It's amazing how far you can turn up the treble and still get a smooth tone without getting too brittle. I mostly have the HPF engaged unless I am playing at low volume.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Noble Amps Preamp
- Thread starter IanMartinAllison
- Start date
HPF on all the time live and most of the time for recording. I like what happens with the mids and it really helps clean up the onstage sound.
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
I picked up a Broughton HPF/LPF box because I like what the Noble does to the lows and like what the Markbass VLE control does to highs. If I'm going thru the Noble the Broughton box is not needed. The Broughton is variable for both highs and lows vs a switch, but the rolloff is more gradual in the Noble - more natural sounding.
HPF on all the time. Bass as needed which is usually 9:00-10:00-ish. 10:00 max, though. Treble usually around 9:00-10:00, too.
The Treble doesn't add zing until 10:00 for me. Up until that point it adds clarity and definition without zing/clank. Best Treble boost I've encountered by a long shot.
The Treble doesn't add zing until 10:00 for me. Up until that point it adds clarity and definition without zing/clank. Best Treble boost I've encountered by a long shot.
Yeah exactly. I keep my knobs at around 9 or 10 and never really change. That goes for Pbass, Stingray, Cirrus..whatever. Whats cool is with an active bass, you can keep the onboard EQ tweaks real subtle. Every big boost on an active bass either takes away mids or gets boxy..etc. I find that a small chain of conservative EQing (bass and noble) results in a much bigger sound that is very crisp and still very warm. To me the foundation of a great bass tone is nice round, warm lows with defined midrange and crisp highs that are not harsh.
My stingray sounds real burpy and punchy because I barely boost the EQ, I just keep everything in the middle with slight tweaks. On a 2 band stingray, that's the way to get a great warm tone without brittle highs and a scoopy sound. I then have the Noble EQ with that little boost to highs and lows, which replaces me having to do it on the bass preamp.
I'm mainly playing a Fender American Deluxe Jazz 5 w/onboard Sadowski preamp in front of the Noble. I'm preferring to dial back the Sadowski's treble to about 10-20% on and rely more on Noble's treble, which sounds a bit richer and more natural. But the Sadowski pre's bass signal boosted to about 50% with the Noble's bass boosted to same or even higher sound terrific together -- especially with the HPF engaged. It's funny how a few years ago everything (for me) was about the lower mids. Lower mids, lower mids, lower mids. Ridiculous obsession. And now I don't even have a lower mid adjuster - nor do I miss it!
Fresh from rehearsal...
Wren & Cuff Suppa Phat Phuk >>
Dunwich Volt Thrower/ODB mod >>
Bearfoot Blueberry >>
Broughton HPF/LPF >>
Noble preamp/DI
The Noble doesn't absolutely need the LPF but I like the ability to adjust on the fly and the added gain comes in handy. I'm into the Noble as much as I was the first time I plugged into it. It's not just for "clean" P bass and flats players!
Wren & Cuff Suppa Phat Phuk >>
Dunwich Volt Thrower/ODB mod >>
Bearfoot Blueberry >>
Broughton HPF/LPF >>
Noble preamp/DI
The Noble doesn't absolutely need the LPF but I like the ability to adjust on the fly and the added gain comes in handy. I'm into the Noble as much as I was the first time I plugged into it. It's not just for "clean" P bass and flats players!
Attachments
Last edited:
I'm really wanting to try a Wren and Cuff...
I did get a Southampton 5th gear off the classifieds... came in yesterday, just haven't gotten to try it yet
Finally found another use for the HP filter for me. I put Dimarzio Split P's in one of my Pbasses. Awesome tone, but the output on them is LOUD. Lot of low end. With the HP filter engaged, the tone is much easier to control and sounds awesome.
What I will say about the Noble is it makes me want to play more.
- Feb 21, 2001
- 1,084
- 509
- Disclosures
- I Support the following: Fodera, Noble Amps, JHAudio, Trickfish Amplification
My 'noble' board this morning for church
I made my own 50Hz HPF. I don't care for an 80Hz roll off that comes with most amps or boards. I use it before my D.I. and amp to control how tight my low end is at higher volumes. I can still turn up the bass knob on the amp for tone control. At lower live volumes it wouldn't be needed but I still use it.
- Feb 21, 2001
- 1,084
- 509
- Disclosures
- I Support the following: Fodera, Noble Amps, JHAudio, Trickfish Amplification
So used the Noble on Sunday in church with a boost in front. I use it as a reverse boost in that I turn it off for quieter passages as opposed to boosting for louder ones. I noticed the noble sounded a bit more grrrrrr with the boost in front and flatter when I had it off. It may just be the volume drop but I felt it was more harmonically rich with the hotter input. Obviously tubes are involved but there was no perceivable break up and the boost wasn't massive. I will do some more experimenting but wondered if any others had done the same or similar.
- Feb 21, 2001
- 1,084
- 509
- Disclosures
- I Support the following: Fodera, Noble Amps, JHAudio, Trickfish Amplification
The volume pedal is slimmer than most so need foot room. Also need room to reach my finger between the Noble and the Cali76 along with the 18V cable that has a circuit board. Just below the Cali76 is cable path for power, signal, and top connectors.
Here's a better shot
Attachments
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
