The Detective is a two-channel preamp pedal from Sushi Box FX. The maker describes it as "a two-channel preamp based on classic British high-headroom tube tone," and it is built as a tube pedal rather than a solid-state circuit, which shapes both its sound and its power needs.1
Channels and controls
The Detective gives you two channels, each with its own set of controls, so the two sides of the pedal can be set up as genuinely different sounds rather than one tone with more or less of it1:
- Clean (blue) channel: Sushi Box FX describes it as "a little tighter and punchier, and has a bit less gain on tap, but is still capable of getting into a nice overdrive."1
- Gain channel: the higher-gain side of the pedal, set independently of the clean side.1
- Per-channel controls: each channel has independent Gain, Volume, and EQ controls for complete customization.1
Because the EQ, Gain, and Volume are separate per channel, you can dial in, for example, a punchy rhythm tone on the blue channel and a hotter lead voice on the gain channel, and switch between them without touching a knob1.
Power requirements
This is the one specification that matters most before you put The Detective on a board. As a tube pedal, it draws far more current than a typical drive pedal. Sushi Box FX recommends "a 9-12VDC power supply capable of delivering at least 600mA," and warns: "Using less than this can damage the power supply and/or the pedal."1
A 600mA minimum rules out most daisy-chain outputs and the low-current outlets on compact power supplies. Give The Detective its own high-current outlet, or add a power supply when ordering: the maker's page offers a supply as a Yes or No option with the pedal.1
Versions
The Summer 2024 revised edition keeps the same circuit as the earlier version but adds two upgrades, in the maker's words: "film capacitors in the audio path and soft-touch relay bypass switching."1 So if you are comparing a used unit, the switching feel and bypass behavior differ between the original and the revised edition, while the core circuit does not.
Availability
The Detective is listed as Archived on the Sushi Box FX site, which places it outside the current lineup. The maker's other tube preamps, such as the Underground Accelerator, The Watt, and Space Heater, remain the place to look for what is in production now.1
Questions
Why does The Detective need so much current?
It is a tube pedal, and the tube heater and high-voltage circuitry draw far more current than a standard overdrive. Sushi Box FX recommends a 9-12VDC supply capable of delivering at least 600mA, and warns that using less than this can damage the power supply and/or the pedal. That rules out most daisy-chain outputs and low-current supply ports.
Does The Detective come with a power supply?
The maker's product page offers a power supply as an option, with a Yes or No choice when ordering, so you can buy one with the pedal or use your own. Whichever you choose, the supply must be 9-12VDC and rated for at least 600mA.
What is the difference between the clean and gain channels on The Detective?
According to Sushi Box FX, the clean (blue) channel is a little tighter and punchier, and has a bit less gain on tap, but is still capable of getting into a nice overdrive. Each channel has its own independent Gain, Volume, and EQ controls.
Does the revised Detective use relay bypass?
Yes. The Summer 2024 revised edition uses soft-touch relay bypass switching, alongside film capacitors in the audio path, while keeping the same circuit as before.
Is The Detective still available new?
The product is listed as Archived on the Sushi Box FX site, meaning it is no longer part of the current lineup. Used units and remaining stock may still turn up from dealers and second-hand sellers.
Sources (1)
- The Detective, Sushi Box FX
