Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Hagerman's Mini Pentode Tube-Powered Tubifier Buffer Pedal is an essential Tone Enhancer for all Digital and Solid-State Rigs
Boss and Strymon have for a long time included a JFET Input Stage to enhance the output of their digital pedals. The JFET warms up the signal and opens it up a little more - adding a touch more colour and texture. And Jim Hagerman’s Tubifier is a level and some above that. Similar concept but with vastly improved components and results.
The Tubifier relies on a single vintage NOS Raytheon 6088 Mini Pentode Tube, where it’s also seemingly assisted by an adjoining Schottky Diode. The combined effect of that circuit lends more warmth and openness yes - and more articulation - while adding compression too at higher levels. Adding a Tubifier to your Digital Rig is like hitting a ’Sound Better’ switch. It instantly enhances and elevates your signal profile - and brings back some of that analogue texture and feel. Depending on how your rig is configured it can massively thicken and enhance the overall and core tonality.
I personally would have preferred to have had a footswitch here - as it’s easier to A/B test this pedal that way - versus having to plug it into and out of the circuit. But of course it’s designed and intended as an always-on device - and hence no way to switch it off! Even for always-on pedals for me it’s preferable to have footswitches - for trouble-shooting and A/B Testing purposes in particular. But the no moving parts has the upside of better reliability and longevity!
It couldn’t be easier to deploy - with just its single Level control - which yes- does add a little to the noise floor as you crank it. While for my rig it sits perfectly at 10 o’c on that dial.
By happenstance I had just taken delivery of a brand new (forthcoming!) digital multi-fx pedal - which is embargoed until the end of this month. So I very much had the perfect test case to put the Tubifier to work with.
And its impact was instant - it makes the multi-fx pedal sound more alive, more dynamic, vibrant, open and articulate. It is very much an immediately noticeable change - and yes it makes the rig sound better.
There is a fair amount of boost in the Tubifier if you crank that Level control - but that does also up the noise floor somewhat. As I mentioned - it sounds utterly perfect in my rig when set to 10 o'c.
And I dare say it makes the rest of the rig sound better too. That is already analogue warm and gooey as such - but the Tubifier does enhance the soundstage still further - with more articulation and dynamics. A little more spank and brightness too!
This is an obvious one really, and it's a wonder why someone hasn't done a pedal like this sooner - in this specific and exact form factor.
As Jim says :
"TUBIFIER is an always-on vacuum tube buffer providing warmth and tonal enhancement, ideally positioned at the start of the pedal chain. It employs a vintage NOS Raytheon 6088 pentode originally designed for battery-powered hearing aids and portable radios. This pedal will give your solid-state or digital rig that vacuum tube feel, with compression and a fuller, thicker tone. Not only will TUBIFIER make your playing better, but it can drive 50 feet of guitar cable without any loss of treble. Works great on bass too!"
The Tubifier size is a very handy 1590B enclosure and is currently on offer for just $99 from the Hagerman Webstore (normal price $129). Note that the Tubifiers are set to ship on the 10th of this Month - around a week from now.
If you run a digital rig - say a Quad Cortex or Helix, or even Anagram - then this Tubifier is pretty much a must-have. It is an instant satisfaction always-on device. And at this price point - a total no-brainer!
About a year ago Jim introduced the slightly large Hagerman Valve Pedal - with a valve protruding from the enclosure - but with 2 mini controls - a sort of a larger forerunner to this one. For me the Tubifier is more portable and robust - and should better fit in with the touring musician in particular.
You should probably order one right now!
Demos
