MTI Tubes Owned and Used by Tom Verlaine Model Overdrive Effect (1980), made in Japan, serial # 001331, Black finish, aluminum.
It is almost hard to call this an effect pedal, but an effect pedal it is nonetheless! Some builders over the years have tried the gimmick of placing a real tube circuit into a foot pedal to varying degrees of success, but Japan's export-oriented factory MTI essentially came up with a whole small amplifier with a stomp switch. This one belonged to conoisseur of all things fuzz and overdrive, Television's Tom Verlaine. A little known fact about Mr. Verlaine is that he was a prolific if not obsessive collector of vacuum tubes and would spend hours auditioning different tubes in different amplifiers!
Users of the pedal have noted that the tube selection can have a substantial bearing on the character of this effect with arguments to be made about the superiority of an 12AX, 12AU, or 12AT. Currently, it has Tom's selection including a 12AX7 (a gainier selection). The controls are generally pretty straightforward and comparable to any small tube amp: a volume and master volume for extra tube saturation, a knob for bass and treble, and a "bright" switch. The most unique part of the circuit is the "load" switch which can be used to reduce the output with an internal speaker if you'd like to use the headphone jack on the back (despite this being basically a small tube amp). Overall a rockin' oddity from a New York legend (and tube lover).
Height is 9 in. (22.9 cm.), 7 1/2 in. (19 cm.) width, and 5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm.) in depth at deepest point.
This unique Japanese overdrive is in nicely original condition with seemingly all stock factory parts with Tom's selection of tubes; these are the last tubes that he left in this "Tubes," so we thought best to leave them as he liked them. The pedal has been tested and is in fully functional condition; the "bright" switch does work but is a bit subtle, mostly noticable in the treble register. There is a sticker on the front denoting this "Ped. 34," something we have seen on several of the offerings from Tom's collection. There are a couple dings and scuffs here and there on the silver panel and chassis in general, but all fairly minor and purely cosmetic. This pedal does not come with a box, but it does come with a letter of authenticity signed by Patrick Derivaz, Verlaine's close friend and long time musical collaborator from whom we received the pedal. Excellent Condition.
