Jad Freer Sisma Mega Thread.

[Jeff Scott]

Yeah, it is heavier than a typical modern Class D bass amp (4-5 lb.), but it's not like a lead-sled heavy, just a satisfying weight to it (around 8 1/2 lb.) that won't get pulled off your cabinet accidentally. It's about the same weight as my old Walter Woods Electracoustic Super amp.

And yes, the tonality of the Sisma through my LDS cabinets has me seriously considering it even though I doubt I will be doing any gigging in the future. It has such an openness and clarity that I really like (checks bank account and investment statements).

 

[Jim C]

My Sisma questions:
I don't have a need for a powerful B-15 so soudning like one is not important by design or usage.
I'm more curious as to its' baked in voice, touch sensitivity, and ability to sound like other amps without just being brighter or bassier. Lastly, does it have the note weight of older amps? I don't always find this in class D.
TIA

 

[gtirard]

My Sisma questions:
I don't have a need for a powerful B-15 so soudning like one is not important by design or usage.
I'm more curious as to its' baked in voice, touch sensitivity, and ability to sound like other amps without just being brighter or bassier. Lastly, does it have the note weight of older amps? I don't always find this in class D.
TIA

I don't think there is a strong baked in tone, it sound quite "natural" with the EQ at noon (you recognize the sound of the instrument).

But touch sensitivity and note weight: yes really

 

[Jeff Scott]

...touch sensitivity and note weight: yes really

Absolutely.

 

[DJ Bebop]

My Sisma questions:
I don't have a need for a powerful B-15 so soudning like one is not important by design or usage.
I'm more curious as to its' baked in voice, touch sensitivity, and ability to sound like other amps without just being brighter or bassier. Lastly, does it have the note weight of older amps? I don't always find this in class D.
TIA

Yes its more neutral sounding than some amps. The B-15 comparison is misleading to me as I've said before, because a B-15 head, on its own, is also a neutral-sounding head. That cabinet is another story.

I'm finding that the Sisma and my WD 800 share some similarities as both use the same Baxandall tonestack, and variable mid controls, two on the Sisma, three on the Mesa. The Sisma has a little bump in the Bass at a flat setting, reminding me of my GK 1001RB, the Mesa has a passive mid-control that changes or adds mids to the flat setting of the amp. I can get one to sound like the other with minor EQ tweaks.

Can I get it to sound like other amps, like a SWR or an SVT? I don't know without having them here to try. Maybe, as a lot of it to my ear is whether the amps in question is naturally scooped or lively in the midrange and whether its trying to be tube-driven or not.

Then there still persists the cabinet questions. An SVT sounds different running through the 810 vs not, that changes the perception of these things.

Does it have the note weight of older amps? I think it does, but I find my Mesa WD 800 does as well even though its class D, some disagree with that assessment. I find the WD just as weighty, pehapes the D+ more so. There are some tonal differences but more nuanced than striking, again to me.

So if you think the Sisma is going to sound like a Portaflex in any other cabinet, its not. Just like a B-15 head doesn't sound like a Portaflex in any other cabinet.

I's is going to sound like a kickass amp?
Yes, yes it is.

But that's just me, in this moment in time.

PS I find the audio examples on their website indicative to what I can get here in person.

 

[AlexMG]

Yes its more neutral sounding than some amps. The B-15 comparison is misleading to me as I've said before, because a B-15 head, on its own, is also a neutral-sounding head. That cabinet is another story.

I'm finding that the Sisma and my WD 800 share some similarities as both use the same Baxandall tonestack, and variable mid controls, two on the Sisma, three on the Mesa. The Sisma has a little bump in the Bass at a flat setting, reminding me of my GK 1001RB, the Mesa has a passive mid-control that changes or adds mids to the flat setting of the amp. I can get one to sound like the other with minor EQ tweaks.

Can I get it to sound like other amps, like a SWR or an SVT? I don't know without having them here to try. Maybe, as a lot of it to my ear is whether the amps in question is naturally scooped or lively in the midrange and whether its trying to be tube-driven or not.

Then there still persists the cabinet questions. An SVT sounds different running through the 810 vs not, that changes the perception of these things.

Does it have the note weight of older amps? I think it does, but I find my Mesa WD 800 does as well even though its class D, some disagree with that assessment. I find the WD just as weighty, pehapes the D+ more so. There are some tonal differences but more nuanced than striking, again to me.

So if you think the Sisma is going to sound like a Portaflex in any other cabinet, its not. Just like a B-15 head doesn't sound like a Portaflex in any other cabinet.

I's is going to sound like a kickass amp?
Yes, yes it is.

But that's just me, in this moment in time.

PS I find the audio examples on their website indicative to what I can get here in person.

Ok. My gas is over. The sounds on the site don’t sound any heavier than my AG700 and the B-15r that I’m familiar with certainly has something special and thick compared to some other tube heads. I’m still in line for my CAPO!

 

[Danny C]

I agree with DJ Bebop 100%. I have the Sisma, Mesa 800+ and WD800 and I have plenty of time in on all three. Don't make me chose as they are all excellent for my desires.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Ok. My gas is over. The sounds on the site don’t sound any heavier than my AG700 and the B-15r that I’m familiar with certainly has something special and thick compared to some other tube heads. I’m still in line for my CAPO!

I'm hoping my description didn't steer you away from one as I'm not so great using my words. I think it's a great head but it is something one has to experience themselves.

My referencing their sounds on the site was because I'm not a player that plays with a lot of texture but I will do it once in a while and I thought those sounds were getable as I was getting them here and I know a lot of folks like that stuff. I'm a pretty clean player most of the time so I don't dial as much but I wanted to convey that there is that for those who do. Those sounds might have been recorded DI’d, don't know.

My internal thoughts on bass amps today is, most if not all made today from the cheapest to the most expensive sound great as we’ve reached a point where players know what they want and most builders fill those needs by providing it.

After a while, it's just up to what flavor you want, Chocolate, Vanilla, or Neapolitan.

 

[DJ Bebop]

That's also how I use the Sisma's EQ. It took me some time to find out, and now I feel a bit stupid because it's so obvious:

• It sounds great with EQ at noon, most of the time,
• Still I quickly adjust the bass & treble, leaving the mids untouched, and that enough 90% of the time
• Use the mids only when I need to fix specific frequencies,with chirurgical precision

My WD has 3 bands of mids that are switchable so if not using them for correction. I can have another sound set up and switch back and forth, like a second channel getting two different voices out of the amp.

 

[Jeff Scott]

After a while, it's just up to what flavor you want, Chocolate, Vanilla, or Neapolitan.

Can we get a little love here for Moose Tracks?

 

[g4string]

Somewhat, as the Baxandall tone stack is present and working and with the tube preamp there is a tube feel to the amp with a warm response from the power amp section.

What needs to be understood is about 75 to 95% of what we associate as the tone of a B-15 amp is the speaker cabinet. If you take the B-15 head and run it through another cabinet the head sounds like any other tube bass head. If you run another low-wattage head back through the fliptop cabinet, it will sound more like a B-15.

So if you are familiar with how a B-15 head sounds through any other cabinet other than a flip top then yes, it does sound like a tube B-15, somewhat.

Again I say somewhat because also this is 800 watts I believe as the B-15, depending on model, is 25-30 watts. So that also will change the perception of it. But it could just be me.

Hopefully my observation doesn't confuse the issue.

you’re 100% right. The b15 was system.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Can we get a little love here for Moose Tracks?

Love that!

 

[gtirard]

Can we get a little love here for Moose Tracks?

Very cool. I didn't know Moose Tracks until I read your comment. It looks delicious.

I love to discover new icons of American culture (we have Häagen-Dazs and Ben & Jerry's in France, but not Moose Tracks)

 

[Jeff Scott]

Very cool. I didn't know Moose Tracks until I read your comment. It looks delicious.

It is!

I love to discover new icons of American culture (we have Häagen-Dazs and Ben & Jerry's in France, but not Moose Tracks)

I love that; an American icon.

 

[DJ Bebop]

So as my time with the Sisma begins to come to an end, it has been a great run and Ive really enjoyed it.

I'm not going to expound on the virtues of one topology over another. As it's really about how something sounds and not how the sausage is made, IMO. If it sounds good to you that's all that really matters.

Many amp companies strive for a sound. Some try for something new whereas some strive for something familiar, comfortable. I belive the Jad Freer people/person has done the familiar, the comfortable but in a good way. If you enjoy the voices of old. The warmth and drive of yesteryear, this amp is for you. If you like a cleaner sound with some texture, this amp is for you. If you like to get loud, this amps is for you. If you think you might be a redneck, this amps for you! (kidding )

This is a very fine piece of equipment that should be on your list to try before any amp purchases, as a contender to drive your pile of cabinets.

Its a good time to be alive, especially if you're a bass player!

 

[Jazzdogg]

View attachment 5460789 View attachment 5460791

So as my time with the Sisma begins to come to an end, it has been a great run and Ive really enjoyed it.

I'm not going to expound on the virtues of one topology over another. As it's really about how something sounds and not how the sausage is made, IMO. If it sounds good to you that's all that really matters.

Many amp companies strive for a sound. Some try for something new whereas some strive for something familiar, comfortable. I belive the Jad Freer people/person has done the familiar, the comfortable but in a good way. If you enjoy the voices of old. The warmth and drive of yesteryear, this amp is for you. If you like a cleaner sound with some texture, this amp is for you. If you like to get loud, this amps is for you. If you think you might be a redneck, this amps for you! (kidding )

This is a very fine piece of equipment that should be on your list to try before any amp purchases, as a contender to drive your pile of cabinets.

Its a good time to be alive, especially if you're a bass player!

You're not contemplating dumping your WD800 for the Sisma, are you?

 

[DJ Bebop]

You're not contemplating dumping your WD800 for the Sisma, are you?

As nice as the Sisma is, NEVER!!!

 

[gtirard]

View attachment 5460789 View attachment 5460791

So as my time with the Sisma begins to come to an end, it has been a great run and Ive really enjoyed it.

I'm not going to expound on the virtues of one topology over another. As it's really about how something sounds and not how the sausage is made, IMO. If it sounds good to you that's all that really matters.

Many amp companies strive for a sound. Some try for something new whereas some strive for something familiar, comfortable. I belive the Jad Freer people/person has done the familiar, the comfortable but in a good way. If you enjoy the voices of old. The warmth and drive of yesteryear, this amp is for you. If you like a cleaner sound with some texture, this amp is for you. If you like to get loud, this amps is for you. If you think you might be a redneck, this amps for you! (kidding )

This is a very fine piece of equipment that should be on your list to try before any amp purchases, as a contender to drive your pile of cabinets.

Its a good time to be alive, especially if you're a bass player!

It's fun to see Sisma on top of the WD800, I didn't think there was such a big difference in size. Sisma being slightly heavier, it's not surprising it feels so dense.

 

[AlexMG]

View attachment 5460789 View attachment 5460791

So as my time with the Sisma begins to come to an end, it has been a great run and Ive really enjoyed it.

I'm not going to expound on the virtues of one topology over another. As it's really about how something sounds and not how the sausage is made, IMO. If it sounds good to you that's all that really matters.

Many amp companies strive for a sound. Some try for something new whereas some strive for something familiar, comfortable. I belive the Jad Freer people/person has done the familiar, the comfortable but in a good way. If you enjoy the voices of old. The warmth and drive of yesteryear, this amp is for you. If you like a cleaner sound with some texture, this amp is for you. If you like to get loud, this amps is for you. If you think you might be a redneck, this amps for you! (kidding )

This is a very fine piece of equipment that should be on your list to try before any amp purchases, as a contender to drive your pile of cabinets.

Its a good time to be alive, especially if you're a bass player!

Beginning of the end? Did you have it on loan or are you selling it?

 

[DJ Bebop]

It's fun to see Sisma on top of the WD800, I didn't think there was such a big difference in size. Sisma being slightly heavier, it's not surprising it feels so dense.

It is a little deeper…