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T-Rex SpinDoctor £579

T-Rex’s programmable preamp pedal is a design tour de force, but is it worth the cash?

T-Rex SpinDoctor

Not many knobs, but the T-Rex SpinDoctor's motorised controls facilitate easy patch editing

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Based in Denmark, T-Rex has a great reputation for its range of high-end stompboxes used by such luminaries as Pete Townshend, David Gilmour and Carlos Santana. Here we’re looking at the T-Rex SpinDoctor, a four-channel programmable valve preamp with optional speaker simulation that can also be used as an overdrive or distortion pedal.

Design and construction 

Like the other T-Rex products we've seen, the SpinDoctor is solid and beautifully constructed. The cream paintwork isn't quite what we'd have used for a snarling rock 'n' roll machine, but it has a certain retro charm.

The four footswitches are generously spaced on a raised ridge, and most of the controls are arranged behind in three groups. The first group contains the tube drive control and a boost button, while the third has the master volume control and a button for storing presets. In the middle is a single tone knob along with four buttons (bass, mid, treble, presence) for selecting which parameter to adjust. All of these pushbuttons light up when engaged, as do each of the four channel indicators.

On the rear panel there's a single guitar input and dual outputs (one with speaker simulation applied) plus a MIDI input and a connection for the DC adaptor. Two small knobs, marked sim level and frequency, allow you to fine-tune the character of the speaker simulation. These knobs are spring-mounted, meaning you can push them out of the way to avoid accidental adjustment.

In use 

"In the broadest sense the SpinDoctor's tone is more Fender than Marshall although such comparisons are a slight oversimplification due to the wide range of the tone controls."

To get a complete idea of what the SpinDoctor can do, we started off using the speaker simulator, plugging straight into a mixing desk and studio monitors. The SpinDoctor has already been set up with a representative selection of sounds, ranging from totally clean to full-on overdrive, so we started by tweaking the two speaker simulator knobs. With the Frequency control too high, we found the sound became a little honky, so we backed it off to just over 50 percent - although your ideal setting will obviously depend on your setup.

Even with the speaker simulator's level control up full, the output level is initially a lot lower than on the average all-in-one modelling unit. This is mostly because the first channel is preset with a clean sound and only about 50 percent on the master volume. More overdriven settings result in a much healthier output level. Still, with the huge gain range available from the SpinDoctor, it's worth spending a bit of time balancing the output levels of the four channels because clean sounds can end up being disproportionately quiet.

Motorised controls

One of the most unique features of the SpinDoctor is the way it changes between channel settings. There are four channels, one set of controls and no numerical display, so how do you know what settings you've saved for each channel? Simple: motorised controls.

When you've tweaked the controls for a particular channel to your liking, just hit the Store button to commit it to the SpinDoctor's memory. Now, every time you return to that channel, the knobs spin impressively back to your chosen settings.

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MusicRadar rating

4.5 of 5

Pros

Fantastic tones. Novel motorised controls/channel switching.
Cons

Noticeable delay when changing patches. Expensive.
Verdict

A fusion of old and new technologies, the T-Rex SpinDoctor proves highly desirable in both its design and tone - although it's highly priced.
Review Policy

All MusicRadar's reviews are by independent product specialists, who are not aligned to any gear manufacturer or retailer. Our experts also write for renowned magazines such as Guitarist, Total Guitar, Computer Music, Future Music and Rhythm. All are part of Future PLC, the biggest publisher of music making magazines in the world.

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Specification

SpinDoctor

Price:
£579
Country of Origin:
Denmark
Features:
Four independently programmable channels with motorised knobs, four-band EQ, twin valves, speaker simulator
Available Inputs:
Input Jack
Available Outputs:
direct output
Battery/Adaptor Type:
DC adaptor
Channels:
4
MIDI:
true
Outputs:
Speaker simulator
Valve/Tube Details:
Twin valves

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