The latest tube-based monster from Metasonix puts tubes where they were not meant to go. They call their new effects box the TX-2 Butt Probe, and it makes creative use of worthless old television tubes that were never meant for audio applications.

We’re not sure exactly why it’s called the Butt Probe, but the case features a cartoon illustration of an alien preparing to administer just that.

I don’t know about you, but at the Axehole, we think word play about butts is kind of offensive.

via Synthtopia:

The Metasonix TX-2 is made with three type 4BN6 beam modulator devices. They were originally intended for use in low-cost radio receivers as FM detectors, and were not meant for audio applications. That didn’t stop Metasonix, though. The company has extensive experience with using tubes in innappropriate ways.

By using the inherent non-linearity of the 4BN6 tubes, the TX-2 Butt Probe offers a broad range of distortion effects. The TX-2 can accept guitar, mic or line-level signals, but it works best with line-levels. Adjusting the Fist and Ream controls let the user vary the screen-grid voltages of the first two tubes. Fist controls the first (input) tube, and Ream the second tube in the string.

This changes each tube’s gain and distortion behavior in a drastic fashion. It can be adjusted for mild tube-ish warmth all the way to horrid screaming broken-amp ultra-distortion from hell.

Sounds interesting. I bet it can squeal. I bet it can squeal like a pig!