Valvotronics Dyna-Mult Made for and Used by Tom Verlaine Model Passive ABY Splitter (1990s), black enamel finish, aluminum.
Tom Verlaine of Television was quite a vacuum tube afficionado; a hobby and passion bordering on obsession. Tom spent decades experimenting with amplifier designs, many based around early Hi-Fi tubes and amplification of the 1930s. Throughout the 1990s, Tom commissioned a series of custom made amplifiers from his friend Rob Derby of Valvotronics. The designs were part of an ongoing R&D pursuit of a design featuring switchable preamp and output tubes, variable bias and selectable tone-stack voicings; others are unique one-off designs exploring the concept of switchable tube types. All were designed and built seemingly in pursuit of better understanding the inherent sonic characteristics of various vacuum tube types.
This simple passive ABY box is nothing of particular grandiosity, but was skillfully handmade to accompany Verlaine running out to two amplifiers (or running two instruments into one). It has no switch options, build with high-quality components, and is identifiable with a singular marking: "Tom Verlaine's Dyna-Mult." Surely, knowing the purpose of his tube amp explorations, we bet that this little box got the most use for amplifier shootouts as Verlaine auditioned tubes in search of his perfect sound.
Height is 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm.), 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm.) width, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth at deepest point.
This simple little utility is the only of it's kind, completely unaltered with only a few signs of use. Of course, the main thing to see here is the charming label confirming the provenance of this signal splitter. 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.
If it has not individually sold, we are happy to include this small token with the purchase of any of Mr. Verlaine's custom Valvotronic amps we have listed. Excellent Condition.
