Metasonix Butt Probe TX-2
The Metasonix TX-2 is entirely made of vacuum tubes. To be specific, three type 4BN6 beam modulator devices. They were intended for use in crummy TV sets as FM detectors, and were NOT meant for audio applications. Only Metasonix knows how to apply these strange devices to audio processing. Instability is inherent in a circuit having this much gain, and the third tube provides an extra way of modulating the distortion. Basically, it is wired as a very bad bandpass filter. Filter center frequency is controlled with a "Vactrol" optical resistor, and swept continuously with an LFO built into the TX-2. The sweep may be disabled by turning down the SCREW knob or by plugging an unassigned 1/4" plug into the CV IN jack. If the latter is done, the SCREW knob will tune the filter manually, giving a vast range of NAUSEATING tonal effects not obtainable with any of the existing effect pedals on the market.
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $549.00
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User Reviews of the Metasonix Butt Probe TX-2
- Submitted by burnn_out! from Roseville, MI (74 points) on Oct 26, 2010
- Gnarly thats all i can say. maybe the best effect i've owned in the metasonix series. loud crunching shreiking fuzz-tortion. agonizer, tm-1, assblaster i've owned them and this is the best yet. bonuses- the lfo sweep can be overriden and controlled by hand by plugging a loose cord into the cv input, output is stereo, so using a stereo mono Y cable signal can be split and routed differently.
- Good Points: Gnarly gross fuzz-tortion rocking gross hand painted enclosure in this case the rarity and sound might actually match the price
- Bad Points: The freaking price, you could buy a table full of boss pedals for one these or a semi decent synth so if you decide to hunt one down be aware it aint coming cheaply
- Price Paid: US$0.00
- Purchased At: the bay
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- Submitted by Paul from Woodstock, VT (32 points) on Sep 23, 2006
- I am the lucky owner serial no. 55 as the man behind Metasonix limited the BP to 100 units. Firstly, concerning the Metasonix brand: if distortion boxes are your thing, save up your pennies. Metasonix has found the Holy Grail in distortion. At this point either a TX-1 or TX-2 are going for around 00 (which is outrageous), but anything from the TM series can be had for 9. I can't tell you which one to get, and each model (thanks to a variety of strange vacuum tubes) approaches distortion in its own way. No matter- the sounds from this TX-2 as well as my TM-3 are all so rich, deep and intense that I can't get enough of them. Now about the TX-2: this unit uses three (!) 4BN6 pre-amp tubes. These are real nasty fellas, prime fodder for noisicians. As much as I understand it (or not), it seems that by tube 2 affecting tube 1s screen grid (gain and distortion), tube 3 affecting tube 2s bandpass filter in a feedback loop, along with other wonderous signal routings etc. etc....I surmise that this is what makes the TX-2 so different from its cousin the TX-1. Of course what is truly fun is that it will accept anything signal-wise. So far I've tried a drum machine, guitar and mic...and all sound horrifically great. The window that are on every Metasonix model, allowing one to see the tubes in action is great and also smart- opening the box to drool over the guts is not recommended at all due to some higher than normal-for-a-stompbox voltages (but not true "high voltage" which starts at 600 volts- good God!). Construction is flawless, and if you like ass jokes and cartoons you'll cream over the manual. A bit overboard with all that, imo. I was going to call out as a criticism the plastic true-bypass switch (can't use your foot) but it's no concern for noisicians and with three NOS tubes in there, why not baby it? More excellence from Metasonix.
- Good Points: All.
- Bad Points: None. The price sure, but heck there's only 100 of these on this planet.
- Price Paid: US$549.00
- Purchased At: Big City Music Studio City, CA
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