Best Plexi Pedal I've Ever Used

[HamerHokie]

I've been wanting to try it out for months, and I finally pulled the trigger on the Vahlbruch Kaluna Drive.

 

I use it to drive my two-channel Tubesteader preamp, and I have an EH Soul Food in front of it.  None of the gains are up that high, so I can stack them effectively.  This gives me six distinct flavors of gain.

Sonically, the Kaluna nails the Plexi crunch ala AC/DC.  It's not a high gain pedal by any means but I don't need it to be.  It sounds big and nasty and growley.  Highly recommended.

 

 

Edited August 2, 2025 by HamerHokie

[django49]

Is that mated with the Tubesteader Roy?

[HamerHokie]

17 hours ago, django49 said:

Is that mated with the Tubesteader Roy?

Yes, though right now I have the Magnezium in the pedalboard as the Roy needed a tube replacement.  Sounds great with the Magnezium as well.

[Brooks]

[tbonesullivan]

The best "plexi" tone I get with a pedal is still my Radial Tonebone Hot British, the tube version. Why the hell did they stop making it and the plexitube. They were such great pedals.

[seeker]

Mine is MI Super Crunch Box Ii; have had it for 2 years.  It can do many things Marshall. I got it for the low settings for that live JP loud glassy texture,  then pushing into medccrunch w/vol knob.  I'd been searching for years for a pedal that did that. Discovered it in a 9 year old youtube demo. It can also get into the Crunch Box's hot rodded territory (which have had for 15+ years). 

Unfortunately they appear to be OOB; couldn't find one.  Eventually found a clone on reverb.  Have since seen them used on there in the $300+ range.  

 

 

 

 

[bubs_42]

Huh, I generally  just use a Plexi.  

[tbonesullivan]

On 8/2/2025 at 2:46 PM, HamerHokie said:

I've been wanting to try it out for months, and I finally pulled the trigger on the Vahlbruch Kaluna Drive.

I use it to drive my two-channel Tubesteader preamp, and I have an EH Soul Food in front of it.  None of the gains are up that high, so I can stack them effectively.  This gives me six distinct flavors of gain.

Sonically, the Kaluna nails the Plexi crunch ala AC/DC.  It's not a high gain pedal by any means but I don't need it to be.  It sounds big and nasty and growley.  Highly recommended.

Incidentally, did you get the first version of the pedal, or the newer Kaluna II? They added a little switch that controls the "gain structure", like I've seen on many of the higher gain Friedman amplifiers.

[HamerHokie]

On 8/14/2025 at 8:59 AM, tbonesullivan said:

Incidentally, did you get the first version of the pedal, or the newer Kaluna II? They added a little switch that controls the "gain structure", like I've seen on many of the higher gain Friedman amplifiers.

First version.  I don't need a high gain option as I stack overdrives.