Delano Sonar 3-band vs. Glockenklang 3-band

MysticMichael · #1 06-30-2008, 09:49 PM

I've recently been scoping out boutique-quality onboard preamps. Here's a couple of beauties - the Delano Sonar 3-band and the Glockenklang 3-band, each of which is German engineered, each of which offers hi-fi performance. But how do they sound?

Anyone here with experience of either or both? Care to share your impressions of how each of these compares with the other?

MM

CrashClint · #2 07-01-2008, 07:36 AM

I installed a Glockenklang into a friends Roscoe and I think it sounds great. Nice tight bass, a mid that has the ability to cut through the mix and a nice rounded high that is not too brittle. Here are a couple of post you can read on the Glock as well.

Glockenklang Preamp

6 string / Audere pre settings

Gearhead17 · #3 07-01-2008, 10:45 AM

I like the Glock I installed in one of my basses - very clear tone and lets my Delano Pickups speak very clearly. I don't think you can go wrong with either of them. I think you would be hard pressed to tell the difference.

Shiveringbass · #4 07-01-2008, 11:06 AM

Clint, you beat me on this one, once more

I've recently installed a Glockenklang 3 ways pre and Delano pickups in my Roscoe.

All my impressions, including recent gig repport are in the thread Clint posted above.

In the end, that Glock is a fantastic pre with three bands of eq very usefull, a great usable balance and an option to switch to passive with a tone rolloff. Perfectly versatyle.

For the Delano pre, I've never test it so I won't comment.

**Ric5** · #5 07-01-2008, 11:14 AM

I have not tried either of those preamps. But I have been considering several preamps. I recently got an Audere 3 knob 4 band and put it in my Rickenbacker 4004L. The 4 band eq is nice. It gives me high and low mids. I also put in East j-retro in my jazz bass and I am very pleased with that preamp.

bongomania · #6 07-01-2008, 11:19 AM

I actually have an appointment Weds to spend a couple of hours auditioning the two preamps side by side. Chance at Fearless Guitars here in PDX has similar basses with each of those two preamps installed. It won't be a "perfect" AB test since the basses will have different pickups, wood, etc., but I'll do whatever I can to even it out. I'll post here afterward.

MysticMichael · #7 07-01-2008, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

I actually have an appointment Weds to spend a couple of hours auditioning the two preamps side by side. Chance at Fearless Guitars here in PDX has similar basses with each of those two preamps installed. It won't be a "perfect" AB test since the basses will have different pickups, wood, etc., but I'll do whatever I can to even it out. I'll post here afterward.

That sounds great. I'll look forward to getting your impressions...

MM

MysticMichael · #8 07-01-2008, 11:37 AM

Thanks for all the replies thus far, guys...

The thing I find interesting about the Glock pre is that the highs are centered @ 18kHz - which is way off the charts compared with nearly every other preamp I know, including the Delano. But having read through those threads supplied to me by Clint, I noticed that at least one of you Glock owners (I think it was Shiveringbass) had described the Glock's highs as "smooth" or "rounded" - which is not exactly what one might expect.

My guess would be that the Glock's highs are so very high that they add only a little sparkle or sheen on top of the tone - because they're not voiced low enough to ever get harsh or abrasive. But that's pure speculation on my part, as I've never heard one - or the Delano either for that matter.

Looking forward to lots more posts on this subject...

MM

bongomania · #9 07-01-2008, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

The thing I find interesting about the Glock pre is that the highs are centered @ 18kHz... I noticed that at least one of you Glock owners (I think it was Shiveringbass) had described the Glock's highs as "smooth" or "rounded" - which is not exactly what one might expect... My guess would be that the Glock's highs are so very high that they add only a little sparkle or sheen on top of the tone...

I've read a number of reviews that say exactly that. The high control just adds "air" or "shine" or "bite" to the tone, without adding clank or ear-stabbing that you can get from boosting the more normal "high" range for a bass guitar.

Of course one may expect that a lot of the lower notes on the instrument won't even have audible harmonics anywhere near that high; so my only concern about having the high control way up there is that I can't use it to roll the high harmonics off my lower notes in the manner of a tone pot.

Shiveringbass · #10 07-01-2008, 01:59 PM

My short experience with the Glock pre (3 weeks I think) shows :

1) Yes those high ends centred at 18khz are realy not britle or clinky and even less arsh.

And to my ears, it is just fantastic. The tone stay natural as if you were opening the sound of your bass little by little. It just add that clarity needed for taping or slapping without any unwanted noise or arsh agressive frequences.

2) That control also add clarity to lower notes. The whole tone takes benefits of that opening up.

Regards

MysticMichael · #11 07-04-2008, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

I actually have an appointment Weds to spend a couple of hours auditioning the two preamps side by side. Chance at Fearless Guitars here in PDX has similar basses with each of those two preamps installed. It won't be a "perfect" AB test since the basses will have different pickups, wood, etc., but I'll do whatever I can to even it out. I'll post here afterward.

Hey, what's the verdict on your preamp listening test, Bongo? Inquiring minds want to know...

MM

MysticMichael · #12 11-28-2008, 01:42 PM

Bump!

MM

MysticMichael · #13 08-08-2011, 02:04 AM

Two year, nine month bump!

MM

stanknuckle · #14 08-08-2011, 06:22 AM

I had a delano 2 band. Also did the passive thing. I could not get a bad tone out of it. The bass control went as deep as you wanted but remained clean everywhere. The treble boosted to the max remained snappy with no brittleness and no hum. The treble control acted as the passive tone control and when maxed out, gave a vintage vibe, as I sensed the tone was rolled off at the top end. That preamp made my bass sound clean, tight, thick and punchy. I cant imagine what a mid control, and a heap of dip switches would do but add a dizzying array of useable tones. I went delano over the glock purely for the treble frequency difference... I dont want or need 18khz in my sound. Installation was easy and the big orange cap looked great in there. I used the passive tone a lot and it was for me the near perfect tone.

stanknuckle · #15 08-08-2011, 06:24 AM

Try something different and go Delano.
I had a delano 2 band. Also did the passive thing. I could not get a bad tone out of it. The bass control went as deep as you wanted but remained clean everywhere. The treble boosted to the max remained snappy with no brittleness and no hum. The treble control acted as the passive tone control and when maxed out, gave a vintage vibe, as I sensed the tone was rolled off at the top end. That preamp made my bass sound clean, tight, thick and punchy. I cant imagine what a mid control, and a heap of dip switches would do but add a dizzying array of useable tones. I went delano over the glock purely for the treble frequency difference... I dont want or need 18khz in my sound. Installation was easy and the big orange cap looked great in there. I used the passive tone a lot and it was for me the near perfect tone.

jacojbass · #16 08-08-2011, 06:33 AM

I have a glock in my lakland 55-01....smoothest pre I have ever used, the treble is not harsh at all.....just puts a nice sheen on you sound...the lows and mids are centered nicly and clear not muddy at all. truly the least coloring pre I have ever used....

MysticMichael · #17 08-10-2011, 02:14 AM

They both seem great. But I'm leaning in favor of the Delano.

I actually have a particular application in mind - a new fretted Carvin LB75, in which I'll probably install a set of DiMarzio Ultra Jazz pickups (love those). I already have an LB70 with a set of Ultra Jazz, but that one also has an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp, which has a very powerful, hyped-up low end.

The OBP-3 really is overkill IMHO - and would be especially for a five-string, which doesn't really need an excessively powerful low end boost. I'm looking for something more balanced & transparent, but in a somewhat traditional active knob/switch configuration (i.e. not stacked pots/knobs), and a more traditional high end voicing. Having a midrange control with three switchable frequency centers would also be really nice to counteract the modest mid-scoop of the Ultra Jazzes too...

MM

stanknuckle · #18 08-10-2011, 09:06 PM

Yes! Bout time someone else has gone with Delano. Cant wait to read your opinion of it

blindrabbit · #19 08-12-2011, 03:49 PM

I'm also looking forward to hearing some more about Delano preamps. Looking forward to the review.

MysticMichael · #20 08-12-2011, 06:56 PM

It'll be awhile, gents. I haven't even ordered the new instrument yet. Once I do, it generally takes Carvin about eight weeks or so to build it, then ship it cross country. I then have to get the aftermarket components installed locally, before I can even begin to play it.

I wouldn't expect to be at that point until at least the end of October - probably later. Don't hold your breath...

MM