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Jad Freer Sisma Mega Thread.

#641
Jeff Scott said:
DJ, are you going to do comparisons between the Sisma and your B-15?
Click to expand...

I'm interested too by this comparison.

The description of Sisma on JF website start like this: "Tube preamp based on the iconic B15 sound".

I don't have a B-15, but from what I know (or think I know) about it, I don't really hear that filiation, for me Sisma has a very modern and punchy sound which doesn't correspond to the "old school" tone I imagine on a B-15.

I know Jad Freer don't pretend they have cloned the B-15 sound, “based on” implies that this is the starting point and that they have certainly added their touch, but there should be some reminescent B-15 qualities.

[EDIT] @DJ Bebop I know you don't have the B-15 any longer, but maybe you can think about this comparison based on what you remember from it?
 
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#644
gtirard said:
I'm interested too by this comparison.

The description of Sisma on JF website start like this: "Tube preamp based on the iconic B15 sound".

I don't have a B-15, but from what I know (or think I know) about it, I don't really hear that filiation, for me Sisma has a very modern and punchy sound which doesn't correspond to the "old school" tone I imagine on a B-15.

I know Jad Freer don't pretend they have cloned the B-15 sound, “based on” implies that this is the starting point and that they have certainly added their touch, but there should be some reminescent B-15 qualities.

[EDIT] @DJ Bebop I know you don't have the B-15 any longer, but maybe you can think about this comparison based on what you remember from it?
Click to expand...

The preamp is indeed based on the B15 preamp circuit, we had one in the lab for tests and comparisons, I had a B18 myself. The sound people associate with a portaflex amp is the sound of the full combo: a low powered all tube amp with a primitive vented cabinet fitted with an old school 15" woofer. Most people don't know the sound of the preamp alone since there is no preamp out available, but in the lab we could take the signal working from the head. We did lot of testing and recordings to be listened back in "blindfold" tests until we all liked better our recipe of the preamp.
 
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#645
Andrea Lo said:
The preamp is indeed based on the B15 preamp circuit, we had one in the lab for tests and comparisons, I had a B18 myself. The sound people associate with a portaflex amp is the sound of the full combo: a low powered all tube amp with a primitive vented cabinet fitted with an old school 15" woofer. Most people don't know the sound of the preamp alone since there is no preamp out available, but in the lab we could take the signal working from the head. We did lot of testing and recordings to be listened back in "blindfold" tests until we all liked better our recipe of the preamp.
Click to expand...

Thank you, it makes sense, especially the fact that what we think as being the "B15 signature sound" comes a lot from the vintage 15" speaker.
 
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#647
I have not recorded with the DI yet but it has been the only DI I've used on countless gigs with our sound and many different house and other sound techs. Everyone was extremely happy with the stellar quality.
When I was in my mid teens my pop would take me to the Ampeg factory in Linden, he was good friends with Jess Oliver. So many times I was offered a free B-15 and it wasn't cool cuz enough for me cuz I was a young stupid idiot. I did get one of Jess's first Oliver amps with the motorized head that sunk into the cabinet. And the head bite the tip of my right index finger off. I play bass with a stumpy finger created by Ampeg...haaaa.
 
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#648
gtirard said:
I'm interested too by this comparison.

The description of Sisma on JF website start like this: "Tube preamp based on the iconic B15 sound".

I don't have a B-15, but from what I know (or think I know) about it, I don't really hear that filiation, for me Sisma has a very modern and punchy sound which doesn't correspond to the "old school" tone I imagine on a B-15.

I know Jad Freer don't pretend they have cloned the B-15 sound, “based on” implies that this is the starting point and that they have certainly added their touch, but there should be some reminescent B-15 qualities.

[EDIT] @DJ Bebop I know you don't have the B-15 any longer, but maybe you can think about this comparison based on what you remember from it?
Click to expand...
I can still make that comparison to a B-15 as I also have my WD that also have some B-15 vibe to it IMHO. The Baxandall tone controls are the heart of the amp sound, but only half, the other half is that cabinet.

My B-15 thing is not the examples I hear of the overdriven sound people gravitate to. My B-15 sound I go for is more the studio version of it. A little harmonic texture but clean. Here is an example of what I am talking about. Its a young Marcus Miller with his passive, yet to be preamped Jazz bass played through a B-15 in the studio on a little-known track :) …



Anyway, I'll get back!

And yes I concur a lot of it is the speaker cabinet. You plug the head into another cabinet and it sound different. My favorite was B-15 head into an Aguilar GS112. On there own they're a nice clean tube head not pushed. Kinda like a tube mic pre.

PS I like the old school bat power switch.

:)
 
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#649
Andrea Lo said:
The preamp is indeed based on the B15 preamp circuit, we had one in the lab for tests and comparisons, I had a B18 myself. The sound people associate with a portaflex amp is the sound of the full combo: a low powered all tube amp with a primitive vented cabinet fitted with an old school 15" woofer. Most people don't know the sound of the preamp alone since there is no preamp out available, but in the lab we could take the signal working from the head. We did lot of testing and recordings to be listened back in "blindfold" tests until we all liked better our recipe of the preamp.
Click to expand...
Yes! Most people don't know that the baxandall tone control circuit was used in hi-fi applications as well. Its a versatile and effective for only two controls. That was in fact is how I started with the Sisma, flat out the two bands of midrange and use just the Bass and Treble controls for a few days.

:)
 
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#650
Danny C said:
When I was in my mid teens my pop would take me to the Ampeg factory in Linden, he was good friends with Jess Oliver. So many times I was offered a free B-15 and it wasn't cool cuz enough for me cuz I was a young stupid idiot. I did get one of Jess's first Oliver amps with the motorized head that sunk into the cabinet. And the head bite the tip of my right index finger off. I play bass with a stumpy finger created by Ampeg...haaaa.
Click to expand...
A now defunct music shop near me had a 2-15 version of that Oliver amp. Very cool. :thumbsup: I kept my fingers away from the amp when I operated THE SWITCH! :wideyed:
 
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#652
Andrea Lo said:
The preamp is indeed based on the B15 preamp circuit, we had one in the lab for tests and comparisons, I had a B18 myself. The sound people associate with a portaflex amp is the sound of the full combo: a low powered all tube amp with a primitive vented cabinet fitted with an old school 15" woofer. Most people don't know the sound of the preamp alone since there is no preamp out available, but in the lab we could take the signal working from the head. We did lot of testing and recordings to be listened back in "blindfold" tests until we all liked better our recipe of the preamp.
Click to expand...
Isn't the Ext Amp output on the back coming from the preamp on a B-15n?
 
#655
gtirard said:
What "Ext Amp" ?
Click to expand...
On the back of a B15n (at least) there is an Ext Amp out to drive another tube power amp. With some finagling, use of a DI box, one can use it as a DI out of the tube preamp. Its line level I believe.

IMG_4384 Copy.jpeg


:)
 
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#656
DJ Bebop said:
On the back of a B15n (at least) there is an Ext Amp out to drive another tube power amp. With some finagling, use of a DI box, one can use it as a DI out of the tube preamp. Its line level I believe.

View attachment 5454928

:)
Click to expand...
My schedule is pretty slammed this season with travel and festivals, etc. But I do have a B15N and will be doing a demo look at the Sisma (in our own, not so scientific way). I just don't really know how helpful the comparison would be.

Also, we are going to start exploring re-amping the same riffs/takes through gear so things can more easily be compared but at that point it's like... well if I recorded my bass into my APIs and then reamp it into a Noble or B15 or Sisma or whatever, it still can only be so helpful? You would have a sound reference hearing what it sounds like from the API BEFORE it hits the other pieces of gear.
 
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#659
carsonchilders said:
My schedule is pretty slammed this season with travel and festivals, etc. But I do have a B15N and will be doing a demo look at the Sisma (in our own, not so scientific way). I just don't really know how helpful the comparison would be.

Also, we are going to start exploring re-amping the same riffs/takes through gear so things can more easily be compared but at that point it's like... well if I recorded my bass into my APIs and then reamp it into a Noble or B15 or Sisma or whatever, it still can only be so helpful? You would have a sound reference hearing what it sounds like from the API BEFORE it hits the other pieces of gear.
Click to expand...
Are you suggesting that you would use API equalizers to record with?
Since very few people use them that would not be a good test.
Maybe API makes a recording device?
 
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