Noll bass preamp ?

[Shiveringbass]

Nope.I'm thin on German too but from what I understand,the German text looks like a general description a la "Stereo" Magazine .
German-spokers,please chime in!

Just a little bump for a quick translation !


Thanks

 

[christoph h.]

This is what I found in Noll site :

...Der NOLL-Alleskönner TCM 3PM
überzeugt im Hörtest durch fein dosierbare, klar definierte und wirkungsvolle Eingriffe ins Klangbild, nebengeräuscharme Arbeitsweise und den vorbildlichen
Lieferumfang, komplett mit nützlichem Einbaumaterial und Metall-Poti-Knöpfen.
Hier bekommt man erstklassige Qualität geliefert, gleichzeitig wird auch dem unerfahrenen Bastler der Einbau der Komplett-Elektronik so leicht gemacht,
wie es nur geht.
Die NOLL-Elektronik ist vorbildlich in jeder Hinsicht!
gitarre & bass
06.03

Problem, I don't speak a single word of German !


If someone could sum up this it would be realy great !

Thanks guies

Sheers

Well, it basically says that its a great preamp. The EQ section works precise, clearly defined and effective. The noise is very low. It also easy to install, also because a lot of the stuff you need is included in the package. First class quality.

So, that was a paraphrase, but it hits the core pretty well.

 

[Shiveringbass]

Thanks very much Christoph. Actualy, that Gitarre & bass test is not realy informative


Sheers

Shiveringbass

 

[Hollow Man]

Bump for additional information. I'm looking for a preamp to stick in a custom jazz I have, and I somehow stumbled upon these. How hard do you all think it would be to get one to the US? Also, what's an approximate price (in USD, if possible... just tell me the currency)? Thanks!

 

[Le Basseur]

I don't know if you can buy directly from Noll (I'm not sure about the comercial policies between EU and US in this case)but you should ask them directly:
[email protected]
If not,you might try at the German dealer:
[email protected]
http://bassline-bass.de
Of course,the currency is Euro.You have the factory prices here:
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Regards,

 

[gillento]

The Noll preamp is great: very transparent, good center frequencies and very transparent sounding. I am using a 2way preamp only Klaus Noll is very friendly and informative when asking him questions.

 

[Lokire]

Sorry,I forgot an important detail:
If you go for Noll,pay attention on the output jack's type.
Noll fits their preamps with either 3-pole or 9-pole output jacks,depending on a particular preamp's configuration.
The problems appear when your instrument is provided "by default" with a 3-pole jack BUT you have to install the 9-pole...it's a heck of a job (I had a hard time installing properly the Noll 9-pole jack on my Warwick ).
Regards,

I'm planning on installing a Noll preamp (probably the 3-band Para-mids) on my Warwick Streamer Stage II, so your info is just what I'm looking for

But could you or someone else explain a little more about the output jacks? I didn't know there were different types and I'm not sure what exactly the difference would be or how it would have to be installed.

Le Basseur: What pickups do you have in your Stage I?

 

[Le Basseur]

But could you or someone else explain a little more about the output jacks? I didn't know there were different types and I'm not sure what exactly the difference would be or how it would have to be installed.

On your Streamer II,as on most Warwick basses,you have something like this:
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This jack is placed on the bass'edge,in a carved hole matching the jack's shape and profile.
This jack becomes useless when changing to certain Noll preamps because the Switchcraft is only a 3-pole jack (one pole is the jack's tip and the other two are ground/battery).
As you maybe got it from the Noll site,their preamps come completely wired (pots AND output jack).For certain preamps,Noll uses a 9-pole output jack,something like this:
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(I'm not sure that actually Noll uses THIS "T-637S" type because there are a lot of similar products,but I posted the link just for orientation....this is the jack's shape!).
Please don't ask me why Noll uses these....I'm really a tech guy but I simply don't remember what that jack switches and why.My Noll came a year ago,so you'll excuse my lack of memory.
Anyway...the Noll's jack was a PITA to install because I had to hand-carve the existing hole FROM THE INSIDE of the electronics' cavity of the bass.Using a small hand router and alot of patience,it took me almost an hour to perfectly fit the squarish 9-pole in the Warwick's body.
I strongly reccomend you a good luthier for this operation.
The second option (the simpler approach) is that you might want to leave the existing,cylindrical Switchcraft jack on place,unwired.You could drill a dedicated hole for the new,9-pole jack somewhere in the vicinity of the preamp pots,far enough that the cable jack doesn't bother when turning the pots.I wouldn't reccomend that,though.Also,I really don't think that you're ready to sacrifice your bass by drilling it's "face" since the 9-pole jack's installation can be made professionally.
Bottom line:some Noll preamps require a 9-pole jack,some don't.Just be sure that you read about every Noll product/optional config,maybe you'll find another preamp model that doesn't require the mod and suits your taste.

Le Basseur: What pickups do you have in your Stage I?

I just kept the original MEC P-style (splitted) on neck and J-style on the bridge.
As I said before,replacing the MEC preamp was my FIRST option but,if not enough,I was thinking about replacing the PU's.Fortunately,by replacing the MEC preamp with the mid-parametric Noll I got everything I ever dreamed of.The MEC PUs' sound and character changed dramatically and maybe,just maybe I'll consider the MEC splitted P-style replaced with something else,less boomy.
Your Stage II's soapbars are a totally different story,though.I'd keep them for sure!
HTH!
Regards,

 

[Lokire]

No soapbars, I have the MEC J-pickups (2) in mine

I definatly don't wan't to do any carving. Would it be possible to unwire the 9-point output jack of the noll and wire it to work with the existing jack in my Streamer? I can't imagine the Noll preamp would need to use all 9 points . That should be possible, right? Because 3 of those 9-poles should correspond with the 3 on the Warwick jack.


And I'm not sure how could you possibly use 9? I wouldn't think that would be possible with a standard 1/4" cable because don't they only have 3 connection points (Ring/Tip/Sleeve)?


I'll ask the Noll dealer about it - maybe they can wire one up to work with the Warwick jack for me

 

[Le Basseur]

No soapbars, I have the MEC J-pickups (2) in mine

Good enough,just keep them there for a while.

I definatly don't wan't to do any carving.

You don't have to;let a luthier do it!

Would it be possible to unwire the 9-point output jack of the noll and wire it to work with the existing jack in my Streamer?

No,you cannot do that...that's the whole point!

I can't imagine the Noll preamp would need to use all 9 points .

Well,let your imagination more freely!
I just looked in my bass...my Noll preamp (3-way w/parametric mids,4-knobs configuration) uses 7 of 9 jack pins (7 pins are wired).

Because 3 of those 9-poles should correspond with the 3 on the Warwick jack.

You're confusing the classic TRS jack wiring with Noll's more complicated system.Understandably,since most of the output jacks are of a "TRS" type.

And I'm not sure how could you possibly use 9? I wouldn't think that would be possible with a standard 1/4" cable because don't they only have 3 connection points (Ring/Tip/Sleeve)? I'll ask the Noll dealer about it - maybe they can wire one up to work with the Warwick jack for me

I wish you luck,but I sincerely doubt that what you want is possible.
Noll company doesn't look like a bunch of idiots using a weird or more complex part just because they have to look more sophisticated or exotic than others.I'm sure there's a simple and pertinent technical reason for the use of that 9-pole jack.

 

[Lokire]

Interesting. I still don't really understand though

When you plug a guitar cable into a bass, aren't there only 3 different points on the guitar cable (tip/ring/sleeve) that signal can be sent to?

If that is so, then wouldn't the other 6 points have no effect without a special cable? Or is the Noll preamp running multiple wires to the same 3 points?

 

[Le Basseur]

When you plug a guitar cable into a bass, aren't there only 3 different points on the guitar cable (tip/ring/sleeve) that signal can be sent to?

Actually,you have only two "points" (as you call them):the "hot" signal coming on the tip and the ground.
TRS config is another story:a real TRS presumes a balanced signal.This is what you got from a microphone:"hot" positive,"hot" negative AND ground.A "stereo" or TRS jack installed on a bass has a different purpose (other than taking a balanced signal):the tip is the tip (hot signal all the way) and the ring gets shorted to sleeve when you insert a male jack,in order to put the battery in the preamp's circuit.
(have you ever used a "stereo"/TRS male jack on your cable,with the male jack's ring unwired?If yes,you noticed that the preamp isn't working!)

 

[Lokire]

Oops, yeah - I was thinking about balanced cables

So yeah, the usual guitar cable only has 2 connection points. Then how does a 9-pole output jack make use of that (unless the 7 wires are all going to the same 2 points)? Wouldn't it be physically impossible?

 

[Le Basseur]

So yeah, the usual guitar cable only has 2 connection points. Then how does a 9-pole output jack make use of that (unless the 7 wires are all going to the same 2 points)? Wouldn't it be physically impossible?

See this:
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Regards,

 

[Hollow Man]

Are Klaus Noll's pot shafts of standard size? What I mean is, will most knobs fit his pots? Also, does anyone know where Jens Ritter gets his knobs? I'm gonna need some concentrics for the preamp that I'll likely be ordering, and I'm not really sure where to start looking.

 

[Shiveringbass]

That jack issue seems to be a bad news for me...
Does someone know if Roscoe's jack are 3 pins or 9 pins one... alla I know is that my Roscoe jack is concave, recessed so nothing realy usual that you can simply swap out for another...

Am I damned ?


Demeter preamp required some routing for a switch, now Noll preamp has a special jack that probably won't feat in my bass...

Sheers

Shiveringbass

 

[Lokire]

Here's part of an e-mail conversation I was having with the Noll dealer in Germany about it:

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I have another question about the Output jacks that Noll uses. I heard someone say that they use a 9-pole output jack? Is it possible to have the preamp wired to work with a 3-pole output jack instead (to work with my bass)?

I not sure that I understand why a 9-pole jack would be beneficial or needed anyways...
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Hello Greg,

who tells you this nonsense ?We never used 9 pole output jacks just normal jacks, the only problem is: if you are using 18 Volts supply (which is recommended with parametric mids), a special jack is needed ,perhaps people mean this,it has some contacts to switch battery suply

I send you a photo of the jack,
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Thanks,

The problem is that the output jack in my bass looks like this:
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And for the Noll output jack to fit, the body of the bass would have to be routed (the jack is mounted on the edge of the body). From what I understand, there are 7 wires going to the output on the Noll jack, and on the jack that is in my bass now, there are only 3 - so I'm not sure how or if the Noll preamp could be wired to work with my existing output jack. Any ideas?

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Hi Greg,

If you can't build in this special jack then you have to use a 2 pol.on/off switch (if necessary with a low current led (1,5mA current)) to switch the electronic on/off instead of switching with the jack

there is no other way

Ruediger
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I'm still a little confused (about that last message). Perhaps some of that was error from translation, I'm not sure. I don't understand why I would need a seperate switch to turn the electronics on/off, because don't the regular jacks do that as well?

 

[Shiveringbass]

Yes, I was sure that any jack on active bass serves as a switch, when unplugginng the jack, you also cut the battery.
It's a pity that Mister Noll does not answer his mail. Mine has been sent 2 months ago but never get any answer...


Sheers

Shiveringbass

 

[emjazz]

I used to have a preamp with the same issue as this one. Instead of using the 9 pin jack that was square and wasn't going to fit in the round hole (kindergarten concept), there was a diagram to connect an on/off switch for the preamp. I'd reccomend the switch. It's a very small hole to make in your bass and can be done quickly and painlessly by anyone who knows how to use a drill.

 

[Hollow Man]

Yes, I was sure that any jack on active bass serves as a switch, when unplugginng the jack, you also cut the battery.
It's a pity that Mister Noll does not answer his mail. Mine has been sent 2 months ago but never get any answer...


Sheers

Shiveringbass

That's odd... over the last few weeks, I've sent several emails to Klaus Noll, and he's been very prompt in returning them all... often within two hours. Are you using the email that Le Basseur specified a few posts back?