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Jad Freer Sisma Mega Thread.

Its the tester that’s been traveling the globe, so its on loan.

If I had the extra income I would buy one to go with what I have already. Since I don't, I enjoyed the opportunity to check it out and see how it performs.

:)

Reminds me a girl I knew back in the seventies... ;)
 
Yes, all your comments and reviews are very good. I see you here and there. All Much appreciated. As many decades as I've been playing, tours and local, I'm always here to listen and learn. With all the cool new gear that we have at our disposal these days we bassists are in a great place. I love hearing experiences and opinions no matter which way they fall.
 
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!

:)
What castors did you put on the 115 cab? I want to do castors, but want to do it right and use quality ect..
 
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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.
Not so concerned with the sausage ingredients as the sound (I worked at a meat packing plant very briefly in the 80s... most people definitely don't want to know how the sausage is made).

Can you tell us how the basic, controls-at-noon, voicing of the Sisma compares with the WD-800? And how do both respond when driven into overdrive? Differences in the character of the breakup when pushed? Comparable heft in the bottom octave? Upper treble extension? And are both able to get into the other's ballpark with a little tweaking?

Sorry for all the questions, but most of us will probably never get to try the Sisma and even finding a WD-800 at a local store can be challenging, so we rely on the ears and experience of those who have the opportunity to try them.
 
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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!

:)
Thanks for this.
When would the Sisma be a bad choice tonally?
Also, do you normall pull that much 400 Hz. and 2K with the Mesa or are these not actual knob positions?
 
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What castors did you put on the 115 cab? I want to do castors, but want to do it right and use quality ect..

Its one of these…

IMG_4493.png

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It happens to wedge in-between the rubber feet of the cabinet.

:)
 
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Thanks for this.
When would the Sisma be a bad choice tonally?
Also, do you normall pull that much 400 Hz. and 2K with the Mesa or are these not actual knob positions?
I don't know if it would be a bad choice. It is a choice like everything else. If one hears one and likes it, no need to doubt your ears. If you are looking for some kinda space age laser modern sound, maybe not. :)

Yes those settings is something I’m doing. I switch my mids off and on. That was kinda my Dub reggae setting I’m working on.

:)
 
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Not so concerned with the sausage ingredients as the sound (I worked at a meat packing plant very briefly in the 80s... most people definitely don't want to know how the sausage is made).

Can you tell us how the basic, controls-at-noon, voicing of the Sisma compares with the WD-800? And how do both respond when driven into overdrive? Differences in the character of the breakup when pushed? Comparable heft in the bottom octave? Upper treble extension? And are both able to get into the other's ballpark with a little tweaking?

Sorry for all the questions, but most of us will probably never get to try the Sisma and even finding a WD-800 at a local store can be challenging, so we rely on the ears and experience of those who have the opportunity to try them.
Can you tell us how the basic, controls-at-noon, voicing of the Sisma compares with the WD-800?

I find them to be close, maybe a nod to the Sisma as being a bit bassyer as the WD has a passive mid control in its circuit not present in the Sisma, IDK.

And how do both respond when driven into overdrive? Differences in the character of the breakup when pushed?

Again similar in response and dial position.
I found the Sisma with its LPF made its overdrive smoother when engaged, as expected. I found the WD with its additional “trickery” edged over the Sisma as far as control and tone shaping and some response on the breakup. The HPF, passive mid, damping and the impedance switch allows running the WD at a lower wattage to change the power amp response to get more from its power tube emulation.

Comparable heft in the bottom octave?

Both but as stated above the Sisma pulls ahead a bit flat out of the box but as both get ramped up they are about the same with the Sisma being a bit problematic for me and my ear at the higher volume and I have to back off the bass on it. That is where, to me, the WD excelled because that kinda thing is more controllable in many ways on the WD.

Upper treble extension?

About the same maybe the WD a bit ahead.

And are both able to get into the other's ballpark with a little tweaking?

Yes, IMO very much so.

These are my thoughts based on me, my prejudices, and my tin ear.

:)
 
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What did you like better?
Maybe I could tell if you'd like the WD.

The voicing, I guess. The Sisma had heft and seemed louder and more authoritative at the same volume level. I’d guess more low-low mid at the right frequency with the right q, while still maintaining an open but round top end.

No kidding, I had two bass players come down to my basement studio while I was playing the Sisma. Both came through the door and said “WHAT is that?!?!?!” It really had that much of an initial impact.
 
The voicing, I guess. The Sisma had heft and seemed louder and more authoritative at the same volume level. I’d guess more low-low mid at the right frequency with the right q, while still maintaining an open but round top end.

No kidding, I had two bass players come down to my basement studio while I was playing the Sisma. Both came through the door and said “WHAT is that?!?!?!” It really had that much of an initial impact.
You might like the Sisma better.

While I found I could get a similar sound out of the WD, I had to turn some knobs to get it. You might get it from the D 800+ with the Deep switch. Some folks that have the D+ and have tried the WD say they liked the D+ because of its directness and less mids, more perceived low end.

Voicing again.

:)
 
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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!
You may think your GAS is over, but you should get on the list to have the Sisma sent to just to try it out and compare it to what you already have.

It might not change your mind, or it might, you'll never know until you do so. There is no obligation to buy a Sisma, but you will at the least be more informed on what it is capable of.