The Tubesteader Eggnog is a high-voltage tube overdrive pedal from a Canadian builder, inspired by the sound of the small Fender Tweed amps built in the 50s. It is a Tweed-style amp in a box with an extra boost and plenty of tone-shaping capabilities thanks to its 3-way EQ section, and it was the first compact pedal in the maker's roster when it was released in 20231.
How it works
The Eggnog runs a real 12AX7 tube, the same preamp tube found in many guitar amps. In this design, a high-voltage MOSFET serves as a clean gain stage in front of the 12AX7 tube and pushes it into overdrive1. That means the gain you hear is tube-generated rather than produced by op-amps or diode clipping, which is the usual appeal of a tube pedal for players chasing amp-like breakup at manageable volumes.
The controls
The pedal's tone-shaping comes from its 3-way EQ section1. The other key control is the Boost footswitch, and it works in a way worth understanding before you set it on a board:
- The Boost footswitch does not activate or bypass the transistor, it adds more gain to it, so the tube is pushed harder1
- The amount of that added gain is adjustable1
So the boost is always a matter of degree: it drives the same MOSFET stage further into the tube, rather than switching a separate clean boost in and out1.
Power and setup
The Eggnog needs a 12V supply rated at 350mA2. That is a heavier draw than most compact pedals, and a wall-mount power supply is included with the purchase1, which takes the guesswork out of powering it.
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X included the Eggnog in its 2023 buying guide of the year's best new boost and overdrive pedals, listing it at $279 / £2232. Stefan Karlsson's verdict was favorable across the board:
"and in Goldilocks fashion - everything is right about this variant - obviously the tonez - but also the size of the pedal, the 350mA 12V power supply requirement and the price tag!"
For players comparing it with other options, the Eggnog sits in the territory covered by overdrive pedals, boost pedals and preamp pedals: it is an amp-style gain stage first, with a boost function layered on top1.
Videos
Tubesteader
intheblues
Joe Perkins
Questions
Does the Tubesteader Eggnog use a real tube?
Yes. The Eggnog is powered by a single 12AX7 tube. In front of the tube, a high-voltage MOSFET acts as a clean gain stage that pushes the 12AX7 into overdrive. The Boost footswitch adds more gain to that transistor stage, driving the tube harder rather than switching the transistor in or out of the circuit.
What power supply does the Tubesteader Eggnog need?
The Eggnog requires a 12V power supply rated for 350mA, according to Guitar Pedal X. Because it runs a real tube at high voltage, its draw is well beyond what a standard pedal daisy chain typically supplies, so it is worth planning your board's power around it.
Is the Tubesteader Eggnog true bypass?
Yes. Delicious Audio's product page lists true-bypass switching, so the pedal passes your guitar's signal untouched when it is off.
Does the Eggnog come with a power supply?
Yes. A wall-mount power supply is included with the purchase, according to Delicious Audio's product page.
How much does the Tubesteader Eggnog cost?
Guitar Pedal X listed the Eggnog at $279 / £223 in its December 2023 buying guide of the year's best new boost and overdrive pedals.
Sources (2)
- Tubesteader Eggnog Tweed-Style Drive, Delicious Audio, 2023-04-26
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2023-12-16
