Read Custom Bass Purity preamp- the inside scoop

[EduardoK]

Resurrecting an old thread!!
Congratulations on your new Read Purity preamp!
Jack Read retired some years ago from building basses and also stopped all production of the Purity preamp.
Back then, I bought from him one of his last custom basses and last Purity preamps.
Not too common find someone that masters both the lutherie side AND the electronic engineering side as Jack did.
AFAIK, Jack still works in the electronic sound industry, just in a different field.

 

[BassmanPaul]

I find it more than a little sad that Jack's design has vanished and all his hard work lost. If only his design could have passed into the public domain first.

Such is life - unfortunately!

 

[EduardoK]

I could not agree more.

 

[fullsizedog]

Thanks for the responses. Well I cant wait to try the Purity, I have read (no pun intended) so many glowing reviews. I wonder if he will ever get back into it? Im surprised he wasn't approached by a larger company to purchase his design? From what I have read it is one of the best sounding and built preamps out there. Maybe its a good thing quality usually goes to crap when things like that happen.

 

[Fuzzbass]

Speculation was that Jack had stretched himself too thin -- basses and electronic gear -- but it was nothing more than speculation. I can't speak to his basses, but I owned the Purity preamp and it was truly outstanding. The only reason I let it go was because I need to dial in dirty sounds and the Purity was far better at clean (pure!) tones.

 

[EduardoK]

I'll second that.
The Purity is a stellar preamp but was not conceived to do the "dirty" act. It shines at letting the own voice of your bass speak. If you want major tone tweaking capabilities look elsewhere or add some pedals or extra boxes. This preamp will only reveal what your bass is and what it is not.
I guess that's what the word "Purity" stands for...
Read basses are really nice. I own both a fretted and a fretless in a 33 inch scale. For me they are VERY addictive and the playing ease of that 33 inch scale spoiled me forever, LOL.

 

[fullsizedog]

I guess thats what Im looking for I have a Modulus Quantum and Am a rookie to the whole power amp pre amp thang. I currently have a Sansamp RBI that I rarely turn the Drive off flat, I turn it up a bit then turn it off so I have a felling the purity is exactly what Im looking for. Even though I am a hard rock/metal/thrash guy I like clear pure tones.
I cant wait to get it! I want CLEAR PUNCH!