Mika Tyyskä - Waterlike / Valvebucker demo

[@mibutzu]

great tune, mika! the valvebucker sounds incredibly rich and textured...

[@MikaFastfinger]

🖐 Humble thanks!

[@MikaFastfinger]

I respect this moment! Thanks Juha for the inspiring instrument(s) and tone and all!

[@gregb.8744]

Splendid everything; guitar, sound (so clear and dynamic!) and of course Mika's playing 😄👍

[@MikaFastfinger]

🖐 Humbleee thanks!

[@Gorbyrev]

The ideal guitar for people who haven't figured out how to use that middle pickup! Great work Mika!

[@PooNinja]

I wish I could see Juha’s display for the guitar summit. That spiny contraption looks almost as cool as his guitars! I’d say awesome playing but you already know you good 🤘🏽

[@MikaFastfinger]

Good to see you here too Mr. Poo! 🙌

[@SpinPhoenixQ]

Awesome tone!! :)

[@MercutioUK2006]

It's a gorgeous array of tones, but I'd like to hear more and perhaps some side-by-side comparisons to other alternatives. Looks amazing either way :)

[@ruokangas]

Thanks! More demos coming... and eventually also comparisons.. :)

[@VikingVertigo]

what does the pickup selector switch do? The solo in the middle position sounded really sweet.

[@ruokangas]

Thanks! :) You can read about the controls (including the pickup selector switch) here: ruokangas.com/valvebucker/valvebucker-guitar/

[@shyboy2112]

Great as usual Mika! I wonder: does the tube get hot after a while?

[@ruokangas]

Thanks. No, the tubes don't get hot. This video answers to your question in more detail: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoW0fJKNbrefaas

[@puma-k9133]

If the tubes doesn't emit any heat and don't get hot, are adding nothing to the sound. Tubes have a gas inside that need the heat and a good ammount of voltage to consume that gas. That's why all the amplifiers, and all the technology that used tubes on the past, like radios and old tv as example reach very high temperature.

[@ruokangas]

@@puma-k9133 Thank you. You're right: Not enough voltage, the tubes would be merely pretty lights, but wouldn't work as they're intended to. Preamp tubes such as we use have a healthy amplitude of dynamics with the voltages we run them on. Certainly the tubes emit heat, but an answer to the question "do the tubes get hot" the answer is no. On the surface where you can touch, the temperature is around 32-35 Celsius (90-95 Fahrenheit). That's less than human body temperature. Wouldn't call it hot. Won't burn your hands in any case. Inside the tube glass, the temperature raises to around 50 Celsius (120 Fahrenheit).

[@lutherreeves4219]

ƤＲＯ𝓂Ｏ𝕤ᗰ ❤️

[@puma-k9133]

Seems an interesting concept, but already obsolete and extreme overpriced. Good luck with that.

[@ruokangas]

Thank you for your feedback. Your first reaction is very understandable - the Valvebucker is indeed pricey when compared to conventional electric guitar pickups. Such a comparison is a little faulty, however, as the Valvebucker is so different. To be exact, it is not just a pickup, but a rather complex system, including the magnetic pickup capsule, handwired circuit, NOS tubes, floor pedal and so on. The Valvebucker is made in extremely limited production, and the manufacturing cost is similar with studio tube microphones. And when comparing the Valvebucker in this (studio technology) context, I hope you can agree with me that the price is in fact reasonable.

[@puma-k9133]

Isn't a faulty comparision, it's a guitar pickup (with tubes obviously) and yes, even including a single pedal and a magnetic cover. As you said, tube doesn't get hot, so tubes aren't receiving the necessary wattage and aren't working. As a simple example, a mesa mini rectifier (full tube amp head) use way more complicated system than a single pickup. A Mesa Boogie mini rectifier with the matching cabinet it's even cheaper than your single pickup system. So, no, I can't agree with you on the supposed reasonable price.

[@ruokangas]

​@@puma-k9133 Thank you. Extremely limited production (currently max 30 units a year) comes with a price. I hope you understand. Luckily, you can choose not to buy. The Valvebucker pickup makes use of sweet spots found from outside the typical operational points of vacuum tubes, by using relatively low voltages. This is a known phenomenon and utilized in not only the Valvebucker pickup but other applications as well.

[@timothyholtze6245]

@@ruokangas I use an effectrode blackbird tube preamp that only runs 12vdc but maybe on a similar principle with correct plate voltages. Using a valve power amp too but combined it's the most tube rich tone I've ever heard outside of a dumble. I could only imagine what the tube pickup guitar included could sound like.

[@dutelatte2154]

that's a very ugly pickup

[@urinatericepee]

To each their own. I think it looks very nice

[@dutelatte2154]

@@urinatericepee you are right.