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Description
Coopersonic Audio Engineering produce a range of hand-wired effects in Nottingham, England. Not all of them feature vacuum tubes, but two of their most talked-about pedals — the Valveslapper and Tubecleaner — make no secret of their valve-centric design. The Tubecleaner is described as a valve booster and buffer and, with just one knob to control volume, it's the simpler and more compact of the two pedals. While the larger Valveslapper uses a pair of full-sized, dual-triode valves, the Tubecleaner employs a single sub-miniature 6112 valve, which is a military-spec dual-triode.
The Valveslapper, billed as a tube overdrive, has controls for volume, bass, treble and gain — amusingly (or not, depending on your point of view) labelled thrust, balls, tits and ass, respectively. Inside are two 6N2P-EV valves, which can be swapped for 12AX7s or, indeed, 12AU7s or 12AT7s if you wish to experiment with the amount of gain on tap. Neither pedal features any kind of vent or opening to let out heat generated by the valves. Preamp-type valves like these do not produce anything like the heat of the larger valves you'd find in a guitar amp's power section, but the Valveslapper, in particular, does get very warm in use. This will ultimately shorten the life of the valves and possibly other components too, although their life span should nevertheless be long. In short, it's not ideal, but it's not catastrophic either!
Videos
gearmanndude
Coopersonic Valve Slapper guitar effects pedal demo
Coopersonic Valve Slapper guitar effects pedal demo
gearmanndude
Valveslapper
Loud Guitars
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Coopersonic Valveslapper Dual-Valve Distortion.
Comparisons
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The Coopersonic Valveslapper is often compared to the ProCo RAT for its thick, saturated distortion but offers a more valve-like warmth and responsiveness.
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The Valveslapper's potential role in replicating Alex Turner's tone suggests it can stand alongside renowned fuzz pedals like the EQD Terminal and Watson Super Fuzz for similar sonic textures.
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Features and functionality
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The pedal's dual-valve configuration is praised for providing a richer harmonic content compared to single-valve designs, enhancing its tonal depth.
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User experience
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Owners report that the Valveslapper excels at sustaining notes with a creamy texture, particularly suitable for blues and classic rock styles.
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Owners note the Valveslapper's role in achieving distinct Arctic Monkeys tones, particularly in conjunction with minimalistic pedal setups, highlighting its effectiveness in capturing signature sounds.
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Build quality
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Users appreciate the robust construction, noting the high-quality footswitch and durable metal casing, which withstands frequent gigging without reliability issues.
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Use cases and applications
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Ideal for players seeking a thick, vintage-inspired overdrive, the Valveslapper is favored for its ability to deliver both subtle warmth and aggressive distortion.
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The Valveslapper was used by Alex Turner for live performances with minimal additional pedals, indicating its versatility and reliability in varied musical settings.
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Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 4 Ratings
3956
An Abundance of Dirt Options
The Valveslapper has been on my list for quite some time. In 2011, Arctic Monkeys released Suck It and See - filled with guitar lines beautifully mixing '90s stoner rock and '60s california pop.
I was surprised to see a majority of dirt used on their tours since, particularly by Alex Turner, was the Coopersonic Valveslapper. After a decade I was finally able to get my hands on one and it was a great purchase. While it certainly excels at distortion, I really found pushing the gain up gives you a creamy fuzz.
Since then, I've tried my main board without it -- a board with multiple fuzz and drive options -- but as great as those options may be, there's just something entirely unique about the way the Valveslapper fills the room.
Artist usage
Add artist
Alex Turner uses a Coopersonic Valveslapper Duel Valve Distortion pedal on his board since Arctic Monkeys 3rd album recording and tour. This pedal is what Alex famously uses for the tone of “Do I Wanna Know” among other pedals, amps and his 12-String Guitar. Turner also has the original model of the Coopersonic, red in color, that he has switched to and from during his career.
Pictured is both Alex’s and Jamie Cook’s pedalboards backstage during the “Humbug” tour in 2009-2010. The Valveslapper can be seen in the middle of Turner’s board on the left next to his vintage TS808.
Album Usage
The Coopersonic Valveslapper Dual-Valve Distortion has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Coopersonic Valveslapper Dual-Valve Distortion, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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