When I first pulled the Matsumin Valvecaster from its box , I actually laughed out loud . “ What is this thing ?” I asked myself , thinking of the metallic protuberance on the pedal ’ s face . It was then that I realized that the strange protrusion was actually a vacuum tube . I anticipated genuine overdrive , but I did not anticipate that the Valvecaster would so wildly exceed my expectations . You heard it here first , folks . The Valvecaster from StanTone Benchworks is my new favorite overdriveboost pedal of 2016 .
StanTone Benchworks — run by Mr . Stanton Burris of
Eugene , Oregon — is a small company , but it has already proven to be a company worth watching . Now , Eugene has in one way or another influenced its musically-inclined residents . Robert Cray , Corin Tucker , Courtney Love , and Frank Black , and your humble author here have all spent time in Eugene . Is it a bit of an exaggeration to say that the Valvecaster is now the most exciting musical development to come out of Eugene ? I hope not .
But enough with the praise . What is the Valvecaster ? It ’ s an overdrive-boost pedal with a genuine vacuum tube attached to its face . The
Valvecaster , in other words , is not messing around . What it produces is genuine tube distortion , and what a beautiful sound it is . The pedal is just a bit taller than most because of the facemounted vacuum tube . Otherwise , it ’ s a model of simplicity . Volume , Gain , and Tone knobs sit just below the tube , which is illuminated from below by a very cool red LED . It ’ s a good look .
My first thought upon playing with the pedal was , “ wow , this sounds fantastic .” I don ’ t know how to describe it except to say that it ’ s this fuzzy , thick , rich overdrive which is
STANTONE BENCHWORKS
MATSUMIN VALVECASTER
REVIEW BY DAVID A . EVANS STREET PRICE $ 150.00
When I first pulled the Matsumin Valvecaster from its box , I actually laughed out loud . “ What is this thing ?” I asked myself , thinking of the metallic protuberance on the pedal ’ s face . It was then that I realized that the strange protrusion was actually a vacuum tube . I anticipated genuine overdrive , but I did not anticipate that the Valvecaster would so wildly exceed my expectations . You heard it here first , folks . The Valvecaster from StanTone Benchworks is my new favorite overdriveboost pedal of 2016 .
StanTone Benchworks — run by Mr . Stanton Burris of
Eugene , Oregon — is a small company , but it has already proven to be a company worth watching . Now , Eugene has in one way or another influenced its musically-inclined residents . Robert Cray , Corin Tucker , Courtney Love , and Frank Black , and your humble author here have all spent time in Eugene . Is it a bit of an exaggeration to say that the Valvecaster is now the most exciting musical development to come out of Eugene ? I hope not .
But enough with the praise . What is the Valvecaster ? It ’ s an overdrive-boost pedal with a genuine vacuum tube attached to its face . The
Valvecaster , in other words , is not messing around . What it produces is genuine tube distortion , and what a beautiful sound it is . The pedal is just a bit taller than most because of the facemounted vacuum tube . Otherwise , it ’ s a model of simplicity . Volume , Gain , and Tone knobs sit just below the tube , which is illuminated from below by a very cool red LED . It ’ s a good look .
My first thought upon playing with the pedal was , “ wow , this sounds fantastic .” I don ’ t know how to describe it except to say that it ’ s this fuzzy , thick , rich overdrive which is
62 GEAR REVIEW // Stantone Benchworks Matsumin Valvecaster