The Origin Effects Deluxe 55 and Tubesteader Eggnog are my Tweed Kings!
In my recent 16 Iconic Amps and Pedal Equivalents article - I chose the Eggnog as my favourite Tweed take to date - while there were always question marks as to whether I would prefer the Deluxe 55 when that landed - just a few days ago.
I’ve compared those two quite extensively over the last few days, and I find it very difficult to pick an out-and-out winner. These are obviously both Extended Range varieties - and they render slightly differently - the Deluxe 55 is slightly denser with more bite and intensity, while the Eggnog is more open-pored and neutral. Both have extensive tone-shaping - and both have dual modes really - with the Deluxe 55 having the two different Preamp Tube Clipping profiles, and the Eggnog having the second Boost Channel.
In some ways the Eggnog is slightly easier to dial in with its 3-Band EQ. While the Deluxe 55 offers more Volume and Gain, and more bite - it can get quite a bit more fuzzy too for sure.
On a point-by-point basis these are really evenly matched. While players will have specific tonal and output profile preferences. For me each of these can be my favourite on the day - both are exceptionally dynamic, with great guitar volume cleanup. And all the options on both are super handy.
I like the Dual-Channel nature of the Eggnog - but I also like the extra intensity I can get with the Deluxe 55.
I of course still love my True North Tweed Drive too, but that is a somewhat simpler affair. If you want the best of the Extended Range Tweeds - then surely the choice now is between these two. It’s really so close here that I don’t want to split hairs on a stand-out winner - and so I’m awarding both of these the joint top spot!
As mentioned - on different days I might prefer one over the other, and then the other way around the following day - by most empirical measures this is pretty much a dead-heat! What say all of you!?
I actually use all the settings on both - where the Eggnog has 7 controls vs the Deluxe 55’s 6 - also an additional Boost footswitch - which is of course super handy!
Further details on each below :
Origin Effects Deluxe 55 Tweed Recreation - £279 / $339
Controls - Level, Preamp Tube (Emulation) : 12AY7 : Brighter/Cleaner / 12AX7 : Darker/Gainier, Drive, Post Gain Tilt EQ, Post EQ Mode / Profile : I Fender Black Panel / II Marshall style / III Flat, Tone (Dark>Bright).
A really fantastic solid state pedal Amp recreation - carrying all the verve and vibrancy of the 5E3 Tube Amp Original.
The Tone Stack here is a little less straightforward than the 3-Band EQ of the Eggnog. You start off by selecting Post EQ Mode - either Fender, Marshall or Flat Profile, the last acts as a Tone Control Bypass in effect. For the first two they set a frequency profile to complement that amp type - which you then adjust via the Post Gain Tilt EQ and Tone Controls. This is effective but slightly trickier to adjust than classic 3-Band EQ. I find myself using both Fender and Marshall style profiles and tweaking to taste.
I'm normally based around Level @ 3 o'c, Preamp Clipping on 12AX7 (more Fuzzy), Drive @ 10 o'c, Post Tilt EQ @ 10 o'c, Post EQ Mode on Marshall Profile, and Tone @ 2 o'c. That generates my favourite tones, and I can easily roll back the gain with my guitar volume control to adjust the output further.
A superb technical achievement for sure - one of the very best solid state amp simulations out there, and for sure one of the very best Gain pedals Origin Effects has delivered to date!
Tubesteader Eggnog Tweed style Tube Preamp & Boost - $299
Controls - Normal / Bright Switch, Master (Gain), Boost, Volume, Bass, Mid, Treble, Boost Footswitch, Bypass Footswitch.
And the Eggnog is every bit as good as the Deluxe 55 - and here uses an actual 12AX7 Preamp Tube to great effect. This has a wonderfully open and balanced character - with extensive tone-shaping via a 3-Band EQ, and a secondary / Independent Boost Channel.
It's a touch 'lighter' than the Deluxe 55 with not quite as much Volume, Gain, Intensity and Bite as that - but a wonderfully expansive soundstage of its own. While both those pedals are very obviously Tweed types, the Eggnog is overall a little softer and more open - some might say more elegant.
You can significantly Beef things up with the Boost, but overall the Deluxe 55 delivers a little more intensity.
I love having the second boost channel - and that really adds to the on-the-fly dynamics of this pedal.
You can kind of tell the intrinsic differences between the two, as my setting for the Eggnog are : Master, Boost and Volume @ Max, Bass & Mids @ 2 o'c, and Treble @ 3 o'c. I'm fairly having to crank the output of this one - where for the Deluxe 55 I have a couple more gears to access.
Both this Eggnog and Deluxe 55 are exceptional - and you will need to decide which profile better suits your preferences and sensibilities. In terms of head-to-head status I feel that this is surely an even draw!
Feel free to to weigh in with your own opinions! I say get both!
