On-Board preamps: Bartolini vs Glockenklang

[aproud1]

Any chance you (or someone else in this thread) could share some audio clips? There’s not much on YT by way of a demo of the sweep of the glock sounds.

Failing that, I think it’d be really helpful just to hear about how the treble control works when it’s turned all the way down - can it act like a sort of tone control (shelving high frequency)? Like, if one needed a “dub” tone, can it do that?

I might have a recording somewhere of a bass with that preamp(not sure that would help) but don’t have any active basses around.

 

[groovecraver]

I don’t know if this helps but here is a clip of my Human Base which came with Delano Pickups and a Glock pre. Treble and mid slightly boosted. At least you can hear finger and slap style on this clip.


Stomp bass cover by The Brothers Johnson - Human Bass bassx.oc5 bass

 

[matante]

I’ve been sitting on an unopened Glockenklang 3 band for years, taking the box out of my gear drawer every so often and wondering if it’s worth installing - the treble point is so high (~18k iirc) and the bass so low (40hz) that I worry about it not being super useful for my needs, as I so rarely need the “super scoop” sound. I bought it shortly after playing an old Sandberg back when they used Delano pups and glock preamps.

I’m looking forward to reading ppls thoughts about this preamp!

Your post triggered two pet peeves so I have to comment.

That preamp costs like $200 so to never use it, or sell it, is like throwing $200 into the toilet. Why wouldn't you do something with it? Even the richest people won't just throw $200 into the toilet.

Also, when people on Talkbass complain about the EQ points of certain pieces of gear they almost always say it from a perspective of having to boost. Remember that the knobs turn both ways. If 40 Hz and 18 kHz don't sound good to you while boosting you might like the sound of cutting there.

 

[superheavyfunk]

Your post triggered two pet peeves so I have to comment.

That preamp costs like $200 so to never use it, or sell it, is like throwing $200 into the toilet. Why wouldn't you do something with it? Even the richest people won't just throw $200 into the toilet.

Also, when people on Talkbass complain about the EQ points of certain pieces of gear they almost always say it from a perspective of having to boost. Remember that the knobs turn both ways. If 40 Hz and 18 kHz don't sound good to you while boosting you might like the sound of cutting there.

I don’t really see why you care what I do with my money. I bought the thing and I can sit on it, trash it, or install it as I please lol. As for the frequency points, I don’t see anybody complaining. I mentioned my concern and some helpful members shared their experiences with me. Furthermore, in a post just a little while later, I even asked a question about cutting with the treble pot so maybe just read a little more before jumping to conclusions?

Remember that just because you CAN comment, doesn’t mean that you HAVE to.

 

[superheavyfunk]

I don’t know if this helps but here is a clip of my Human Base which came with Delano Pickups and a Glock pre. Treble and mid slightly boosted. At least you can hear finger and slap style on this clip.


Stomp bass cover by The Brothers Johnson - Human Bass bassx.oc5 bass

That sounds pretty great! And your playing is really good too. Thanks for sharing!

 

[silky smoove]

the treble point is so high (~18k iirc) and the bass so low (40hz) that I worry about it not being super useful for my needs

I have one of these in a Dingwall Super J. I too had concerns about the frequencies of the low and high pots. I assumed, like so many other onboard preamps that the low and high were shelving, and as such couldn't understand the point of 40hz and 18khz. Having spent a couple years with this preamp I think they're actually a peaking/bell filter with a very wide Q factor. When you boost on either of them you hear quite a bit more change than the number would initially suggest. They're quite usable, as is the mid pot on my 3-band model. Essentially, the low is controlling frequencies above 40hz, and the high is controlling frequencies below 18khz... or at least that's what my ears tell me.

The REAL star of that preamp, for me, is that the treble pot is an active boost when dialing it in above the center detent, and a passive tone roll-off when dialing it in below the center-detent. I've never been a big fan of active treble cuts and always preferred the resonant peak at the knee frequency of a passive tone knob's LPF. Of all the EQ knobs on this particular bass, that's the one I use the most. It's all very musical and useful, but that active treble boost and passive tone roll-off knob is a work of genius.

 

[superheavyfunk]

I have one of these in a Dingwall Super J. I too had concerns about the frequencies of the low and high pots. I assumed, like so many other onboard preamps that the low and high were shelving, and as such couldn't understand the point of 40hz and 18khz. Having spent a couple years with this preamp I think they're actually a peaking/bell filter with a very wide Q factor. When you boost on either of them you hear quite a bit more change than the number would initially suggest. They're quite usable, as is the mid pot on my 3-band model. Essentially, the low is controlling frequencies above 40hz, and the high is controlling frequencies below 18khz... or at least that's what my ears tell me.

The REAL star of that preamp, for me, is that the treble pot is an active boost when dialing it in above the center detent, and a passive tone roll-off when dialing it in below the center-detent. I've never been a big fan of active treble cuts and always preferred the resonant peak at the knee frequency of a passive tone knob's LPF. Of all the EQ knobs on this particular bass, that's the one I use the most. It's all very musical and useful, but that active treble boost and passive tone roll-off knob is a work of genius.

Wow! This is exactly what I was hoping to learn about the Glockenklang. And I’m really glad to hear your report about the way the treble knob works - I didn’t realize that it acted like a tone roll-off when cutting below the detent. They really should mention that in the description on the site or at least in the documentation that comes with the preamp.

Maybe I’ll finally get around to installing this in my Warwick this coming weekend. Thanks!

 

[silky smoove]

And I’m really glad to hear your report about the way the treble knob works - I didn’t realize that it acted like a tone roll-off when cutting below the detent.

I should be clear; This is on a preamp offered by Dingwall when you place your custom order. I don’t know if the same functionality is offered in Glock’s non-OEM (quasi OEM? faux OEM?) offerings. I hope it is, but it would be worth checking out the product manual to be sure.

It’s definitely not a preamp to add a lot of color and vibe to an instrument, but if you want as little baked-in sound as possible paired with a musical EQ then it’s a solid choice.

 

[matante]

I don’t really see why you care what I do with my money. I bought the thing and I can sit on it, trash it, or install it as I please lol. As for the frequency points, I don’t see anybody complaining. I mentioned my concern and some helpful members shared their experiences with me. Furthermore, in a post just a little while later, I even asked a question about cutting with the treble pot so maybe just read a little more before jumping to conclusions?

Remember that just because you CAN comment, doesn’t mean that you HAVE to.

I was asking out of curiosity because I don't understand the mindset. It was not an attack though you seem to have taken it that way, and perhaps I could have worded it better.

 

[superheavyfunk]

it would be worth checking out the product manual to be sure.

Glockenklang’s website says only that customers shouldnt worry about the frequencies “because they were carefully chosen,” and the included documentation in the box is a basic wiring diagram for installation. It’s very strange lol. I would never have bought it if I hadn’t fallen in love with the sound of that old Sandberg.

But I feel like maybe it’s time I break it out and give it a try. Thanks for your (and everyone else’s) thoughts on the matter!

And sorry @glassmoon for stealing the thread. I hope the derail was equally helpful for you!

 

[cxcxcx]

I have one of these in a Dingwall Super J. I too had concerns about the frequencies of the low and high pots. I assumed, like so many other onboard preamps that the low and high were shelving, and as such couldn't understand the point of 40hz and 18khz. Having spent a couple years with this preamp I think they're actually a peaking/bell filter with a very wide Q factor. When you boost on either of them you hear quite a bit more change than the number would initially suggest. They're quite usable, as is the mid pot on my 3-band model. Essentially, the low is controlling frequencies above 40hz, and the high is controlling frequencies below 18khz... or at least that's what my ears tell me.

The REAL star of that preamp, for me, is that the treble pot is an active boost when dialing it in above the center detent, and a passive tone roll-off when dialing it in below the center-detent. I've never been a big fan of active treble cuts and always preferred the resonant peak at the knee frequency of a passive tone knob's LPF. Of all the EQ knobs on this particular bass, that's the one I use the most. It's all very musical and useful, but that active treble boost and passive tone roll-off knob is a work of genius.

This resonates with my findings on the Glock preamps I’ve tried, especially the observations about wide Q and peaking/bell curve filters. 40Hz on bass isn’t crazy - that’s the boost point that the Glockenklang shares with the Sadowsky preamp. The 18KHz boost on the Glockenklang seems unreasonable, given that the top of the range of human hearing is 20KHz. That said, it looks bad on paper, but that treble control covers frequencies lower than 18KHz, and the 40Hz on the Glockenklang does not behave in a manner that the Sadowsky does.

 

[glassmoon]

And sorry @glassmoon for stealing the thread. I hope the derail was equally helpful for you!

No worries at all. This has been a very informative experience for me. Lots of great information to ingest and dwell on.
Thanks for your seriously cool feedback folks.

 

[BlueTalon]

That preamp costs like $200 so to never use it, or sell it, is like throwing $200 into the toilet.

Not even close. Even if all he ever does with it is put it on the shelf and admires it in the box...

That $200 helped pay the people at Glockenklang. It helped pay to keep the lights on at Glockenklang, and it helped to keep the lights on at the homes of the people who work there and put food on their tables. The taxes from that purchase help support the infrastructure that allowed that preamp to be delivered -- first to the business that originally bought it, then to the customer. Part of that money helped pay the drivers who delivered it, and put fuel in the vehicles, and of course that money helps support the fuel infrastructure that allows us all to go anywhere.

Of course, it's never going to help his sound if he doesn't install it in something, but he'll get to it eventually. Or not. It's his choice.

 

[BlueTalon]

I’ve been sitting on an unopened Glockenklang 3 band for years, taking the box out of my gear drawer every so often and wondering if it’s worth installing - the treble point is so high (~18k iirc) and the bass so low (40hz) that I worry about it not being super useful for my needs, as I so rarely need the “super scoop” sound. I bought it shortly after playing an old Sandberg back when they used Delano pups and glock preamps.

I’m looking forward to reading ppls thoughts about this preamp!

I'm reading this thread with interest because I ordered an Adamovic bass with a Glockenklang preamp, with little more than my intuition to guide me. I expect to get it within a month or so, and I'll know more then about if it was a great choice or not.

 

[pepj]

If I was in the market for a new Pre, Glock would be very high on my list as it revitalised my CS.
Dont know that Bart but I'm not a fan a mid selector switch. I'd far prefer the sweep and cut/boost control which East do in their Deluxes.
Having said that, ime, the only pre that I rate better than Glock is the Flexcore, which is a whole other beast.
My glock is 4 knob, side jack, 9v and and has a tone control which is almost like an enhancer rather than mere tone. And if the bass sounds good and is well set up, the Glock will polish that in a very natural way.
My CS is now the most classic Jazz sound I have and balances well between passive and active.

 

[pepj]

It works much better than the specs would indicate. I thought the same thing but in practice it is actually very useful.

Agree, all pre amps have unusable frequency and I think they do this to pander to the market 'expectations' rather than anything else.
What you get with Glock is musicality in the tones you select.
I try and use pres to enhance rather than change completely and the 2 stand outs ime, are Pope and Glock.
But yep, most pres are capable of screwing your sound out of sight but thats the workman not the tools. imo.

 

[pepj]

Not sure this will work, but the bass sound is indicative.
Glock pre on a CS through TH DI recorded straight off the board.

 

[Freaklight]

Not sure this will work, but the bass sound is indicative.
Glock pre on a CS through TH DI recorded straight off the board.

Sorry if it is a noob question...but what CS is?

 

[Jason Bonilla]

Sorry if it is a noob question...but what CS is?

I think that could be decoded as "Glockenklang pre amp on a [Fender] Custom Shop, through [Aguilar] Tone Hammer Direct Input straight off the board"

If I'm right then I spend too much time on this site.

 

[Freaklight]

I think that could be decoded as "Glockenklang pre amp on a [Fender] Custom Shop, through [Aguilar] Tone Hammer Direct Input straight off the board"

If I'm right then I spend too much time on this site.

The funny thing is that you must be right. It does make sense!