Noble Amps Preamp

[Kevan Campbell]

Just wanted to pop in and say "Thanks" to everyone that's posting photos of their boards with their Noble pre's! I put in my order last week after an awesome email exchange with Jack answering my questions, and I can't wait to get this monster in my board!

I originally intended for the Noble pre to just be part of my "fly board" or for shows where I can't have an amp, but after reading the last few pages it seems that I'm going to have to figure out how to make it a staple part of my sound.

Silly question here: does anyone here power the rest of their pedalboard via the Noble pre's power outputs AND another power source? I ask because I have two Pedaltrain 2's and a Voodoo labs PP2+ on each, and I'm wondering if it's worth it to keep one of them as the PP2+ has isolated power outputs (whereas from what I understand, the Noble's are not individually isolated)?

 

[AngelCrusher]

Just wanted to pop in and say "Thanks" to everyone that's posting photos of their boards with their Noble pre's! I put in my order last week after an awesome email exchange with Jack answering my questions, and I can't wait to get this monster in my board!

I originally intended for the Noble pre to just be part of my "fly board" or for shows where I can't have an amp, but after reading the last few pages it seems that I'm going to have to figure out how to make it a staple part of my sound.

Silly question here: does anyone here power the rest of their pedalboard via the Noble pre's power outputs AND another power source? I ask because I have two Pedaltrain 2's and a Voodoo labs PP2+ on each, and I'm wondering if it's worth it to keep one of them as the PP2+ has isolated power outputs (whereas from what I understand, the Noble's are not individually isolated)?

Yep, I power a pedal with my Boss TU-2 as well. Just matters how many pedals you have, really.

 

[sk8]

Just wanted to pop in and say "Thanks" to everyone that's posting photos of their boards with their Noble pre's! I put in my order last week after an awesome email exchange with Jack answering my questions, and I can't wait to get this monster in my board!

I originally intended for the Noble pre to just be part of my "fly board" or for shows where I can't have an amp, but after reading the last few pages it seems that I'm going to have to figure out how to make it a staple part of my sound.

Silly question here: does anyone here power the rest of their pedalboard via the Noble pre's power outputs AND another power source? I ask because I have two Pedaltrain 2's and a Voodoo labs PP2+ on each, and I'm wondering if it's worth it to keep one of them as the PP2+ has isolated power outputs (whereas from what I understand, the Noble's are not individually isolated)?

I'm using the noble to power 6 pedals but if I had anything that was particularly noisy I'd look into getting something with isolated outputs. As you have one anyway I'd keep it.

 

[Turn Em Loose]

 

[sk8]

Soooooooo question for you guys. As I don't use in ears and rarely DI I'm not really feeling the noble at the moment. I get that it's essentially a tube preamp with a passive DI but I don't feel through an amp it's giving me anything more than my dry signal. The only time I hear Any difference is when I use the eq. It's obviously very clean preamp.
Thoughts?

 

[BenHack]

Soooooooo question for you guys. As I don't use in ears and rarely DI I'm not really feeling the noble at the moment. I get that it's essentially a tube preamp with a passive DI but I don't feel through an amp it's giving me anything more than my dry signal. The only time I hear Any difference is when I use the eq. It's obviously very clean preamp.
Thoughts?

Hey sK8

Have you tried using the high pass filter? I find it's a really good way of tightening up the low end to help hear yourself better.

Chee Ben

 

[sk8]

Hey sK8

Have you tried using the high pass filter? I find it's a really good way of tightening up the low end to help hear yourself better.

Chee Ben

Thanks for the reply Ben

Yes I do. It's how I've always run it, boosting some bass back in to 10 o'clock ish.

I think it's more I'm not hearing having it in my chain. Maybe if I do some gigs without it I may miss it!

Toying with running a boost in front to get the tubes working more as I'm assuming it's obviously fixed gain

 

[BenHack]

Thanks for the reply Ben

Yes I do. It's how I've always run it, boosting some bass back in to 10 o'clock ish.

I think it's more I'm not hearing having it in my chain. Maybe if I do some gigs without it I may miss it!

Toying with running a boost in front to get the tubes working more as I'm assuming it's obviously fixed gain

OK cool.

When I first started using it I was plugging into the effect return of the various amps I use and could definitely hear it. The HPF with some bass boost really brought out the mids from my pbass with flats. I was really happy.

I've used it in front of amps too, but generally try to start from a flat position with their EQ. I think for me, the tone on stage is great but the idea that the DI is sending 'my' tone to front of house is so fulfilling.

The Noble does handle effects really well so maybe give it a go if you're looking for more break up.

Good luck

Ben

 

[Dave Hill]

Soooooooo question for you guys. As I don't use in ears and rarely DI I'm not really feeling the noble at the moment. I get that it's essentially a tube preamp with a passive DI but I don't feel through an amp it's giving me anything more than my dry signal. The only time I hear Any difference is when I use the eq. It's obviously very clean preamp.
Thoughts?

You don't have to like it. Too expensive a piece of gear to be lukewarm over. Good news is they sell pretty quickly in the classifieds. I didn't dig it either.

 

[Turn Em Loose]

You don't have to like it. Too expensive a piece of gear to be lukewarm over. Good news is they sell pretty quickly in the classifieds. I didn't dig it either.

True dat.

 

[Turn Em Loose]

Soooooooo question for you guys. As I don't use in ears and rarely DI I'm not really feeling the noble at the moment. I get that it's essentially a tube preamp with a passive DI but I don't feel through an amp it's giving me anything more than my dry signal. The only time I hear Any difference is when I use the eq. It's obviously very clean preamp.
Thoughts?

And I'll add that, at least for me, I kind of agree with the above statement when I'm at home. But on a gig, in a mix, is when these tube preamps/DI's (Noble, REDDI, P15, etc etc) really shine.

IMO, YMMV, etc etc.

 

[Dave W]

I've been kinda lukewarm on mine but I can't seem to make a decision about whether I want to get rid of it or not.
I'm going to take it to a rehearsal studio tonight. It's a nice treated room, lower overall sound levels, etc.

I think if it had a mid control and a master volume I'd dig it more. I'll try the bass cut switch too, although I haven't really dug what it's done for me so far.

 

[Turn Em Loose]

I've been kinda lukewarm on mine but I can't seem to make a decision about whether I want to get rid of it or not.
I'm going to take it to a rehearsal studio tonight. It's a nice treated room, lower overall sound levels, etc.

I think if it had a mid control and a master volume I'd dig it more. I'll try the bass cut switch too, although I haven't really dug what it's done for me so far.

Try HPF engaged and the Bass and Treble around 9:30-ish, give or take.

 

[bassdrop]

Soooooooo question for you guys. As I don't use in ears and rarely DI I'm not really feeling the noble at the moment. I get that it's essentially a tube preamp with a passive DI but I don't feel through an amp it's giving me anything more than my dry signal. The only time I hear Any difference is when I use the eq. It's obviously very clean preamp.
Thoughts?

I can identify with this sentiment since I would want to run it as both a primary preamp in a power amp rig as well as a DI. This is why I'm strongly considering an Arkham Zephyr. I've searched around for A/Bs of those two preamps specifically but have come up empty handed, thus far. I know it was asked earlier on this thread but does anyone have experience with both of those preamps that can comment?

 

[sk8]

OK cool.

When I first started using it I was plugging into the effect return of the various amps I use and could definitely hear it. The HPF with some bass boost really brought out the mids from my pbass with flats. I was really happy.

I've used it in front of amps too, but generally try to stay from a flat position with their EQ. I think for me, the tone on stage is great but the idea that the DI is sending 'my' tone to front of house is so fulfilling.

The Noble does handle effects really well so maybe give it a go if you're looking for more break up.

Good luck

Ben

The gigs I do I tend to use my rig rarely DI'ing which sort of negates the nobles main thrust IMO

 

[Doner Designs]

Soooooooo question for you guys. As I don't use in ears and rarely DI I'm not really feeling the noble at the moment. I get that it's essentially a tube preamp with a passive DI but I don't feel through an amp it's giving me anything more than my dry signal. The only time I hear Any difference is when I use the eq. It's obviously very clean preamp.
Thoughts?

In my experience the tone differential between high quality SS and tube amps is rather subtle when playing clean. Tubes will always add a certain kind of distortion and compression when overdriven, but this is not really how the Noble is intended to operate. Of course if you use a bass with a hot signal or put a clean boost in front of the Noble it will reward you some distortion if that is the tone you are looking for.

The Noble DI/Pre is extremely clean and quiet and, in my opinion, one of the best ways to add a tube vibe to your tone. I have also noticed that your really have to go direct into the power section of an amp (rather than into the main input) to bring out the best of it. To my ear, something gets lost when going through another preamp.

When I have used the box with my Markbass 2x12 rig it just sounds ok (preamp cannot be by passed), but when I go into the power section of my GK MB Fusion 800 feeding a Bergantino HG310 cab the tone is awesome and superior to the internal preamp on the GK head.

 

[Doner Designs]

The gigs I do I tend to use my rig rarely DI'ing which sort of negates the nobles main thrust IMO

I tend to think of the Noble DI, together with the power section of a Class D micro head, as a light weight easier to carry version of Jack's 1000 watt head. I have thought about buying the head and getting rid of the box, but then it's another bulky thing to carry whereas the preamp with either a small head or something like the Demeter Minnie 800D can be carried in a shoulder bag or gig bag pocket.

For recording it sounds great to insert the Noble between the bass and the USB interface.

 

[Smogcity]

For me, the beauty of the Noble is that it's a "swiss army knife" pedal that covers most/all situation:

>High end Tube DI for studio or live that will provide the sound your want to the board though an XLR (it'll sound great wherever you find yourself- world class studio to terrible dive bar with beer soaked funky house DIs that barely work or buzz/short-out/etc). You know you are giving them "your sound" to their XLR and the rest is out of your hands..

>Since it has a second tube (the "though" signal path is tube along with the DI signal path), it gives you a tube pre-amped signal to your monitoring stage or rehearsal amp. When presented with a crap back line rig at a show, it makes it possible to maximize the situation

>It has a high pass filter- If the situation you find yourself in calls for it (Weird acoustics in a club with crazy subs rattling and muddying up everything) You can cut the extreme lows AND then simultaneously ADD bass back (it has a bass and treble boost knobs) until you sound passable

>It will power six other pedals- this is a big plus! no need to have a pedal power supply

>The Noble on/off switch becomes the master on/off for your pedal board

It's not inexpensive but buy once, cry once!

 

[jondiener]

I tend to think of the Noble DI, together with the power section of a Class D micro head, as a light weight easier to carry version of Jack's 1000 watt head.

This is essentially where I've landed - Noble Pre into the FX return of my AI Clarus SL amp. Amp puts out 650W @ 4 ohms, is less than 3 lbs. and not much bigger than the Noble. And if I reeeeally need any stage EQ, I can always use the regular amp input instead of the FX return.

So, generally, my electric rig goes like this: Sadowsky Metro MV5-PJ --> Cali76 Compact --> a couple FX pedals --> Noble --> Acoustic Image Clarus SL --> MAS-45 cab. (If it's a bigger gig/venue, I'll add my MAS-109 sub.)

Needless to say, I'm a pretty happy camper right now and my GAS is currently the lowest it's been in a long time!

 

[Wallower]

Agree/second most of above, except in fact Noble can power at least 9 pedals, such as here (there's a Micro Thumpinator underneath):



The Noble nicely warms the bass in my IEM mix. But even moreso, I particularly noticed a difference when listening back to some live recordings made from a mic out front. Through PA speakers, post-Noble bass just sits better, more cohesive and coherent in the mix. Hard to fully appreciate that unless you can get out in front (wireless bass also helps for that!).