BUTLER AUDIO Original Tube Driver w/ Bias

This is my original TUBE DRIVER with custom BIAS CONTROL. I designed it in the early 1980s and Eric Johnson was one of my early customers. At his request, I started adding the custom Bias Control on the back so he could dial in the exact tube response he wanted. Without the Bias Control, he used to test perhaps 50 tubes before he found one he liked. Thanks to Eric's early endorsement as the creator of his famous "Violin Tone", my TUBE DRIVER has become a standard of many pro musicians the world over, including Pink Floyd's David Gilmour and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons. I build only a few of these per week by hand personally. What you'll get is EXACTLY what I ship to the pros! ENJOY! /BK Butler

• The design and sound is the same as the original (as supplied to Eric Johnson, David Gilmour, etc) but with improved parts such as Switchcraft all metal jacks, click pots, etc.
• Each unit is hand built to my specs and I personally check out each Tube Driver to perfection. Then I engrave my signature on the bottom of the case. This insures authenticity now and in the future!
• 220-240V, 50-60Hz

Years ago, Eric Johnson requested that I install an extra pot in some of his Tube Drivers to help him match the tube response to his super critical hands and ears. My solution was to install a 5th control that controls the tube cathode current and enables him to ‘dial in’ the tube characteristics he wanted. This saved him from sorting through literally hundreds of tubes to find the exact one he wanted. Now he uses a Bias mod Tube Driver on stage. David Gilmour, Joe Satriani, Billy Gibbons and many other pros now use the Bias mod.

A bit more technical description:

The Bias control is very helpful as it adjusts the amount of current applied to the cathode of the tube. Eric Johnson used to spend a lot of time looking for perfect tubes to use in his standard Tube Drivers, but now he can just set the bias easily with the stock tube. Just go up or down a few clicks and he nails what he wants. The Bias control also adds dynamics and allows you to custom match your Tube Driver for any particular pickup/amp combination.

Technically it varies the electrical 'strength' of the tube and that affects gain, texture and dynamics. It does not change the EQ directly but because the way the tube responds can be varied; you will hear EQ differences at various settings.

Most players find a 'sweet spot' about 2:30 - 3 o'clock on the control.

All in all, it is a 'pro tool' type of control that each player can set to their own subjective taste.

User Comments regarding the Bias mod upgrade:

Hi BK,
I got the Tube Driver with Bias last week and was too busy to test it out. Well now I have tried it and it's AWESOME!! The Bias dials in everything from creamy to nasty!! There's a huge variance that I'll have to find my 'sweet spots' depending on which amp and which guitar I am using...
Brian

Dear BK,
Gday there BK, just got the tube driver in my hot lil hands this morning ... absolutely blown away by the sound especially with the Bias knob. It adds a whole other dimension and is hard to imagine the pedal without ... for a bit of Gilmour , honestly instant ‘Comfortably Numb’ tone - just out of this world and loud as all hell :D
Cody

Hi BK,
Just wanted to let you know, I received the TD on Saturday morning and was able to use it on the gig Saturday night... You have done a wonderful thing for musicians and music by inventing and building these. You were right in suggesting I get the Bias model. I'm glad I did. And I can't believe you got it to me in four days. Thank you so much; I'm going to love working with it.
High Regards,
Tommy