to achieve full dynamic characteristics of guitar signal without usual
hybrid "squeeze" as well as assign special sound character to SS-20.
Special attention was also paid to clean channel – in this section we
also followed the way of preserving the dynamics of guitar signal with
simultaneous formation of soft "nonlinearity" inherent in the cascades
on vacuum triodes. It also allowed us to escape both the "squeeze" and
"refinement" peculiar to many clean-channels of hybrid devices.
The Architecture of SS-20:
–Ttwo high-grade channels CLEAN and DRIVE with the possibility of
Drive-channel operation in two basic modes: moderate sensitivity
(CRUNCH) and high sensitivity (LEAD).
– Effects Loop Send and Return.
– Operation via both direct unaltered signal for guitar amplifiers
heads, combos, and speakers (OUTPUT jack) as well as speaker cabinet
compensated output for mixing consoles, computers, or other recording
devices.
The basis of the inner preamp structure is the principle of
maximum use of amplification and nonlinear transformation of the valve
part of the device. Thus, the semi-conductor part of the hybrid
practically does not participate in the sound limitation (except for
the use of preamp in LEAD mode at Gain LEAD level of higher than 7) and
the entire spectrum is formed by the valve preamp part. In the preamp
stage the quantity of semi-conductor cascades is not used in the sound
processing, and in the absence of jacks in SEND and RETURN the signal
is forwarded to OUTPUT through compensating circuits directly from the
output triode cascade. Therefore it is advised to use high quality
minimum length cables for connecting the preamp output with guitar
amplifier input.
The SS-20 uses the original cabinet emulator, however, ONLY in direct
out mode! It models the amplitude-frequency characteristics of guitar
amplification systems for the most accurate reproduction and ease of
recording direct. Secondly, it simulates own nonlinearity of dynamic
head peculiar to instrumental loudspeakers, that in its turn colors the
output signal with short-range harmonics making it live and closer to
real. Our unique speaker emulator circuitry supplements the signal with
2nd and 3rd harmonic with smooth increase in their level at signal
level growth (it actually is similar to instrumental head in the closed
cabinet), not found on other manufacturers pedals.
Samples:
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Download samples!
Technical Information:
- Power: External Adaptor AC 120V-240V 12V DC 1.25A
- Tubes: 1 x 12AX7 (6Н2П-ЕВ)
- 12.6V (6.3V)
- Anode Voltage: DC 290V
- Jacks:
Amplifier Output - for Combo Connection
Mixer Output - for Mixer/Recorder Connection
Effects Loop Send and Return
Input In
- Bypass:
Left F Switch - DRIVE effect on/off
Right F Switch - DISTORTION effect on/off