Fender Studio Bass Club!

[pfschim]

yep, as you know the Noble is a DI and a preamp with a "Fender inspired" two control tone stack driven by 2 12AU7's plus a basic HPF like switchable cut at about 90hz. Since I got mine, I run it into every amp I gig with and use the DI when I have good FOH support. It brings such a nice flavor to the amps .. even ones that sound good on their own, and the DI sound is great and gets the tone I'm hearing from my amp into the FOH. So, win-win!

Running the Noble into the SB is kind of Fender on Fender in terms of stacking preamps, but it sounds pretty great to me.

 

[Chickenwheels]

The Noble still has me intrigued. It’s a pretty sweet DI!

 

[pfschim]

The Noble still has me intrigued. It’s a pretty sweet DI!

yes it is! and aside from being a great DI and a pre, it also has the nifty power block feature for pedals (if you use any).
I run a Cali76CB and a Boss CEB-3 off of mine and it all fits on a very small pedalboard. Mine is a Pedaltrain Metro but this would fit on a board as small as a Nano.

 

[pfschim]

Let us know your EQ and volume settings from the gig.
Hope you enjoy the EV. I think they’re pretty special and unique in the speaker world. I do love mine. I miss them when I get backline supplied lol.

as requested, here is a pic of the SB settings I used last night for a med/loud-ish Americana/rock-ish gig. Venue is a pretty large ballroom type place that can be kind of of echo-y. The band set up right on the wooden floor (no stage). The SB/EV15L combination covered the gig just great. Volume was no problem with 2 guitars, drums bass and vocals. Clear, musical mids, tons of low-mid thump and plenty of presence/top end for note articulation without being clanky.
As you can see, I did not have the Master up very high and ended up dropping the level from my bass (Fender Roscoe Beck IV) a few notches below full up.

if you can't read the setting from the pic very well here they are:

Vol: 5 Treble: 4 Middle: 8 Bass: 5.5 Presence: 8
EQ Section: 1850: +1 1000: 0 390: -2 190: 0 80: 0

I was also running my Noble DI into the front end of the SB with Vol @ ~9:00, Bass and Treble @ ~11:00 and the HPF cut switch off.

for @Chickenwheels ... the cab model just says Fender Bassman 115. Its from the late 70's early 80's and was made in Fullerton, CA. The seller said it went with his original SS Fender Bassman 100B head. It's loaded with an 8ohm EV15L.

 

[pfschim]

now that I've used the EV15L cab at a fairly typical gig volume for me, I have a question for you all about possibly rebracing this cab.

I noticed that the cab definitely vibrates much more than my Berg CN212 and I'm guessing it has to do (at least partly) with the internal bracing. I got my attention because I can usually put a drink on my cab (again, usually a Berg CN212) and not have it vibrate off while I'm playing. Last night I put a cup of water (yes, really, a cup of water ) on the cab and it hit the deck behind me during the first song of the set.

While the EV15L cab sounded fine, I know that drivers/cabs can lose a lot of amplifier energy due to cab vibration. So, it occurs to me that I might be able to improve the general performance of the cab by adding some bracing. Not sure how/what exactly at this point, but thats another question for another time.

anyone have any thoughts about this ? ... like maybe @johnk_10 ?

 

[Chickenwheels]

as requested, here is a pic of the SB settings I used last night for a med/loud-ish Americana/rock-ish gig. Venue is a pretty large ballroom type place that can be kind of of echo-y. The band set up right on the wooden floor (no stage). The SB/EV15L combination covered the gig just great. Volume was no problem with 2 guitars, drums bass and vocals. Clear, musical mids, tons of low-mid thump and plenty of presence/top end for note articulation without being clanky.
As you can see, I did not have the Master up very high and ended up dropping the level from my bass (Fender Roscoe Beck IV) a few notches below full up.

View attachment 3575367
if you can't read the setting from the pic very well here they are:

Vol: 5 Treble: 4 Middle: 8 Bass: 5.5 Presence: 8
EQ Section: 1850: +1 1000: 0 390: -2 190: 0 80: 0

I was also running my Noble DI into the front end of the SB with Vol @ ~9:00, Bass and Treble @ ~11:00 and the HPF cut switch off.

for @Chickenwheels ... the cab model just says Fender Bassman 115. Its from the late 70's early 80's and was made in Fullerton, CA. The seller said it went with his original SS Fender Bassman 100B head. It's loaded with an 8ohm EV15L.

Thanks for the nice review!
Obviously, I’m using essentially the same rig some gigs (including a Fender RBV sometimes) so it’s nice to see how you went with it.
That eq isn’t far off my settings. I’ve stopped using the active eq and set the stack (left to right) 3, 9, 6. Presence 6.
I’ll using the active eq to sometimes take 80hz down a bit. Maybe.
Thanks again!

 

[Chickenwheels]

now that I've used the EV15L cab at a fairly typical gig volume for me, I have a question for you all about possibly rebracing this cab.

I noticed that the cab definitely vibrates much more than my Berg CN212 and I'm guessing it has to do (at least partly) with the internal bracing. I got my attention because I can usually put a drink on my cab (again, usually a Berg CN212) and not have it vibrate off while I'm playing. Last night I put a cup of water (yes, really, a cup of water ) on the cab and it hit the deck behind me during the first song of the set.

While the EV15L cab sounded fine, I know that drivers/cabs can lose a lot of amplifier energy due to cab vibration. So, it occurs to me that I might be able to improve the general performance of the cab by adding some bracing. Not sure how/what exactly at this point, but thats another question for another time.

anyone have any thoughts about this ? ... like maybe @johnk_10 ?

Adding bracing to a cabinet

 

[pfschim]

Thanks for the nice review!
Obviously, I’m using essentially the same rig some gigs (including a Fender RBV sometimes) so it’s nice to see how you went with it.
That eq isn’t far off my settings. I’ve stopped using the active eq and set the stack (left to right) 3, 9, 6. Presence 6.
I’ll using the active eq to sometimes take 80hz down a bit. Maybe.
Thanks again!

another way to use the EQ is to set it for a different tone than you typically use for playing tunes. Then you can use a foot-switch to kick in that alternate tone for solo's or a different feel.

 

[pfschim]

View attachment 3575494
Adding bracing to a cabinet

cool. I'm just sort of semi-handy with tools and wood, but I might be able to add this kind of bracing to the EV cab.
have to give it some thought.
thanks

 

[rodl2005]

Glad the single 15 works for you @pfschim

I seem to get a bit of flak on TB (unheard of, I know) when I mention using a single 1x15, send how I find.. me only... that the decent single 15 cab to be able to withstand a lot more than the 210s I've tried. And thus able to handle many of my gigs well.

I've said many times, how I use a single Bassman 115 with my Super Bassman very successfully, and doing so allows me to turn up the SB a good deal more than if I was using a bigger cab. And therefore, am able to drive the power section just nicely to get in that sweet spot.
I've tried this with 210s, but without nearly as much success as the 115

 

[Chickenwheels]

another way to use the EQ is to set it for a different tone than you typically use for playing tunes. Then you can use a foot-switch to kick in that alternate tone for solo's or a different feel.

I do this with the contour switch on my GK.
I sadly do not have a foot switch for my SB. Might be time to go shopping!

 

[pfschim]

the 115 cab in question is an old school EVM 8ohm EV15L from some time in the 1980's. According to EVM spec sheets it has about 200w max power handling and a -3db at about 60hz so its not a modern "super driver" but still, it does match well with the 180w 8ohm output of the Studio Bass and handled my first gig with it last night with no problems.

on the down side, its kind of heavy compared to modern cabs like my Berg CN's ... but it does have a different character too .. in a good way.

 

[pfschim]

I do this with the contour switch on my GK.
I sadly do not have a foot switch for my SB. Might be time to go shopping!

should be easy to find one that will work. My SB came with the original round foot-switch that came with the combo in the 70's, but I'm pretty sure its just a single pole/single throw latching footswitch.

 

[Chickenwheels]

Glad the single 15 works for you @pfschim

I seem to get a bit of flak on TB (unheard of, I know) when I mention using a single 1x15, send how I find.. me only... that the decent single 15 cab to be able to withstand a lot more than the 210s I've tried. And thus able to handle many of my gigs well.

I've said many times, how I use a single Bassman 115 with my Super Bassman very successfully, and doing so allows me to turn up the SB a good deal more than if I was using a bigger cab. And therefore, am able to drive the power section just nicely to get in that sweet spot.
I've tried this with 210s, but without nearly as much success as the 115

A single 15 can slam. I’m doing it often enough, it’s great! I do worry about the fragility of the EVM 15, though. 2 is good insurance!

 

[mesaplayer83]

Glad the single 15 works for you @pfschim

I seem to get a bit of flak on TB (unheard of, I know) when I mention using a single 1x15, send how I find.. me only... that the decent single 15 cab to be able to withstand a lot more than the 210s I've tried. And thus able to handle many of my gigs well.

I've said many times, how I use a single Bassman 115 with my Super Bassman very successfully, and doing so allows me to turn up the SB a good deal more than if I was using a bigger cab. And therefore, am able to drive the power section just nicely to get in that sweet spot.
I've tried this with 210s, but without nearly as much success as the 115

I use a single 15 on a regular basis, and have for a few years now - first, it was a Mesa Road Ready 115, then a PH115, then a SW115... Besides the SW115s I have, I also have a Bassman 115 Neo, and a Rumble 200 Combo - all of which see a fair amount of gigging time... The only 210 I've ever used that can stand up to any of those is a Mesa PH210, which I still have... I briefly had an SWR Goliath Jr, but it couldn't hang with the Mesa - wasn't even close, actually...

 

[Chickenwheels]

yes it is! and aside from being a great DI and a pre, it also has the nifty power block feature for pedals (if you use any).
I run a Cali76CB and a Boss CEB-3 off of mine and it all fits on a very small pedalboard. Mine is a Pedaltrain Metro but this would fit on a board as small as a Nano.

View attachment 3574078

Do you use the Cali with your SB? I find my compressor does very little with my SB because the amp kind of does it already.
It’s essential with the GK though.

 

[pfschim]

Do you use the Cali with your SB? I find my compressor does very little with my SB because the amp kind of does it already.
It’s essential with the GK though.

yes, I do run the Cali76CB with all amps I run these days including the SB. I like the Cali76CB very much, besides the sidechain comp function, it just adds something (brightness, presence ... not totally sure to be honest) to the overall voice of the rig (bass, pedals and amp) that I really like.

 

[Linnin]

I don't know if anyone here has been paying any attention to Fender's new Tone Master Deluxe and Twin amps, but they've been causing quite a stir. I wonder if Fender will apply the new technology to either a Bassman or a revamped Studio Bass?

 

[pfschim]

I don't know if anyone here has been paying any attention to Fender's new Tone Master Deluxe and Twin amps, but they've been causing quite a stir. I wonder if Fender will apply the new technology to either a Bassman or a revamped Studio Bass?

do tell, what's the "new technology" involved here (I don't pay attention to guitar amps) ... and how would it apply to tube bass amps ?

 

[Stumbo]

I don't know if anyone here has been paying any attention to Fender's new Tone Master Deluxe and Twin amps, but they've been causing quite a stir. I wonder if Fender will apply the new technology to either a Bassman or a revamped Studio Bass?

From: Fender's Tone Master Deluxe and Twin Reverb digital amps have arrived | Guitarworld (fair use)
"New combos promise the tube tone of the originals with modern features and half the weight.

Fender has officially released its new Tone Master Series guitar amps, which the company touts as authentically capturing and translating the iconic Deluxe Reverb and Twin Reverb tube amp sounds in a digital design.

The amps are half the weight of their tube counterparts and come equipped with a slew of contemporary features.

The Tone Master Deluxe Reverb utilizes a 100-watt digital power amp and a single Jensen N-12K neodymium speaker, while the Twin Reverb boasts a 200-watt digital power amp and adds in a second Jensen N-12K. Both models are housed in a resonant, lightweight pine cabinet.

Additionally, the front panels of the combos mimic their tube predecessors, with Normal and Vibrato channels and a bright switch on the Twin.

Rear-panel features offer modern convenience and flexibility, such as an output power selector for full power and five attenuated settings, balanced XLR line output with impulse response (IR) cabinet simulations, mute switch for silent stage or recording use and a USB port for firmware upgrades."