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Noble Amps Preamp
- Thread starter IanMartinAllison
- Start date
I've never tried my Noble in the effects loop of my B|Amp (HG310/HDN112), only in front, coming off a pedalboard - or direct to FOH. It kills either way.
There are a number of people who use the over on the P&W Bass thread....like ExaltBass...that use the Preamp/DI on their DI boards.
It is tempting to try one of these, but they are expensive. I currently use a OCSD with good results and it definitely gives more of a "presence" to my sound than my Radial JDI did. I loved my JDI but when I went IEM/DI I found it was too clean. I wanted a little "air" sound for my IEMs especially and FOH as well. I tried a REDDI and didn't care for it that much.
Agree. I'd really suggest the investment if you do a lot of studio work and gig live as well. If not, it's a rather expensive DI for many folks. But if you fit that description of session and live player, you will love this box. You can give a producer an awesome bass sound and then deliver that same sound live on stage.
The build quality is crazy good, plus the EQ is really awesome as well. So if you decide to get one you will understand the cost - but yeah, it's an investment for sure.
The only reason I'm looking at all is because in some recent OCSD discussion the issue of some hiss was brought up. I don't notice it much at my gigs, but now that it was mentioned...I just don't know if I want to go down the DI road again. I was pretty happy with my JDI, save for that it just seemed just a little clean. The OCSD sounds great - minimal hiss and all. We'll see I didn't give the REDDI much of a chance (about 30 minutes during run through/sound check before church one day) but I was looking for something different then as well so who knows.
I'm not sure I need a preamp/DI. I think just a good DI is all I require. I usually use an active Roscoe so I have a preamp. If I get a passive P bass, maybe? IDK.
I'm not sure I need a preamp/DI. I think just a good DI is all I require. I usually use an active Roscoe so I have a preamp. If I get a passive P bass, maybe? IDK.
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The Noble is a top-shelf DI - Show up at a session (or record at home) and get professional-quality bass tone that is replicable from session to session.
Show up with the Noble at a live gig, and there’s your studio tone right there, ready to go to FOH.
The Noble is also a top-shelf Preamp - with only volume, bass cut, and boost-only bass and treble knobs, you have a musical preamp that it essentially idiot-proof. Again, provides MUSICAL options and consistency.
As many have said - you can use the Noble to power your pedal board, if you use them. Eliminating the need for pedal power source.
And as I’ve found out — the Noble takes pedals extremely well (like a Fender amp), which translates to guitarists as well as bassists. The Noble ate up my TS808 and Strat for breakfast!
So for a thousand bucks, this Noble is a small device that will make all of your existing gear sound better, provide you with a piece of mind in the studio and at live gigs, and provide many hours/days/years of inspiration.
Show up with the Noble at a live gig, and there’s your studio tone right there, ready to go to FOH.
The Noble is also a top-shelf Preamp - with only volume, bass cut, and boost-only bass and treble knobs, you have a musical preamp that it essentially idiot-proof. Again, provides MUSICAL options and consistency.
As many have said - you can use the Noble to power your pedal board, if you use them. Eliminating the need for pedal power source.
And as I’ve found out — the Noble takes pedals extremely well (like a Fender amp), which translates to guitarists as well as bassists. The Noble ate up my TS808 and Strat for breakfast!
So for a thousand bucks, this Noble is a small device that will make all of your existing gear sound better, provide you with a piece of mind in the studio and at live gigs, and provide many hours/days/years of inspiration.
And I will add that it makes ANY amplifier sound better.
Concur with the comments about benefiting live sound. As I've gotten more into MIDI, I'm using the Noble less for the DI portion and mostly for live sound. Once you get hooked on the infusion of its tubes, anything else doesn't seem right. Heck of a lot easier to pack this one instead of a tube amp!
It sounds so good that I've lately just been bringing my convenient Rumble 500 for stage amplification. The Noble seems to erase most of the difference between that combo amp and my higher end TecAmp/Aguilar rig that is much harder to move around.
I recently purchased a Noble for exactly the same IEM situation. I go ampless 100% of the time and I wanted something to add some "air" or "life" to my signal. I tried a subway DI, JDI, plex, and darkglass, but haven't really been completely happy for various reasons.
After 8 weeks of waiting, it finally arrived and I have to say my initial impression was a little disappointing. I didn't hear a huge difference in my IEMs and the tone controls seemed minimal. I was worried a spent a ton of cash on nothing.
But, in IEM's with the band and in recordings...there it was. I could clearly hear the difference. I don't know how to explain it, but its lovely. Maybe it's distortion of some sort, harmonics, etc....I don't know. But I love mine. Well worth every penny.
I run a very simple setup, no pedals or distortion. I have a modern 5 string Jazz with Sadowsky preamp, passive Fender P, and an old G&L L-1000. Everything sounds better with the Noble.
I've had mine for over a month now and this will stay for sure.
I play a '97 Fender Jazz Deluxe 5 with an onboard Sadowsky preamp. Since getting the Noble, I've come to prefer turning the onboard preamp off to passive mode. Love that pre, but I like the Noble better and there was too much tonal conflict by running both. For live sound, the Noble plugs into my PJB combo amp's FX/RETURN to keep it clean.
Just used the Noble to track 8 tunes for an Indie band at a local studio...
Engineer absolutely freaked over the tone. He said "No need for the B-15 here now, this is perfect!"
I used my 1962 Precision--when I played one tune with a pick, it was reminiscent of Entwistle on Live at Leeds.
Damn, did that thing slay today!
Engineer absolutely freaked over the tone. He said "No need for the B-15 here now, this is perfect!"
I used my 1962 Precision--when I played one tune with a pick, it was reminiscent of Entwistle on Live at Leeds.
Damn, did that thing slay today!
I used the "Tim LeFebvre setting"
Bass cut engaged, bass knob maxed, treble at minimum.
Pbass+flats growl all day long! Funky as hell
Bass cut engaged, bass knob maxed, treble at minimum.
Pbass+flats growl all day long! Funky as hell
Am I the only one who finds the cut + bass all the way up to still be too bass-heavy? Maybe it's just my basses or cabs - the IP310 is notoriously low end heavy. I feel like I engage that HPF and then crank up to like...10 O'Clock and I'm good. 
Am I the only one who finds the cut + bass all the way up to still be too bass-heavy? Maybe it's just my basses or cabs - the IP310 is notoriously low end heavy. I feel like I engage that HPF and then crank up to like...10 O'Clock and I'm good.
No im with you. I only use that trick now and then(but it is very cool). My noble is almost always at 9 at most on treble and bass. The noble eq puts a lot out there fast.
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
Am I the only one who finds the cut + bass all the way up to still be too bass-heavy? Maybe it's just my basses or cabs - the IP310 is notoriously low end heavy. I feel like I engage that HPF and then crank up to like...10 O'Clock and I'm good.
I agree. Between 10 and 2 with the hpf engaged sounds right to me.
I did a little bass loop solo thing with some bad comedy. Bass signal through the noble and the octave up signal through the atomic ampli fire. I'm still amazed that I managed to fit what is essentially a mono bass signal and stereo "guitar signal" on a pedalboard and can do silent recording anywhere!
