• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Lightning Boy Audio Thread

#81
scubaduba said:
OK. It adds a little something special to the tone. This harmonic content warms the signal path and makes it richer sounding. Don't expect some sort of overwhelming difference, but once you play with one in your signal path you won't want to remove it. It reminds me of what my RNDI does to the signal path where it seems to sweeten things up.

I've experimented with placement quite a lot over the last couple of days. Before a preamp pedal, after a preamp pedal. Before a compressor, after a compressor. Directly after bass going only into DI box to board. That's where you appreciate the 2020 most. It can make a rather stale signal sound that much more lively and "colorful".

I wish I had two because i was surprised to find that I like the 2020 directly after my bass at the beginning of my chain... but I also like the 2020 directly after my Oracle preamp in front of a DI. I think having one in both places would be golden.

If you use no preamp in your pedalboard chain, I think you would like the 2020. If you use a digital preamp pedal or one that is very neutral/transparent, I think you would benefit from a 2020. For example, I really like the Trickfish Trilobite preamp. It is not a "colored" preamp per se but I think it sounds fantastic for what it is. But adding the 2020 after the Trilobite and just before the DI just pushes that setup over the edge. If you use a tube preamp, well you might find the little 2020 does something special for your tone too. I like it after my Arkham Oracle preamp, just before the DI.

Yep, let the pre-orders begin!

View attachment 3770592
Click to expand...

Great write up! Thanks for taking the time to do it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: scubaduba
#82
Thanks for your thoughts! I hope you don't mind me asking, but does the 2020 take the Trilobite more in a coloured spectrum similar to what maybe a JHS Colour Box would do to your tone or is it just a completely different story?
 
#83
scubaduba said:
OK, yep. Everything just sounds that much better with this 2020 inline. And I can fit it underneath my Pedaltrain Mini.
Click to expand...
Do you think there is any parallel between 2020's transformer and the claimed sonic impact of the Triad transformers in the original Wolfbox DIs widely used in Detroit studios in the 1960s and 1970s, as described by inventor Ed Wolfrum? See: Link Removed
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: extreme
#84
scubaduba said:
@Bassworship1 The RNDI absolutely makes an audible difference. It produces a rounder tone, especially on the high end. Will listeners be able to tell in a performance setting? Who knows. But I have the space and I like what the RNDI does so I have it in place. If you think it is redundant than skip the extra DI.
Click to expand...
Before the gigs stopped the soundman I worked with could tell the difference with the RNDI.
Take that for what it is, their job is to listen so...
 
  • Like
Reactions: tedsalt
#85
@scubaduba curious if you tried the 20/20 transformer with single coil pickups?

Mike from LBA said it might not make a difference with single coil pickups. Single Coils is general what I run about %75 of the time.

(Granted my single coils are usually over-wound and ran in series like one giant pickup...So I'm not sure that makes a difference either)hhhmm.... :bookworm: Interesting
 
#87
scubaduba said:
@TonyP- With true single coils I think you would probably want more than one 2020.
Click to expand...
Thank You for your reply...On that note I know its not for me, since I might have space on of the boards if I removed my octave pedal.
I have give Mike props stating that this might not work for some situations.
 
#88
Updating this thread to say I'm still really diggin' the 2020. Interestingly, I'm finding I like it best (I think) in front of my compressors. I thought I'd like it best after a compressor (or after a preamp) but it really adds something special in front of several compressors I've tried it with.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zbysek, PeterH, extreme and 3 others
#89
scubaduba said:
Updating this thread to say I'm still really diggin' the 2020. Interestingly, I'm finding I like it best (I think) in front of my compressors. I thought I'd like it best after a compressor (or after a preamp) but it really adds something special in front of several compressors I've tried it with.
Click to expand...

I got one, and am looking forward to putting it in front of a Cali76TX... Should I just go for it and get a second one down the line to put at the end of my signal path?...
 
#99
Mushroo said:
Did you ever get your hands on a Studio One, and if so, what is your opinion on how the "transformer saturation" compares with the L.B. 2020?
Click to expand...
I’m willing to bet (being a gambling man who doesn’t make money bets) that he hasn’t had a chance to try a Studio One...but I know he’s tried the Colour Box and I want to ask how that transformer(s) compares to the 2020.
I’m so wanting to go ahead and get the Colour Box now in my attempt to really simplify my gigging rig. I’ve wanted a Lab comp for awhile now as well for its great reviews and supposed tube type character. The LBA 2020 is very intriguing to me and I’ve wanted to go ahead and at least buy one to try when I know I would buy 2 on the preorder already if it wasn’t for the pandemic blues. I want to try the 2020 in front of all my compressors after what I read yesterday...especially the Smoothie and Unit67. The main thing is that I know eventually my main pedalboard is going to have LBA 2020s at the beginning and end of the chain. I can almost already hear what it would do and I like it. The Colour Box I mainly want to mount on top of my Quilter BB800 with a comp and tuner...really simple rig...but first I must know how these transformers compare.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mushroo

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back