The Sushi Box FX Sunnday Drive X is a tube preamp pedal designed to sit at the front of a rig and stay on all the time, with a footswitch that brings in a tube boost when a part needs to lift. Sushi Box FX describes it as unique in being an "always-on" preamp, with the footswitch activating a tube boost1. The circuit is based on the preamp of a legendary high-powered guitar amp of the 1970s, according to the maker1.
The Sunnday Drive X is listed as Archived on Sushi Box FX's site, so it is no longer in the current lineup2.
Controls
The pedal carries a full set of preamp-style controls plus the boost and preamp switching1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the preamp's drive level |
| Bass | Low EQ |
| Mids | Midrange EQ |
| Treble | High EQ |
| Bright | Brightness control |
| Volume | Overall output level |
| Boost | Boost level control |
| Pre On/Off | Bypasses the preamp section |
The footswitch is labeled Bypass1.
The boost and the preamp
The footswitch activates the tube boost on top of the always-on preamp. The boost can also be used independently of the preamp, as there is a toggle to bypass the preamp, so the pedal can serve as a straight tube boost when the preamp section is switched out1. That makes it usable either as the foundation of a rig or as a single boost pedal, depending on the toggle position.
Power
The Sunnday Drive X runs on 9 to 12V DC with center-negative polarity, like most guitar pedals1. Its current draw is the figure to plan around: Sushi Box FX lists 900mA at 9V DC during warmup and 480mA at 9V DC after warmup1. The warmup figure reflects the tube's heater, which needs extra current before the circuit settles, so a supply needs headroom for the higher startup number and a standard low-current daisy-chain output will not run it.
Related Sushi Box FX preamps
Sushi Box FX builds a range of tube preamp pedals. The Dr. Wattson X is listed alongside the Sunnday Drive X on the maker's site2, and other preamps in the range include the Venus Z, London Underground X, Mayday and Space Heater. For the wider category, see Preamp Pedals.
Questions
Can the boost on the Sunnday Drive X be used without the preamp?
Yes. Sushi Box FX says the boost can be used independently of the preamp, because there is a toggle that bypasses the preamp section. That means the footswitch can bring in the tube boost on its own, or the pedal can run as an always-on preamp with the boost engaged on top of it.
How much current does the Sunnday Drive X draw?
Sushi Box FX lists the draw as 900mA at 9V DC during warmup, dropping to 480mA at 9V DC after warmup. The pedal accepts 9 to 12V DC with center-negative polarity. Because of the high draw, a standard low-current daisy-chain supply output will not run it.
Is the Sushi Box FX Sunnday Drive X still in production?
No. On Sushi Box FX's site the Sunnday Drive X is listed as Archived, at its $205.00 price. Archived status means the product is no longer part of the current lineup, so players looking for one would be buying it secondhand.
Why does the Sunnday Drive X draw more current at startup?
The pedal is a tube preamp, and a tube's heater needs extra current while it warms up before the circuit settles. Sushi Box FX lists 900mA at 9V DC during warmup and 480mA at 9V DC after warmup, so a power supply needs headroom for the higher startup figure.
Sources (2)
- Sunnday Drive X, Sushi Box FX
- Dr. Wattson X, Sushi Box FX
