Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Jackson Ampworks Bass Amp Poll
- Thread starter JacksonAmpworks
- Start date
what about restoring the dumble style switchable extra gain stage for one of the channels (not only to provide yet another gain option--my vote would be to add it to the 12ax7 SVT style channel--an extra gain stage could make it scream), but mostly just to create the much needed odd number of preamp tubes on one side to remedy any phase problems? In fact the extra gain stage might come in handy, in my experience, when I can blend in clean signal with the overdrive, I like to dramatically distort the dirty signal.
as a preventative measure, could you put the blend knob in a place where it only works with the extra gain stage switched in (to avoid any players from blending two channels without the extra gain stage)?
I have no idea if this would work, but at 3 in the morning it seems to make sense and the mere thought of three drastically different, but infinitely usable tones: 1) B15 clean, 2) SVT smooth grit, 3) SVT with an extra gain stage to add more wicked hair that could be mixed with the B15 clean, keeps me from wanting to go to sleep.
as a preventative measure, could you put the blend knob in a place where it only works with the extra gain stage switched in (to avoid any players from blending two channels without the extra gain stage)?
I have no idea if this would work, but at 3 in the morning it seems to make sense and the mere thought of three drastically different, but infinitely usable tones: 1) B15 clean, 2) SVT smooth grit, 3) SVT with an extra gain stage to add more wicked hair that could be mixed with the B15 clean, keeps me from wanting to go to sleep.
cabcreaser said:
Ha you're like me! You lose sleep over these things too! Just as I was writing this, I realized something, you're actually losing sleep trying to help me make the best bass amp ever. Man that is so cool! Thanks David!
Okay, I can see it working like this.
How about I make the second channel have 3 gain stages, but put in a gain control that varies the level of gain that gets to the remaining stages. With the MASTER control on this channel turned wide open, the GAIN control could be used to set the volume. This would solve the problem of the phase issues. Also, instead of 12AX7 tubes, I could use 12AT's or even 12AU's to vary the gain of the second channel. This would let each user tailor the tone of the second channel.
Sound reasonable?
Also since I have an extra gain stage available, I could make a GAIN/VOLUME boost for both channels. This would appear after the channels were blended and would be a cool footswitchable feature.
Your thoughts?
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,944
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
JacksonAmpworks said:
Actually, this might work well with my earlier idea regarding overdrive on Ch. 2. What if it was (or could be) a dedicated overdrive, with the blendable low frequencies option? The second tube stage could drive the crossover, perhaps?
JacksonAmpworks said:
If you didn't use/need the second valve stage for the crossover on the OD, you could consider this a footswitchable "lead" boost. If you do include this, please make it a variable gain boost. My Eden Navigator has a footswitchable boost, but it is at a set gain (which I find too loud for some things and not loud enough for others). You could also use this as another method for matching the outputs from different basses.
Tom.
Overdriven sounds are smoother with the low end frequencies dialed out. Use an adjustable crossover on the od channel and then have a blend control for the two channels. Now THAT would be a great design!
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,944
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
kringle77 said:
That's pretty close to what I was suggesting. My plan was to use a crossover to blend in just the clean low frequencies, with the ability to control the frequency cutoff point and the amount of blend. Your idea of high-passing the OD tone and blending with full-range clean should work, too. A friend and I designed and built a SS overdrive which incorporated the ability to blend in some (variable) low-pass clean signal, and it really worked like a charm. You can get the OD tone you want, then beef up and tighten up the low end by dialing in clean lows. I would love some version of this feature.
Tom.
Your heads are beautiful and besides, rack rigs just become a mega pain to shift when you start adding tubes. I'd say go head but a rack option would be nice for those who prefer it.
DEVILMAN said:
Yeah, right! You're not really a bass player. You're some insane, eccentric guy. I bet you live on top of a mountain somewhere, and you probably spend a lot of time robbing gravesites. I wouldn't doubt that the people from the village have marched up to your mountain-top home on several occasions with lighted torches in hand.
You see... I've seen that machine before; the one you're attempting to hoodwink the rest of us with by portraying it as some kind of bass amplification device. Yeah... I think Peter Boyle had something to do with that machine!
You guys from New York really think you can fool the rest of us???
Yeah, right! That truly is an intimidating piece of equipment you got there, Mr. Devilman...
JacksonAmpworks said:Ha you're like me! You lose sleep over these things too! Just as I was writing this, I realized something, you're actually losing sleep trying to help me make the best bass amp ever. Man that is so cool! Thanks David!
Okay, I can see it working like this.
How about I make the second channel have 3 gain stages, but put in a gain control that varies the level of gain that gets to the remaining stages. With the MASTER control on this channel turned wide open, the GAIN control could be used to set the volume. This would solve the problem of the phase issues. Also, instead of 12AX7 tubes, I could use 12AT's or even 12AU's to vary the gain of the second channel. This would let each user tailor the tone of the second channel.
Sound reasonable?
Also since I have an extra gain stage available, I could make a GAIN/VOLUME boost for both channels. This would appear after the channels were blended and would be a cool footswitchable feature.
Your thoughts?
sounds interesting to me
I like it!JacksonAmpworks said:Ha you're like me! You lose sleep over these things too! Just as I was writing this, I realized something, you're actually losing sleep trying to help me make the best bass amp ever. Man that is so cool! Thanks David!
Okay, I can see it working like this.
How about I make the second channel have 3 gain stages, but put in a gain control that varies the level of gain that gets to the remaining stages. With the MASTER control on this channel turned wide open, the GAIN control could be used to set the volume. This would solve the problem of the phase issues. Also, instead of 12AX7 tubes, I could use 12AT's or even 12AU's to vary the gain of the second channel. This would let each user tailor the tone of the second channel.
Sound reasonable?
Also since I have an extra gain stage available, I could make a GAIN/VOLUME boost for both channels. This would appear after the channels were blended and would be a cool footswitchable feature.
Your thoughts?
WOOFMAN said:
Personally I've never heard of a bass amp ever having reverb. I don' think that a reverb tank will help to deliver the thick and rich punch that players are looking for. If you do want reverb, you can certainly use it in the FX loop where it will sound the very best.
Reverb can be a cool trick on bass, used sparingly. My Fender 400PS has a nice reverb, as well as tremolo - but no effects loop, which I'd take over the reverb any day.
It's getting tough to keep track of all these threads, though I see the need to start a new thread to make the polls. It's great being able to see this amp being developed, even better that someone is actually working to make their product reflect the desires of those who would be buying it.
I have a question, but I'll be posting it in the "head or cab" thread where it seems appropriate.
It's getting tough to keep track of all these threads, though I see the need to start a new thread to make the polls. It's great being able to see this amp being developed, even better that someone is actually working to make their product reflect the desires of those who would be buying it.
I have a question, but I'll be posting it in the "head or cab" thread where it seems appropriate.
I'm afraid I'm going to have to try to steer this back on track for a moment. I promise to swerve madly back off once I'm done.
From what I gather, you're going with the head design, but it may be possible to get a rack version. Since I'd have to first settle off some old debt then save up some $, the exact timing isn't crucial but I was wondering exactly how this would be done - understanding that even the head version is still in the conceptual stage so anything could happen. Would you:
1)be producing the head, then at some point re engineering it into a rack format as another model somewhere down the line, or
2)someone who wanted one, once you had the details worked out, be essentially purchasing the standard amp which you would then build into the rack format as sort of a custom order? Although I'm imagining these amps would be more or less a custom order anyway, it'd be an awful lot of work to make thousands and flood the market
Back to the regularly scheduled diversion.
I think I saw that vast array of tubes for sale, located in NY somewhere. I can't remember where I saw it, somewhere online.
And from what I remember from Sunday school, Hell = NO tubes.
From what I gather, you're going with the head design, but it may be possible to get a rack version. Since I'd have to first settle off some old debt then save up some $, the exact timing isn't crucial but I was wondering exactly how this would be done - understanding that even the head version is still in the conceptual stage so anything could happen. Would you:
1)be producing the head, then at some point re engineering it into a rack format as another model somewhere down the line, or
2)someone who wanted one, once you had the details worked out, be essentially purchasing the standard amp which you would then build into the rack format as sort of a custom order? Although I'm imagining these amps would be more or less a custom order anyway, it'd be an awful lot of work to make thousands and flood the market
Back to the regularly scheduled diversion.
I think I saw that vast array of tubes for sale, located in NY somewhere. I can't remember where I saw it, somewhere online.
And from what I remember from Sunday school, Hell = NO tubes.
I use verb sometimes from an FX unit, but I wouldn't put it in the head...JacksonAmpworks said:
Fealach said:I'm afraid I'm going to have to try to steer this back on track for a moment. I promise to swerve madly back off once I'm done.
From what I gather, you're going with the head design, but it may be possible to get a rack version. Since I'd have to first settle off some old debt then save up some $, the exact timing isn't crucial but I was wondering exactly how this would be done - understanding that even the head version is still in the conceptual stage so anything could happen. Would you:
1)be producing the head, then at some point re engineering it into a rack format as another model somewhere down the line, or
2)someone who wanted one, once you had the details worked out, be essentially purchasing the standard amp which you would then build into the rack format as sort of a custom order? Although I'm imagining these amps would be more or less a custom order anyway, it'd be an awful lot of work to make thousands and flood the market
Back to the regularly scheduled diversion.
I think I saw that vast array of tubes for sale, located in NY somewhere. I can't remember where I saw it, somewhere online.
And from what I remember from Sunday school, Hell = NO tubes.
An excellent question. I think option #1 is where this project would go. I honestly don't if I should bother making a full amplifier in a rack form. Why not just the preamp of the amplifier and let the user either purchase a separate power amp or use their existing amp. From this forum I have had several requests to build just a 2U rack unit. In my opinion, that would be a much more flexible setup.
Your thoughts?
