Eden Wow Factor?

xring · #1 08-18-2011, 04:00 PM

I'm considering picking up a used Navigator pre. On one of my rigs, I'm using an Art Pro Channel pre. I like the tones I get, and I pretty much know what it's capable of.
I have no way to test a Nav before I buy. If I spring for it, I'm wondering if the price difference and quality is going to be immediately apparent, or will it be the same, but different if you follow me...? Sort of a silly question, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Son of Bovril · #2 08-19-2011, 02:12 AM

it'll be the same but different IMO. The compressor is nice as is the easy dial enhance knob, but the real flavour is in the eq versatility of the eden

Munjibunga · #3 08-19-2011, 02:18 PM

However, if you like the tones you're getting from the ART, you'll end up trying to dial in the same tone from the Eden. I'm sure you'll find tones you like in the Eden, but do you want to pay a premium for the bells and whistles of the Eden?

FuzzBoxVoodoo · #4 08-19-2011, 02:35 PM

My take on the Navigator is that it has a very versatile EQ and is capable of alot of different tones but none of them sound great in my opinion.The pop and slap is thin and solid state sounding,I kept mine for almost 2 years but finally moved on.
basstasters.com || welcome
Steve

xring · #5 08-19-2011, 02:58 PM

Very insightful comments from all.
Thanks.

edwinhurwitz · #6 08-19-2011, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FuzzBoxVoodoo

My take on the Navigator is that it has a very versatile EQ and is capable of alot of different tones but none of them sound great in my opinion.The pop and slap is thin and solid state sounding,I kept mine for almost 2 years but finally moved on.
basstasters.com || welcome
Steve

What did you move on to? I've found my Navigator not to be thin, but everything before and after the preamp influences the sound as well.

lowmid1 · #7 08-19-2011, 03:05 PM

I liked the navigator so much that I bought a second one just to have. I absolutely love the way the thing sounds. The only way it could have been better is if the Turbo Boost control was variable and user adjustable (easily adjustable that is).

FuzzBoxVoodoo · #8 08-19-2011, 03:08 PM

In order after the Navigator is as follows... SWR Grand Prix (Eden tone but more full IMOP),Trace Elliot V-Type Preamp more of a tube type tone but still quick and clear with a ton of girth.
The SWR Grand Prix really has that clean clear sound that the Eden has just not as mid scooped which is what Im looking for (more mids).
You can hear the differences on the Bass Tasters website and judge for yourself what you prefer.
basstasters.com || welcome

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwinhurwitz

What did you move on to? I've found my Navigator not to be thin, but everything before and after the preamp influences the sound as well.

edwinhurwitz · #9 08-19-2011, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FuzzBoxVoodoo

In order after the Navigator is as follows... SWR Grand Prix (Eden tone but more full IMOP),Trace Elliot V-Type Preamp more of a tube type tone but still quick and clear with a ton of girth.
The SWR Grand Prix really has that clean clear sound that the Eden has just not as mid scooped which is what Im looking for (more mids).
You can hear the differences on the Bass Tasters website and judge for yourself what you prefer.
basstasters.com || welcome

Thanks! I've never played through the SWR Grand Prix. I have used other SWR gear, and weirdly, found them thin! That might be attributable to the speakers, though.

I've heard great things about the T-E V Type, but since I have several Fender type pres (Alembic F1X, F2B and Sarno CTP as well as a '67 Showman) I haven't had the urge to explore them.

I wonder how much scoop is actually built into the Navigator with the EQ flat and the enhance off.

FuzzBoxVoodoo · #10 08-22-2011, 07:39 AM

My SWR Grand Prix had the EQ mod done that brings them much closer to flat and that really helped to open it up.
There is an entire thread on this mod here on TB.

Tunaman · #11 08-22-2011, 07:45 AM

Fuzzbox is dead wrong

Thin? With a GK NEO cab yes, with an Epifani NYC 310, no way
Love this preamp, the semiparametric EQ is fantastic, the compressor, the LEDs, the enhance, the footswitch with mute.
Awesome stuff. I love mine.
Now that you can combine it with the Peavey IPR amps at 7 lbs its now portable.

Make sure to match with the right cab like any amp. My Streamliner SUCKS with Epifani cabs but sounds great with GK Neos, opposite for the Eden

**IvanMike** · #12 08-22-2011, 08:34 AM

Like munji said, if you dig the ART, why change?

That said, the nav is a favorite of mine. The entire WT series has a great EQ and sounds pretty darned good flat. If you like fender types you'll like it a lot better than SWR as it is a lot "fatter" sounding. The enhance control is something best used sparingly, 9 o'clock was the highest I ever used it as it's more of a global mid scoop tone control. the drive control is nothing to write home about, but IMO that's not the eden vibe. The tube does little to nothing to the tone, you can actually bypass the tube and enhance and plug right into the effects return (the EQ section has all the real gain and is post FX loop) and the amp sounds the same.

Unfortunately Eden has had some QC issues with their stuff, even before the move to China. This is sad as the preamps really are the flagship component IMO. If you can find an early unit that's even better.

Son of Bovril · #13 08-22-2011, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FuzzBoxVoodoo

My take on the Navigator is that it has a very versatile EQ and is capable of alot of different tones but none of them sound great in my opinion.The pop and slap is thin and solid state sounding,I kept mine for almost 2 years but finally moved on.
basstasters.com || welcome
Steve

I definitely wouldn't say the Nav has a thin sound? More like it is pretty clean so maybe your input signal was thin or you were running the gain stage too low? I've always been able to get a great tone out of mine and the sound engineers love the signal that is pre eq but post compressor. Plus, With that much eq ability it's difficult to believe you couldn't add a bit of thickness...

stingraysvt · #14 08-22-2011, 09:06 AM

Wow, my Nav is awesome, granted it is not in my main rig at the moment, but that's the spice of life, I really love the onboard compressor and the stereo/biamp capabilities, I used to use mine to the fullest all the time, it's also good to run the NAV pre hot and dial back on your amp to control your volume, kinda like having a hot plate for a guitarist, it just gets juicy!! I did roll a RCA tube in mine, less gain but sweeter IMO... Not sure about the ART vs the Eden but I really dig mine, never got rid of it even after 9 years.

FuzzBoxVoodoo · #15 08-22-2011, 11:11 AM

Everyones personal taste is so subjective that's why there are so many different preamps out there.
I didn't care for the Navigator because by the time I dialed in the mids where I like them and so that I would cut through the mix it didn't sound good to me and I couldn't find a tone that sounded good to me with finger style and pop and slap.
There is alot of hype about the Navigator just like there is so much hype about Eden 4x10 cabinets and I have owned both and there were nice just not for me and obviously Im not the only one who felt this way or everyone would own Eden gear.

Tunaman · #16 08-22-2011, 11:15 AM

I'm surprised Fuzzy, moving around the parametric EQ on both the mids & treble are clutch
In fact sometimes I jam the treble high but cut the high & move the frequency around.

Theres so much to play with and again it comes down to cabs. What were you using?

FuzzBoxVoodoo · #17 08-22-2011, 11:29 AM

I was using an Avatar 2x10 on top of an Avatar 2x12 or a Aguilar GS-212 with an Ibanez SR-505 with the Bart pickups.
Im now playing the SRX series Ibanez basses that have a much more aggressive pickup in them as far as cabs a GB Neox 212t or a Aguilar GS412.
My desired sound has changed since I started my journey and I have bought and sold ALOT of gear as most of us have and some of it would bump the old out of a rack space or it would go right back up for sale if I didn't like it better than what I had,who knows what I would think of a Navigator with my current setup but I have found that most EQ's don't sound right when you really tweak them alot past center (GB Streamliner is the exception).
That was just my expierence.

Tunaman · #18 08-22-2011, 12:30 PM

I had a SR-505, what a bad combo with the Eden Navigator & a hi-fi cab. I can see why you would say that now... explains a lot

A Navigator with a Bongo 5 HH & an Epifani cab is fantastic however.

Bollenator · #19 08-22-2011, 01:15 PM

I love the sound of my (almost new) Navigator, running through my Berg IP112. I have it almost flat, but with compression at about noon on both dials and the treble bumped up just a hair. Great pairing for my Berg.

I only have two minor complaints: 1) it's overkill for my set-it-and-forget-it preamp mentality and 2) it's not noiseless - there is a noticeable hiss when the stage is quiet (and no, it's not the Berg). At playing volume, it's imperceptible, but being that I'm a little OCD about such things, I do find it a tad frustrating that it's not dead quiet during breaks.

YMMV, of course. I'm quite torn as to whether those two reasons are enough to warrant offloading it, despite how great it sounds; so far, they haven't been.

Tunaman · #20 08-22-2011, 01:28 PM

Berg with Nav... GREAT pairing... yes it can be hissy too, I have my tweet turned way down