Hrothgar said:
It (the TV pre) really is a great piece of gear, especially coupled with the IP cabs, that adds rich, complex, meaty tones to compliment the fingerstyle player. It's one pre that will be in my arsenal for quite a while (though it may be sitting next to a Berg Line Driver someday

). I'll post further thoughts on the TV/IP rig after I give it a few gigs in the upcoming weeks.
Okay, well I've given the TV pre/IP 112 stack a good run for it's money over the past two months over a variety of gigs indoor/outdoor, small rooms/huge casinos, etc. with a 7-piece '70's - some '80's funk/disco cover band

. And it's been a busy band with no less than two gigs a week all summer.
The rig: Mike Lull M5V w/ 18-volt Bart pre, Mike Lull SS strings ~> TV Pre w/ GE SN7/SL7 tubes ~> Berg IP112 stack. I went with the more modular approach, rather than the 310, since I have been known to do a lot jazz gigs in the past and prefer the versatility.
We've all heard about the IP and all it's glory when plugged directly in. Simply, it's beautiful. But I needed a DI and was hoping for added volume, lowend, and whatever else I could get to maximize the IP's potential. For me, the TV was a mixed bag. It's an extraordinary little desktop pre that finds itself best suited to midrangey fingerstyle playing, ala fusion/jazz. I had heard that the Lowend True Voice has some low-end roll-off (or whatever they call it), but wasn't prepared for what I got.
After almost every set, the drummer would come up and ask me to give it more lowend. But it's just not there

. And on the other end of the spectrum, the highend is extreme

. On my 18-volt Bart pre I've got the treble rolled as far is it will go, and the bass rolled on as much as it can give, with the midrange down knob down just a hair or two (still need it for presence). Why the TV has a bright switch, I'll never guess. Not only do I have it off, but I have to roll the tone knob down to 9 0'clock or more to relieve the brittleness of a popped G string. I've experimented with lowering the bass tone and turning up the pre to sometimes past 3 o' clock or more to see how I could push it (while watching the IP's clip light to keep things from getting out of control). Alas, still lacked considerable bottom end.
To make it worse, I play part-time in a neo-soul band where I need tons of bass. Not happenning

. And the B-string? Forget about it...really, the audience usually does since they can't hear it. And the occassional slapping? Like I said before, the high-end is just unreal, and the lowend sounds...well, sonically flat. Like it's lacking meat. I can't slap it hard enough to get those low notes to come out and I can't pop light enough to tame the highend, even given my previously stated EQ'ing.
For those of you who don't slap and don't need the lowend required of neosoul music or B-strings, this setup would be pretty killer. IMO, though, it's a one-trick pony. It's a darn good trick, but it's just one. I've heard some say they haven't experienced what i have with this rig. Just to make sure my pre sounds as it was meant to, I sent it back to Brian to give it a check-up. It's in perfectly running order.
I've also thought that maybe, in part, I just don't like 12's. And that I should just bite the bullet and get the larger 310.
So, anyway, for spits and giggles, I borrowed my buddy's DI last gig and plugged directly into the IP. Now, THAT's a beautiful sound!

All that lovely bass, perfectly harmonious highs... just maybe a little louder and meatier. Hmm..310? Line driver, perhaps?