The Night Owl Industries Edison Preamp is an all-tube EF86 tube preamp in pedal form, with a built-in voltage tripler. When Pedal of the Day featured it in February 2019, it was the newest offering from the Greenwood Lake, New York-based company1. It is a close relative of the company's earlier Oscar, an all-tube EF86 preamp released in 20182.
What it does
The Edison puts a real EF86 tube, the kind of pentode preamp tube found in vintage amps, into a stompbox. Because of the built-in voltage tripler, it provides real tube tone from any 9V / 250 mA power source, so it runs from a standard pedal supply rather than needing a high-voltage external unit1.
Its control layout is minimal: a lone volume control knob off to the side, just like the Oscar. As the volume is increased, the amount of overdriven sound increases, so the pedal moves from a clean preamp push into overdrive with one knob1. Pedal of the Day's writeup noted that "the crunchy overdriven sound really shines through here"1.
The Edison and the Oscar
The Edison follows the Oscar, which Night Owl Industries built as an all-tube EF86 preamp2. Pedal of the Day's 2018 feature on the Oscar described it as an all-tube preamp and listed its uses: as a boost before a dirt pedal, in the FX loop of an amp as a power amp boost, or as a preamp for tracking, re-amping or distorting studio signals3. The Edison keeps the same approach, "sporting only one lone volume control knob off to the side, just like the Oscar": as the Volume knob is increased, the amount of overdriven sound increases, and the pedal runs on any 9V / 250 mA power source1. Pedal of the Day noted that "the crunchy overdriven sound really shines through here"1.
| Edison | Oscar | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | All-tube EF86 preamp pedal | All-tube EF86 preamp |
| Controls | Single volume knob | Single volume knob |
| Power | 9V, 250 mA | |
| Feature | Built-in voltage tripler | Works in FX loops, aux sends, studio |
The two share the same single-volume design; the Edison's distinguishing feature is the built-in voltage tripler that lets it deliver real tube tone from a 9V source1.
The Edison runs at 250 mA on a 9V supply1. That draw is higher than many standard pedal power supplies deliver per output, so it is worth matching it to a supply that can provide the current.
Videos
Night Owl Industries
Night Owl Industries
Night Owl Industries
Questions
What is the Night Owl Industries Edison Preamp?
The Edison is an all-tube EF86 tube preamp pedal from Night Owl Industries, a company based in Greenwood Lake, New York. It carries a built-in voltage tripler so it can run real tube tone from any 9V, 250 mA power source, and it has a single volume control that brings in more overdriven sound as it is turned up.
How does the Edison differ from the Oscar?
The Edison is a variant of Night Owl Industries' earlier Oscar all-tube preamp. Both are EF86 tube preamps with a single volume control placed off to the side. The Edison adds a built-in voltage tripler and runs on a 9V, 250 mA supply, letting it deliver real tube tone from a standard pedal power source.
What can a tube preamp pedal like this be used for?
Night Owl's all-tube preamps have been described as working in FX loops and aux sends, or as a studio tool. The Oscar, the Edison's close relative, has been suggested as a boost before a dirt pedal, in an amp's FX loop as a power amp boost, or as a preamp for tracking, re-amping or distorting studio signals.
Sources (3)
- Night Owl Industries Edison Preamp, Pedal of the Day, 2019-02-15
- Night Owl Industries Releases Oscar Preamp, Guitar World, 2018-07-03
- Night Owl Industries Oscar All-Tube Preamp, Pedal of the Day, 2018-08-01
