Double Bass Noble tube preamp

[Keithunem]

The Noble finally arrived today and I have been testing it through a PJB CUB. A few first impressions and then I will put it through some gig paces before giving a more in-depth review.

- I don't know what it technically does to the signal from the Full Circle, but what comes out of this thing sounds much more focused, aligned, and clear than the Full Circle signal does without it. It's like driving a car immediately after cleaning the windshield; you can hear details that you couldn't before, even though logically they were all there the whole time.

- I would love to be able to say that it "gets rid of the piezo quack/honk" or whatever that sound is about piezos that we all grimace at. It doesn't do that exactly, but it mixes whatever that ugly frequency is back underneath the surface of the sound so that it doesn't stick out, and instead lets it provide the punch that it's supposed to, but from behind the scenes, so you get to feel the unmistakeable strength of the sound without having to look at an unnaturally straining flexed muscle while doing so. Strong, but smooth and more natural somehow. Yeah, words kind of fail...

- My favorite part is the way the clarity of the high end of the sound enables me to intonate so much more easily and naturally. I'm assuming this must have something to do with the "upper order harmonics/rounder waveform/e=mc2/etc." tech speak that always emerges when tube amps are discussed, but whatever - to paraphrase a favorite old comedy sketch, "your honor, I'm just a bass player". And as a bass player, I can hear intonation much more quickly and clearly through this thing, and I like that.

- Last, I'm using an old trick that I stole from my old mentor Paul Warburton and setting the CUB on a chair that sits directly behind me and my stool. Anyone listening from the front will hear the sound of my bass with a warm blanket of richness around the sides. I'm going to try this for a concert on Monday night, a series that a colleague and I started entitled "faculty chamber jazz" where we play with various classical faculty at the school. Up until now I've always played unamplified with piano, string quartets, bowed double bass, clarinet, etc., and it's been great. But this year, three of the numbers feature classical saxophone quartets, and I've been straining my right hand trying to fit in the mix in the right place, so I'm gong to use the little tiny shoebox amp, but not let the audience see it. So far so good!

More after the concert...

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Trying to figure out if I should sell my Felix and buy a Noble. Rather than beat my right hand to death I find that at most small gigs I still prefer to run an amp at low, “discrete” volume so I can play in a more natural semi-relaxed way and it also just seems to have a much more natural “fullness” to it. Take it from me, I’ve been playing upright bass for almost a year and a half, so I DO know what I’m talking about!

 

[Keithunem]

Trying to figure out if I should sell my Felix and buy a Noble. Rather than beat my right hand to death I find that at most small gigs I still prefer to run an amp at low, “discrete” volume so I can play in a more natural semi-relaxed way and it also just seems to have a much more natural “fullness” to it. Take it from me, I’ve been playing upright bass for almost a year and a half, so I DO know what I’m talking about!

Whoops, I forgot to put a smiley face at the end so y’all would know that I don’t take myself too seriously!

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

@Ukiah Bass sadly the CUB doesn’t have an effects loop but for the level of “barely there” volume I’m after, it sounds really good. I’ll definitely use the FX return on the bigger amps for most gigs.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

@Ukiah Bass sadly the CUB doesn’t have an effects loop but for the level of “barely there” volume I’m after, it sounds really good. I’ll definitely use the FX return on the bigger amps for most gigs.

In that case, you might try leaving the Cub's EQ neutral for all settings and apply EQ only with the Noble. For upright bass, you can probably leave the Noble's EQ flat, too!

Definitely the control to play with is the Noble's "low cut" switch, which is a high pass filter at about 90Hz. If you engage that switch, that would be the point to possibly add in a little bit of low EQ with the Noble. This is a handy technique for removing the low end boom while retaining a nice fat, warm tone. And you can leave the Fdeck home, too!

 

[Don Kasper]

but not let the audience see it.

For your concert's Halftime Show, you should have an audience participation segment where audience members try to guess the price of the Noble!
You're Welcome!

 

[flatback]

Hey Chris, you mention the piezo honk thing still being there...I know what you mean, but I keep wondering if that artifact isn't from overplaying. I don't mean overplaying the bass but the pickup; seems like if I play relatively softly (in a kind of Edgar Meyer way...retaining your dynamics for solo or accent) I really don't hear that as much, it seems (at least with the Yamahiko) to diminish as though it was a distortion. I am wondering about what someone said in the other thread about piezo distortion? Because I hear exactly what you are saying about the sound; it is magnificently enhanced but there can be that thing that hits your ear where you know it is damn good CGI but....
so glad you got the Noble.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

A little off topic for the thread, but I am definitely in the Autumn of my playing career and I need to start thinking about mitigating my "jiu jitsu" RH technique and setup for the coming years. I've always tried to go with the "use slightly less amp than I actually need to maximize the acoustic sound and front end of the note" approach, but there have been a few times lately where the joints where my RH fingers meet my hand have been pretty achy after certain visceral gigs. At some point, I'll need to lower the strings a turn, but trying to enjoy that beautiful sound a little longer for now. Left hand is totally fine either way - the relaxed hand technique I've been cultivating for the past 5 years or so is doing just what I hoped in that regard.

Back (sort of) on topic, what I liked about the Noble during the month I was test driving it (thanks @vanselus !) was that the more natural sound it produces makes it easier to get a pleasing sound without digging quite as deep. I'll be working on that balance in the future to be sure.

 

[Levin Hannaford]

Hey folks! I’ve been gigging a Noble for a few years and wanted to chime in. I play predominantly upright gigs and, in conjunction with an F-Deck HPF (mainly for the phase invert function), I’m always able to find a nice sound.

 

[Reiska]

...About the price of these things, I think it`s far more reasonable to go straight for the expensive boutique gear than spend money and resources in stuff that leaves you unsatisfied and in need to spend more money and resources. Rather one thing that delivers what is expected than ten that only gets so close. There`s a proverb here that translates in something like " the poor doesn`t afford cheap ".

 

[vanselus]

Happy to hear you got it and your ears are still in love! I’ve had similar experiences as what Chris posted. It’s hard to describe but when it’s not there, the clarity and warmth of the Noble is immediately noticeable. To the point where my lazy ass will actually carry it Speaking of little, the Noble sounds fantastic into the Doubler and Wizzy 10 - either into the effects loop (default) or into channel two if I need more shaping options or a notch.

I too have noticed that putting the amp right behind the bass works wonders, which I have partially attributed to keeping the volume a bit lower which sounds more organic and woody. Interesting what flatback is saying about playing lightly with the Yamahiko as that’s been my experience too. I’m pretty heavy handed unplugged but if I use the same technique with the Yama it’s too much, seems to compress the thud and sound like a big fret less, which is just not what I’m looking for. Digging in just a little less indeed still sounds natural and organic.

Question for you noble users - do you typically use the HPF switch or not? I have in a louder setting but I really miss the fullness...

Noble really has a winner here. As many of you know I’ve been quite the preamp who** over the years - remember the tube preamp shootout? This is by far my favorite box ever, that’s why I knew Chris needed to try it We are so spoiled. At least I know if I sound bad it’s definitely ME not the gear!

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

...About the price of these things, I think it`s far more reasonable to go straight for the expensive boutique gear than spend money and resources in stuff that leaves you unsatisfied and in need to spend more money and resources. Rather one thing that delivers what is expected than ten that only gets so close. There`s a proverb here that translates in something like " the poor doesn`t afford cheap ".

I agree with the above, but with the caveat that there is a law of diminishing returns at play. A great player playing a Shen SB100 into a Fender Rumble will still sound universes better than an amateur playing a $30K carved bass through a boutique amp and preamp. Just ask anybody at the Aebersold camps who has been to concerts where @Lynn Seaton or @John Goldsby plays my office Shen through a Fender Rumble on the faculty concerts. I can promise you that nobody is sitting out in the audience worrying about what bass or amp it is at that point, and this scenario has unfolded many times over the years.

So I would say, if you can afford it, buy all the expensive gear you want. It will at best reproduce your sound better. But if that sound was seriously flawed or undeveloped in the first place, all that expensive gear is going to do is to highlight the flaws even more. Most of us, myself included, should really focus on the one thing that is guaranteed to make us sound exponentially better: practicing more so we sound better before we even go near an amp!

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

@vanselus It's early yet, but the HPF switch is actually one of the things that sold me on this unit. It can be counteracted by judicious use of the bass control. When I boost a little at 150 hz and then roll off at 90 hz, I'm getting the good frequencies and ditching the mud. Plus, it means I can do without the HPF I've been schlepping around for the last 12 years, which usually stays set at about 80 -100hz anyway.

 

[Reiska]

I agree with the above, but with the caveat that there is a law of diminishing returns at play. A great player playing a Shen SB100 into a Fender Rumble can still sound universes better than an amateur playing a $30K carved bass through a boutique amp and preamp. Just ask anybody at the Aebersold camps who has been to concerts where @Lynn Seaton or @John Goldsby plays my office Shen through a Fender Rumble on the faculty concerts. I can promise you that nobody is sitting out in the audience worrying about what bass or amp it is at that point, and this scenario has unfolded many times over the years.

So I would say, if you can afford it, buy all the expensive gear you want. It will at best reproduce your sound better. But if that sound was seriously flawed or undeveloped in the first place, all that expensive gear is going to do is to highlight the flaws even more. Most of us, myself included, should really focus on the one thing that is guaranteed to make us sound exponentially better: practicing more so we sound better before we even go near an amp!

Absolutely.

I`m in process of collecting information about amplifying tech and in need to get some in near future, when the finances allow. I wouldn`t want to as I`m a complete idiot when it comes to these things, and everything about it is something that I`m not interested in at all, it`s not my orientation. I play and have played acoustic instruments only, there has never been too much of dealing with electricity on my part of music. For me and in the surroundings I play the bass in, it`s all about the acoustic output and tone. I ditched the piezo not too long ago after a couple of frustrating events and a new bridge. I have been using loaner mics, cheap-a** mic pre and loaner active monitor on a stand, if anything. I do understand that needs and players vary, but I want and need the bass sound as natural and old school as possible. Another side of things is the user interface, simpler the better. Minimum of boxes, cables and knobs. And another one is longevity, I want a setup that works in my reality and that will last for a long time. I`d be happy to spend the extra if I knew I didn`t have to think about it anymore for a while. That`s what I expect from $$$ quality gear, it does what it does well, is simple to use and bombproof. If it`s manageable to repair for someone who knows his s**t somewhere around my hoods, all better.

From what I gathered, wether it`s going to be new piezo ( my lifeline doesn`t fit on ebony adjusters ), Ehrlund or mic, the rest of the line would be a quality pre + powered speaker on a stand. I find this Noble guy interesting concept in it`s simplicity.

 

[Ric Vice]

Grace Designs builds state of the art microphone preamps for studios that
they applied to the Felix. Regardless of the other wonderful products available the Felix is still a remarkable preamp. My right hand never felt better. As always just my take.

 

[Reiska]

Yeah I totally believe that! Again, about the prices, there`s expensive and then there`s " order it from US to EU " -expensive. Haven`t found a EU retailer for a Felix yet.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Haven`t found a EU retailer for a Felix yet.

You can get it from Thomann in Germany.

 

[Ric Vice]

The other great thing about the Grace Felix is it’s 5 year transferable warranty. This warranty gives the Felix a better resale value. I've only seen a handful of Grace Felix’s for sale on TB since it was released and the sellers don’t have to discount the price as much. This tells me that players who buy the Felix tend to hold onto it. Which is in part a measure of its quality. Noble is similar in that regard as it has a 10 year transferrable warranty.

 

[Reiska]

You can get it from Thomann in Germany.

Thanks @DoubleMIDI , but I haven`t found the Felix from their cataloque, only the Bix (?) model. Bassico.EU has it on their site, but they make a special order and doesn`t have it in stock. If you know something I don`t, please let me know!

 

[Keithunem]

@Ukiah Bass sadly the CUB doesn’t have an effects loop but for the level of “barely there” volume I’m after, it sounds really good. I’ll definitely use the FX return on the bigger amps for most gigs.

Chris, I’ve only been following this website for a year, as I’ve only played upright bass for a little over a year. I have learned much from you guys and appreciate it. Do you think the Noble is a step up in tone from the Felix? I have plenty of ways to eq, hpf, etc and even though the Felix has great features, I need and want the simplicity of bass/treble/volume in a pre amp.

 

[Ric Vice]

Thanks @DoubleMIDI , but I haven`t found the Felix from their cataloque, only the Bix (?) model. Bassico.EU has it on their site, but they make a special order and doesn`t have it in stock. If you know something I don`t, please let me know!

If I'm discerning the difference between the GB website and Thomann in Germany, there is a difference in price 1,2419 euros vs 1,199 euros, in both cases the seem to be out of stock and perhaps is a special order.
My take is that if you want one it's definitely worth wating for. When I got mine several years ago they were back ordered in the U.S. for a time. Grace Designs is a small U.S. company and they spend the time
quality inspecting and testing their products before they send them out for sale. If I look at Sweetwater Music (a large music company here in the U.S. that ships everywhere) they are backordered as well.



From Sweetwater's Website "More On Order This item requires extra delivery time from Grace Design. Reserve yours now, risk-free, or contact us for more information."