The Crazy Tube Circuits Planet B is a bass overdrive pedal from the Athens-based pedal company, released at the end of December 20161. It is an all-analog design built around the character of '70s high-wattage guitar valve amps that were commonly used for bass in rock, doom, sludge and stoner bands1. The pedal came about when a bassist asked Crazy Tube Circuits designer Christos Ntaifotis for a pedal that could deliver the essence of his beloved 1970s Orange OR120 through a smaller combo or class-D amp2.
What it does
MusicRadar reported that the pedal offers gain ranges from bold cleans to heavy overdrive1. The blend control mixes in clean signal to preserve low frequencies, which matters for bass players who want drive without losing the bottom of their sound1. The face of the pedal carries a '70s-esque graphic of a space shuttle on a sun-colored enclosure2.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of overdrive, from bold cleans to heavy overdrive1 |
| Tone | Shapes the treble character of the drive2 |
| Volume | Sets the output level2 |
| Blend | Mixes in clean signal to preserve low frequencies1 |
| Supersonic toggle | Mid boost for more aggression and articulation2 |
The Supersonic toggle sits above the tip of the rocket graphic. Premier Guitar's reviewer called it "a nice EQ quick-fix" and described it as "the secret-mids-weapon toggle labeled 'supersonic'"2.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's reviewer tested the Planet B with a Fender Precision into a Gallien-Krueger 800RB head and Orange OBC212 cab, recording through a Focusrite Scarlett 2i42. On higher gain and tone settings, the reviewer found the tone stayed "roundish and relatively sophisticated even with these higher-dial settings," and that the pedal "provided a satisfying drenching of distorted bliss while still maintaining an impressive amount of smooth l[ow end]"2.
The verdict summed the pedal up this way:
"If you're a bassist on the prowl for a new/old flavor of OD grit, this space shuttle is a smooth and warm place to dock."
Planet B in the Crazy Tube Circuits range
The Planet B sits among a wider family of drives from the maker, including the Venus valve overdrive, the Heatseeker Marshall-voiced drive, the Rapture overdrive and the Space Charged. For more on the effect type, see Overdrive Pedals and Bass Pedals.
Videos
Patrick Hunter
Chris Kollias
MrExcane
Questions
What does the Supersonic switch do on the Planet B?
The Supersonic switch is a mid-boost toggle positioned above the tip of the rocket graphic on the pedal's face. Premier Guitar's reviewer called it a nice EQ quick-fix, describing it as a secret-mids-weapon toggle that adds more aggression and articulation when engaged.
Does the Planet B have a clean blend?
Yes. The Planet B has a blend knob among its four controls, alongside tone, volume and gain. MusicRadar reported that the blend control mixes in clean signal to preserve low frequencies, which is a common requirement for bass players running distorted tones.
Who designed the Crazy Tube Circuits Planet B?
The Planet B was designed by Christos Ntaifotis of Crazy Tube Circuits. According to Premier Guitar's review, the pedal came about after a bassist asked for a pedal that could deliver the essence of his 1970s Orange OR120 through a smaller combo or class-D amp, and Ntaifotis got to work creating the all-analog overdrive.
Does the Planet B work on guitar?
The Planet B is marketed as a bass overdrive, but it is an overdrive circuit at heart. MusicRadar notes it is based on '70s high-wattage guitar valve amps commonly used for bass in rock, doom, sludge and stoner bands, so guitarists chasing that style of amp grit may find it useful, though published reviews of it focus on bass use.
Sources (2)
- Crazy Tube Circuits blasts off to Planet B with new bass overdrive pedal, MusicRadar, 2016-11-30
- Quick Hit: Crazy Tube Circuits Planet B Review, Premier Guitar, 2017-03-26
