The Duo Tonic is a dual-channel boost/overdrive/distortion pedal from Aspen Pittman Designs, and it was the company's first pedal. It is built around two sub-miniature 6502 pentode tubes, one per channel, in an analog tube-and-solid-state circuit. Premier Guitar reviewed it in August 2021 at a street price of $3491.
The tube and op amp circuits
The two channels are different animals. The tube side carries the 6502 pentode and has what Premier Guitar calls an almost amp-like feature set: a 3-band EQ along with master volume, tone, and gain controls1. The second side is based around a JRC4558D op amp, the chip associated with TS-style overdrive circuits1.
The two sides are meant to work together. Premier Guitar's reviewer found that when the solid-state circuit pushes the tubes, the overdrive and distortion sounds become very complex in both character and harmonic content1.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's reviewer came away positive on the tube side's character:
"its maximum gain tone sounds a bit like a Deluxe Reverb at the edge of breakup, with a focus on the highs and high-mids"
The overall verdict was summed up as "Clear Dumble-to-Klon overdrive and distortion tones enhanced by tube section"1. The review's broader point was that making a pedal sound good is one thing, but making one that "genuinely and creatively leverages the potential of tubes is quite another," and the reviewer judged that the Duo Tonic "audibly delivers on the potential of tube power in a pedal"1.
For players comparing drive pedals, the Duo Tonic sits in a different corner from a standard overdrive pedal or distortion pedal: the tube side behaves more like a small amp preamp with EQ, while the op amp side covers familiar TS-style ground1.
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Questions
Is the Aspen Pittman Designs Duo Tonic a tube pedal?
Yes. Premier Guitar's review describes it as a tube-driven boost/overdrive/distortion pedal built around two sub-miniature 6502 pentode tubes. It is an analog design combining tube and solid-state circuitry, and the reviewer found that when the solid-state circuit pushes the tubes, the overdrive and distortion sounds become very complex.
What tubes does the Duo Tonic use?
The Duo Tonic uses two sub-miniature 6502 pentode tubes, one for each of its two channels. Premier Guitar notes these tubes are similar in size to a small component, which is what makes fitting real tubes into a pedal practical.
Is the Duo Tonic the first pedal from Aspen Pittman Designs?
Yes. According to Premier Guitar's 2021 review, the Duo Tonic is the first pedal from Aspen Pittman Designs, a company based in San Fernando, California.
Does the Duo Tonic have an EQ?
The tube side does. Premier Guitar describes the tube side as having an almost amp-like feature set, with a 3-band EQ along with master volume, tone, and gain controls. The op amp side is a separate channel with its own character.
Sources (1)
- Aspen Pittman Designs Duo Tonic Review, Premier Guitar, 2016-09-09