Crazy Tube Circuits Venus Overdrive

A real tube overdrive inspired by a classic!

The Crazy Tube Circuits Venus is a real tube overdrive pedal inspired by the legendary BK Butler/Chandler Tube Driver.

From smooth, touch-sensitive overdrive to full-blown high-gain distortion, Venus delivers the warm compression and saturation that made the original a favorite of guitarists like Eric Johnson, David Gilmour, Joe Satriani, J Mascis, and Billy Gibbons.

Crazy Tube Circuits refined this classic design with modern enhancements while maintaining its signature tone.

Unlike the original, which used a bulky internal transformer, Venus operates on a standard 9V DC power supply, eliminating unwanted noise and hum. An internal voltage booster ensures the tube operates at the same ±15V conditions as the vintage units.

Authentic tube drive with modern flexibility.

Like the original, Venus uses a real tube to shape its sound. It comes loaded with an ECC832 tube, combining characteristics of both high-gain (ECC83) and low-gain (ECC82) triodes for a balanced tone with smooth compression and string separation.

You can also swap in other compatible tubes—including ECC83, ECC81, ECC82, 5751, and 12AY7—to fine-tune your sound.

A bias control lets you adjust the tube’s cathode bias, altering the overdrive texture from gritty and aggressive to smooth and creamy. This feature, originally found in rack versions of the Tube Driver, allows for deeper tone shaping.

Enhanced EQ & tonal sculpting.

Venus features a 3-band EQ (Lo, Mid, Hi), giving you full control over the frequency response—something the original Tube Driver lacked.

A Fat/Tight switch adjusts the low and low-mid frequencies before they hit the gain stages, offering either a full-bodied drive or a more focused, articulate response.

Buffered or unbuffered output.

While the original Tube Driver had a high output impedance that could cause signal degradation, Venus includes a buffered line driver switch to ensure signal integrity.

Whether using the pedal in true bypass mode or engaging the buffer, your tone stays clear and strong.

Built for the modern pedalboard.

Despite its powerful features, Venus comes in a compact enclosure, less than half the size of the original pedal!

It features top-mounted jacks for easy pedalboard integration, a click-less true bypass relay, and a power-up bypass/engage preset function, ideal for users with remote switchers.

Crazy Tube Circuits Venus Overdrive Features:

• Real tube overdrive inspired by the BK Butler Tube Driver.

• Compact design—less than half the size of the original unit!

• Comes loaded with a ECC832 tube.

• Controls: Drive, Bias, Volume, 3-band EQ (Hi, Mid, Lo).

• Fat/Tight switch – Adjusts low and low-mid response.

• Buffered line driver switch – Ensures strong signal transmission.

• Internal voltage booster to ±15V DC, just like the classic units.

• Click-less true bypass relay switching.

• Power: 9V DC.

• Current Draw: 500mA.

• Dimensions: 4.96" x 2.60" x 2.24".