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Noll bass preamp ?

#41
Lokire, here is an email that Klaus Noll wrote to me in regards to some questions I had for him:

Dear Aaron,
thank you for your interest in my products.
The price for a 3 band parametric EQ TCM 3P is about EUR 180.-, shipping is EUR 25.-.
Our general payment term for overseas business is advance payment. Sorry, no credit cards.
Our paramentric EQ´s, TCM 3PM, TCM 2P and TCM 3P are set up for the 9-lug jack because of the bipol power supply.
All other peamps are set up for standard 1/4" input jacks.
Please let me know if I can provide further information or assistance.

Best regards
Klaus Noll

If you're not sure if the 9-lug jack will fit in your bass, go to http://www.stewmac.com and order part #3774. It's a 9-lug jack that Klaus says is just like the one he uses. It costs like $5, so if you're entertaining the idea of getting a Noll preamp, it's a good investment to check it out. I just got one, and Dr. Phunkypants helped me do some minor routing to accomodate it. I intend to order one of Klaus' preamps in the next couple of days.

I've never heard of this switch for the power supply, but it sounds like it could be a great idea. Klaus says all his preamps come pre-wired and include the appropriate input jack, but he might be able to work up a different wiring scheme for a standard stereo input jack and switch if you ask him nicely. :)
 
#42
Very disapointing. Having to do some routing just because the jack is not standard is not for me an option. That preamp may be great electronicaly speaking but its lack of practicality disqualified it for me...
I'm very disapointed, I'd have liked it to work, realy.
:(

Hollowman, the mail I used was the contact given on Noll website but I haven't checked if it was the same Lebasseur gave.

Sheers

Shiveringbass
 
#44
HollowMan227 said:
Lokire, here is an email that Klaus Noll wrote to me in regards to some questions I had for him:
Dear Aaron,
thank you for your interest in my products.(...)
Our paramentric EQ´s, TCM 3PM, TCM 2P and TCM 3P are set up for the 9-lug jack because of the bipol power supply.
All other peamps are set up for standard 1/4" input jacks.(...)
Best regards
Klaus Noll
Click to expand...
It seems that the "nonsense" comes from the manufacturer itself!:spit:
Frankly,I'm a little tired about the collateral aspects mentioned in this thread.After all,Noll,as well as some other manufacturers,is free to make a certain product according to HIS specs and engineering.The need of a (technically justified)9-pole jack in a certain Noll preamp might suit some or might not suit other individuals.I'm not trying to convince anyone to carve his instrument in order to fit that damn 9-pole,,,but,surely,that can be done (carving).Professionally.
The installation of a switch is AFAIK a half-measure because you'll need an extra hole for that switch.Besides,I deeply hate any switch on a bass!:rollno:
About some other questions posted here:
HollowMan:
the Noll pots are standard,so no prob about the shafts' dimensions.
arbitrary:
I'm not sure I understand your first question.For the second one,yes,the Noll circuit boosts and cuts as well (+/-15 dB).
Regards,
 
#46
Ok, so it sounds like just the parametric pres use the 9-pole jack. Maybe that's normal for parametric preamps? They aren't real common on bass so I've never had any experience with one.

I wouldn't have a problem with getting someone to route the cavity to fit the jack or drill in a switch, but it would just mean more $$$ on top of an already pricey preamp, and I can't justify spending that much right now.
 
#47
Lokire said:
Ok, so it sounds like just the parametric pres use the 9-pole jack. Maybe that's normal for parametric preamps? They aren't real common on bass so I've never had any experience with one.
Click to expand...
No, it's not 'normal' for parametric EQ's to use the 9-lug jack... just a design choice.

For people who are hung up on the fact that it is a larger jack that can't be easily accomodated by all basses, I think this standard-jack-with-an-extra-switch idea has been mentioned is a great idea. A 9-lug jack isn't necessary per se to make this preamp work, but I bet it simplifies the circuit, which is why Klaus sells them pre-wired. I'm sure it's doable another way, but you'd probably have to have Klaus work up something special, and I don't know if he'd go for that or not. Send him an email about it... worst thing that could happen is that he says no.
 
#48
arbitrary:
Invalid Link Removed

This is the English version of Noll Electronic's bass preamp page. Click on the preamp you're interested in, and then click on the Equalization link on the left side of the following page. It'll show a response chart, and the peaks of the frequency response will tell you at which points the shelving occurs. Hope this helps!
 
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#49
Ok, I sent a couple more e-mails back and forth with the Noll dealer in Germany. It looks like it's only the Noll Parametric preamps that use that output jack. All the others use a standard 3-pol jack which could be wired directly to my existing Warwick jack :)
 
#51
I'm looking more at the 4-band EQ now actually. Not many people make a 4-band EQ either.

As sweet as the fully parametric setup would be - it would probably end up costing near $300 which is more than I can justify (or afford :p) spending on an onboard pre.

If I were to just go with a 3-band EQ, I would probably go for an Aguilar pre. But the Noll 4-band should have that much of an edge with the Lo/Hi mids. Plus the Noll comes pre-wired which is a big plus for me :)
 
#52
I didn't realize that Noll preamps are available separately.

They come stock with the Ritters, and I thought Jens had simply modified them himself. I own the Ritter Roya 4 and know of the Noll from looking inside.

Noll's preamp electronics are a modification of the IC headphone amp that appeared in May 2003 'Audio Express', by Klaus Noll and uses AD744/AD811 line stage (op-amp + buffer) with Jung/Didden regulators. The clarity of the electronics are better than anything out there (IMO). With Ritters triplbucker pickups ALPS pots, and components are audiophile ... very expensive.
 
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#55
westland said:
Noll's preamp electronics are a modification of the IC headphone amp that appeared in May 2003 'Audio Express', by Klaus Noll and uses AD744/AD811 line stage (op-amp + buffer) with Jung/Didden regulators. The clarity of the electronics are better than anything out there (IMO). With Ritters triplbucker pickups ALPS pots, and components are audiophile ... very expensive.
Click to expand...
Hey,thanks for sharing these infos!:)
If I don't ask too much...what's your info source?
...because if your source is reilable and Mr.Noll really uses these components in his bass preamps...well,than it becomes more clearly why these preamps sound the way they do!
Another one:do you have the original Audio Express article about that phone amp?If yes,could you post somewhere a scan of it,or send it by email?
Thanks!
 
#58
Yes, 3-way over 4-way, definitely.
I don't know why, but often 2-way EQs sound better than 3-way, in Noll's case their 3-way is the best so far.
After endless experiments with John East, Delano, Bartolini, Pope Electronics, Aguilar and others, I would put Noll's to ballpark of Pope and East. Very clear, punchy, dynamic, even less noise than East.
Eqing with Noll (3-way specifically) is awesome, treble is really sweet and very usable, bass works with lowest frequencies in fantastic fashion.
Real eye opener is mid-range control, it somehow opens the bass and really makes the difference.
In my opinion, several high-end bass luthiers in Europe opt for Noll with very good reason. Actually it is European version of Pope quality. Ritter and Pratt are among those who put Noll's to their most exclusive basses.
IMO it is several steps up from MEC electronics on Warwick Stage I and II (I replaced it with Bartolini first, later with Delano and now with Noll).
I would be comfortable to have Noll on all of my 12 basses (except Wal).
IMO Noll deserves much more praises, but it is not always easy to find it. Efforts are well worth.
 
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#60
Le Basseur said:
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 :eek: ).
Regards,
Click to expand...
Will you please share how you solve it ? i find myself in the same point with a tubular jack on my Prat .
 

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