Jad Freer Sisma Mega Thread.

[Jazzdogg]

I agree. It’s dark and big sounding, but tight and quick too.

Sounds like the way I'd describe a Carvin B1500, or an Aguilar DB751...

 

[Jeff Scott]

Has anyone bought a pelican case or something similar for transporting the Sisma? Anybody racking the amp?

The bag is nice but I'm wanting something with more protection for the gigs and schlepping.

Thanks in advance!

I have considered the rackmount if I buy a Sisma. It would replace the Walter Woods amp in this photo.

I'm not familiar with these 2 amps but for me Sisma is definitely on the quicker side (but with a lot of weight to the notes).

Like a slap in the face and a punch in the gut at the same time. This is ridiculous. A lot of "Punch" and "Slam", but with "Heft" and "Authority" at the same time. Ok I quit . Can somebody help?

I really wonder what others who have tried Sisma think about it?

My thoughts? Sisma is definitely on the quicker side (but with a lot of weight to the notes). It's like a slap in the face and a punch in the gut at the same time. A lot of "Punch" and "Slam", but with "Heft" and "Authority" at the same time.

Hope this helps.

 

[Danny C]

Has anyone bought a pelican case or something similar for transporting the Sisma? Anybody racking the amp?

It's not a Pelican but an off brand from Amazon. Aprox $50 usd, well built. The Sisma on the left with pedals on top velcroed and wired. All my cables on right. This, Mesa 115 and a bass and I'm havin fun.

 

[12bass]

My thoughts? Sisma is definitely on the quicker side (but with a lot of weight to the notes). It's like a slap in the face and a punch in the gut at the same time. A lot of "Punch" and "Slam", but with "Heft" and "Authority" at the same time.

Hope this helps.

Does it punch more like Tyson or Ali? Is 'heft' considered punching below the belt?

 

[Ian Trusheim]

@Danny C , this is exactly the type of thing I had in mind! All in one!!

 

[Danny C]

Yeah Ian, I have everything and spares all in the one case. I'll try to find the info from Amazon and will post it if I find it. I've had this a long time, I had my Mesa WD800 in here prior to Sisma.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Sounds like the way I'd describe a Carvin B1500, or an Aguilar DB751...

I agree with that description.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Does it punch more like Tyson or Ali? Is 'heft' considered punching below the belt?

Hmm, what does chicken and an online shopping site have do do with this?

 

[tombowlus]

I played the Sisma and Venere 210/110 rig this past weekend, this time with my louder, mostly rock (some pop) band. It is one of the more difficult venues we play, and most bands end up sounding like a wall of boomy mud. I noticed in my acoustic band that the Venere cabs were far better than average at resisting feedback from my upright and ABG, so I was hopeful that they would also do better than average in this boomy room. As it turns out, they were! The rig sounded fantastic, and managed to come across as full and clear, with just a bit of the "room resonance" issues I have had with other rigs in this room. I love that this rig can be both full and authoritative (nicely "meaty"), but still clear and still resistant to unwanted feedback/resonance.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I wonder if it was a combination of both the Sisma and Venere cabinets together or if the cabinets with a different amp would produce similar results at that venue.

 

[tombowlus]

I wonder if it was a combination of both the Sisma and Venere cabinets together or if the cabinets with a different amp would produce similar results at that venue.

Excellent question. I suspect a big chunk of it is the cabinets, but the Sisma definitely delivers a nice "full, but clear" signal, so I don't think it was making things any worse. But again, this is a very good question, which I will have to try and address during my review(s).

 

[DJ Bebop]

So something I tried was, running the send from the Sisma into the return of my Mesa WD and the WD send into the Sisma return.

I was a bit surprised by the results. The Sisma I assumed that the big thick sound would be in the class G power amp section as that was touted as a difference to class D. But I found that sound was present in the preamp as it ran into the WD class D power amp, it kinda sounded like the Sisma by itself.

Similar take going the other way, I found the WD preamp going into the the Sisma class G power amp, it kinda sounded like the WD by itself.

There are no doubt some nuances I might be missing in my comparison but overall that is what I found fooling around. The differences were more subtle than striking. But they are there.

Anyway…

 

[gtirard]

So something I tried was, running the send from the Sisma into the return of my Mesa WD and the WD send into the Sisma return.

I was a bit surprised by the results. The Sisma I assumed that the big thick sound would be in the class G power amp section as that was touted as a difference to class D. But I found that sound was present in the preamp as it ran into the WD class D power amp, it kinda sounded like the Sisma by itself.

Similar take going the other way, I found the WD preamp going into the the Sisma class G power amp, it kinda sounded like the WD by itself.

There are no doubt some nuances I might be missing in my comparison but overall that is what I found fooling around. The differences were more subtle than striking. But they are there.

Anyway…

This is a super interesting comment, because I've always wanted to do the same test.

In fact, I was just about to do the same test with the Sisma preamp into the power amp of the Quilter BB800 - the only problem I have is to be able to push the volume at home.

I'm not suprised at all, since for me, a good power section shouldn't modify the tone.

I know Jad Freer have made a lot of A/B testing during the design phase, I wonder why they ended up making their own class G power module, there must be a good reason but maybe the difference is too subtle for me. My guess it that I couldn't tell the difference if Sisma had a class D power section, but it's probably because I'm 56, my ears have lost precision whith growing age.

The only subtle difference I would expect to hear would be in the dynamics when playing loud, did you focus on the dynamics @DJ Bebop ?

 

[agedhorse]

Just for a data point, the response of the WD power amp is exactly as I intended it to be, which is also based on the Walkabout that it’s inspired by.

Since I have many commercially successful class AB/G/H and class D amps under my belt, I have never been limited by one class or another. I can achieve exactly the same results regardless of class (and have done exactly that).

The perception of “heft” is very much in the preamp and surrounding signal processing IMO and IME. If one “class” of power amp doesn’t have the performance, it’s not because of the class but because of limitations on the designer’s ability.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...I'm not surprised at all, since for me, a good power section shouldn't modify the tone.

I agree; that was my first thought, too.

I know Jad Freer have made a lot of A/B testing during the design phase, I wonder why they ended up making their own class G power module, there must be a good reason but maybe the difference is too subtle for me. My guess it that I couldn't tell the difference if Sisma had a class D power section, but it's probably because I'm 56, my ears have lost precision whith growing age.

What? Speak up, sonny! (Pushing 68, here).

 

[Andrea Lo]

I know Jad Freer have made a lot of A/B testing during the design phase, I wonder why they ended up making their own class G power module, there must be a good reason but maybe the difference is too subtle for me. My guess it that I couldn't tell the difference if Sisma had a class D power section, but it's probably because I'm 56, my ears have lost precision whith growing age.
[/USER] ?

To my experience "tone" is something more (but not only) connected to the preamp section and "performance" more to the power amp. To have a realistic taste of a bass amp you should try it on a band setting at least, to have a real test you should also mix and match different amps, cabs, bass and pedals. With no disrespect to bedroom tests, I would weight opinions of giggin players differently.

 

[DJ Bebop]

This is a super interesting comment, because I've always wanted to do the same test.

In fact, I was just about to do the same test with the Sisma preamp into the power amp of the Quilter BB800 - the only problem I have is to be able to push the volume at home.

I'm not suprised at all, since for me, a good power section shouldn't modify the tone.

I know Jad Freer have made a lot of A/B testing during the design phase, I wonder why they ended up making their own class G power module, there must be a good reason but maybe the difference is too subtle for me. My guess it that I couldn't tell the difference if Sisma had a class D power section, but it's probably because I'm 56, my ears have lost precision whith growing age.

The only subtle difference I would expect to hear would be in the dynamics when playing loud, did you focus on the dynamics @DJ Bebop ?

That could be my thing as well. Working with 68 year old ears.




I did find it had that touch response thing. When you lean into it, at the right gain setting, it grinds but if you back off on your attack or volume, it cleans up. When driven it compresses. A lot of the features my WD seems to exhibits so its not foreign to me.

It's a nice amp!

 

[DJ Bebop]

To my experience "tone" is something more (but not only) connected to the preamp section and "performance" more to the power amp. To have a realistic taste of a bass amp you should try it on a band setting at least, to have a real test you should also mix and match different amps, cabs, bass and pedals. With no disrespect to bedroom tests, I would weight opinions of giggin players differently.

True, I haven't gigged this amp yet, but I am a gigging musician, not limited to bedroom performances. I did run it through a few cabinets, ran several different basses, four, five, six-string. Fretless and fretted, upright too! A multi-FX unit but I’m not a pedal kinda guy.

I admit I do not have the depth of experience as a Geddy Lee or a Tom Bowlus but I don't believe my observations are not invalid as that was the purpose of sending the amp around the planet, to let people get an impression of the amp. I had it a good run with it and concentrated on the things I was looking to see from it.

I liked the amp, never bashed it and compare it to a couple of amps I like and I found the Sisma a very nice and capable amp anyone would be happy with. I didn't need a gig to see that. If I do, sorry to disappoint but it preformed very good without one to make that observation. I think anyone that plays the amp will like it. Especially if it fills their tone goals. That's the most you can hope for.

Anyway it's good to me, with what little comprehension I have about bass or bass playing, whether its on a stage or in a bedroom.

Good times!

 

[Andrea Lo]

I hope my lack of written english did not sound unrespectful. I don't feel there's anything "invalid" in your feelings about the amp and I welcome any kind of feedback, there is a good amount of personal taste happening. I just felt to stress the importance of trying the amp in a real setting, a rehearsal could be enough too.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I hope my lack of written english did not sound unrespectful. I don't feel there's anything "invalid" in your feelings about the amp and I welcome any kind of feedback, there is a good amount of personal taste happening. I just felt to stress the importance of trying the amp in a real setting, a rehearsal could be enough too.

While a rehearsal or a gig is best, it isn't necessary to see if an amp has potential. A lot of amp decisions are made on less, your amp should be ready to compete on less than a full-blown gig or even a rehearsal. Again a lot of purchases and continued use are made with less, sad but true.

Personal taste is what it's all about, always, can't change that!

Heft, slam. There, I said the words!