Electric Guitars   Bass Guitars   Acoustic Guitars   Guitar Amps   Effects Pedals   Keyboards   Microphones   PA Systems   Mixing Desks   Studio   Software   Accessories   Books & DVDs   Home Contact Us FAQ Forums

Vox Cooltron Big Ben Overdrive

 

Vox Cooltron Big Ben Overdrive reviewed by The Man in the Jar.

Valves normally require high voltage to perform well. Vox have developed a way to run a valve at low enough voltage to allow its use in a range of stomp-boxes, giving 16 hours use from four AA batteries. 

Features of the Vox Cooltron Big Ben Overdrive

Construction - A basic strong metal box construction has been given instant cool by the mirrored finish. At the top end there is a grille through which can be seen the valve. This is identified in the manual as a 12AU7. The level of cool is instantly doubled when you turn the unit on as the valve glows a deep blue colour from behind the bars. Very Trekky. 

Ins and Outs - Simplicity itself with one in and one out.

Power - Four AA batteries which are supplied, or a 9V PSU which isn't.

Controls - Very basic controls of Volume, Tone and Gain are all that are needed. The magic of this box lies in the valve. The chunky old-fashioned footswitch looks like it could survive in the tunnel with Roy Keane. A hidden advantage is a hardwired by-pass which means when you switch this unit off your clean signal takes the shortest route from In to Out. 

 

Sound of the Vox Cooltron Big Ben Overdrive

I ran this unit into the clean channel of a Laney practise amp and was amazed at warm valve overdrive it delivered through the Laney's 8" driver. Working with the Volume and Gain controls on the Big Ben I was able to get delicious rock sounds at every level of overdrive. The full span of the Gain control delivered useable tone and even full-on the sound showed no sign of falling to pieces.     

 

Overall Impressions of the Vox Cooltron Big Ben Overdrive

Excellent. This pedal adds to the overall quality of your sound by delivering overdrive using the component that led to the discovery of overdrive. This unit would be great for beefing up your tranny amp's sound or as an alternate pre-amp for your existing valve set-up.
On the face of it the Big Ben isn't the most exciting pedal in the shop. But that's because it isn't really an effects pedal -  it's a sound pedal. It doesn't simply supply an interesting noise to make a particular solo sound a bit different - in real terms it provides an extra switchable channel for your amplifier.

It's fairly well accepted amongst audiophiles that valves improve the quality, depth and warmth of amplified sound. Vox has managed to squeeze that quality into a convenient, sexy package. This might become the only pedal you polish after every gig.  

Buy the Vox Cooltron Big Ben Overdrive

What our customers say

Resources

Track TNT Parcel   Reviews of Electric Guitars   Other Equipment Reviews   Learning Resources 
Other Shopping   Bands to See   Studios to Use  

Resource and Learning 

Copyright Musik Produktiv MMV - Home of Electric Guitars Online