Crazy Tube Circuits releases limited edition Unobtanium Raw overdrive
June 11, 2024 · 3 sources
Crazy Tube Circuits released the Unobtanium Raw on June 11, 2024, a limited edition of its Unobtanium preamp and overdrive pedal1. The pedal keeps the original's two-section layout, with a Klon-style drive on one side and two Dumble-inspired amp voicings on the other, and adds OC45 germanium transistors to the Klon-style side1.
The Unobtanium Raw follows the original Unobtanium, which launched in December 20221. Each side has its own footswitch1. The left side carries the Dumble-inspired voicings, Overdrive Special (ODS) and Steel String Singer (SSS), selected with a two-way toggle switch, with Volume, Gain, Tone and Emphasis controls1. The Emphasis control adds presence and bottom-end response before the guitar signal is overdriven, according to MusicRadar1. The amp sounds are described as "glassier and punchier" than the original1.
On the Klon-style side, the OC45 transistors are selected with a toggle switch, and the Stock setting uses the original germanium diode clipping1. Controls are Volume, Gain and Tone1. The pedal switches between buffered bypass, as on the original Klon Centaur units, and true bypass1. It also has a passive effects loop placed between the overdrive and amp sides, and an external footswitch can toggle the amp voicings on the Dumble side1. Internal trimmers adjust output gain for ODS mode, adding up to 6dB to simulate driving power tubes harder, and low-end response for SSS mode1.
Guitar Pedal X reports the Klon channel's toggle uses a NOS Mullard/Valvo OC45 germanium transistor, and that the Dumble channel is voiced as if the Rock/Jazz switch were set slightly beefier2. Gearnews reports the standard clipping diodes were replaced with NOS Mullard/Valvo OC45 germanium transistors from the 1960s, and that the pedal runs on 18V DC3.
"We have tried many germanium transistor types and found that the OC45 transistors added a supernatural feel"
The run is limited to available stock of the NOS transistors, and the total number is undisclosed12. Crazy Tube Circuits will keep the original Unobtanium in the lineup1. Sources give different US prices: Guitar Pedal X lists the Raw Edition at $349 against $269 for the original2, while Gearnews lists the Raw at $281 and the original at $2543.
Sources (3)
- “We have tried many germanium transistor types and found that the OC45 transistors added a supernatural feel”: Crazy Tube Circuits cooks up a tasty Dumble/Klon stew with the Unobtanium Raw | MusicRadar, musicradar.com
- Guitar Pedal X - GPX Blog - Crazy Tube Circuits rolls out an even more 'Unobtanium' RAW Colourway Edition of its Dual Channel Klon and Dumble pedal - now with special rare Germanium OC45 Transistor Mod, guitarpedalx.com
- Crazy Tube Circuits Limited Edition Unobtanium RAW Overdrive, gearnews.com