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Jad Freer Sisma Mega Thread.

#841
DJ Bebop said:
I don't own one, but I had the tester here for a while. These are a couple of captures from a couple of videos I made in a tequila-induced haze…

View attachment 7225468View attachment 7225469

Don't know if these settings are of interest.

I was using a P bass with La Bella 1954 flats with the Sisma running into a Mesa Subway 115. The amp itself was on top of my WD 800.

The La Bella flats are 52-110 so they offer a certain amount of drive on their own. Causing the bass to hit the front end kinda hard.

I wish I had the money I would have kept it. I would have had to sell the WD to finance it and I didn't want to do that. Love the WD too 😊
Click to expand...
PS the few times I got it out of the house, the master was run higher. I wanted to be clear on that.
🤣
 
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#842
I had the opportunity to pick up a Sisma this last month with no wait-time!

I gigged it Wed pm for the 1st time, running 2x Aguilar SL112s.
I took a Jazz with broken-in Cobalt flats & a fretless P with TI flats.

I ran it close to flat, and didn't tweak it at all - (mostly, there was just too much going on with sort of a "pick-up" gig with a "loose" set list. )
I immediately disengaged the DEEP switch after the 1st song in - FOH was much happier after that, and I could add a little stage volume to hear myself better. (smaller stage, smaller venue)

The Sisma sounds great with my Jazz basses, especially with that "vintage"-vibe, but yet , it has just incredible low-end delivery & articulation.



1747509394077.png
 
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#844
“…performing dead silent at low volumes or studio applications” This is directly off of their website. If this is true then there’s something wrong with mine because there’s a fair amount of white noise.
Also, had the power amp protection circuit kick in on a gig last week. The red light next to the tube came on and the sound went away. I turned the amp off and back on, and it was fine the rest of the night. Gain and all eq set at 12 o’clock, and master only at 10/11 o’clock. If this is all “normal” am I supposed to carry an extra amp around with me? Don’t know what to do. So disappointed!
 
#845
basgitarr said:
“…performing dead silent at low volumes or studio applications” This is directly off of their website. If this is true then there’s something wrong with mine because there’s a fair amount of white noise.
Click to expand...
This sentence here is about fans. That said the amp has a very good signal/noise ratio, compared to other amps of comparable power. Protection circuit is there for a reason, there is no reason to worry if that happens rarely.
 
#846
Look, I really appreciate the love, care and expertise you put into building these, Andrea! And I appreciate the timely response. I really want to like this amp because I do like the sound. The functionality of the preamp is very well thought out. But I don’t see the difference between fan noise in a quiet situation or white noise in a quiet situation. Maybe I should try replacing the tube and see if that improves it any.
As far as the protection circuit goes, I understand why it’s there, but I’ve played this venue for probably 15 years without an issue. I’ve made my living playing bass for more than 50 years. Owned my fair share of amplifiers. I can tell you that once an amp goes silent on you on stage, intentionally or not, you never look at it the same again.
So in my mind, I’m looking at either carrying a spare amp with me, buying a standalone power amp and running a line out of the Sisma preamp, or scrapping it and getting something else.
I’d appreciate any thoughts from TB land.
 
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#847
I don't think you will experience white noise issues while recording with the Sisma with the Gain control properly set. Do you think the preamp is noisy when plugged in and playing with gain around noon? As for the protection circuit: the Sisma is a very powerful amplifier, having it going into protection avoids frying some poor woofers after it, under certain conditions. My experience with big power amps (Mesa Titan, AGI 751, 2kW PA power amps etc) is that they are more prone to going into protection than smaller amps, that could be overdriven cranked without problems (like a good ol Traynor Monoblock at full) and this is not due to the amp itself (they are - or were - amazing designs and killer sounding). Please give it some credit and try diggin into it some more, there are several US artists blasting it on big arenas with no issues. But in the end it could also not be the amp for you, and that's fair too.
 
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#848
Playing live on stage with the gain at noon, no I don’t hear it. When I have it set up at my house where it’s more quiet, yes, there’s a fair amount of hiss. Maybe that’s just the nature of the beast.
Most of the gigs I play there’s no FOH, so if the amp goes into protection, there’s no bass. Surely you can see the issue there.
Like I said, I so appreciate everything you’ve put into bringing this amp to life! Maybe you’re right and it just isn’t the best fit for me.
 
#853
I got my Jad Freer Volta last week and I have to say it is awesome. I will post pics later.
I always was an Ampeg guy (fridge). It was the best rig for me until I tried some vintage amps (Orange, Matamp, Hiwatt Custom 100, B15, Vox AC30, Fender Bassman) I recognized there is more out there than Ampeg fridge :)
Everything was more or less great but vintage amps you have to put in a lot of work and so I switched to new tube amps again.
Orange AD200, Ampeg Heritage and Fender Superbassman but they were all crap. A lot of issues. Ampeg Heritage had a lot of noise (I think because of power supply issues)than I went to the superbassman.
After my fender Superbassman broke I had a really bad support von fender. It took my a year to find a technician who has the schematic to repair the amp.
So I thought this are all 3000€ and more amps so I can try a boutique Amp swell. Back than where the vintage amps were built, the companies like Ampeg, Orange where boutique Brands as well and built them like tanks to last forever until they start to save money and cut of costs.
I want something well built and not so much technique like the Superbassman.
So I ordered after a long research the Volta.
I can not say how long it last without any issues, but I can say it is very well built, extrtemly quiet and simple.
After the superbassman with 1000 knobs it was a funny chang-over to 4 knobs. But that it was I want. If I want to do more color than I put I pedal in front of the amp.

How is the sound?
I didn't try it in a band setting but I tried at home at all volumes :-)
At low volume it sounds so sweet like an old vintage amp also when you push the gain it starts to crank softly. I love it.

At higher volumes it can get aggressive as well. That's whatI didn't like from the superbassman because it always sound round and can not get edgy. Ampeg CL and Heritage you need a lot of volume to get aggressive.

I am very happy with the amp. Now I am looking for a cab.
I am switching between Ampeg 810 because it is classic, I like it, sealed and it is cheap (you can get a 810 for 500-600€). But it is heavy and big.
Bergantino 610 would be interesting because it is sealed too, but it almost not possible to get one.

I love sealed cabs because they are not boomy.

The last option because it fits to the amp (look wise) would be a JF Venere or Minvera. Expensive shipment, ported (I am not sure if I like it) and I am not sure If I should get a Venere 410 or 210 or Minvera 212.
I have never played one so I am not 100% sure.
In my opinion a speaker colors the bass signal more than the amp. If I had my Hiwatt Custom 100 which is very natural and changed cabs between Matamp, Ampeg and Hiwatt you could he the sound of the brand.


A comparison between Ampeg 810 and Venere or Minvera would be interesting. Maybe with a known head like Ampeg CL.

I think I will find the right cab for the Volta and am almost sure that I end up with a JF Cab because they are doing great stuff.
 
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#854
Rodrigues said:
I got my Jad Freer Volta last week and I have to say it is awesome. I will post pics later.
I always was an Ampeg guy (fridge). It was the best rig for me until I tried some vintage amps (Orange, Matamp, Hiwatt Custom 100, B15, Vox AC30, Fender Bassman) I recognized there is more out there than Ampeg fridge :)
Everything was more or less great but vintage amps you have to put in a lot of work and so I switched to new tube amps again.
Orange AD200, Ampeg Heritage and Fender Superbassman but they were all crap. A lot of issues. Ampeg Heritage had a lot of noise (I think because of power supply issues)than I went to the superbassman.
After my fender Superbassman broke I had a really bad support von fender. It took my a year to find a technician who has the schematic to repair the amp.
So I thought this are all 3000€ and more amps so I can try a boutique Amp swell. Back than where the vintage amps were built, the companies like Ampeg, Orange where boutique Brands as well and built them like tanks to last forever until they start to save money and cut of costs.
I want something well built and not so much technique like the Superbassman.
So I ordered after a long research the Volta.
I can not say how long it last without any issues, but I can say it is very well built, extrtemly quiet and simple.
After the superbassman with 1000 knobs it was a funny chang-over to 4 knobs. But that it was I want. If I want to do more color than I put I pedal in front of the amp.

How is the sound?
I didn't try it in a band setting but I tried at home at all volumes :-)
At low volume it sounds so sweet like an old vintage amp also when you push the gain it starts to crank softly. I love it.

At higher volumes it can get aggressive as well. That's whatI didn't like from the superbassman because it always sound round and can not get edgy. Ampeg CL and Heritage you need a lot of volume to get aggressive.

I am very happy with the amp. Now I am looking for a cab.
I am switching between Ampeg 810 because it is classic, I like it, sealed and it is cheap (you can get a 810 for 500-600€). But it is heavy and big.
Bergantino 610 would be interesting because it is sealed too, but it almost not possible to get one.

I love sealed cabs because they are not boomy.

The last option because it fits to the amp (look wise) would be a JF Venere or Minvera. Expensive shipment, ported (I am not sure if I like it) and I am not sure If I should get a Venere 410 or 210 or Minvera 212.
I have never played one so I am not 100% sure.
In my opinion a speaker colors the bass signal more than the amp. If I had my Hiwatt Custom 100 which is very natural and changed cabs between Matamp, Ampeg and Hiwatt you could he the sound of the brand.


A comparison between Ampeg 810 and Venere or Minvera would be interesting. Maybe with a known head like Ampeg CL.

I think I will find the right cab for the Volta and am almost sure that I end up with a JF Cab because they are doing great stuff.
Click to expand...
Check out Barefaced either the Six10 (a bit of color) or the Big24 (fairly transparent).
 
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#856
Rodrigues said:
I also thought about getting a Big 24, but it is very expensive and I am not sure if it is worthy. One a tried a Barefaced 410 andit was a little bit to boomy for me.
Click to expand...
I would go Minerva 212, it does not sound like a classic ported cab, our reflex sounds more like a sealed cab with more bass extension.
 
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#857
Rodrigues said:
I also thought about getting a Big 24, but it is very expensive and I am not sure if it is worthy. One a tried a Barefaced 410 andit was a little bit to boomy for me.
Click to expand...
Maybe I was too harsh.
Barefaced make cabs which are high quality.
But the used 410 and 210 were a little bit undefined in the low frequencies. That is what I ment boomy.

The seller sold them because of this reason. He bought instead vanderkleys.

I never tried big 24 maybe they are different.

Maybe my ears or my taste is different.
I sold my highend HiFi System because of that reason and bought studio monitors to listening music. Because I want to hear the real not a uncontrolled bass.
 
Last edited:
#858
Rodrigues said:
Maybe I was too harsh.
Barefaced make cabs which are high quality.
But the used 410 and 210 were a little bit undefined in the low frequencies. That is what I ment boomy.

The seller sold them because of this reason. He bought instead vanderkleys.

I never tried big 24 maybe they are different.

Maybe my ears or my taste is different.
I sold my highend HiFi System because of that reason and bought studio monitors to listening music. Because I want to hear the real not a uncontrolled bass.
Click to expand...
I’m sure the JF cabs are amazing, and if I had a Volta I would probably get one of the cabs recommended by Andrea.

That said, Barefaced 10 inch cabs are colored, it’s probably why you didn’t like them (some like it, others don’t).

But barefaced 12 inch cabs are completely flat, very detailed and articulate. If you try to imagine the opposite of a boomy cab… that how the Super Compact, Super Twin, Big Baby or Big Twin/Big 24 sound like.
 
Last edited:
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#859
Andrea Lo said:
I don't think you will experience white noise issues while recording with the Sisma with the Gain control properly set. Do you think the preamp is noisy when plugged in and playing with gain around noon? As for the protection circuit: the Sisma is a very powerful amplifier, having it going into protection avoids frying some poor woofers after it, under certain conditions. My experience with big power amps (Mesa Titan, AGI 751, 2kW PA power amps etc) is that they are more prone to going into protection than smaller amps, that could be overdriven cranked without problems (like a good ol Traynor Monoblock at full) and this is not due to the amp itself (they are - or were - amazing designs and killer sounding). Please give it some credit and try diggin into it some more, there are several US artists blasting it on big arenas with no issues. But in the end it could also not be the amp for you, and that's fair too.
Click to expand...
Thank you, Andrea!
 

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