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Yeah, just so much quieter than any other preamp I have. Full volume and gain gets me 50% on other pres. But then it's dirty. Full volume half gain is clean but sooo quiet. Josh said don't judge it against other preamps but, how? How can I use it in a chain if it requires another pedal for post volume makeup? It's either faulty or we just don't get along. Bummed as I was really looking forward to this one.
Everything goes into a Baby Sumo. Everything else can hang volume wise. I wonder if it doesn't have the juice for a power amp? I dunno.
You got a messenger or something with a headphone driver laying around? I know thats subjective, but maybe take the amp out of the equation.
Assuming youre running at 12 volts as well?
A quick trick to check levels ive found in the past is use a compressor, preferably one with a meter of some sort (single light indicator is fine, omni ect., Apex even better)
Have the compressor setup like you would with another familiar preamp, and then switch to the Sonoran. If the compressor engages later, or not at all, its a lower output. A visual meter helps. This can also be done with an envelope pedal, your reference point being when the envelope triggers.
Zvex and Dr Scientists make this easier
I know this might not fix your problem, but would definitely rule out impedance issues or the sumo, and verify a significant level difference
12v yes. I don't need a visual indicator, though I have Apex, to know it's way quieter than anything else I own.
Way, like…way.
@labeledbass
Thanks for your help, I'll stop whining. I'll try to send it to @Erithon and ask if he'll a/b with his.
Edit--- I put it through my interface and headphones, same. I swapped the tube, same. Had to crank the gain all the way up on the interface.
Way, like…way.
@labeledbass
Thanks for your help, I'll stop whining. I'll try to send it to @Erithon and ask if he'll a/b with his.
Edit--- I put it through my interface and headphones, same. I swapped the tube, same. Had to crank the gain all the way up on the interface.
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Shouldn't be necessary but the JJ 12AX7s are significantly lower in gain than even the Genelex Gold Lions. If your volume is that low, could it be possible you have a weak tube/ low vacuum? This is kinda like asking if youve tried turning it off and on again.
I swapped it with a known good Ruby 12AX7AC5 HG+.
Im liking Ed's suggestion with the BBA. I haven't used mine in ages but will resurrect them once I finally get back to rebuilding my boards, but am in agreement that this shouldn't be necessary. As far as the Baby Sumo goes, mine loves the Super Stack lunchbox and there's oodles of volume on tap. Like ooooodles.
The BBA was first when I had it through my interface. Just made it dirtier not louder…
Thanks again for the suggestions. I'm going to bow out gracefully now.
Sorry for everyone that had to sit through this…
Thanks again for the suggestions. I'm going to bow out gracefully now.
Sorry for everyone that had to sit through this…
If you set volume and gain at the same position, where do they need to be in order to match your bypassed signal (eq at noon, all switches off)?
@davelowell2 Scratch that. Mids at noon brings down your level.
Verified these setting running at 9v with two very different basses. Plugged straight into the Sonoran. Sonoran straight into my Phil Jones Bighead. So, listening through headphones, this gets me unity with the pedal bypassed.
Tone is still clean (though definitely nearing a little breakup), even with my SBMM Ray34ca's 2-band preamp dimmed). There is also a lot of added low end. That bass control really brings the booty.
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Ive never run any of the 1590 series preamps straight into my amps solo. I've always got something else, some other boost, although im currently stuck on a very minimal board using a Sushi Box Mayday a Becos Mini Pro into an Arkham UltraLinear just plinking mostly R&B with satisfying results until I fill three additional boards. I'm still dialing the Mayday in, my playing time rather limited, it does one thing really well. I could easily replace it with the SuperWatt, tho- all active basses, plenty of headroom, volume has not been an issue, rather dialing in midrange, wholly subjective depending on right hand attack.
I still expect big things from the Sonoran. Im ok with reported low output.
I still expect big things from the Sonoran. Im ok with reported low output.
Correct, boost before changes things a bit but probably wont affect the output much at all. After, will (about ~20db) but you shouldn't need another pedal. Theres already a buffer after everything in the pedal that should take care of this.
The eq is wild though, 24/10/20 db bands - thats mucho for the bass end..
I keep F5ing my tracking..
Mine's on schedule earlier than expected. Looks like Monday
I'm getting the same results, but out of a different amp. Checked it with the dB meter on the Anagram, and I get unity with Level and Gain dimed, but it's pretty grindy. If I have Volumed dimed and gain about 10 o clock, then I have no breakup, but it's about -10 dB lower than my unity signal. Perplexing. Tried it at 9 and 12v.
This is also a Fenderish tone stack, so 2/10/2 is as flat as your going to get, and putting the Treble Shift switch up helps with any mid scoop.
mine is also stuck in chicago too. im glad some you got theirs. cant wait to plug the sonoran. i dont have the BBA but ill try it with a fusion of some neve (2 knob SB and SBM) and see where the magic goes. althoigh i would assume the sonoran sounds great already on its own. cheers!
In your description, your "level and gain dimmed" you mean the both gain and master on the pedal? And if so to reach clean output, pull the gain back to 10 o'clock? Yielding about -10 db less in output?
Im setting up a loop now, (probably the most jinxing thing I could do..). If so, can plug in +10db while the ol laptops out
(Im not suggesting this until confirmed ok, but I wonder what a 5751 swapped out could do for clean headroom if you have to go so high on gain.)
Also a curious question, if you pull the entire eq back, does it kill the signal all together, or at least close?
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I spent some more time with it. It compares volume wise to my Super Stack pedal, which I've always noticed is the quietest pedal preamp I own.
Sonoran is equal, a little dirtier. Through the Mini Fridge is good and thick, dark.
I did have to turn the volume on the Baby Sumo from my normal 9-10 o'clock to noon for reference.
Sonoran is equal, a little dirtier. Through the Mini Fridge is good and thick, dark.
I did have to turn the volume on the Baby Sumo from my normal 9-10 o'clock to noon for reference.
