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My preamp journey

#242
Jim C said:
Does anyone have any experience with an Ashley BP-41 pre-amp?
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It's been a long, long time, but I remember the Ashley having a nice bump in the upper mid range that you could tweak to give it this nasty bite to it. And I mean nasty in a very, very good way. You could get quite a punch from it as well. I didn't keep it long, I wanted something with a little more thickness. But again, that was awhile ago. I remember getting a good Geddy Lee type tone out of it.
 
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#245
Jim C said:
Does anyone have any experience with an Ashley BP-41 pre-amp?
There's one in the classifieds and often wondered if they were good. As a comparison I didn't really care for the Yamaha PB-1. Nothing wrong with it, just didn't love it. Also sold an early Alembic pre.

On a happy note, The Ampeg SVT-IIP is fixed and the SVP-CL has been gathered up from our rehearsal space.
Hope to have a shootout between the Crest CA6, and the power amp side of a GM MBF800 this weekend.
I'm thinking I'll stay away from hot rod basses (like G&L) and just use my 60'P and 72' J.
I'm certain they will all sound awesome but curious as to what flavors!
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Well if there's any indication as to how it will sound, I believe Geddy used one with JBLs during the Moving Pictures era so I imagine it rocks pretty hard in front of 15s. Listen to the extracted bass parts on YouTube for an idea of how it sounds with a Jazz bass. I'd get one if I had a good Power amp, myself
 
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#247
kevmac said:
There are many videos for both on YouTube.
Many claim the H.B. is one of the best CLEAN preamps.No dirt in it.The V.M.T. is exactly as titled.They make a good tandem.
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Thanks so much - I might pick up the HB just to give it a go. I’m playing thru one of the new GK Legacy combos and it’s got a nice little gain / drive channel so that’s good for now. Almost wish it didn’t so then I’d need the VMT lol
 
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#248
So this came today. Sushibox Dr. Watson. I ordered it tubeless as I have a bunch of 12**** tubes laying around. I put a "regular" 12ax7 on the left and a high gain JJ on the right and it smokes. Plenty of solid clean gain and nice breakup that gets very gritty.

This is my first time trying a preamp based on a HiWatt and so far I really like it.

I'm not much a tube roller, but since I have a bunch sitting here, I think I'm going to try a few, and maybe mess around with a few other tube preamps.
 

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#250
moon-bass said:
So this came today. Sushibox Dr. Watson. I ordered it tubeless as I have a bunch of 12**** tubes laying around. I put a "regular" 12ax7 on the left and a high gain JJ on the right and it smokes. Plenty of solid clean gain and nice breakup that gets very gritty.

This is my first time trying a preamp based on a HiWatt and so far I really like it.

I'm not much a tube roller, but since I have a bunch sitting here, I think I'm going to try a few, and maybe mess around with a few other tube preamps.
Click to expand...
If John Entwistles used them that is a good endorsement.Glad you like it.I have to make my mind up over the Super 800 or waiting for the 400.These decisions are killing me!
 
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#252
moon-bass said:
So this came today. Sushibox Dr. Watson. I ordered it tubeless as I have a bunch of 12**** tubes laying around. I put a "regular" 12ax7 on the left and a high gain JJ on the right and it smokes. Plenty of solid clean gain and nice breakup that gets very gritty.

This is my first time trying a preamp based on a HiWatt and so far I really like it.

I'm not much a tube roller, but since I have a bunch sitting here, I think I'm going to try a few, and maybe mess around with a few other tube preamps.
Click to expand...

I like the Wattson so much, I bought the updated version of it. I'm lending the original version to a friend, and I don't think I'll get it back.

Be careful of the tube rolling, you don't want to go down that rabbit hole!
 
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#254
Good thread.
Nobody is using a Tonecraft 363 though? I got one in a trade recently and it’s right up there with the Noble that I’ve been pretty devoted to for several years. The Tonecraft is everything I wanted the REDDI to be…other than not being smaller or lighter lol. As a DI it’s much more versatile than the Noble. But the Noble is a lot more portable. Both are VOG sounding preamps.

Something the Tonecraft has really got over the Noble though is a buffered throughput so it’ll function as just a DI with the preamp signal only going to FOH. The Noble not having this capability has been the only thing about it that’s really annoyed me. With the Quilter BB800 I definitely want the tube preamp as part of my stage sound. With the Alessandro tube head I definitely don’t.
 
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