Noble Rental

[silky smoove]

Doh! Read too fast

Don't really think it detracts too much from my point though. OP wants help on tracking down some gear because a studio professional stated a preference. The guy getting dogpiled and pulled in all different directions seems counter productive to his cause (a simple way of impressing the studio). A lot of the replies (to me at least) read more as either general insecurity or, I don't know, people who think it's in vogue to hate on popular products?

Can't we all just be chill and make music?!

One could also argue that the posts were unilaterally helpful in that the likelihood of finding a Noble to rent or borrow is statistically insignificant. In light of that one should take the engineer’s preference seriously and do what they can to mitigate for the likely scenario wherein the Noble is simply not available. “I couldn’t find a Noble but I did take the advice of some helpful internet strangers and am going to absolutely nail it on the session.”

 

[matante]

Check the 3rd post of this thread. OP states why OP is doing this. There is a DI there, and OP Lists them, but it seems (likley from OP's conversation with engineer) that the engineer would prefer a noble.

I'm not missing anything. OP knows there's a DI there. OP is eager to make a good first impression. Most hiring managers look for eager and trainable over stubborn. I applaud OP in his efforts to make a good first impression.

As KenD said. This is all about impressions and making sure OP gets hired for more work.

What a first timer thinks will make a good first impression may not be what actually makes a good first impression. That's the beauty of a place like Talkbass where we can receive advice from people more experienced than ourselves. The Noble is not a DI, it is a preamp. It is not the same tool that a Countryman is. As stated elsewhere, the engineer is not the producer and not the customer. As stated elsewhere, if it the producer's or studio's stance that the Noble is the best way to track a bass guitar it is their responsibility to provide one. Showing up as a session bassist with your own preamp might make a good impression. It might not. It might may you look like an amateur gearhead. I don't know. That's why it's good to hear advice. Doesn't mean you have to take it.

 

[fraggle]

One could also argue that the posts were unilaterally helpful in that the likelihood of finding a Noble to rent or borrow is statistically insignificant. In light of that one should take the engineer’s preference seriously and do what they can to mitigate for the likely scenario wherein the Noble is simply not available. “I couldn’t find a Noble but I did take the advice of some helpful internet strangers and am going to absolutely nail it on the session.”

It took about 16 hours, but I’ve got one lined up with a gentleman that happens to live about 15 miles from me. Small world united by bass. The advice has been appreciated and I am looking forward to the sessions and whatever routing the sound ends up taking.

 

[laklandfan07]

One could also argue that the posts were unilaterally helpful in that the likelihood of finding a Noble to rent or borrow is statistically insignificant. In light of that one should take the engineer’s preference seriously and do what they can to mitigate for the likely scenario wherein the Noble is simply not available. “I couldn’t find a Noble but I did take the advice of some helpful internet strangers and am going to absolutely nail it on the session.”

I mean not really, most posts seemed more geared toward getting his chops together. Like he’s somehow hoping this piece of gear will mask his skill or lack thereof (which is obviously false as a good clean DI is only going to make you sound worse ). Not saying your response was, as it seemed more encouraging than anything but you get what i mean about some of the others.

All else being equal (note choice, length feel etc), to this engineer at least, the Noble sound wins out. Personally it’d bug me if someone said “that’s was awesome, just wished we had X”, and I assume OP feels the same

 

[jlo95]

Fame; recording engineer said his favorite option is the noble and I’m trying to make as good of a first impression that I can in hopes of getting called to come back. They do have the vintage Fet B15 duo and a countryman DI available. I’m sure the sounds available are fantastic, but again, I’m hoping to impress.

Impression them with your playing, not your gear

 

[JimmyM]

Muscle Shoals Sound Studio? Fame Studios? If so, why bother renting a Noble when both of those places have plenty of choice options for your signal path included in their available gear?

Totally agree

 

[laklandfan07]

I mean not really, most posts seemed more geared toward getting his chops together. Like he’s somehow hoping this piece of gear will mask his skill or lack thereof (which is obviously false as a good clean DI is only going to make you sound worse ). Not saying your response was, as it seemed more encouraging than anything but you get what i mean about some of the others.

All else being equal (note choice, length feel etc), to this engineer at least, the Noble sound wins out. Personally it’d bug me if someone said “that’s was awesome, just wished we had X”, and I assume OP feels the same

Impression them with your playing, not your gear

lol case in point

 

[Ronnie Pudding]

I'm still stuck on why if an engineer has a preference for a particular bass pre/DI that the engineer is not securing what they prefer?

And at the risk of turning this toward a Noble debate, please don't do it, the Noble is not the be-all, end-all of available pre's/DI's. Given the style of music being tracked, even down to the per-song basis, there may be options more fitting to the music and a particular track.

 

[Nebadon2000]

You want to impress? I’d argue that time spent working on your chops will be far more impressive than showing up with a cool piece of gear. As an engineer, I’m far more impressed when someone comes in with a Squier and can flat out play than I am with someone with a Sadowsky and a shaky groove.

U2 got a major label deal, and in the studio, the engineer suggested they try a different guitar. Edge didn’t know how to respond - the band got that deal, and he only had one electric guitar.

It ain’t about the gear.

We have no Idea the 'Chop's' OP possesses

I would prefer someone who can "flat out play" with a Noble Pre and Sadowsky Bass

Also Edge is obsessive about his equipment and being able to get tones he wants; listing to him speak about it

Maybe not to you but to many [who can play] it is about the equipment also

In the end sure it is the Talent that impresses even more so with impressive Gear

 

[Wood and Wire]

It took about 16 hours, but I’ve got one lined up with a gentleman that happens to live about 15 miles from me. Small world united by bass. The advice has been appreciated and I am looking forward to the sessions and whatever routing the sound ends up taking.

Cool!

Now you just need to ditch that HH StingRay, and get a Fender Precision with flat wounds...

 

[pbass2]

I'm still stuck on why if an engineer has a preference for a particular bass pre/DI that the engineer is not securing what they prefer?

And at the risk of turning this toward a Noble debate, please don't do it, the Noble is not the be-all, end-all of available pre's/DI's. Given the style of music being tracked, even down to the per-song basis, there may be options more fitting to the music and a particular track.

Well, I wouldn't say "don't do it", sure bring it if you have one on hand. Great sounding unit. But I agree it's not some magic bullet that suddenly makes you play and sound like Sean Hurley. And don't be bummed if you get there and they want you to just plug in to the Countryman and hit the ground runnin'. Granted, in this case the engineer (is he the house engineer? That's unclear) likes what Nobles do, so he'll likely want to take a couple extra minutes and swap it in. But it often depends on how everything else is going on the session, and what the dynamic is. And again, in a studio like that, you're gonna get a killer tone whether you use the Noble or not. So, bring it, but don't sweat it so much.

 

[Ethereal Thorn]

Cool!

Now you just need to ditch that HH StingRay, and get a Fender Precision with flat wounds...

If you want to make a good impression at a studio having traditional basses like a precision and jazz bass or two with rounds and flats and/or a Rickenbacker and stingray is not a bad idea. Those basses are not always my personal first choices but studios go nuts for butts over them.

 

[mrperkolator]

I'm still confused as to why everyone is assuming OP cant play....

Cheer up folks. Go play bass.

 

[silky smoove]

I'm still confused as to why everyone is assuming OP cant play....

No one has said the OP can't play. Making a general suggestion to be well-prepared for a session, and suggesting that someone can't play are two wholly unrelated and entirely disconnected topics. Evidently that's what you took from the suggestions, but that's your inference not anyone's explicit statement.

 

[mrperkolator]

No one has said the OP can't play. Making a general suggestion to be well-prepared for a session, and suggesting that someone can't play are two wholly unrelated and entirely disconnected topics. Evidently that's what you took from the suggestions, but that's your inference not anyone's explicit statement.

OP didn't ask for advice. OP asked for a lead on a noble, and explained why. Very kind of OP to explain why when it is none of our business. Then unsolicited advice poured in.

Therefore, all the advice about playing better is wholly unrelated and entirely disconnected topics. So again, I'm not sure why everyone is assuming this. Wouldn't it be weird for us to assume the best in each other instead of tearing others down?

 

[silky smoove]

Wouldn't it be weird for us to assume the best in each other instead of tearing others down?

Evidently you're the only person assuming that the helpful advice given in this thread was somehow derived from a negative place.

 

[Nebadon2000]

Evidently you're the only person assuming that the helpful advice given in this thread was somehow derived from a negative place.

Nope not the only one; What helpful advice in finding a Noble Preamp to use?

Many post had micguy's type of smell such as "You want to impress? I’d argue that time spent working on your chops will be far more impressive than showing up with a cool piece of gear."

I commented on it in previous post and non of what you may consider 'Helpful Advice' was asked for not even a hint. Even if it is good general advice.

Hope OP finds what he needs and has a great experience

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

For Sale - Noble DI

if you still "need" it.

 

[arbiterusa]

I'm still confused as to why everyone is assuming OP cant play....

that does seem to be the prevailing attitude. Or a very similar one, that one's talent can conquer anything and you might as well show up with a Rumble 40 and tell the engineer to fix it in the mix.

The poor OP just wants to get work as a session guy, and has correctly figured out that requires both chops AND a very flexible attitude. He was asked to bring a Noble, wants that extra edge to get gigs and a good way to do that is to get a reputation as someone who goes the extra mile, and he will get that reputation by showing up with that damn Noble even though odds are the thing is never even going to get turned on.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

For Sale - Noble DI

if you still "need" it.

Whew! Prices are escalating faster than crypto!