VOX Expands COOLTRON Series With Two New Tube-Driven Effects Pedals

VOX announces two new additions to its COOLTRON series of tube driven effects pedals — the "Duel" Overdrive and VIBRAVOX. As with all pedals in the VOX COOLTRON series, these new stompboxes use a dual triode 12AU7 (ECC82) preamp tube to deliver tube-driven tone previously unattainable from battery-powered units. COOLTRON technology allows the pedals to run on batteries by powering the tube with low voltage and current while still providing the sound quality and performance characteristics of tubes normally running at high voltages.

Duel Overdrive

With two foot-switchable overdrive circuits based on VOX's Big Ben Overdrive pedal, the Duel Overdrive provides two independent channels of tube-driven overdrive voiced to take on any guitar duties, from warm blues to full-on shred. The separate Gain, Volume and Tone controls can be used to set the pedal up with two independent overdrive sounds (OD1/OD2) to complement a clean-bypassed tone. For even greater flexibility, an assignable (OD1/OD2/both) low-end Bass Boost function adds fatness and low end to overdrive tones.

VIBRAVOX Named after VOX's first amplifier tremolo circuit, the VIBRAVOX brings the signature Vibrato/Tremolo sound of the original 1958 VOX AC amps to any amplifier, in a dual mode stompbox design.

The VIBRAVOX can be configured as a tremolo only or vibrato only pedal with two foot-switchable speeds, or it can be configured to switch between tremolo and vibrato. The pedal automatically ramps between speeds, for classic rotating-speaker sounds.

To increase tonal flexibility, expanded controls and features have been added, including Depth, Ratio, Skew, Volume, Speed 1, Speed 2 and Mode Select. The two Speed controls and an Effects Assign switch provide immediate access to a number of vibrato and tremolo combinations.

Each COOLTRON pedal uses four AA batteries (providing 16 hours of operation) and measures 6.63" (W) x 6.12" (H) x 2.52" (D). An optional 9V AC adapter is available.

The VOX COOLTRON Duel Overdrive and VIBRAVOX tube effects pedals are available August 2006, each with a U.S. MSRP of $300.