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Double Bass Brad Sarno’s V8 Octal preamp

#161
Still love mine after 3 years with it. I’ve had several other preamps come and go, including the Noble, Shaw Tube Injection, EDB-HE2, Fishman Platinum Pro, Zoom A3, and Radial PZ Pre, and this is one I’ve kept. Works great for me live, and the engineer on our last album often chose the track with my Fishman Full Circle through the V8 over the mic track because of how good it sounded and how well it sat in the mix.

After a lot of tone chasing over the past five years or so, I’m holding onto a Grace Felix for its Swiss Army knife versatility and incredibly transparent sound, a SanSamp ParaDriver for those times I need a reliable battery-powered DI/pre that can be quickly dialed in, and the Sarno V8 because it just sounds so good.

When I use the V8, I’m typically playing it though an Acoustic Image Focus SA power amp into an Acoustic Image Doubleshot or a pair of Aguilar SL112s. Sound engineers have been very complimentary of the tone from the V8’s direct out in live settings.
 
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#164
well I judge a piece of gear by how long it stays in my Signal chain before it gets supplanted by something better. I Haven't done too many gigs since this thread without it. If you read the beginning what Brad made here in the V8 is an Octal tube clean machine. It is not meant to do anything other then give you the cleanest most pristine tube preamp(well that and the Vari Z which I dont use at the moment). I bought a powered speaker and have it permanently affixed to the top. Right now I run a floor mounted felix with two piezos (or sometimes a mic and piezo) going into it and then to the V8. The V8 is different in that it is Octal tubes ( a lower amplification tube but much cleaner then 12Ax7s) The result is (IMHO) the best way to cleanly tube an upright. The Felix has the HPF,EQ, etc.I send FOH the DI from the V8. Usually I run the Felix flat and only need to slightly adjust the V8's treble knob at a gig. Works great.
 
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#165
Anyone with a sound clip? Best if straight into a sound card from the DI out.
I have found amongst the things I have another cool signal flow by going into the FDeck and then into the Noble. Nothing more required. I keep the FDeck at 140Hz + low cut on the noble and emphasize the highs.
Ideally a comparison with the noble for those having both would be more than appreciated
 
#167
redtomfunk said:
Hi folks what is the latest on these now?
I am getting interested into a V8 (I have an Ampeg B25 which sounds sick for P bass but use other solutions for acoustic bass, eich T500+barefaced or QSC K8.2).
Currently the best sound I can produce in the preamp section is through a EDB-2HE + REDDI. Considering also the new Headway EDB2-VAP. Inputs?
Click to expand...
That would be an easy choice for me: go with the EDB2-VAP. It's one compact box with just about every feature you could want. The reviews and sound samples so far seem excellent. Bonus: it's pretty damn affordable for what it offers.
 
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#169
I haven’t tried this in a while, but when I did today it sounded absolutely great: using the transformer out (XLR) of the V8 into the Felix’s mic input. Lately I have been using one or two Yama’s into the Felix and THEN into the V8. But just using an E side pickup into the V8 and then going to the Felix via the DI sounds so much better (I need the Felix for the HPF and muting and routing). Does a transformer (DI) effect the sound? Seems very balanced and HiFi and less microphonic then running the 1/4in line to the Felix. Maybe I’m daft.
 
#170
flatback said:
I haven’t tried this in a while, but when I did today it sounded absolutely great: using the transformer out (XLR) of the V8 into the Felix’s mic input. Lately I have been using one or two Yama’s into the Felix and THEN into the V8. But just using an E side pickup into the V8 and then going to the Felix via the DI sounds so much better (I need the Felix for the HPF and muting and routing). Does a transformer (DI) effect the sound? Seems very balanced and HiFi and less microphonic then running the 1/4in line to the Felix. Maybe I’m daft.
Click to expand...

Even if it's just for yourself it's worth it to record your options then level match them and do a blind test. Level matching audio is key to making any sort of judgement about what you are hearing. I know it's a pita. (It does make sense the gain staging would be better going from the V8 to the Felix the way you describe.)
 
#171
I just read what a transformer does and it says that the electrical signal gets transferred from one wound coil of wire to the other just by proximity (without touching) and that it DOES have a sonic effect...can anyone add anything to that because the signal IS different sounding....I am not sure how to level match. ( I do run things into my looper and listen from across the room (often with drum genius going)
 
#172
Transformers absolutely do color the sound. There's a lot of debate on whether or not a tube amp the magic is in the tubes or in the transformers. Also those vintage recording desks like neve and api, the transformer is what is the most coveted part of those circuits. Look at modern Mic preamplifier designs and everyone is touting their virtues of their different transformers and different materials that make them up. The opposite side of the spectrum, grace designs, is known for not introducing any color into the circuit. I currently run my bass through an API preamp . I do think the transformer on that is doing something. I also have a neve clone that I run my bass through and feel the same way about that
 
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#173
Ok which API and which Neve? and what do you run ? A pickup or a mic and what do you put that into? and what kind of transformer? When I first got the V8 I remember saying to Brad that it sounded better thru the transformer out then the amp out and he said "well your ears are better then mine" which I took to mean there was no difference in sound.
What I am liking about the V8's transformer sound is that it is TOTALLY dry and no noise and it allows one to keep every gain level really low so that the sound even way loud doesn't get that ringy over blown quality.
 
#174
crd said:
Even if it's just for yourself it's worth it to record your options then level match them and do a blind test. Level matching audio is key to making any sort of judgement about what you are hearing. I know it's a pita. (It does make sense the gain staging would be better going from the V8 to the Felix the way you describe.)
Click to expand...

Interesting suggestion, for me I trust my ears. Recordings can certainly be of value and I'm not nocking that approach if it works for you. I prefer simplicity and practicality over ultrahigh fidelity. Most of the small gains in quality aren't always audible on garden variety gigs. If I'm playing a concert hall with great sound I'm going FOH with a Felix and a small MAS 1/8.
 
#175
Ric Vice said:
Interesting suggestion, for me I trust my ears. Recordings can certainly be of value and I'm not nocking that approach if it works for you. I prefer simplicity and practicality over ultrahigh fidelity. Most of the small gains in quality aren't always audible on garden variety gigs. If I'm playing a concert hall with great sound I'm going FOH with a Felix and a small MAS 1/8.
Click to expand...

Level matching and a blind listening test is just a way of giving your ears a way to accurately assess something. We are hardwired to like louder sounds. Volume differences can trick you into thinking you like one thing over the other when in fact the opposite is true. Confirmation bias is especially strong when you've spent your money on something. No one prefers their DI sound to the sound coming out of there speaker, but it can tell you a lot about your equipment. Audition gear like this has saved me a lot of money over the years.

That being said, I do love the sound of a transformer in a signal path. I used the Radial JDI (passive transformer DI) with my Walter woods for years and always felt like the transformer did something nice.

It's kind of strange to go preamp to preamp. I have no doubt going from the DI (mic level) out of the V8 into the mic in of the Felix works better than the amp out of the V8 into the instrument in of the Felix.
 
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#177
redtomfunk said:
I am trying to get in touch with Brad Sarno but I didn`t get answer using the contact form on the website and sent him a message on talkbass but he doesn`t appear on here since ages
Click to expand...

@redtomfunk Brad is active on the Steel Guitar Forum and was posting there earlier this week. If you can't get ahold of him, send me a PM and I'll try to connect you through that Forum. Or you could join that forum yourself - it's a great community!
 
#178
dont worry Brad will get back to you sometimes it takes a minute. I have always wanted a Monique...but I think they are pretty similar....The Monique is point to point and tube rectified and a lot more money. But the BirdCage DOES have that awesome tube look (looks alot like my Dynaco stereo 70)
 
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#180
The communicatino with Brad is quite slow and I managed to find locally a Jule Monique which considering import duties of a V8 preamp is at about the same price. I tested it quickly yesterday. Though I haven`t compared the Monique to the V8 Octal preamp I have done a quick comparison with
bass straight into the Monique
bass into Sushibox Slampegg -> Headway EDB2 HE -> Noble preamp

both into UAD Apollo and headphones

The Monique sounds thicker and it gives almost the feeling of a microphone (with tamed highs).
Though it is not so bright and the EQ doesn`t change the sound like night and day.
I will compare a bit better later without the Headway in the signal path and amplified.

But as things stand I think I will take the Monique to my next gig in 2 weeks
 
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