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Baer Amplification Megathread!
- Thread starter KJung
- Start date
Don't think we can make a fall release a this point, but I will say that the engineer working on it now has done an amazing job of turning this into the product I want it to be. Plug a passive bass into this thing and crank it up and it really does have the sound and feel of playing through a tube amp. We are still doing a little more work on the box so that we can get the exact same feel and response from an active bass, but I'm super happy with where it's at right now.
Also, nailing the Character section to where it sounds like we are altering the tonal character of the bass without it sounding like we are EQ'ing the bass was a very tricky thing, but I feel it's there now. I think players will like this feature. Under the microscope of playing in the studio, this feature does a good job of shifting the tonal balance between the lows, mids and top end in a very subtle way, without it sounding like you are EQ'ing the signal. Think of it more like hearing the difference between an ash body and an alder body. There are subtle difference in the timbre between the woods and that's kind of what we are going for with this control.
Our biggest delay right now is actually due to the fact that we are waiting for a particular PCB layout guy who has a very full schedule right now. One thing I've come to learn is that the board design is just as important as the circuit design when it comes to audio products. Take a great circuit design and get a mediocre board design and the product is going to be mediocre. There's just so much more going on with the board layout than I ever imagined. Everything about the board design affects the sound. Where components are located, how they are orientated, how the traces are routed, all have an affect on the tone. Take a brilliant circuit design and add brilliant board layout and the product is going to be greatly improved. We have one of the top guys in the business really excited to work on the project, but he unfortunately has a full plate for the next couple months. I have no doubt that getting him onboard is going to be well worth the wait.
Bittersweet. Glad you're taking your time to get it right. Bummer it isn't here now. I'm not in a super need for a DI right away, but I've been thinking about this on & off for a while.
Will the Character handle high roll-off above 4-5kHz if you jam a dirt box ahead of it? I'd like to use my Dunwich pedals to record, but I'm finding it hard to get them to sound "right" going DI, and my mic-placement skills need work (and possibly another mic).
Will the Character handle high roll-off above 4-5kHz if you jam a dirt box ahead of it? I'd like to use my Dunwich pedals to record, but I'm finding it hard to get them to sound "right" going DI, and my mic-placement skills need work (and possibly another mic).
There's actually quite a lot going on with this circuit, but here's the basic idea. The Character knob rolls off the highs and lows, but with more gradual slopes than you would find in typical high pass and low pass filters. It's an interesting effect, because you are trimming both ends of the signal, yet it sounds very subtle and natural. I attribute a lot of that to the way the EQ circuit was designed. So, it's not true high and low pass filtering in the sense that it abruptly removes the extreme ends of your signal, as is the case with say, a fourth order HPF filter designed for speaker protection.
The end result is that by tapering off the highs and lows, you are in essence bringing forward the mid section of the signal. Now, if you kick in the switch which adds some lows back into mix, it makes for an interesting, yet subtle, change in the character of your instrument. So, don't think of it so much as high and low pass filtering. Think of it as a way to shift the tonal balance of the signal going into it. It was really designed to help further convey the feeling that you are playing through a vintage tube amp and the inherent frequency response limitations of the speaker cabinets of that era.
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
Hey Roger, the BGM link in your signature isn't working. I was going to go read it.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,518
- 19,954
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Roger, Invalid Link Removed.
We changes printers, which changed flipbook hosts, a while back. Sorry about that...
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
Looks awesome. Are you planning to make any more Valkyries? I understand you are sold out on that one?
A while back you mentioned that you'd talk about the Genzler/Baer ML-112 pairing. As there are a lot of us doing it, and you're one of the only ones I know of that has experience with both.
This review really informed my purchasing decision, as it was purely on faith. Thankfully, I found them to be perfect for me.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,087
- 46,071
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
Tough choice. At this point, I'm just not sure the market neither wants, nor needs another full sized class A/B head. I would like to see it live again, but I really think the real sales numbers are going to be in the class D market. WhatI'd like to do is get a smaller class D amp to market and then go back and see what we can do about reviving the Valkyrie at a later date.
That would be interesting to see what you think pairs best with MLs
As far as a existing amp out there? Honestly, I don't keep up much with what other manufacturers are putting out these days, but I still like the Eden WT550 and Ashdown ABM500 a lot. I'd bet one of the new Ampeg, or Mesa tube amps would sound great with the ML's. My likes are decidedly old school, so my preferences tend to lie in that direction.
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With my Noble Tube Pre/DI I'm getting some of that nice tube goodness - and with my Genzler I'm getting plenty of juice - plus some additional tone control. I've compared it to my 60's Blonde Fender Showman and at lower volumes I can get pretty close to it with the current setup.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,518
- 19,954
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Sucks. The Valk is the best amp on the planet, for reals.
