The Ultimate Drive Pedal: Crazy Tube Circuits Unobtanium RAW

In today's video Paul from The Studio Rats is checking out the brand new pedal from Crazy Tube Circuits the Unobtanium RAW.
This awesome dual drive pedal is the latest iteration of the UNOBTANIUM which features both germanium diodes and germanium transistors in the clipping stage plus a reworked Dumble side of the pedal which I think is the best sounding yet.
All the tones in this video were using a Neural DSP Quadcortex with the Unobtanium RAW.
To purchase the Unobtanium RAW here is my affiliate link to Thomann
To purchase the original Unobtanium here is my affiliate link to Thomann
thmn.to/thopro...
Here is what Crazy Tube Circuits say about the Unobtanium RAW.
A rare sonic element with alternate refinement - meet the new Unobtani- um RAW edition!
The composition has stayed the same as the standard version of the pedal: A recreation of the Klon Centaur overdrive true to the last detail finds its place at the right section of the pedal while the le section features two Dumble amplifier voicings, the most unobtainable tube amplifiers in the world.
For the RAW edition we have added a couple of magic ingredients to the clipping section of the Klon side: a set of hand selected New Old Stock Mullard/Valvo labelled OC45 germanium transistors. This is the first Klon-type circuit to feature germanium transistors in the clipping section. We have tried many germanium transistor types and found that the OC45 transistors added a supernatural feel with organic compression for increased gain and sustain. Fear not - the standard Klon sounds are still there in the stock setting where you listen to germanium diodes clipping like in the original unit. (Note: the sonic difference in clipping/voicing is most noticeable in higher gain settings. Volume knob might need to be readjusted when changing clipping setting)
The Studio Rats are core band members Paul Drew on guitar/production/mixing, drummer James Ivey and Dan Hawkins on bass. They collaborate with singers and musicians to produce radio-ready songs.

[@efstathioszavvos4878]

Really great demo and slick playng. This channel never disappoints.

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers, glad you get something out of the channel.

[@toliskoskinas]

I met Chris (CTC owner and designer) on 2006, a super talented young guy storming in our guitar store, smiling and demanding we should listen to an od pedal he made. It was the prototype of the Ziggy od, I still adore mine on my pedalboard. Chris is talented, always making perfect schematics for the next tone he has in his mind and your demo as musical as it is will make another hole on my monthly budget 😄😍🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@dasczwo]

met him at pedal expo24 in berlin. what a fun guy. the greekspiracy is coming for your boards. you took our centaur. heres our horse. the trojan.

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

Just came for the playing., I wasn't disappointed.

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Chris!

[@mortonwilson795]

"Two small tweaks for man, two giant . . . ", yeah whatever 😀From the look of it the Crazy Tube team have paid attention and figured this might be a cool addition alongside the original! TBH I seldom think about OD type pedals - for a while now I have been perfectly happy combining my Effectrode Blackbird & Crowther Double Hot Cake - endless possibilities. Throw in my vintish MXR Distortion + and the 'mach schau' switch on the Dr. Robert and I can reach back to the '60s & '70s should the mood take me . . . BUT, I really did pay attention to the Unobtanium when it was launched - the 2 magic words 'Klon' & 'Dumble' and now this RAW update looks and sounds pretty appealing. Thanks for the simple clear overview. Cheers.

[@joetoe9207]

I do think you have great gain options. I’ve definitely been a sucker for the new shiny stuff and it’s been an expensive lesson.

[@shaharbar]

SOLD! I was on the fence about this pedal, but this new “RAW” addition pushed me over the fence.

[@kenphillips3282]

Love the Unobtainium and have 3 of them… my Raw is now on order…

[@rcruz262]

Why 3?

[@IamMusicNerd]

I just got one and like it. I still prefer the sound of the Tumnus Deluxe for the Klon tone over the Unobtanium, and the Vertex SSS for Dumble tone, but it’s really nice having both in one pedal.

[@murphshall]

The song in the beginning was beautiful. It reminded me of one of my favorite songs. "Low Lonesome" by Duke Levine. Thanks! 😊

[@MalCox56]

The Greeks are making some killer guitar gear now...CTC, Jam and Tsakalis. Amazing stuff!

[@Utube-g3g]

I have their crossroads and the imperium. They’re both really good. Great playing as always. Goes without saying Paul.

[@Utube-g3g]

Paul, do you think you’ll be fooling with the quad again? I always enjoy that. Hope Digby is getting his 2 walks and ear tickles. No stomach rubs. Hmm 🤔

[@timburle4980]

How many pedals can be created that people will buy? Seems like the market is flooded!

[@Nightwinflyer]

It is flooded. It confounds me that we get new pedals daily. Worse, they are all based on the same 5 or 6 circuits that have been around for decades.

[@Tatted-ne7tu]

Not usually a Fender guy but good god that guitar is marvelous.

[@raygehring]

Great video and tone as per usual! I have to add that most of us "jazz" players don't use the jazz setting either. Only time it makes sense is with a fully hollow body. It mitigates the low end but if you're using the volume knob on the guitar, you will lose more of that bottom end on the jazz setting.

[@TheStudioRats]

Good to know, cheers Ray.

[@johnelcanrab2114]

I've only ever really liked the jazz setting myself! Oh well!

[@ZalMoxis]

Great review.... very helpful

[@stevedennis6733]

Great review - great pedal but, eventually it will be unobtainable!

[@Adventuresingearland]

This sounds brilliant. How close can you get to the clarity of your AN using it with the Fender sound?

[@TheStudioRats]

Pretty close my bald brother

[@MrVishnuu]

Hi! What a tasty playing ! Bravo !!! What did you use for your base tone? The ensemble has such great harmonics texture and singing qualities...

[@TheStudioRats]

Hi, I think I put it all in the description but it was a Quad Cortex using my Megabarba (Mezzabarba) amp pack.

[@MrVishnuu]

@@TheStudioRats I looked for it but didn't find the info the first time. I think I was automatically searching for a separate chapter on that. Thanks for answering and thanks for the great playing !

[@allpdmusic]

Awesome as always Paul!! May I ask...whats on your current gigging pedalboard ? Seriously considering buying a Quad Cortex and was wondering what you thought and if you use one, do you use pedals like this one does it even need them.

[@TheStudioRats]

That’s exactly how you’re hearing this video. It’s the Unibtanium Into the quad cortex using my Mezzabarba pack that we sell on our website.

[@allpdmusic]

@@TheStudioRats Thank you so much. Checking into the Mezzabarba pack now. Really appreciate you replying!

[@db8191]

Thanks for this test ! do you know if we can use any switch and not the special switch xt of crazy tube circuit to commute between sss and ods ? Thanks for your answer

[@Diax1324]

1:12 this is what makes the zendrive/dumbloid klon combo super fucking useful. Sounds great with humbuckers, but also makes strats sound like they have 'buckers.

[@mitchellrom1758]

Nice tones man, what pickups do you use in your black strat? Thanks

[@TheStudioRats]

ancho pablano

[@GrungyChris]

If it's unobtainable how did Paul obtain it? What kind of sorcery is this??

[@TheStudioRats]

I never thought of that. It’s unobtainable as I have all of them.

[@GrungyChris]

@@TheStudioRats Warlock confirmed

[@Arwndr]

You didn't show germanium transistors hi gain...

[@stewarttomkinson3356]

I got a cintivo and a steel singer put them together. You can only play it through the amp if you try listening to headphones oh my God it’s so loud no matter how you turn it down. It’s just still too loud.

[@ey870]

Until next week ... ;)

[@stoneysdead689]

Don't freakout or anything, but I think you scratched your guitar. ; )

[@TheStudioRats]

😀

[@mikegoodwin1498]

You owe me a new laptop dude!! 😄

[@stoneysdead689]

@@mikegoodwin1498 Oh no, I hate it when that happens. Hey, I know how you feel- I recently bought a UAFX pedal and had to upgrade to a new laptop and phone to make it work- isn't modern convenience just great? I have to admit though- it sounds amazing. Good luck man- maybe it will dry out. You could put it in a bag of rice- they say it works pretty well to draw the moisture out.

[@gg-dw1yq]

of course WAY out of a normal person's budget .. as is EVERYTHING in guitar world everything is 2K .. 3K HOW many of these gadgets can one afford !!

[@torstenbangert4026]

What size are the frets on the strat?

[@TheStudioRats]

Biggest they do

[@jeremyversusjazz]

👍me want.

[@colinparks619]

This Vs dualist ....hmm

[@zabtej1645]

Why not show direct sounds if it's an "amp" pedal? Like going into a fender amp it makes 0 sense to market as a dumble pedal, somehow putting anything in from of a fender is gonna make it sound like a dumble? Nah.

[@jenslorbeer5307]

It doesn’t have a cab sim and the fender is a very neutral amp so it makes perfect sense

[@zabtej1645]

@@jenslorbeer5307 Fender is not neutral. No amp is neutral and they are all very different. Also obviously I meant with a cabsim. Dumble is so specific with the breakup and the gain stages that if you put another amp after it, it kinda makes all the effort wasted and clouds the tone. Except if there is no effort, then you have to put something after it to even get a usable sound. That's why I wonder how it sounds on its own to get a clear picture and not just guzzle and swallow all the marketing.

[@jenslorbeer5307]

It’s an option, I enjoy it in front of an amp. It’s sounds amazing and unlike any other pedal to me, plus it is very quiet. The Klon is not as good as the wampler tumnus but comes in handy. I’m talking about the original version.