Radial Tonebone Tube Distortion
| Posted in Guitar
When I first saw Radial products, I was initially under the impression that they only made DI boxes, which generally don’t cause too much excitement in the guitar playing fraternity. They’re like power amps, steel boxes that just sort of sit there doing what they do but fulfilling a purely functional role and having very little to do with what is generally considered to be the reason for guitar players to continue existing, the quest for tone.
However, after a very interesting afternoon with those very nice chaps at Shure UK, I am now a big fan of Radial products in general and a couple of guitar effects pedals in particular that are stonkingly good. Upon investigation, Radial make a huge number of guitar related product; DI boxes, Switchers, Re-ampers, Distortion stompers, Pre-amps and Amp and Cab selectors.
It seems they’ve really thought about, and listened to, what the stage and studio musician needs to solve problems when using multiple guitar and amp set ups and effects loops without the noise and grounding problems you normally get. For instance, the Bigshot EFX; a simple, affordable device that will take your effects loop out of your signal path when not in use and is also true bypass so you lose nothing.
Another feature on a lot of their pedals is also a variable ‘drag’ control which matches pickups to input, removing the loading that can rob a guitar of its tone.
After having used the Tonebone Trimode and the Hot British tube distortion, (all Tonebone contain a 12AX7 tube), I can tell you I’m impressed. The versatility is the wow factor, a huge range distortion tone available that suits both the Les Paul and Strat. Coupled with an industrial strength build quality and a serious artist roster of users, I can see Radial becoming ‘the’ pedal of choice for pro and semi-pro guitar players worldwide.
Tags: Effects Pedal, Radial, Tonebone, Tube Distortion