I got my Read Purity a couple weeks ago now, so have had a good chance to try it out in a variety of situations. I thought some of you might like to hear my impressions - if so, please bear with the ramblings below.
When I first got it, I hooked it up through my Stewart World 2.1, into my berg HT112. Was going back and forth through the Purity and my Eden WT400 (had been using as a pre for the last year). I was actually happy with the Eden head, but wanted to use it for a smaller more portable rig, and shrink and lighten my big rig rack.
At first, I couldn't believe how overwhelmingly tubey it was. Was almost mushy and a little slow in comparison to the Eden. Then I figured out that I had the gain up too high, and it turned out the mushiness I was hearing was tubey overdrive! That's something I've never gotten on the Eden.
Once I backed off the gain, the purity was absolutely crystal clear, super tight, and very even and responsive up and down my neck (i only play standard 4 string tuned EADG - can't comment on how it handles the really low stuff). No harshness though. It is very accurate, but VERY smooth at the same time. What a great complement to my Bergies!!!
I got to bring the Purity to a rehearsal the first night I got it, and playing through my Berg HT322, I was soooo happy. It has some of that tube warmth I was hoping for, but is very articulate, punchy and cuts like a mother. My drummer commented repeatedly about how he could hear me cutting through and punching a lot better with this pre. (that band has two very loud, often distorted guitars).
A couple days later, my other band, played an outdoor gig at a county fair on a pretty big stage. I wound up going direct out of the purity to the board, and using my HT322 for stage volume. I didn't get to hear the audience mix with the purity, but from all counts, it sounded really good. On stage, it was punchy as hell, very smooth, and cut through everything.
This past weekend, we did some recording in one of my guitarist's home studio, and he was floored at how good the bass sounded going direct from the purity. I actually had dialed in a tiny bit of overdrive and was getting a nice warm focused tight growl. Again, it sounded really punchy from what I heard. Tonight, I should hopefully get to hear a little bit of the recordings from that session with more rested ears.
Sunday, I played an indoor bar gig and again this thing is great. It is so clear and cuts so well. Unfortunately, I had kind of an off night - But, I could hear every subtle nuance of everything I did, even with loud drums two guitars and a horn. I don't know what the deal is or what the difference is, but this thing really seems to cut through a mix a lot better than my eden does.
I have been using the EQ bypass pretty much all the time, with the bright switch on and the deep switch on or off depending on my mood. I have left the presence knob zero'd, and added a little if I wanted a little more cut. The presence knob does seem to work. I kick it up to about 10 o'clock with the loud guitars, and don't need to be nearly as loud to cut through.
The purity seems unbelievably loud compared to the Eden. Even at the same power levels (i.e., the output levels based on the indicator lights of the Stewart to the cabinet being equal), the purity just feels louder. It's like all those arguments we've all seen about how 100W of tube power seems/is louder than 100W of solid state power. It sure seems like the stuff my ears notice cuts through a lot better on the purity than on the Eden. I don't know how to explain or if this even makes any sense at all.
Another thing that doesn't make much sense to me is as follows: I play a P/J pickup style bass, and I usually control my tone by going mostly P or blending in more of the bridge pickup depending on what I am going for. For some reason, I seem to be able to hear much more of the tonal differences I expect between these different pickup settings using the Purity than I can with the Eden. That must sound crazy, but to my ears it sure seems that way.
I have played my Eden a few times since with my HT112, and in comparison to the Purity, it seems a little nasally. I still like and will keep the Eden, but the purity right now seems like it will be the one I keep for a long time for my main rig.
With a good power and cab setup, the Purity will put out a very clean, articulate, and smooth reproduction of the bass you plug into it. It cuts great in a band setting, and I have found that I can dial in maddening amounts of warm tube overdrive if I want to (a hair of it is about as much as I ever really want).
I wish that the first gain stage came with some kind of indicator LED or something to let me know if/when I am clipping, but that is the only complaint I can think of for this bad boy right now. Very very nice preamp. Also, Jack Read is extremely responsive and helpful - great customer service is a big plus!!!
When I first got it, I hooked it up through my Stewart World 2.1, into my berg HT112. Was going back and forth through the Purity and my Eden WT400 (had been using as a pre for the last year). I was actually happy with the Eden head, but wanted to use it for a smaller more portable rig, and shrink and lighten my big rig rack.
At first, I couldn't believe how overwhelmingly tubey it was. Was almost mushy and a little slow in comparison to the Eden. Then I figured out that I had the gain up too high, and it turned out the mushiness I was hearing was tubey overdrive! That's something I've never gotten on the Eden.
Once I backed off the gain, the purity was absolutely crystal clear, super tight, and very even and responsive up and down my neck (i only play standard 4 string tuned EADG - can't comment on how it handles the really low stuff). No harshness though. It is very accurate, but VERY smooth at the same time. What a great complement to my Bergies!!!
I got to bring the Purity to a rehearsal the first night I got it, and playing through my Berg HT322, I was soooo happy. It has some of that tube warmth I was hoping for, but is very articulate, punchy and cuts like a mother. My drummer commented repeatedly about how he could hear me cutting through and punching a lot better with this pre. (that band has two very loud, often distorted guitars).
A couple days later, my other band, played an outdoor gig at a county fair on a pretty big stage. I wound up going direct out of the purity to the board, and using my HT322 for stage volume. I didn't get to hear the audience mix with the purity, but from all counts, it sounded really good. On stage, it was punchy as hell, very smooth, and cut through everything.
This past weekend, we did some recording in one of my guitarist's home studio, and he was floored at how good the bass sounded going direct from the purity. I actually had dialed in a tiny bit of overdrive and was getting a nice warm focused tight growl. Again, it sounded really punchy from what I heard. Tonight, I should hopefully get to hear a little bit of the recordings from that session with more rested ears.
Sunday, I played an indoor bar gig and again this thing is great. It is so clear and cuts so well. Unfortunately, I had kind of an off night - But, I could hear every subtle nuance of everything I did, even with loud drums two guitars and a horn. I don't know what the deal is or what the difference is, but this thing really seems to cut through a mix a lot better than my eden does.
I have been using the EQ bypass pretty much all the time, with the bright switch on and the deep switch on or off depending on my mood. I have left the presence knob zero'd, and added a little if I wanted a little more cut. The presence knob does seem to work. I kick it up to about 10 o'clock with the loud guitars, and don't need to be nearly as loud to cut through.
The purity seems unbelievably loud compared to the Eden. Even at the same power levels (i.e., the output levels based on the indicator lights of the Stewart to the cabinet being equal), the purity just feels louder. It's like all those arguments we've all seen about how 100W of tube power seems/is louder than 100W of solid state power. It sure seems like the stuff my ears notice cuts through a lot better on the purity than on the Eden. I don't know how to explain or if this even makes any sense at all.
Another thing that doesn't make much sense to me is as follows: I play a P/J pickup style bass, and I usually control my tone by going mostly P or blending in more of the bridge pickup depending on what I am going for. For some reason, I seem to be able to hear much more of the tonal differences I expect between these different pickup settings using the Purity than I can with the Eden. That must sound crazy, but to my ears it sure seems that way.
I have played my Eden a few times since with my HT112, and in comparison to the Purity, it seems a little nasally. I still like and will keep the Eden, but the purity right now seems like it will be the one I keep for a long time for my main rig.
With a good power and cab setup, the Purity will put out a very clean, articulate, and smooth reproduction of the bass you plug into it. It cuts great in a band setting, and I have found that I can dial in maddening amounts of warm tube overdrive if I want to (a hair of it is about as much as I ever really want).
I wish that the first gain stage came with some kind of indicator LED or something to let me know if/when I am clipping, but that is the only complaint I can think of for this bad boy right now. Very very nice preamp. Also, Jack Read is extremely responsive and helpful - great customer service is a big plus!!!
