IME Noble is warm but not hairy, you have to send quite a hot signal to get breakup. I typically run HPF engaged with a decent bass boost, and I like that I don't need to worry about it getting too dirty... that's what my dirt pedals are for!
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
IME Noble is warm but not hairy, you have to send quite a hot signal to get breakup. I typically run HPF engaged with a decent bass boost, and I like that I don't need to worry about it getting too dirty... that's what my dirt pedals are for!
I noodled some Ennio Morricone with the Noble and a whole bunch of other stuff. Check it out if you feel like it!
anyone care to compare the Noble to the Tech21 VT (single setting or Deluxe) ?
I use my VT Deluxe in front of all amps allways, primarily set to a pretty clean B15 flavor and have pretty much become addicted to what it does, but I am interested in other pre's and the Noble reviews here on TB and elsewhere really have gotten my interest.
I do mostly live work but do get some session work now and then (about 80/20 split).
I believe I read that the Noble is based after a Fender circuit (?)
anyway, very interested in any compares between these two tone boxes.
thanks
I use my VT Deluxe in front of all amps allways, primarily set to a pretty clean B15 flavor and have pretty much become addicted to what it does, but I am interested in other pre's and the Noble reviews here on TB and elsewhere really have gotten my interest.
I do mostly live work but do get some session work now and then (about 80/20 split).
I believe I read that the Noble is based after a Fender circuit (?)
anyway, very interested in any compares between these two tone boxes.
thanks
so "they sound nothing alike" ... can you articulate that a bit more ?
I know the VTD is designed to deliver an Ampeg-y range of sounds. As I said, I use mine to give a few flavors of B15 (clean, less clean and dirty). I have heard some of the demo clips of the Noble and it sounds great, and I have read its more of a Fender flavor. As I was raised up on, and am very comfortable with, the Fender tone stack and tube influenced tones, I am interested.
can you elaborate a bit ?
To me, Ampeg flavor is mids and some grind...very colored. The Noble is scooped, clean, and very transparent.
I've got a Noble and a VT Deluxe. The Noble is a clean machine that sounds rich. It does have a Fender-ish type of tone stack with "flat" at both knobs fully CCW. It won't do the OD or fuzz that the VTD will do. It does have the HPF which is very useful and can be used as a tone shaper. The Noble's treble is IMO much sweeter than the VTD. Hope that helps.
so I checked the Noble web page and it looks like 11-12 weeks lead time unless you pay a pretty steep premium ($200 ?) for a priority order.
hmm, that and the current price tag are really dampening my enthusiasm
I have been looking on the used market but these things seem to disappear almost as soon as they are posted f/s.
hmmmm, the preamp in my Mesa WD800 is sounding better and better
hmm, that and the current price tag are really dampening my enthusiasm
I have been looking on the used market but these things seem to disappear almost as soon as they are posted f/s.
hmmmm, the preamp in my Mesa WD800 is sounding better and better
Noble is just part of my sound now. I had no idea it was going to dominate like it has. Pretty pleased with this little board I had made. I've always preferred the look of flat boards to the Pedaltrain type. Plus, putting the Noble sideways, I have a little room on the top for a couple small pedals, maybe an MXR Bass Dyna or a Vintage Microtubes?
Last edited:
Just place an order, mine was here in seven weeks. It’s a game changer, I’ll never be without one.
ah, thanks for the insight.
It's kind of an "interested in having" situation for me. Gear fund is flush, and the Noble is kind of an attractive idea to me. I'm very interested in an always-on preamp as an alternative to my VT D that I could just attach to a small pedal board along with a comp (Cali76 ?) as a simple grab and go solution for every gig.
The Cali76 CB and the Noble are a great pairing!
I've owned a bunch of DI's over time, some ratty some good, some great. I did like the REDDI very much, but it did nothing for on stage tone, only FOH. The Noble really is in a class by itself. I'm not saying it's the best thing ever made, since tone is SOOO subjective, but it's just plain hard to get a bad tone out of it. The smoothness of the low end is so rich and IMO, the best treble or high end ever. The brittle thing that most hate just isn't there. Plus it powers your 9v or 18v pedals as well. I had some major medical expenses awhile back so I had to sell mine. I knew that I could raise a good chuck of $$ in minutes, which I did. That is the other beauty of the Noble. You can buy one to try. Most likely you will fall in love with it and keep it, but should the need arise, put it here on TB and stand by willing to finish the deal, they go that quick. If I had to do it again, I wouldn't bother with a dedicated amp head. I would get a pick up a tiny powerful class D power section, a Cali76 or my favorite an Empress comp, and a Noble. That's all you would need to have glorious tone. Some critics who have never tried one say how can you fix problem frequencies or dial in exactly what you want with only a bass and treble (+low cut) control, but trust me you'll be amazed how little you need to add or subtract. I'm a fan.....
If money was no object, I'd have one of these.
But as time has gone on, and after recording with one, I think spending the money I would spend on the Noble, on an upgrade to my Helix (moving from Stomp to LT) is going to better suit my needs. The Noble recorded incredibly well, I just think for the money I'm throwing at it, right now the Stomp-to-LT upgrade gets me a lot more. Plus a DI.
I'd love to A/B the Helix vs the Noble recorded and see just how different they are.
But as time has gone on, and after recording with one, I think spending the money I would spend on the Noble, on an upgrade to my Helix (moving from Stomp to LT) is going to better suit my needs. The Noble recorded incredibly well, I just think for the money I'm throwing at it, right now the Stomp-to-LT upgrade gets me a lot more. Plus a DI.
I'd love to A/B the Helix vs the Noble recorded and see just how different they are.
I can second the Noble and Cali brilliance..
Pedaltrain Nano.. Korg Pitchblack, Cali76cb, Noble..
Easy, simple, perfect
That described my situation exactly. I had full intention of not caring very much. The EQ/preamp portion is the clincher, though.
cool, thanks. what amp, or other set-up are you using with the Noble ?
I have several amps around here (Mesa D800+, Mesa WD800, Mesa Walkabout, Fender Studio Bass, Ampeg SVT 6Pro ...)
The WD800 has an outstanding preamp in it, as does the Waklkabout (but with less power). The D800+ is a nice amp with great features, but I am not in love with its native preamp voice. I can see using a Noble to sweeten up the D800+.
Check Out the Useful Audio BF-1... A little cheaper yet an amazing new comer to the Pre amp DI. You Tube has some nice comparatives to other hi end di's.
hmm, I only saw a general demo, and then a compare with a Focusrite pre. Is there another video demo of the BF-1 compared to the Noble by any chance ?
I know auditioning gear via audio on the web is problematic, but to tell the truth the Noble demo's sound better to my ear.
