Yeah I agree with Jimmy here that it won't change the sound of your bass but it will add a little something to the sound that I have only found until now in full tube amps.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
REDDI Tube DI Mega Thread . Potential megathread that is.
- Thread starter svtb15
- Start date
- Status
I've got a gig today, so I decided to do the tube swap and record some before and after clips.
It's strange. I don't hear a big difference in the naked bass tracks, but I do hear a difference in the mix. That's the exact opposite of what I expected to happen. To my ears, there's just a little extra girth underpinning all of the notes with the NOS tube. It's not a huge difference, but I do dig it very much. Anything that takes me in that direction is a good thing in my mind.
Anway, we've got a little audio clip that we stick at the start of all of our store's demo videos. I was just touching that up the other day, so that was an easy way for me to get a quick before and after scenario going.
Here are the naked bass tracks with no EQ, no FX, etc. They were, however, "normalized" in terms of volume. Louder usually sounds better to our ears, so I like to remove any volume discrepancies when I listen to things like this. The NOS tube is a bit hotter/louder in reality.
"Rocket Music Video Intro - Svetlana"
"Rocket Music Video Intro - NOS"
And here you can hear the two tubes in a complete mix. There is some EQ, slight compression and reverb on the bass in these mixes, but the identical treatment is applied in both mixes.
"Rocket Music Video Intro - Svetlana"
Invalid Link Removed
It's strange. I don't hear a big difference in the naked bass tracks, but I do hear a difference in the mix. That's the exact opposite of what I expected to happen. To my ears, there's just a little extra girth underpinning all of the notes with the NOS tube. It's not a huge difference, but I do dig it very much. Anything that takes me in that direction is a good thing in my mind.
Anway, we've got a little audio clip that we stick at the start of all of our store's demo videos. I was just touching that up the other day, so that was an easy way for me to get a quick before and after scenario going.
Here are the naked bass tracks with no EQ, no FX, etc. They were, however, "normalized" in terms of volume. Louder usually sounds better to our ears, so I like to remove any volume discrepancies when I listen to things like this. The NOS tube is a bit hotter/louder in reality.
"Rocket Music Video Intro - Svetlana"
"Rocket Music Video Intro - NOS"
And here you can hear the two tubes in a complete mix. There is some EQ, slight compression and reverb on the bass in these mixes, but the identical treatment is applied in both mixes.
"Rocket Music Video Intro - Svetlana"
Invalid Link Removed
i did a swap also, i noticed the nos had a nicer midrange and more top end. really fine differences though, i kept blind listening to them and liked some tones from both. i reckon the stock tube is fine, although the nos now resides.
with the xlr out connected to my sound card, my laptop was making the thru noisy until i unplugged the laptop power supply and ran it on battery.
this has been a great thread, i think ive read every page. thanks
with the xlr out connected to my sound card, my laptop was making the thru noisy until i unplugged the laptop power supply and ran it on battery.
this has been a great thread, i think ive read every page. thanks
I thought the NOS (in the mix) sounded much better. Much fuller sound while I thought the Svetlana sounded a bit thin in comparison.
I do not notice more girth as you said, but then again my ears are not experienced enough.
René_Julien;12813572 said:
"More girth" and "fuller" mean the same thing to me. Sorry, words are sometimes useless for conveying ideas about tone.
As my biz partner is fond of saying, "one man's buttery is another man's ice pick in the ear".
"More girth" and "fuller" mean the same thing to me. Sorry, words are sometimes useless for conveying ideas about tone.
As my biz partner is fond of saying, "one man's buttery is another man's ice pick in the ear".
Perhaps it's a language barrier on my end.
I maybe don't completely understand what you mean with "girth".
Bottom line, I like the second one better. It was just that little bit more of "this is how the bass should sound like".
I noticed the difference.
Seems like a nice "little" thing, this REDDI.
Girth is the measurement around an object...and if someone says a sound is "girthy" they usually mean "big."
Anyway, I completely agree with your assessment, Greg. More noticeable in the mix than by itself, which I do find a little bizarre, but now it makes me think I wasn't hearing things when I thought my bass in the mix sounded a little heavier than usual with the REDDI. Both were really good sounds, though, just that the Svet sounded a little smoother, and the NOS sounds a little beefier. Funny how the studio tricks you applied to the mixed versions seemed to bring out the differences more than disguise them.
Anyway, I completely agree with your assessment, Greg. More noticeable in the mix than by itself, which I do find a little bizarre, but now it makes me think I wasn't hearing things when I thought my bass in the mix sounded a little heavier than usual with the REDDI. Both were really good sounds, though, just that the Svet sounded a little smoother, and the NOS sounds a little beefier. Funny how the studio tricks you applied to the mixed versions seemed to bring out the differences more than disguise them.
In a mix, I usually apply a wide 2-3 dB boost around 250Hz to the bass track. Then I use a -6dB low shelf cut from 250Hz and under on everything else but the kick. That really helps the bass shine through a mix. And my guess is that extra girth we're hearing is down in that range.
Here's my rig for this afternoon's hit at an outdoor festival downtown. I just need to toss it all in the truck and boogie...
I love that little Pelican hardshell case for the REDDI that was recommended in this thread. And this will be my first time using the REDDI through a serious outdoor PA, so I'm kinda excited!
Here's my rig for this afternoon's hit at an outdoor festival downtown. I just need to toss it all in the truck and boogie...
I love that little Pelican hardshell case for the REDDI that was recommended in this thread. And this will be my first time using the REDDI through a serious outdoor PA, so I'm kinda excited!
Does anyone know the plate voltage being applied to the 6N1P in your arrangement. The 1965 can take the voltage and steps up much better than often mentioned 6DJ8 family when it is run at voltage that the 6DJ8 types can't handle. It does not open up at lower voltages. It can also be interesting to float the heat/filament around 60 volts above actual ground.
Thanks for the clips Greg! I agree with everyone else else, and while I felt I definitely noticed the difference in the bare tracks, it really improved how it sat in the mix. Very nice improvement! I have a feeling I'll be ordering one of these pretty soon!
Hey John, I do not, but I would imagine it's got a goodly amount of voltage going to it since this is a pretty serious piece of gear. Here's its manual if you're interested:
Invalid Link Removed
Here's a gutshot:
Invalid Link Removed
Definitely not a starved plate design
Ya, I'd say that's a pretty safe bet, especially with the way your tube rages in it.
JimmyM said:
You bet
I received my tube and love the way they sound, although I have to say the two tubes are quite different one from from the other tone wise.
Both are very precise compared to the Sovtek and the other more recent tubed I ordered.
But one has a high mid bump and a rather tight low end, while the other has a sweet emphasis in the low mids, with some warmth that I like very much, and heard in Jimmy' s sound clip and was hoping to find.
Overall I'm very happy I did the tube rolling, thanks Jimmy and John !
Interesting results...I've got 3 65's now and to my ears they're interchangeable. It sounds like the other one would be useful for some things, but as consistent as my tubes sound, makes me wonder if there's something wrong with it that didn't show up in testing or if it's just how it goes with tubes sometimes.
JimmyM said:
The tube doesn't sound like a bad tube, its gain is good and visually it's flawless.
It just doesn't sound like the other one.
Maybe its tonal characteristics will change after breakup.
I was suprised because usually well made NOS military tubes like these are quite consistant.
But since the other one gave me exactly the sound I wanted, I just have more choice, so that's cool.
The cheap tubes I bought locally are visually exactly identical to the stock Sovtek, except they bear no brand name. Tonally they sound very close to the Sovtek, maybe a little better.
Was going to ask you about them, too. Oh well, at least now you're good for spares for quite a long time
Hey John, I do not, but I would imagine it's got a goodly amount of voltage going to it since this is a pretty serious piece of gear. Here's its manual if you're interested:
Invalid Link Removed
Here's a gutshot:
Invalid Link Removed
Definitely not a starved plate design
Ooo man thats pretty!
I've tried it in my Micro VR with a mic cable and one of those XLR-to-1/4" impedance transformers and it didn't work. Just made a buzzing sound. Not really its intended purpose.
- Status
