The COOLTRON Snake Charmer Compressor pedal uses a 12AU7 preamp-type tube at low voltage to deliver the kind of tone that, until now, would have been impossible to achieve in a battery-powered pedal.

Tame your tone with the Snake Charmer Compressor. The result? Silky smooth, mesmerizing tone that behaves as it should. The Snake Charmer's compression affects the ratio and threshold of the signal, smoothing out peaks and spikes. At the same time, the Snake Charmer also increases the Gain level to complement the corresponding ratio and threshold settings so that the overall gain remains constant.

There's also a Gain Reduction Indicator that gives you visual cues of the results of your settings. And a High/Low Switch lets you choose between two overall levels of ratio. The Snake Charmer effect pedal is equipped with other controls for Attack, which determines how quickly the gain reduction kicks in, and Release, which determines how long the gain is attenuated. Finally, the High-End Emphasis control fine-tunes the amount of compression applied to the top end of the guitar signal.

Want to know how it all works?
Normally, tubes are used at high voltages and this restricts their use in battery-powered devices such as guitar effects pedals. Historically, attempts have been made to use tubes at low voltages in what has been dubbed "starvation" mode, but these circuits don't allow the tube to function in an acceptable manner. The tube simply cannot be biased to a satisfactory operating condition. Plus, the necessary heater (filament) current is too high to deliver acceptable battery life. Imagine how annoying it would be to have to change batteries every ten minutes during a gig!

Here's what makes the Vox COOLTRON system tick. The COOLTRON circuit basically operates by using two very special signal paths. The first is the servo circuit, which provides the right conditions between the plate of the tube and the grid. This achieves controllable, stable parameters for the tube and provides the correct operating conditions for the tube to function as it would if run at a higher voltage. The second circuit is a patented power supply that provides a low voltage, low current supply to the heater elements in the tube. Since the tube is now running at such a reduced supply level, the anode current is much smaller than normal. This means that the amount of heat required at the cathode to achieve sufficient cathode current emission is much smaller hence the ability to run the heaters at a lower level and for COOLTRON guitar pedals to run for 16 hours on 4 x AA batteries!

The COOLTRON system provides true tube sonic performance at very low voltage and at reduced heater current ideal for inclusion into the COOLTRON Snake Charmer Compressor pedal.

Vox Cooltron CT05CO Snake Charmer Compressor Pedal Includes:

• Four AA alkaline batteries

Tame your tone. Call or click today to order.

Vox Cooltron CT05CO Snake Charmer Compressor Pedal Specifications:

• Connection: Input: x1 (guitar input), Output: x1 (line output)
• Input / Output Impedance: 830 k-ohm / 4 k-ohm
• Tube: 12AU7 (ECC82)
• Power Supply: Four AA alkaline batteries or DC9V AC adapter
• Battery Life: Approx. 18 hours
• Current Consumption: 95 mA
• Dimensions: 168.5 (W) x 155.5 (D) x 64.0 (H) mm / 6.63" (W) x 6.12" (D) x 2.52" (H)
• Weight: 1,007 g (excluding batteries / 1,102 g including batteries)

Vox Cooltron CT05CO Snake Charmer Compressor Pedal

Write A Review

Average of 2 User Ratings

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

Customer Reviews

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

A Must Have

Posted by Love Interrupted from Lexington, KY on Jan 27, 2010

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Independant Artist

Reviewer's Play Style: Psychedlic Folk

First thing that will strike you is the build quality. It is superb and sturdy (the battery door will cut you if not careful). My only complaint is that it does not come with a travel bag. The tone is terrific. I play a Squire but the presence it gives is amazing. The shallow pickups need no worry with this pedal. Thick is all i can say, thick and you can control your sound very well with the knobs.

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

It's a compressor

Posted by Alexander from Philadelphia on Nov 19, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Experienced Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Rock, Alternative, Indie

Compression is like deodorant. You don't notice when you have it as much as when you don't and really need it. Vox's attempt at a boutique compression is a little on the gimmicky side. But that's okay. I can't say that the Keely compressor is SO much better than a Dyna Comp that I'd pay THREE times the price for it. I got my pedal on sale and I'm happy with it. It's better than my MXR Super Comp in that it gives a LOT more control over the compression itself. Vox gets that part right. I get annoyed when compressors let you tweak the attack and sustain but NOT compression ratios and levels. It doesn't make sense. This unit does it. It's also quieter than the compressors I've used in the past. My main gripe with it is that it's obese. It takes up a third of my pedal board. If it's on sale, pick one up. If it's not, get a Super Comp and save room on your board for the fun effects.

If you would like to write a review, please see our product review guidelines.

Vox Cooltron CT05CO Snake Charmer Compressor Pedal

Read 2 Reviews