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NAD: Baby Sumo + Arkham Abyss

fishdreams

fishdreams

Sep 4, 2010
3,304
2,730
Callicoon, NY
www.jochemvandijk.net
Disclosures
Endorsing: Martin Keith Guitars
#1
It took me awhile to get it all together, but yes, now we have what I believe to be the ultimate in portable (almost) tube rig by pairing an Arkham Abyss pre amp with a Baby Sumo power amp. First of all: this is a great pairing. At all sound levels a great tone is possible. It just sounds delicious. What I am hearing is what i was looking for: me playing on my bass, draped in big, clean tube tone, with a very subtle and musical preamp, instead of a baked-in (fill in Amplifier brand here) tone.

The Baby Sumo behaves like a proper power amp (in principle you'd put it full output, and turn in a given pre as desired) while the Abyss has the kind of gain that allows for a lot of leeway/headroom. A great thing about the Sumo is that it has no fan, and is therefore dead silent, which is wonderful news for the solo recording project I have in mind for the Summer.

The Arkham Abyss (I believe mine is the very first one) is Micah's new in-between model (between the Bullett and the Zephyr). Besides adding the High pass switch and Range pot, it also has the D.I. (I really wanted that, so it can used in recording situations or with PAs). Whether it is my own basses ('78 Pbass, fretless Linc with Bartolini humbuckers, Abasses with Aguilar hot jazz pups), or the custombuilt First Act as played by Giacomo Merega, who is a brilliant bass player, it has been impossible to get a bad sound out of it no matter how the knobs are set.

The Abyss comes with a set of rack ears. The case is steel and built like a tank, but still portable.

I think I'm in love.

BSA.jpg
 
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#2
Love the Abyss! I nearly bought a Bullet, but didn't like the military connotations or lack of DI. This could be the perfect Arkham product for me! Can I ask the dimensions of the unit?
 
#4
fishdreams said:
I'll give you exact dimensions when I'm home, but I can tell you now it's half rack width, and 2U high
Click to expand...

Thanks! I am looking for something that will sit nicely on top of my Acoustic Image Focus SA poweramp, 10" w x 6.75" d x 3" h. Currently I am using a Raven Labs PHA-1 measuring an adorable 6.75" x 5.25" x 2". But after some recent experiences with awesome studio gear, I am looking to go in a "tubey-er" direction. :)
 
#5
Mushroo said:
Thanks! I am looking for something that will sit nicely on top of my Acoustic Image Focus SA poweramp, 10" w x 6.75" d x 3" h. Currently I am using a Raven Labs PHA-1 measuring an adorable 6.75" x 5.25" x 2". But after some recent experiences with awesome studio gear, I am looking to go in a "tubey-er" direction. :)
Click to expand...

The housing dimensions are 8.25" wide x 8.25" deep by 3.5" high. the cooling ventilation slots are on top.
 
#8
fishdreams said:
Neat! How is that KGB?
Click to expand...

I really liked the KGB; however, I was looking for a tube sound for recording so I ended up selling it and buying the REDDI; however, I am selling the REDDI now b/c I am thinking about just going to a tube preamp. This Arkham looks really promising. Do you have any sound demo of it. Also, how does it compare to the rack mount. I think it is just a different case essentially? Also, I like that price point. A bit more manageable than the Monique.
 
#10
BostonJazz72 said:
Do you have any sound demo of it. Also, how does it compare to the rack mount. I think it is just a different case essentially? Also, I like that price point. A bit more manageable than the Monique.
Click to expand...
It so happened I did some duo recording a week ago with a bassoonist, so here is a bit from the Direct Out channel, my fretless through the preamp direct out into Zoom H6. Nothing done to the track (what will have affected the tone somewhat, is that the signal went through my pedal board, though I didnt have any effects going here). While it may not make much musical sense on its own, if you scroll through the track you get the full range of the bass, low to high.


Extra for the Zephyr: thru jack; mute switch; the DI has its own gain, and there's pre and post gain; On the Abyss, 1 gain; the deciding factor to me was the DI out (with ground lift); that I really wanted and what I got with the Abyss. In places with a decent pa, all I need to bring is the Abyss (it is how I hooked up in the small concert space I recorded this in). The tonestack is great, I am quite happy with the lo, mid and high switches and the hpf filter. (edited description: Abyss comes with DI!!)
 
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#11
fishdreams said:
It so happened I did some recording on Sunday with someone, here is a the Direct Out channel, my fretless through the preamp direct out into Zoom H6. Nothing done to the track (what will have affected the tone somewhat, is that the signal went through my pedal board, though I didnt have any effects going here). While it may not make much musical sense on its own, if you scroll through the track you get the full range of the bass, low to high.
Click to expand...

fishdreams said:
It so happened I did some duo recording a week ago with a bassoonist, so here is a bit from the Direct Out channel, my fretless through the preamp direct out into Zoom H6. Nothing done to the track (what will have affected the tone somewhat, is that the signal went through my pedal board, though I didnt have any effects going here). While it may not make much musical sense on its own, if you scroll through the track you get the full range of the bass, low to high.


Extra for the Zephyr: thru jack; mute switch; the DI has its own gain, and the there's pre and post gain; On the Abyss, 1 gain; the deciding factor to me was the DI out (with ground lift); that I really wanted and what I got with the Zephyr. In places with a decent pa, all I need to bring is the Zephyr (it is how I hooked up in the small concert space I recorded this in). The tonestack is great, I am quite happy with the lo, mid and high switches and the hpf filter.
Click to expand...



Thanks! Can't wait to try mine in three weeks or so!
 
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#12
fishdreams said:
It so happened I did some duo recording a week ago with a bassoonist, so here is a bit from the Direct Out channel, my fretless through the preamp direct out into Zoom H6. Nothing done to the track (what will have affected the tone somewhat, is that the signal went through my pedal board, though I didnt have any effects going here). While it may not make much musical sense on its own, if you scroll through the track you get the full range of the bass, low to high.


Extra for the Zephyr: thru jack; mute switch; the DI has its own gain, and there's pre and post gain; On the Abyss, 1 gain; the deciding factor to me was the DI out (with ground lift); that I really wanted and what I got with the Abyss. In places with a decent pa, all I need to bring is the Abyss (it is how I hooked up in the small concert space I recorded this in). The tonestack is great, I am quite happy with the lo, mid and high switches and the hpf filter. (edited description: Abyss comes with DI!!)
Click to expand...


Just curious if you are going to rack the Abyss or will try to buy a case? Micah suggested a Pelican case for both the Baby Sumo and Abyss, but the Baby Sumo comes with a case. However, makes sense to have one case to carry both.
 
#13
BostonJazz72 said:
Just curious if you are going to rack the Abyss or will try to buy a case? Micah suggested a Pelican case for both the Baby Sumo and Abyss, but the Baby Sumo comes with a case. However, makes sense to have one case to carry both.
Click to expand...

Everyone's needs maybe different, for me and many others in NYC portability means being able to use public transport avoiding cab/Uber fares when possible.

So I am not going to rack it, as the idea of it being modular and being able to pack only what I'll need is essential to the idea of separate pre and poweramp. For example, when I did recording session, I managed to pack Abyss, cables, recording device, tripod, and pedal board in a smaller regular roller suitcase (something you see a lot around here, you can get them all over town for like $30) and 5 recording mikes with a few mike cables in a small cooler bag about the size of a 6 pack.

I have not been using the Baby Sumo case, it is too bulky for the size of the baby sumo for my purposes, I'd say it's good for shipping.

I will look into the Pelican case though; thanks for that tip.
 
#14
fishdreams said:
Everyone's needs maybe different, for me and many others in NYC portability means being able to use public transport avoiding cab/Uber fares when possible.

So I am not going to rack it, as the idea of it being modular and being able to pack only what I'll need is essential to the idea of separate pre and poweramp. For example, when I did recording session, I managed to pack Abyss, cables, recording device, tripod, and pedal board in a smaller regular roller suitcase (something you see a lot around here, you can get them all over town for like $30) and 5 recording mikes with a few mike cables in a small cooler bag about the size of a 6 pack.

I have not been using the Baby Sumo case, it is too bulky for the size of the baby sumo for my purposes, I'd say it's good for shipping.

I will look into the Pelican case though; thanks for that tip.
Click to expand...

Cool - I hear you. I am in Chicago and thus need to do the same thing. I felt that the Baby Sumo case is pretty big for general day to day purpose.
 
#16
fishdreams said:
Everyone's needs maybe different, for me and many others in NYC portability means being able to use public transport avoiding cab/Uber fares when possible.

So I am not going to rack it, as the idea of it being modular and being able to pack only what I'll need is essential to the idea of separate pre and poweramp. For example, when I did recording session, I managed to pack Abyss, cables, recording device, tripod, and pedal board in a smaller regular roller suitcase (something you see a lot around here, you can get them all over town for like $30) and 5 recording mikes with a few mike cables in a small cooler bag about the size of a 6 pack.

I have not been using the Baby Sumo case, it is too bulky for the size of the baby sumo for my purposes, I'd say it's good for shipping.

I will look into the Pelican case though; thanks for that tip.
Click to expand...
There are shallow rack cases 2u, 3u etc. also there is a rack shelf available where you can mount from the bottom by unscrewing the feat and pass the screws of the feet thru slotted holes. You can get that at Sweetwater etc.
 

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