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Noble Amps Preamp
- Thread starter IanMartinAllison
- Start date
So I just pulled the trigger after going back and forth for some months. I’m definitely a little concerned that I’ve entered the cork sniffer category, but am excited to have a powerful piece of kit. My main concern is that my bass is active, so there may be some redundancy with the EQ. I’ve pretty much got it worked out that I will probably use some of the boost on the noble to establish my “flat” tone and then I can make micro adjustments with my on-board preamp to season different lines to taste. I play through MarkBass amps, but I like the idea of having some extra flavor and compression added via the tube in the Noble at the end of my signal chain. I use pedals and have a isolated supply, but the Noble will give me a little more room to grow on that front at well. I’ve been considering getting a P/J bass just to really fit that aesthetic, but my NS Designs CR-5 Radius is just such a beast on its own, there’s no way I can really justify going astray. I also am getting into recording, and used my Raidal Tonebone PZ-Pre on a good portion of our last album. I also am getting the home studio going, and think having a DI right on the board will help me with logistics. Please, TalkBass, allay my concerns.
Sounds like you have the Noble's place figured out. I (mostly) use basses with active preamps, and I do use the Noble as a baseline tone, with pedals and the active pre (or passive on my '59 P) to further shape the tones. I've had mine since Dec. 2015 (#134), and I have NEVER regretted the investment. I consider it my most important pedal, and I hope you will too. (how's that?)
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The balance between the on-board preamp and the Noble is a matter of taste. It also depends on what you want to emphasize. My Fender Jazz bass has a Sadowsky preamp, which I like a great deal. I tend to boost it just a little because combined with the Noble, you can goop up the tone with too much boost. Without the Noble, I boost the Sadowsky preamp a bit more.
With my Taylor AB-1 acoustic bass guitar, the Fishman VTB Active Volume & Tone Controls is an excellent preamp but I usually keep it flat and handle EQ with the Noble. Why? It sounds better that way to my ears and hits the tone target for my musical applications.
I never run the Noble output through a third preamp (such as one built into an integrated amp) ... it's really too much! Strictly into the FX jack or powered cab.
Someone else might prefer these configurations with different EQ. No right or wrong approach there, just depends on finding the right tone. Preamps, effects pedals and anything else in the signal chain are just different ways to get there.
If you are recording, the noble will make your life so much easier. Nice 3d tone(tube harmonics) with the ability to pick and choose some pedals if needed while having iso power.
With my sadowsky, i run the noble flat and use the bass preamp. With a passive fender i use the noble eq. Super easy and versatile.
Mine just arrived. Vapour only had a minute to test it to make sure it works . I put it at the end of my preamp board (strictly for testing) . One thing I noticed straight away is the output. Wow there is a ton of volume on tap. I turned the volume barely on. Like 2 percent. Is that normal? Sounded great. Just lots of volume available.
I was running it as a regular preamp into the input of my amp.
I was running it as a regular preamp into the input of my amp.
Can you bypass the preamp on your amp? I go into the effects loop with the noble.
Okay, I'm gonna figure out a way to get one of these sooner or later! Has anyone tried the Noble into the front end of a Music Man HD-130? The Music Man head has a solid state pre, but 4 EL34 power tubes!!! It seems to me that it's so easy to clip the front end of the solid state pre in these heads, but the 1/4" out is controlled by the volume knob and this could end up actually being a good combination?
I go into the effects return when I can to avoid the amp preamp and just use the noble.
Noble in the house! I'm planning on going into either the effect return or front input of my Bergantino Forte amp for gigs. I also have a new Crown XLS 2502 power amp that I'll try it with. Using Greenboy cabs. I played a little bit on my lunch break today and was VERY impressed. Instant tone thickener! Jack was a pleasure to deal with. I requested a fast-track order on July 26th and it was delivered to me yesterday August 1st. I'll be gigging with it Saturday night. Looks like Jack has made a couple of changes since the original - different 9v cable sockets and power switch.
Questions for the group: I can't decide whether to add one of my compressor to my board with the Noble - I have a Broughton Audio Apex as well as a Doc Lloyn Photon optical compressor. I'm assuming the tubes in the Noble will give me some light compression. Also, I may experiment with different tubes. I have a pair of NOS rib plate 12AU7 Telefunken tubes that I have used in bass preamps before, which I absolutely love. It's a very warm but detailed tube. Anyone experiment with different tubes for the Noble?
Questions for the group: I can't decide whether to add one of my compressor to my board with the Noble - I have a Broughton Audio Apex as well as a Doc Lloyn Photon optical compressor. I'm assuming the tubes in the Noble will give me some light compression. Also, I may experiment with different tubes. I have a pair of NOS rib plate 12AU7 Telefunken tubes that I have used in bass preamps before, which I absolutely love. It's a very warm but detailed tube. Anyone experiment with different tubes for the Noble?
Regarding the use of a compressor, I use the Diamond BCP-1. I love it with the noble. I’d highly recommend the Diamond.
I use the Cali76 Compact Bass, which pairs well with the Noble.
I liked my Empress comp with the Noble, and now my Cali76 cb... I'm also using a Fearless...F112
I have a
Yes, the noble adds a very nice and subtle compression. I have a Cali76 as well, but I prefer using the Noble without any compressor pedals. Test it out and see what you like better.
Have fun with it! It's a fantastic preamp/Di.
So I played my first gig (nightclub) with the Noble last night. Playing Funk, R&B, and Motown covers. My signal chain included - Dingwall Z3 5 string with active preamp (Darkglass Tone Capsule), an "always on" Doc Lloyd Photon optical compressor, rack mounted Avalon U5 and Crown XLS 2505 power amp (bridge mode), and last but definitely no least, Greenboy F112 and 15sub speakers. Tone controls on my bass preamp pretty much set flat, and I mostly used the Noble to make tone adjustments. I know many are thinking "for God's sake, he already has a U5 - the Noble is just overkill." Yes, I already loved what the U5 did to my tone (both live and recording), but in my seemingly endless quest for tonal nirvana, I felt that adding some tube warmth and harmonic content to my signal path would get me there.
Suffice it to say that the Noble did everything I wanted it to do, and more. Very inspirational. I have never had so many people (musicians and non-musicians) compliment my sound. That's kind of the ultimate proof of what it does in my book. Jack Roan hit it out of the park with this pedal. I know I'm preaching to the choir if you already own a Noble preamp. But if you are one of those on the fence, jump off it and enter the land of pure vacuum tube magic. I may eliminate the U5 altogether now and run the Noble straight into my Crown power amp, or into my little Bergantino Forte.
Suffice it to say that the Noble did everything I wanted it to do, and more. Very inspirational. I have never had so many people (musicians and non-musicians) compliment my sound. That's kind of the ultimate proof of what it does in my book. Jack Roan hit it out of the park with this pedal. I know I'm preaching to the choir if you already own a Noble preamp. But if you are one of those on the fence, jump off it and enter the land of pure vacuum tube magic. I may eliminate the U5 altogether now and run the Noble straight into my Crown power amp, or into my little Bergantino Forte.
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I read thru most of this thread and am truly intrigued. I have a full time church gig so we don't use backline at all - straight into the board. I currently am using a BassboneOD with an Eden Glowplug in front to warm up the signal. I like the Bassbone because I switch between fretted and fretless a lot. (Both basses are Lakland 55-94) Would the sound of the Noble be THAT much sweeter thru the mains compared to what I am currently using?
I don’t want to say bad things about the bassbone, because I have a lot of that to say. I will say that going from a bassbone to a Noble is the equivalent of going from a Ford Pinto to a Bentley. It is a world and more of a difference and worth every penny. Even if you are just practicing by yourself. My Aguilar DB751 sounds amazing, but if I shut the Noble off, it is like I wasn’t playing through a great amp at all.
