Effectrode Tube-Vibe handcrafted guitar pedal

I get weak at the knees around limited edition handmade analog electronics, especially devices that use tubes (valves for any Brits in the audience). Phil Taylor's Effectrode guitar effects pedals all feature vacuum tube technology. In fact, one rather gets the idea that he'd prefer to drink molten lead than market a transistorized device:

"To my ear, transistorized effects pedals have two major shortcomings. Firstly, they invariably sound dull and lack presence. As a result, you're constantly fiddling with tone controls in a futile quest to find that elusive sound. Secondly, trannie based gear has a limited dynamic range and will 'hard' clip' the signal all too easily. The result is a sonically abrasive sputtering or gritty sound which fatigues the ear."

If you happen to be a guitar player on the lookout for some tubeish warmth, check out Cary Miller's in-depth look at Effectrode's $495 Tube-Vibe, which Miller described to me as "a lovingly hand-crafted homage to the classic Shiftee Uni-Vibe vibrato pedal made famous by the likes of Hendrix, Stevie Ray, and others. It's got a 100% tube signal path, three vacuum tubes sticking right out of the top, a funky purple metal fleck finish, and produces gorgeous, liquid-like vibrato and chorus tones."

Review: Effectrode's Tube-Vibe guitar effects pedal