And that 700Hz dip also helps the upright lose some of that nasally midrange, especially if you’re using a piezo pickup.
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Noble Amps Preamp
- Thread starter IanMartinAllison
- Start date
And that 700Hz dip also helps the upright lose some of that nasally midrange, especially if you’re using a piezo pickup.
@Chris Fitzgerald great question on the volume knob - I felt as if there was a difference.
I run mine to my amp from the xlr output. Unlike the 1/4 inch output, the xlr out is not affected by the volume knob
I run mine to my amp from the xlr output. Unlike the 1/4 inch output, the xlr out is not affected by the volume knob
good to know. I did not know that the Vol control does not affect thge XLR out. I know this is not unusual for DI's, my Countryman Type 85 does not, but some amp based DI's (like the Walkabout) do have a DI signal level control.
this and other posts like it (like what the freq dip is when you run Bass and Treble at the same level) are one of the reasons TB is so useful. I did not know the Vol control does not affect the XLR output.
I got my Noble DI used and AFAIK it does/did not come with a manual. I know its a fairly simple device control-wise, and I have had no issues dialing mine in, but it would be cool if there was a manual of some kind.
Its the Mesa Subway+ Preamp/DI. I use it for EQ (in front of the Noble) to shape mids, HPF, etc.
Gotcha... when I had my Noble, I ran into the AUX in of my Mesa D800 for that reason, some times
There are so many good demos and testimonials about this preamp. Aside from being an outstanding DI on its own I’m thinking a Noble would work well going into my Genzler Magellan 800 with its HPF and tubey goodness.
I'm definitely loving mine running into the front end of my Mesa WD800. The Noble can be subtle for live work, but it does bring something very nice to the tone party.
I am finishing up my testing of a borrowed Noble and getting ready to send it back. I have it in the FX loop of a PJB Super Flightcase amp after an Fdeck HPF, which is where it seems best. On the fence about whether to order one, but leaning toward it because it seems I would not have any trouble selling it if I decided I didn't want to keep it. Please let me know if I am wrong about this part!
I played several concerts and a small house gig with it and it sounded good, but at the time I had not yet found the "sweet spot" for how to set it and I think it could have sounded a lot better. And truthfully, the sound I have been getting with the Sansamp Para Driver DI in the same spot in the chain has also been excellent. The difference, for me, is that the Noble is simpler, and than the Volume knob doesn't seem to do all that much to change the tone, whereas on the Para Driver it changes the tone every time you move it. If I am wrong about this, please let me know - but I kind of like using the Noble between the input stage (where I can set the level to just before clipping) and power amp, cutting the low bass I don't like and then using the volume control to get maximum makeup volume that I can see on the limiter light; this gives me much more volume and "heft", for lack of a better word, with the master volume on the PJB set lower than before, and without necessarily making the signal too hot sounding.
The sweet spot on the EQ for DB seems to be bass all the way counter clockwise and treble at about 9 o'clock, which gives a little bit of nice definition to the sound. If I am understanding what the tube preamp is doing in conceptual terms, it would be something like emphasizing the upper partials of the overtone series rather than the fundamental. Is that in the ballpark?
I played several concerts and a small house gig with it and it sounded good, but at the time I had not yet found the "sweet spot" for how to set it and I think it could have sounded a lot better. And truthfully, the sound I have been getting with the Sansamp Para Driver DI in the same spot in the chain has also been excellent. The difference, for me, is that the Noble is simpler, and than the Volume knob doesn't seem to do all that much to change the tone, whereas on the Para Driver it changes the tone every time you move it. If I am wrong about this, please let me know - but I kind of like using the Noble between the input stage (where I can set the level to just before clipping) and power amp, cutting the low bass I don't like and then using the volume control to get maximum makeup volume that I can see on the limiter light; this gives me much more volume and "heft", for lack of a better word, with the master volume on the PJB set lower than before, and without necessarily making the signal too hot sounding.
The sweet spot on the EQ for DB seems to be bass all the way counter clockwise and treble at about 9 o'clock, which gives a little bit of nice definition to the sound. If I am understanding what the tube preamp is doing in conceptual terms, it would be something like emphasizing the upper partials of the overtone series rather than the fundamental. Is that in the ballpark?
All, I have decided or sell my Noble preamp. Please PM me if you are interested. Thanks!
For Sale - Noble Preamp
For Sale - Noble Preamp
Placed my order for mine on Thursday night, went ahead and ordered the Pelican case as well for when I travel overseas. The clincher was when I went straight into the (borrowed) Noble and then into the FX return, turning the Super Flightcase into a big powered speaker and using the HPF on the Noble to replace the external HPF I've always had velcroed to the back of the amp. The results were stellar, and I love my entire signal chain being reduced to 3 knobs + master volume. Looking forward to joining the club!
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
too late ... Lovep's Noble sold within a few hours of it being posted on TB classifieds.
couple of quick question about the Noble.
On the XLR out, is the signal particularly hot ? I see from the Noble site the XLR output impedance is 420ohms balanced (@ 30hz)
For the EQ controls, the Noble site says:
- EQ, shelving: Bass +18dB @ 150Hz corner, Treble +20dB @ 3.5kHz corner
- Low cut switch drops 6dB/octave below 90Hz
Has anyone got a visual graph of this info by any chance. I'm just trying to better understand the controls after using my Noble for a few months with a few different settings. I hear how it sounds, I'm just wondering what that looks like (if you know what I mean).
thanks
On the XLR out, is the signal particularly hot ? I see from the Noble site the XLR output impedance is 420ohms balanced (@ 30hz)
For the EQ controls, the Noble site says:
- EQ, shelving: Bass +18dB @ 150Hz corner, Treble +20dB @ 3.5kHz corner
- Low cut switch drops 6dB/octave below 90Hz
Has anyone got a visual graph of this info by any chance. I'm just trying to better understand the controls after using my Noble for a few months with a few different settings. I hear how it sounds, I'm just wondering what that looks like (if you know what I mean).
thanks
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
As someone who just sold a noble, I feel qualified to answer. Mostly GAS.
I have been more or less recording 100% of the time lately (working on a songs for an original project). The Noble shines in every recording I used it for.
Then I decided to do a shootout of the various di’s I have at my disposal. The noble had some amazing qualities that no other DI replicates, especially on the high end with a p bass. It sweetens things in an amazing way. Where I eventually landed was that I preferred the tone of my tubeworks DI ever so slightly because it just felt tiniest more present and forceful than the noble. It doesn’t have quite the same 3d quality, or the sweet high end of the Noble, but for me the presence in the mids was enough to edge it out, especially when you consider how much “potential energy” selling the noble represents financially.
In a perfect world I could have kept it and still pursued the bass that captured my fascination (which will be delivered later this week). No doubt I’ll get another at some point, just not now. The Noble is an amazing piece of gear, and Jack is one of the finest gentlemen I’ve had the pleasure of corresponding with, and not just within the MI industry.
I know you already have one, I was just saying it was too late to talk him out of selling his
I sold because I’m loaded up with bass gear...waaay too much. I sold off a bunch of stuff, including the Noble, to scale back a bit. I was originally going to buy another bass but I came to my senses before pulling the trigger.
I’m finding I’m getting by very well with my Mesa Subway+ preamp. If I was solely using DI, I would have more justification to keep the Noble. It does sound better as a DI compared to my Mesa.
