Subminiature tubes meet solid-state distortion for a warm, powerful sound.
The Maxon's TBO-9True Tube Booster/Overdrive is a guitar effects pedal that features a US Military spec
subminiature tube at its core. Subminiature tubes are the final frontier of vacuum tubes, as the supply of quality vintage
tubes is rapidly dwindling. Used extensively during World War II, subminiatures were largely abandoned by 1955 in favor of
transistor technology, leaving a healthy stock of quality NOS tubes behind.
To create its lush overdrive tone, the
TBO-9 guitar pedal blends this subminiature tube stage with a solid-state distortion circuit. Unlike other tube overdrives,
the TBO-9 overdrive pedal employs a unique "pre-tube" circuit configuration, where the tube comes before the solid-state distortion
circuit in the signal chain. By cascading the tube stage into the distortion stage, a more realistic tube-amp tone is achieved.
The result is a warm yet powerful guitar tone that is extremely interactive with the player's performance and responds exactly
like a hard-working tube amp.
The Maxon TBO-9 pedal's circuit features a clean Blend function built into the Drive
control. At zero Drive, the TBO-9 passes clean signal only along to the Tone and Amplifier stages of the pedal. However,
this clean signal is fed from the tube section of the pedal, whose gain can be adjusted via the Boost control. As the Drive
control is increased, the solid-state distortion circuit is blended with the tube-driven clean signal. In this manner a wide
variety of clean boost, semi-clean, overdriven and fully distorted tones can be achieved simply by manipulating the pedal's
Drive and Boost controls.
Both the tube and solid-state sections of the circuit are fed with 30 volts DC thanks to
the TBO-9 pedal's internal voltage regulators. Running the circuit at higher voltage provides a more consistent tone with
increased headroom and dynamic response.
The performance of the tube is kept stable and reliable thanks to Maxon's
unique heater inrush current control, which feeds the tube with a lower startup voltage to extend tube life. The complex multi-voltage
operation of the Maxon TBO-9 prompted Maxon to develop a unique power supply for this delay pedal: the AC2009. The AC2009
provides very consistent high current that is regulated and filtered to provide stable, noise-free power to the TBO-9's circuit.
The AC2009 is auto-sensing, so it can be used anywhere in the world by simply changing out the detachable plug cord on the
output side of the power supply.
Like all Maxon Nine Series models, the TBO-9 features mechanical true bypass switching
for direct, unaltered signal in bypass model.
If you crave the warmth and natural dynamic response of tubes, the Maxon
TBO-9 delivers a variety of true tube tones at the touch of your foot.
Maxon TBO-9 True Tube Booster/Overdrive Guitar Effects Pedal Features:
- Input Impedance: 500 kOhms
- Output Impedance: 10 kOhms or less
- Maximum Gain: 52 dB (1.6 kHz)
- Equivalent Noise: -110 dB or less (IHF-A)
- Controls: Boost, Drive, Tone, Level
- Switch: Bypass/Effect (mechanical TBS)
- In/Out: Input, Output, Inverse Output
- Indicator: Bypass/Effect LED
- Internal Circuit Voltage: 30 VDC (DC-DC Converter)
- Current Consumption: 270 mA / 9 VDC
- Dimensions: 2.9" W x 2.13" H x 4.9" D
- Weight: 1.23 lb. (excluding AC adaptor)
- Power Supply: Maxon AC2009 (no battery operation)
Add the TBO-9's warm tone to your arsenal—call or click today.
