Noble Amps Preamp

[AngelCrusher]

There is no mid scoop on the Noble set at zero or I would not like it. If anything, it adds some mids in due to the harmonics, and balances the tone even more- which I like. When I boost the EQ like you are saying. I see a mid cut, but it's up around 7-800hz, which is awesome. What sucks is boost only pres that cut the mids around 300. That is where you lose a lot of the mid presence. Also, the mid cut on the Noble is never extreme lows and highs - even with the knobs maxed. It's never too much scoop. So if you just boost a little to 9 o clock or so like most people, there really is not much of a mid loss. If you engage the HP, that gives you even more mids back since there is a a small bump up at 150. This is why I think the HPF of the Noble is a game changer for a busy mix with some sub low kicks and also for live playing.

Tim Lefevbre saw this technique done on the Empire of the Sun sessions and I believe (this is pure speculation) that he may have shared this with Jack. Tim does a lot of gigs with electronic drums where it is better to sit on top of the kick. I know for me on hip hop sessions with 808s this is a game changer. But I believe this technique will be heard on the Empire of the sun record whenever it comes out. Just guessing there.

 

[SamuelSandoval]

Is it that the REDDI has a mid hump or that the Noble has a mid scoop if the controls are above zero? Remember the Noble is flat when the bass and treble are both fully counter-clockwise...they are boost-only controls. Not doubting but never heard before that the REDDI was high on the mids.

Steve I forgot to add that it's only my opinion, about the Reddi having a bump effect on mids. I used it slightly on Tuesday, Thursday for a short session and this weekend I was able to A/B them. Prior to that I hadn't used the Reddi. I haven't ever tested it on an analyzer, so I very well could be wrong... but I don't think so haha. Unless I'm going deaf... which might also be possible I guess.

 

[10cc]

Steve I forgot to add that it's only my opinion, about the Reddi having a bump effect on mids. I used it slightly on Tuesday, Thursday for a short session and this weekend I was able to A/B them. Prior to that I hadn't used the Reddi. I haven't ever tested it on an analyzer, so I very well could be wrong... but I don't think so haha. Unless I'm going deaf... which might also be possible I guess.

Compared to the Noble and other preamps with tone control the REDDI does sound as if it has a mid bump. On an analyzer I have no clue.

 

[Doner Designs]

Steve I forgot to add that it's only my opinion, about the Reddi having a bump effect on mids. I used it slightly on Tuesday, Thursday for a short session and this weekend I was able to A/B them. Prior to that I hadn't used the Reddi. I haven't ever tested it on an analyzer, so I very well could be wrong... but I don't think so haha. Unless I'm going deaf... which might also be possible I guess.

Seems like folks often say the REDDI has a distinct voicing that is sometimes described as warm and thick. That could very well be referring to low mids.

Before the Noble, my EQ approach was to cut low mids (to tighten up the bass). With the Noble the high-pass switch does a nice job of tightening the lows.

 

[AMJBASS]

I've owned a couple of REDDI's and gigged with them extensively. If anything, there is a bit of a high mid bump. I have never found it to be "warm and thick". More like clear and harmonically rich with a wide low end. Still my favorite DI of any I have used(which doesn't include the Noble as I haven't yet ordered one!).

 

[10cc]

Seems like folks often say the REDDI has a distinct voicing that is sometimes described as warm and thick. That could very well be referring to low mids.

Before the Noble, my EQ approach was to cut low mids (to tighten up the bass). With the Noble the high-pass switch does a nice job of tightening the lows.

With my GK MB212II I can set the EQ to highs 10 o'clock, high mids 10 o'clock, LOW MIDS 5 o'clock, bass noon and post EQ out on the direct out of the amp and it sounds really close to what my REDDI sounds like.

 

[Doner Designs]

With my GK MB212II I can set the EQ to highs 10 o'clock, high mids 10 o'clock, LOW MIDS 5 o'clock, bass noon and post EQ out on the direct out of the amp and it sounds really close to what my REDDI sounds like.

Interesting. If I remember right from when I had a similar GK amp the mids are a little scooped at noon but 5 o'clock would be quite a bump and a fair bit away from neutral for a device with no tone controls on it. Sounds like the Noble was the better choice for me.

 

[10cc]

Interesting. If I remember right from when I had a similar GK amp the mids are a little scooped at noon but 5 o'clock would be quite a bump and a fair bit away from neutral for a device with no tone controls on it. Sounds like the Noble was the better choice for me.

I have to agree with your decision. Noble is a nice pre

 

[Jerry Ziarko]

I've owned several GK's over the years, and I could never come anywhere near close to a REDDI tone with any of them. None of the ones I owned had that flavor in them, no matter what I did. I would describe the REDDI as very warm sounding, where GK's, though I think they're fabulous at what they do, are anything but.

 

[10cc]

I've owned several GK's over the years, and I could never come anywhere near close to a REDDI tone with any of them. None of the ones I owned had that flavor in them, no matter what I did. I would describe the REDDI as very warm sounding, where GK's, though I think they're fabulous at what they do, are anything but.

Once I spent much time with the REDDI and other DI/Preamps comparing them back and forth and what not. It was obvious that the REDDI has a low mid bump that I had to boost on the GK. Could I get my 800rb close? Not sure I didn't try. But for the GK combo I mentioned that is what it took to get it there. I can not remember where the Volume knobs and boost where set though.

Sorry for the OT. Back to being Noble.

Just remembered I did use my Broughton HPF too.

 

[ExaltBass]

With my GK MB212II I can set the EQ to highs 10 o'clock, high mids 10 o'clock, LOW MIDS 5 o'clock, bass noon and post EQ out on the direct out of the amp and it sounds really close to what my REDDI sounds like.

I've owned several GK's over the years, and I could never come anywhere near close to a REDDI tone with any of them. None of the ones I owned had that flavor in them, no matter what I did. I would describe the REDDI as very warm sounding, where GK's, though I think they're fabulous at what they do, are anything but.

Once I spent much time with the REDDI and other DI/Preamps comparing them back and forth and what not. It was obvious that the REDDI has a low mid bump that I had to boost on the GK. Could I get my 800rb close? Not sure I didn't try. But for the GK combo I mentioned that is what it took to get it there. I can not remember where the Volume knobs and boost where set though.

I've been using my personal rig at church since the first of the year [Noble>Genzler Magellan 800>Baer ML-112 (x2)], but the main church amp is a GK MB-210 combo. June-Sept is my rock band's typical gigging season (outdoor stuff) so I'll be pulling the rig for that time, so I'll have to spend some time seeing how close I CAN get to what I've been hearing since January. I'll still run the Noble in to the G-K, but it will be interesting to see how close I can get.

 

[M Sterling]

I've been using my personal rig at church since the first of the year [Noble>Genzler Magellan 800>Baer ML-112 (x2)], but the main church amp is a GK MB-210 combo. June-Sept is my rock band's typical gigging season (outdoor stuff) so I'll be pulling the rig for that time, so I'll have to spend some time seeing how close I CAN get to what I've been hearing since January. I'll still run the Noble in to the G-K, but it will be interesting to see how close I can get.

Man, those GK combos sound good but that is a tall order! Good luck!

 

[AngelCrusher]

I really want a nice little rig for rehearsals. Used a 4x10 for years, but hate lugging them around, so I may go smaller there. What are some cool setups that people are using with the Noble? Inexpensive but effective power amp plus speaker combos probably are best. If I can get away with a 2x12 cab I would do it. I plan to play fusion gigs mainly, so no huge rock rig is needed.

 

[SamuelSandoval]

I really want a nice little rig for rehearsals. Used a 4x10 for years, but hate lugging them around, so I may go smaller there. What are some cool setups that people are using with the Noble? Inexpensive but effective power amp plus speaker combos probably are best. If I can get away with a 2x12 cab I would do it. I plan to play fusion gigs mainly, so no huge rock rig is needed.

My Aguilar rig is awesome with the Noble.

 

[SamuelSandoval]

My Aguilar rig is awesome with the Noble.

I run the noble into a th500 and into one or two Aguilar db112 cabs. For rehearsals one db112 is almost always more than enough.
You can get them at a reasonable price used. You can buy mine at a reasonable price as I'm selling my rig right now haha.

 

[sliverhandsbass]

I'm really interested in purchase the noble. I play with a marco TFL-5 (j.bass) and i like the overall tone but, since i usually go direct w IEM, i find his tone a bit too hi-fi. I've used some sansamp in order to give me that "speaker" vibe (especially the cut on extreme high frequencies), but i like to have that without the coloration and drive associated with sansamp (no dislike at all, by the way). Should the Noble capable of giving me a warmer, less hi-fi tone, a bit more amp-like? I'm also interested to know how the noble react with distortion... i was quite addicted to the overdrive/speaker simulator combo, but i'm looking for a simpler setup., may the Noble be my choice? I've spotted hint of that on various replies on this thread, so i apologize for being maybe kind of repetitive, but i really dig the overall tone of this great box

 

[Doner Designs]

I'm really interested in purchase the noble. I play with a marco TFL-5 (j.bass) and i like the overall tone but, since i usually go direct w IEM, i find his tone a bit too hi-fi. I've used some sansamp in order to give me that "speaker" vibe (especially the cut on extreme high frequencies), but i like to have that without the coloration and drive associated with sansamp (no dislike at all, by the way). Should the Noble capable of giving me a warmer, less hi-fi tone, a bit more amp-like? I'm also interested to know how the noble react with distortion... i was quite addicted to the overdrive/speaker simulator combo, but i'm looking for a simpler setup., may the Noble be my choice? I've spotted hint of that on various replies on this thread, so i apologize for being maybe kind of repetitive, but i really dig the overall tone of this great box

To me it's a fairly neutral clean sound when the tone controls are set flat but you definitely can warm it up with the bass boost. To my ears the tube tone is subtle but there - warmish but clean and probably a great way to make your IEM sound more natural. You won't get a dirt/grind like with a distortion pedal unless you overdrive the input with some kind of clean boost (or if your bass has really high output). Others with better ears than me will have other comments I'm sure.

 

[AngelCrusher]

I run the noble into a th500 and into one or two Aguilar db112 cabs. For rehearsals one db112 is almost always more than enough.
You can get them at a reasonable price used. You can buy mine at a reasonable price as I'm selling my rig right now haha.

Honestly this probably is the best way to go. Pure power amps don't really seem to save much cash and Aguilar gear is killer.

 

[AngelCrusher]

I'm really interested in purchase the noble. I play with a marco TFL-5 (j.bass) and i like the overall tone but, since i usually go direct w IEM, i find his tone a bit too hi-fi. I've used some sansamp in order to give me that "speaker" vibe (especially the cut on extreme high frequencies), but i like to have that without the coloration and drive associated with sansamp (no dislike at all, by the way). Should the Noble capable of giving me a warmer, less hi-fi tone, a bit more amp-like? I'm also interested to know how the noble react with distortion... i was quite addicted to the overdrive/speaker simulator combo, but i'm looking for a simpler setup., may the Noble be my choice? I've spotted hint of that on various replies on this thread, so i apologize for being maybe kind of repetitive, but i really dig the overall tone of this great box

The Noble is definitely warmer. I ran my Bacchus DX6 though it (modern, Bartolini pre, big split pickups) and it still has that sound, but it just is so much easier to control if that makes any sense. A good tube pre takes all the higher frequencies that can sound harsh or brittle and really warms that up. Which is why I can run my tone knob all the way up on my Jazz bass now and not have to roll it off. When I recorded direct, I had to roll it off to warm it up and the Moollon Jazz is the warmest Jbass I have owned in my life.

I heard the Sadowsky (a pre I am very familiar with) through the Noble and from hearing what it did, I was sold. Those vids are in this thread and give a great example of what I am talking about.

I should add that my first track is coming along well and it has a similar tone to what you are describing. I ran my Moollon with all knobs up through the 5th gear OD (barely up) and into the Noble with the Bass and Treble at 9 o clock. It has a perfect level of subtle drive that pops the bass through the mix without it sounding harsh. This is a very versatile preamp. If you listen to the newest video on the Noble youtube channel, the Pbass going into it is huge and low end focused. It really nice, but a complete opposite of the tone I wanted to achieve. My point is that this preamp is incredible versatile, and you have the ability have your tone however you'd like with relative ease.

 

[sliverhandsbass]

Thanks to all! I'm really diggin your feedback. I'm trying to redefine my tone, and I hope the noble can take me
To the next level!