Hagerman Reactivator
Over the last couple of weeks I've been testing the new Reactivator pedal from Hagerman. I was excited to try the Reactivator as it's an entirely new design for a tube pedal. It's similar in topology to the BK Butler Tube Driver (solid-state boost into valve overdrive into the solid-state buffer), but that's where the similarities end.
Here is a little info from the Hagerman website:
During the early days of TV, if a picture tube grew dim, servicemen could perform a trick called "reactivation," where heater voltage was overdriven to the point of regenerating a poisoned cathode, thus restoring brightness. That's where the name of this pedal comes from! Increasing power from 9V to 12V adds another 6dB of gain for even higher performance.
Right off the bat, you will notice the Reactivator runs on a standard 9v adapter, which is rare for a pedal with an actual tube in it. Often you need a separate power supply, and some of the older tube pedals had a power cable installed into the pedal. Not convenient. Plus, the ability to ramp this pedal up to 12v for more gain is a nice addition as well!
Jim Hagerman cleverly designed this tube pedal, making it easy to swap in and out of any pedalboard. Of course, this isn't surprising coming from someone with such a history in designing and making analog circuits.
Sound
The BK Butler Tube Driver pedal had a special attack. Although the Reactivator isn't an exact remake, this pedal has that Tube Driver attack.
One way I like to categorize drive pedals is by how soft or tight they feel. For example, the Tube Screamer pedal feels and sounds soft. Whereas a Rat pedal is more stiff or tight. I think about the kind of articulation or attack I want when I choose a pedal.
Sometimes an attack that’s too soft or a sound that’s too loose won't suit a session or gig. Choosing drive pedals isn't just about how much gain each pedal has. It's as much about the flavor of the gain.
The Reactivator a versatile. For example, you could use it as a preamp pedal in front of a clean or dirty amp to color the sound or slightly compress the tone with a real tube.
My favorite use for the Reactivator is getting mid to heavier overdriven tones, as it excels here in a way other pedals don't. The Reactivator doesn't smear or get mushy, either, and notes retain definition. This clarity makes the Reactivator an excellent pedal for rhythm guitar and lead.
I also used the Reactivator as a clean boost pedal to push the front end of my tube amps, in place of a Klon, EP Booster, or Fat Boost. In fact, it was hard to make the Reactivator sound bad—a great problem to have.
Trying the Reactivator with various guitars and amps, I found it paired well in all situations. In general, I'm not the biggest fan of heavily compressed drive pedals. So although I use Tube Screamers, they're not my go-to as they're pretty compressed and mushy.
The Reactivator shined whether I used a Marshall Plexi, Vox, Blackface, or Tweed Fender.
Parallel Lines
I use some pedals in a "chain," meaning the amp will be overdriven and I add a pedal for additional gain. Cascading gain this way produces a more natural overdriven and less-compressed tone than simply using a single pedal for all the gain.
When I use an amp as half of the gain chain, I use Marshall, Vox, or Tweed. The Reactivator was quite pleasing when cascading to get rock tones, as it maintained the sound of the pick hitting the guitar strings.
I rarely use a perfectly clean platform such as a Twin Reverb. I like a little hair, even on my clean sound. So my amp volume is often between five and six, depending on the amp.
Channel Switch
I sometimes find it challenging to turn a Tube Screamer on and off because it's a drastic change of scene. It changes the EQ curve quite a bit. Sometimes this can be welcome, but I don't find it desirable most of the time. I don't find the one-knob tone control on a Tube Screamer that helpful.
The Reactivator has both treble and bass control knobs, both of which I used when swapping guitars and amps. Plugging the Reactivator insert wasn't as drastic a scene change as a TS circuit. Plus, the Reactivator’s flexible EQ made it easy to tweak the tone. The EQ controls are adequate but not harsh. I've experienced pedals whose EQ was either not very active or harsh.
Features List
True bypass switching
20dB gain (30dB with boost)
12AU7 tube
Drive, bass, treble, level controls
110k ohm input impedance
90Hz to 7kHz bandwidth
9V @ 135mA power (up to 12V)
All examples were recorded into UAD Luna.
Samples
EX:1
Fender Telecaster (with flatwounds), Reactivator, Victoria 35115 (Tweed Pro), UAD OX, Waves Abbey Road ADT, UAD Lexicon 224 reverb, API 312 mic pres
EX:2
Fender Stratocaster (FSC '59 pickups), Reactivator, Victoria 35115 (Tweed Pro), UAD OX, UAD Lexicon 224 reverb, API 312 mic pres
EX:3
Fender Stratocaster (FSC '59 pickups), Reactivator, Victoria 35115 (Tweed Pro), UAD OX, API 312 mic pres
EX4:
Gibson SG '61 Custom Reissue (Gemini PAF pickups), Reactivator (Red), Headstrong Lil’ King (blackface Princeton) with spring reverb, UAD OX, API 312 mic pres
EX:5
Gibson SG '61 Custom Reissue (Gemini PAF pickups), Reactivator (Green), Headstrong Lil’ King (blackface Princeton) with spring reverb, UAD OX, API 312 mic pres
EX:6
Fender Telecaster (with flatwounds), Reactivator, Victoria 35115 (Tweed Pro), UAD OX, API 312 mic pres
EX:7
Gibson SG '61 Custom Reissue (Gemini PAF pickups), Reactivator bypass, Marshall SV20H Plexi, UAD OX, API 312 mic pres
EX:8
Gibson SG '61 Custom Reissue (Gemini PAF pickups), Reactivator (green), Marshall SV20H Plexi, UAD OX, API 312 mic pres
EX:9
Gibson SG '61 Custom Reissue (Gemini PAF pickups), Reactivator (bypass, red, green), Vox AC15, UAD OX, API 312 mic pres
EX:10
Gibson SG '61 Custom Reissue (Gemini PAF pickups), Reactivator (red), Vox AC15, UAD OX, API 312 mic pres
EX:11
Gibson SG '61 Custom Reissue (Gemini PAF pickups), Reactivator (green), Vox AC15, UAD OX, API 312 mic pres
Guitar pedals also make great tools for other instruments. I use guitar pedals all the time while sound sculpting synths and while mixing. Here are two examples using the Reactivator with an analog synth for feedback-like dissonance.
EX:12
Dave Smith OB-6 analog synth, Reactivator, API 312 mic pres, Lexicon 224 reverb
EX:13
Dave Smith OB-6 analog synth, Reactivator, API 312 mic pres, Lexicon 224 reverb
