The NuX Tube Man Mk.II is a Nux overdrive pedal. Close alternatives include the MXR M264 FET Driver and the Keeley Muse Driver. It pairs well with the Friedman Dirty Shirley and the Mesa Boogie Mark V.
NuX Tube Man Mk.II
Nux · pedal
The NuX Tube Man is a compact FET-based take on the classic Tube Screamer overdrive circuit, using a FET transistor gain stage rather than the traditional op-amp design most Tube Screamer clones use. NUX chose the FET approach specifically to more closely invoke the dynamics of a real overdriven tube amp, since a FET stage naturally carries its own gain and distortion character. It delivers a dynamic, crisp overdrive with clarity that cuts through a dense mix without losing midrange fullness, and won recognition at a past Summer NAMM show. It's well suited to dirty blues and psych-rock tones ahead of a clean or lightly driven amp.
What stands out
“Standout strength is the FET-based gain stage, which reviewers consistently note produces a more tube-amp-like breakup than op-amp-based competitors at a similar price”
— from the community notes
“It delivers a dynamic, crisp overdrive with clarity that cuts through a dense mix , and won recognition at a past Summer NAMM show”
— from the listing
“FET transistor gain stage genuinely changes the pedal's character versus op-amp Tube Screamer clones, producing finer-grained, more tube-like distortion”
— from the reviews
“Positioned as a meaningful upgrade over the original Tube Man”
— from the community notes
“It's well suited to dirty blues and psych-rock tones ahead of a clean or lightly driven amp”
— from the listing
- fet
- stage
- clarity
- gain
- distortion
- rock
- mix
- transistor
Genres the NuX Tube Man Mk.II is commonly used in
Amps that pair well with the NuX Tube Man Mk.II
Friedman Dirty Shirley
Friedman
22% matchInto a transparent tone, Friedman Dirty Shirley brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa Boogie Mark V
Mesa Boogie
22% matchMesa Boogie Mark V leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Synergy SL2 Module leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Egnater Tweaker 88 Head
Egnater
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Egnater Tweaker 88 Head brings a pull toward low gain that's missing
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H
Marshall
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Friedman BE-Mini Head leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Pedals that stack with the NuX Tube Man Mk.II
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler
Dr Scientist
21% matchInto a transparent tone, Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler brings a pull toward low gain that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
JHS Smiley
JHS Pedals
21% matchJHS Smiley leans this transparent tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes later in the signal chain
Boss BF-2 Flanger
Boss
18% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep NuX Tube Man Mk.II's transparent voice out front: Boss BF-2 Flanger goes after NuX Tube Man Mk.II in the signal chain so its lush voice doesn't muddy it
Comes later in the signal chain
Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer
pedal
14% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer leans toward dynamic, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb
Alexander Pedals
10% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb's ambient voice goes after NuX Tube Man Mk.II in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with NuX Tube Man Mk.II's own transparent character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Eventide Modulated Delay
Eventide
9% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep NuX Tube Man Mk.II's transparent voice out front: Eventide Modulated Delay goes after NuX Tube Man Mk.II in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 leans this transparent tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own
Warm Audio Jet Phaser
Warm Audio
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Warm Audio Jet Phaser belongs after NuX Tube Man Mk.II, since modulation sits after the gain for a defined swirl
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
MXR M264 FET Driver
MXR
61% similarityShared character: high gain settings, stage
Keeley Muse Driver
Keeley
59% similarityShared character: gain, stage
Attic FX JFET Boost
Attic Fx
58% similarityShared character: gain, stage, lead
Fortin Amplification Kali Pre-Amp
Fortin Amplification
57% similarityShared character: gain, high gain settings, stage
Fender Duel Pugilist
Fender
57% similarityShared character: gain, distortion, stage
Electronic Audio Experiments Model feT V3.8
Electronic Audio Experiments
56% similarityShared character: gain, stage
DigiTech DOD Gunslinger Mosfet Distortion
Digitech
56% similarityShared character: gain, distortion, lead
Wampler Ratsbane Mini Distortion
Wampler
54% similarityShared character: true bypass, gain, distortion
Wampler TCD Compulsion Drive
Wampler
54% similarityShared character: gain, distortion, stage
Klon Centaur
Klon
54% similarityShared character: stage
Silktone Overdrive Plus
Silktone
54% similarityShared character: high gain settings, mix, distortion
Boss FA-1 FET Amp
Boss
53% similarityShared character: stage
See all alternatives to the NuX Tube Man Mk.II (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the NuX Tube Man Mk.II?+
The closest matches in character are the MXR M264 FET Driver, the Keeley Muse Driver, the Attic FX JFET Boost.
What pairs well with the NuX Tube Man Mk.II?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Friedman Dirty Shirley, Mesa Boogie Mark V, Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt — Into a transparent tone, Friedman Dirty Shirley brings a pull toward high gain that's missing.