The Kourbis Plexivibe is a preamp and overdrive pedal from the Greek maker Kourbis, built as an all-tube, hand-built overdrive and distortion preamp in pedal format. It carries two 12AX7 tubes inside the case, so the gain stages are real tubes rather than a solid-state imitation of them1. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio described it as "the real McCoy, producing sounds and tones reminiscent of the 'golden era' of that British sound amplification", placing it among the Marshall-inspired designs that he notes are still among the all-time favorites of rock guitarists1.
It sits in the same family of gain-stompboxes as the pedals covered on the Overdrive Pedals, Distortion Pedals and Preamp Pedals pages, but with actual tubes doing the work.
The controls
The Plexivibe is laid out like an amp front panel, with six amp-style knobs. The controls documented by Delicious Audio are1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| TREBLE | Controls the high frequencies, making your tone brighter as you increase it |
| MIDDLE | Adjusts the mid frequencies from fatter to scooped |
| VOLUME | In conjunction with the gain control, a variety of sounds can be achieved |
| MASTER | Controls the output volume level |
The VOLUME and MASTER controls working together give the usual two-stage gain staging of an amp-style preamp: pushing one while pulling back the other changes how hard the tubes are driven relative to the level leaving the pedal1.
The three modes and the side switch
Two switches shape the pedal's voicing beyond the knobs:
- A toggle switch on the top of the six amp-style knobs selects one of three modes, which deliver a variation in gain, compression and overall flavor1.
- On the side of the case, a 2-way switch provides a mid-boost voicing or extra compression1.
The mid-boost option is worth noting for players who use single-coils or who want a hotter middle, in the way a mid-boosted overdrive differs from a scooped one; the extra compression setting tightens the response instead1.
Videos
Kourbisamps
Leon Todd
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Questions
Does the Kourbis Plexivibe use real tubes?
Yes. The Plexivibe is an all-tube, hand-built overdrive and distortion preamp in pedal format, with two 12AX7 tubes inside the case. That makes it a tube-driven design rather than a solid-state pedal imitating a tube amp, and it is aimed at players looking for tones reminiscent of the golden era of British amplification.
Where is the Kourbis Plexivibe made?
The Plexivibe hails from Greece and is hand built, according to Delicious Audio's product page. Kourbis is the maker, and the pedal is described as an all-tube overdrive and distortion preamp in pedal format.
What does the side switch on the Plexivibe do?
On the side of the case there is a 2-way switch that provides a mid-boost voicing or extra compression. Separately, a toggle switch on the top of the six amp-style knobs selects one of three modes that deliver a variation in gain, compression and overall flavor.
Can the Plexivibe be used as a preamp?
Yes. Kourbis describes it as a preamp and overdrive pedal: an all-tube, hand-built overdrive and distortion preamp in pedal format. With six amp-style knobs covering treble, middle, volume, master and gain-style controls, it is designed to shape tone the way an amp preamp section would.
Sources (1)
- Kourbis Plexivibe Preamp/Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2022-07-12