Valvenergy Series 2 (Valvenergy2) Effects Pedals: Fuel Injector, Power Burst, Smooth Impact and Tone Sculptor (2024 - 2026)
While the four original Valvenergy pedals (Mystic Edge, Copperhead Drive, Silk Drive and Cutting Edge) were amp modelers, the Valvenergy Series 2 was comprised of four effects pedals, the Fuel Injector (overdrive), Power Burst (boost), Smooth Impact (compressor) and the Tone Sculptor (EQ). All eight pedals were equipped with a 6P1 Nutube vacuum tube.
Nutube 6P1 Korg has been a leading manufacturer of portable keyboards since the early seventies. Most modern Korg keyboards incorporate a blue/green vacuum fluorescent display (or VFD) that offers a visual indication of the patch that is loaded and ready to play. Korg discovered
that these fluorescent displays could also be configured to perform the same functions as a traditional vacuum tube, including amplifying an audio signal. After years of research and development, Korg introduced, along with their manufacturing partner, Noritake Itron, the dual triode Nutube 6P1 vacuum tube "on a chip" in 2017 (see photo upper left). The Nutube 6P1 could perform functions similar to a traditional 12AX7 preamp tube.
The Nutube 6P1 offered a number of advantages over the 12AX7. The Nutube 6P1 was significantly smaller than a 12AX7. As it did not require a traditional filament heater, the Nutube 6P1 required a fraction of the current required to power a 12AX7. Unlike the 12AX7, the Nutube 6P1 remained relatively cool to the touch while in operation. Finally, the Nutube 6P1 offered a significantly longer service life than the 12AX7, perhaps never needing replacement.
The Nutube 6P1 vacuum tube played a critical role in a newly designed buffer circuit included in all four of the Valvenergy 2 pedals. When the pedal effect is deactivated, the Nutube 6P1 functioned as a buffered bypass, providing clean and natural response. When the pedal effect is activated, the buffer circuit used the natural compression and rich harmonics of the Nutube 6P1 to enhance response.
Valvenergy and Valvenergy2 pedals both boast a built-in OLED oscilloscope to graphically display the pedal’s impact on your waveform in real time.
While the Valvenergy2 pedals are capable of being powered by a 9 volt battery, the use of an external AC adaptor is recommended as the power consumption of these pedals is relatively high. A 9V DC center-negative power supply with a recommended current of at least 95 mA or higher is required. The manufacturer recommends either the Korg KA181 or KA183 AC power adaptors.
The top panel of each of the four Valvenergy2 pedals featured a unique etched design that Vox claimed was inspired by the unique sound of each pedal.
The Vox Valvenergy2 Fuel Injector and Power Burst pedals originally had a US manufacturer's suggested retail price of $279.99. Most retailers discounted the actual sale price to $199.99. The Smooth Impact and Tone Sculptor pedals both had a US manufacturer's suggested retail price of $307.99. Most retailers discounted the actual sale price to $199.99. Country of Origin: Vietnam.
VEFI Fuel Injector Overdrive - Since its 1979 debut, the Ibanez "Tube Screamer" has been the gold standard for pedals that replicate the tone of an overdriven tube amp. Ibanez introduced a modern version of the Tube Screamer, the NTS Nutube Screamer in 2018. It was developed in collaboration with Korg to combine traditional Tube Screamer circuitry with modern Nutube vacuum tube technology. After much research and experimentation, Vox released the Nutube powered "Fuel Injector" overdrive pedal in 2024. It offered tones and features not found in either the original Tube Screamer or modern Nutube Screamer.
The Vox Fuel Injector tube overdrive pedal captured the essence of an overdriven guitar amp by distorting the Nutube with various gain stages and by creating variations in bias that are unique to tubes.
VEPB Power Burst - The Vox Valvenergy2 Power Burst was a boost pedal powered by a 6P1 Nutube vacuum tube. It had only two controls: a three-way switch that selected between "Treble," "Natural" and "Middle" boost modes and a rotary control to dial in up to about 20db of "Boost" Also included was an OLED oscilloscope to display the effect of the pedal on your tone.
With the three-way toggle switch set to "Natural" and the "Boost" control no higher than mid position, the Power Burst provided a nearly transparent increase in volume. Advancing the Boost control past the mid position pushed the Power Burst into mild overdrive and added a touch of compression. Moving the toggle switch to the "Treble" setting added a touch of sparkle to the signal. The "Middle" setting added punch to the tone of single coil pickups.
VESI Smooth Impact - The Vox Valvenergy2 Smooth Impact was a tube-driven compressor pedal that used Nutube technology to achieve gain variation through power supply voltage fluctuations. Three subtle types of compression were offered, VTG (Vintage), NAT (Natural) and SAG. The VTG mode emphasized string attack and had an extended sustain. The NAT mode applied compression from the attack and had a shorter release time. The SAG mode mimicked the natural compression of a vintage tube amp when the power supply voltage "dips" under heavy load to create a squashed, responsive feel. Knobs for Tube Gain, Compression and Output allowed for greater control of tonal response.
The Smooth Impact also included an OLED oscilloscope to provide real-time visual feedback on your dynamics.
VETS Tone Sculptor - The Vox Valvenergy2 Tone Sculptor functioned as a valve-powered graphic EQ and preamp, using Nutube technology to introduce warm harmonics and natural compression as you push the signal.
Engineered specifically for the guitar’s harmonic range, this 6-band graphic EQ provided ±10dB of gain at key frequencies: 100Hz, 250Hz, 570Hz, 800Hz, 2.2kHz, and 5.6kHz. Additionally, a master level control offered a ±12dB range, providing ample headroom for significant volume boost or signal attenuation. The slider range is ~1" and the sliders have no center detent.
The Tone Sculptor also includes an OLED oscilloscope with a multi-band bar graph readout to track the frequency response of your guitar signal in real time.
Official Vox Valvenergy2 Fuel Injector Pedal Video
Video used with permission from Vox Amplification plc
Official Vox Valvenergy2 Power Burst Pedal Video
Video used with permission from Vox Amplification plc
Official Vox Valvenergy2 Smooth Impact Pedal Video
Video used with permission from Vox Amplification plc
Official Vox Valvenergy2 Tone Sculptor Pedal Video
Video used with permission from Vox Amplification plc
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