“The tonal character and responsiveness of all four pedals is indeed quite tubular”: Vox Valvenergy Fuel Injector, Tone Sculptor, Power Burst and Smooth Impact review
Compact pedals with real tubes and real tube energy – are these the missing link between your guitar and amp? We give the Valvenergy 2nd Series pedals a test run
If you simply can’t live without the dynamic responsiveness and smooth, musical harmonic overtones of real tube technology but don’t want the hassles of hot operating temperatures, costly and regular maintenance and bulky designs, the Vox Valvenergy second series pedals are worth strong consideration.
Pros
+
Nutube technology provides true tube performance and sounds without hassles.
Tone Sculptor combines preamp and graphic EQ in a single package.
+
Fuel Injector and Power Burst pedals’ tone toggles expand tonal options.
Cons
-
-Illuminated display provides eye candy but little useful info (Smooth Impact is an exception).
-
Fuel Injector and Power Burst have limited EQ shaping capabilities.
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Vox first introduced its Nutube technology in a series of micro amps back in 2017, followed by their first series of Valvenergy pedals featuring an all-analog signal path and Nutube tech in 2021.
Nutube involves a genuine miniature vacuum tube adapted from vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) technology to function like a traditional tube but with low-current and low-voltage specs.
The new second series of Vox Valvenergy pedals consists of the Fuel Injector Tube Overdrive, Power Burst Tube Booster, Smooth Impact Tube Compressor and Tone Sculptor Tube Preamp Equalizer.
As with the previous series, these Valvenergy pedals employ Nutube to provide the dynamic responsiveness and rich harmonic overtones of traditional tube technology but without bulky designs and maintenance issues.
Usability and sounds
(Image credit: Vox)
Each Valvenergy pedal is housed in a sturdy metal case that’s slightly wider and taller than a Phase 90. Because of the higher than average power consumption, using a 9VDC pedalboard power supply is recommended but an easy-access battery compartment is also provided. A Link jack allows users to connect multiple pedals together and switch between them with one footswitch.
Controls are straightforward. The Fuel Injector overdrive pedal provides a typical three-knob (Level, Drive, Tone) configuration plus a Natural/Fat toggle switch.
The Power Burst booster offers a single Boost knob (about 20dB, but due to the character of the NuTube it will compress and distort at higher levels) plus a 3-position toggle with Treble, Natural and Middle settings.
(Image credit: Vox)
Smooth Impact’s compressor controls consist of Output, Comp and Tube Gain knobs and a toggle with Vintage/Natural/Sag settings.
Tone Sculptor combines preamp overdrive and graphic EQ in a single box with six EQ sliders (100Hz, 250Hz, 570Hz, 800Hz, 2.2kHz and 5.6kHz) with 10dB boost/cut and a +/-12dB Level slider. All four pedals include an illuminated graphic waveform display instead of a typical on/off LED.
This feature is particularly helpful with the compressor as it shows how much the effect is adjusting the signal and decay, while on the other pedals it’s more of a novelty.
(Image credit: Vox)
The overall tonal character and responsiveness of all four pedals is indeed quite tubular as promised. The Smooth Impact’s compression effects sound especially natural without any pumping or squashed textures.
Pick attack is articulate and notes sustain with impressive body without boosting noise. The overall character is more studio processor than typical stompbox compression.
The Tone Sculptor’s graphic EQ makes it perfect for players who want more control over dialing in lead tones than typical overdrive pedals offer.
(Image credit: Vox)
The EQ bands are ideal for natural-sounding guitar tones with bass that sounds full but not flabby, mids with expressive voice-like qualities and treble that cuts without being harsh. Performance is noise-free.
Power Burst offers a little more sonic versatility than a typical “clean” boost pedal thanks to its Treble and Middle settings
The Fuel Injector covers familiar “tube” overdrive territory, but in this case it actually delivers true tube saturation and expressive dynamics. The Tone knob is limited, but with the Fat toggle switch engaged users can dial in an attractive midrange bump.
Power Burst offers a little more sonic versatility than a typical “clean” boost pedal thanks to its Treble and Middle settings, but it’s really best for giving some extra push to a tone you already love.
The highest output level can easily push a tube amp into overdrive/distortion territory, and it sounds equally effective with clean or distorted amp settings.
Verdict
The Fuel Injector and Power Burst pedals aren’t necessarily revolutionary, but they’re great alternatives to common solid-state options
The Fuel Injector and Power Burst pedals aren’t necessarily revolutionary, but they’re great alternatives to common solid-state options.
The Smooth Impact compressor and Tone Sculptor preamp/graphic EQ offer less common approaches to their effects with the distinct advantages of tube warmth and impressive, studio-quality performance.
Guitar World verdict: If you simply can’t live without the dynamic responsiveness and smooth, musical harmonic overtones of real tube technology but don’t want the hassles of hot operating temperatures, costly and regular maintenance and bulky designs, the Vox Valvenergy second series pedals are worth strong consideration.
Specs
Launch price: $199.99 / £159 (Fuel Injector, Power Burst); $219.99 / £169 (Smooth Impact, Tone Sculptor) Origin: Vietnam
Fuel Injector
Controls: Level, Tone, Drive Switches: Natural/Fat toggle, On/off footswitch Jacks: ¼-inch Input and Output, 9-volt center negative DC adapter (adapter not included), Link
Power Burst
Controls: Boost Switches: Treble/Natural/Middle toggle, On/off footswitch Jacks: ¼-inch Input and Output, 9-volt center negative DC adapter (adapter not included), Link
Smooth Impact
Controls: Output, Comp, Tube Gain Switches: Vintage/Natural/Sag toggle, On/off footswitch Jacks: ¼-inch Input and Output, 9-volt center negative DC adapter (adapter not included), Link
Tone Sculptor
Controls: Six +/-10dB EQ sliders (100Hz, 250Hz, 570Hz, 800Hz, 2.2kHz, 5.6kHz), +/-12dB Level slider Switches: On/off footswitch Jacks: ¼-inch Input and Output, 9-volt center negative DC adapter (adapter not included), Link Dimensions: 4.5" x 2.5" x 1.5" Contact: Vox Amps
Chris is the co-author of Eruption - Conversations with Eddie Van Halen. He is a 40-year music industry veteran who started at Boardwalk Entertainment (Joan Jett, Night Ranger) and Roland US before becoming a guitar journalist in 1991. He has interviewed more than 600 artists, written more than 1,400 product reviews and contributed to Jeff Beck’s Beck 01: Hot Rods and Rock & Roll and Eric Clapton’s Six String Stories.
