The Oracle is my new favorite preamplifier. Mine is integrated into one of Micah's ultralinear amps. Good sounding clips, brother. 
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I have one of the blue 70 watters that might be available....
Ah man, the want for one of these is very hard to resist
I have a question for you pre-amp guys.....
In the massive pre-amp thread, many of the top contenders are very similar sounding
to one another... and the Zephyr is one of the best for sure.
However, all of these amps are not "tube" pre-amps in the traditional sense.
Yes, they all seem to have a tube in them....
I am not sure who currently makes an "all-tube" pre-amp and there might not be anyone who does.
But has anyone compared the Noble, Zephyr or similar to a Ampeg SVP, Aguilar 680 or similar?
In the massive pre-amp thread, many of the top contenders are very similar sounding
to one another... and the Zephyr is one of the best for sure.
However, all of these amps are not "tube" pre-amps in the traditional sense.
Yes, they all seem to have a tube in them....
I am not sure who currently makes an "all-tube" pre-amp and there might not be anyone who does.
But has anyone compared the Noble, Zephyr or similar to a Ampeg SVP, Aguilar 680 or similar?
I'm not sure how the Zephyr is not a tube preamp. One tube, two triode sections for gain and EQ. Older ones had a second tube to buffer the outputs, newer ones (like mine) use MOSFETS - the buffers contribute essentially no coloration, so it doesn't matter (this according to Micah).
I don't have an Ampeg SVP, but I have an SVT-3Pro, which uses three tubes in the preamp (the SVP-Pro is essentially this preamp). The Ampeg gets pleasingly thick and can have a crunchy attack when the gain is turned up, the Zephyr gets warmer but retains a lot more clarity. I sometimes rack the Zephyr along with the Ampeg, and switch them using the effects loop, a separate preamp with a different sound for each of two basses.
I had a Demeter VTBP-201 on loan for a while, evaluating it for possible purchase. It had a pleasing baked-in mid scoop (Fenderish tone stack, I think), "DC-to-daylight" frequency response, and the clarity was incredible. I ended up not buying it even though it was available at a very good price - it was just too clean to suit my tastes. Don't get me wrong, it's a very good preamp, but the Zephyr has more of the tube character I really like.
I don't have an Ampeg SVP, but I have an SVT-3Pro, which uses three tubes in the preamp (the SVP-Pro is essentially this preamp). The Ampeg gets pleasingly thick and can have a crunchy attack when the gain is turned up, the Zephyr gets warmer but retains a lot more clarity. I sometimes rack the Zephyr along with the Ampeg, and switch them using the effects loop, a separate preamp with a different sound for each of two basses.
I had a Demeter VTBP-201 on loan for a while, evaluating it for possible purchase. It had a pleasing baked-in mid scoop (Fenderish tone stack, I think), "DC-to-daylight" frequency response, and the clarity was incredible. I ended up not buying it even though it was available at a very good price - it was just too clean to suit my tastes. Don't get me wrong, it's a very good preamp, but the Zephyr has more of the tube character I really like.
Can you get the single tube Zephyr to over drive? I would imagine that the explanation of how a single tube pre can replicate the behavior of a full tube pre is quite complicated.... and beyond my pay grade!
Unfortunately, being in the UK means that that's a whole lot of extra cash in customs fees etc to justify
Ah, that's what you were hinting at. No, even with the gain up and a fairly hot bass output, it doesn't really get into overdrive territory. I don't think that was one of the design goals. But there's definitely a pleasing audible difference as the gain is turned up.
I'm going to pedalboard prison for this, but I'm loving the orientation.
And a recent gig photo. I love the 20lb total schlep at the end of the night.
My Oracle is showing some signs of wear, and I love that I've put them all there.
And a recent gig photo. I love the 20lb total schlep at the end of the night.
My Oracle is showing some signs of wear, and I love that I've put them all there.
200w output transformer? A 4xKT88 power section with the Oracle front end?
I have neither money nor need for it, but I'm super curious.
Who is the sinner among us that put a BOBW amp on sale at Guitar Center?!?!?!
Good price, too.
Any idea how many Beasts are out there?
Any idea how many Beasts are out there?
First date.
At home but I’m smitten none the less
At home but I’m smitten none the less
I remember that day, first time plugging it in and thinking "Holy Crap that's amazing"
To be fair, I still feel like that most times I switch it on.
Anyone using the dc7 4 outlet method for this?
Is a regular flex cable what you used for power input?
For those not aware
It’s 3 parallel cioks cables, 2 out of 4 dc7 outlets, those / then coupled to one then on to the Arkham
Is a regular flex cable what you used for power input?
For those not aware
It’s 3 parallel cioks cables, 2 out of 4 dc7 outlets, those / then coupled to one then on to the Arkham
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,078
- 9,800
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
Aaaaal righty, then. My build is officially paid for. The plan is- four 6L6 tubes, 100 watts, a cage that will hold the Broughton S300 on top with room for the tubes to vent and enough space for the S300 transformer to not present any problems. A lot of thought went into this. There will be a switchable LPF @4.5k, and a switchable HPF @80 hz. FWIW, to further illustrate Micah’s patience and flexibility here, i think i have something like 30 emails towards this. I don’t know if you can approach this sort of customer support with anyone else and get this type of quality anywhere. To be sure- I love my UltraLinear; i don’t know if it can be improved on. I like it enough to commission this second custom build. My intention was to make an all tube amp without any tone controls; a straight wire challenge to my Baby Sumo, Jad Freer CODA and Jule M700 Class “D” and “G” amps. This build is obviously geared towards the SVT but more refined. In addition, this amp can be used as a stand alone. It should crush.
