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Double Bass Noble tube preamp

#7
I haven't yet got to try mine in real life but it seems like a good solution to maybe save a lousy amp or if the DI to FOH is the only option, it should make for a very good direct sound.
And the low cut might come in handy sometimes.
 
#10
flatback said:
I have been using a Grace Felix with an Ischell and Yamahiko blended, then I send it to a Demeter Tube Direct (similar to Noble) before the amp. Sounds utterly stellar.
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You know, I'll have to try this with my newly refurbished B-15N(C). Ampegs have a Amp In on the rear panel. It was originally designed to allow the bassist the option to use two B-15's and have one "slave of the other" so it will work that

way. There's nothing quite like a Double Baffle Reflex cabinet with a JBL-D130 being driven by an all tube amplifier. The only drawback will be that, I believe the Amp in bypasses the three 6SL7's in the preamp, so some of it's warmth

will be lost. Not giving up my MAS 1/8 mind you it's the bees knees, and weighs 1/4 what the B-15 does. I'm just curious how it will sound.
 
#11
Ric Vice said:
You know, I'll have to try this with my newly refurbished B-15N(C). Ampegs have a Amp In on the rear panel. It was originally designed to allow the bassist the option to use two B-15's and have one "slave of the other" so it will work that

way. There's nothing quite like a Double Baffle Reflex cabinet with a JBL-D130 being driven by an all tube amplifier. The only drawback will be that, I believe the Amp in bypasses the three 6SL7's in the preamp, so some of it's warmth

will be lost. Not giving up my MAS 1/8 mind you it's the bees knees, and weighs 1/4 what the B-15 does. I'm just curious how it will sound.
Click to expand...
I can not see why you would want to bypass a valve preamp with a valve premp. But ofcourse, there might be a difference in sound.
 
#12
Povl Carstensen said:
I can not see why you would want to bypass a valve preamp with a valve premp. The Grace Felix isn't a valve preamp. But of course, there might be a difference in sound.
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Good point, but the B-15N isn't really set up to use the Remic Green or any other type of condenser mic, without an additional box for Phantom Power, so you can only use a pickup, like the Ehrlund EAP and

it's Ehrlund Preamp. I've definitely used the B-15N as a complete system, and it sounds fantastic! It is very heavy and bulky compared to the MAS 1/8 and isn't all that loud at 25 Watts RMS.
 
#14
flatback said:
I heard a bluegrass cat friend of mine the other day and he had a Grace going into one of those new Ampeg 50 watt tube heads with a 12 (looks like a mini fliptop B15) and it sounded stellar.
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Well, one thing for sure, the front end of older tube amplifiers like my B-15N, are pretty noisy compared to the newer preamps. It's just something we used to live with when I used the B-15N a lot. I never really gigged Double Bass much with the B-15

because my pickup choices were so bad in the mid to late 70's that I played most gigs with the Fender. I had a Barcus Berry Bar and Polytone for a short while and you really couldn't use them in the pop band's I played in so by the time I had a useable

pickup in the Underwood I had already gotten a Walter Woods MI-100-8 and was using it. So experimenting with it will be fun.

The new Ampeg PF 50T's are way more sophisticated electronically, with effects loops, better shielding and DI's.
 
#15
Ric Vice said:
Good point, but the B-15N isn't really set up to use the Remic Green or any other type of condenser mic, without an additional box for Phantom Power, so you can only use a pickup, like the Ehrlund EAP and

it's Ehrlund Preamp. I've definitely used the B-15N as a complete system, and it sounds fantastic! It is very heavy and bulky compared to the MAS 1/8 and isn't all that loud at 25 Watts RMS.
Click to expand...
Ok sorry, I thought you meant the Noble (which also hasn't got phantom power).
 
#17
Nathan Levine said:
I bet it did! Imagine that amp on top of a MAS speaker. Lordy, that’s a rabbit hole I’d love to go down. Not today though.
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Yep, the PF-50T is a sort of a re imageining of the power in a B-18N head with the SVT preamp. But smaller and more compact. The weight is still heavier than the new Ampeg PF series heads. It weighs 19.4 lbs.
 
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#18
Jim Dombrowski said:
I believe “Vanselus” has one also
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That I do! It’s a pretty amazing little box for both electric and upright. Honestly I typically just bring the EA Doubler II and the NL-112 to most gigs because I don’t want to carry another box and that combination sounds great. However, the Noble into the return sounds even better, especially for electric. Tightens everything up, adds some musical sheen, and I love the voicing of the tone controls for both purposes. I still LOVE the REDDI though, which is a completely different animal - so thick and rich in the low mids a’la B15-land. They are quite different takes on tubey goodness.

I second the sentiment on the Noble on top of a MAS-18. I’ve been trying (not very hard) to get ahold of Mike to discuss that. Sounds delicious.

I did record some Noble tracks for basstasters I just need to find time to put them up...
 
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#20
I tried my Genz Benz Streamliner into a MAS 66 Friday night. I was using my aluminum pfretzschner into my broughton 2 channel pre. When I switched over to the Tecamp Puma 900 I really felt like there was something missing. And mind you, I know that Puma. It’s been my go to head for 2-3
Years now. I think I’m going to start using the Genz more. I know we are doing an apples to oranges comparison here using my aluminum. Now I’m interested in using the Genz with my ‘37 Kay.
 

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