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I've been so addicted to the Studio 1200 that I forgot to try my backup Puma 900 with the new Barefaced Big Baby 2 cab. First impressions: the Puma sounds great with this cab, but I immediately noticed the lack of "tube amp" feel. The Studio 1200 sounds more clear, projects more "air" in the tone, and that hard-to-describe-but-you-know-it-when-it's-not-there feel of a tube amp. I don't want to spend a lot of time with this post. It's a lot easier to just unplug the Puma and plug back into Jonathan's tone machine. Hello: I'm an addict and am proud to admit it! Gimme mo' 'o that Studio 1200 tone!! 
It sounds like you don't really like your Studio 1200. I can has him? droolI've been so addicted to the Studio 1200 that I forgot to try my backup Puma 900 with the new Barefaced Big Baby 2 cab. First impressions: the Puma sounds great with this cab, but I immediately noticed the lack of "tube amp" feel. The Studio 1200 sounds more clear, projects more "air" in the tone, and that hard-to-describe-but-you-know-it-when-it's-not-there feel of a tube amp. I don't want to spend a lot of time with this post. It's a lot easier to just unplug the Puma and plug back into Jonathan's tone machine. Hello: I'm an addict and am proud to admit it! Gimme mo' 'o that Studio 1200 tone!!
I've been so addicted to the Studio 1200 that I forgot to try my backup Puma 900 with the new Barefaced Big Baby 2 cab. First impressions: the Puma sounds great with this cab, but I immediately noticed the lack of "tube amp" feel. The Studio 1200 sounds more clear, projects more "air" in the tone, and that hard-to-describe-but-you-know-it-when-it's-not-there feel of a tube amp. I don't want to spend a lot of time with this post. It's a lot easier to just unplug the Puma and plug back into Jonathan's tone machine. Hello: I'm an addict and am proud to admit it! Gimme mo' 'o that Studio 1200 tone!!
.....and it looks like like JGR is working on his next potential project utilizing what appears as a 700 watt unit utilizing the Studio 1200 tone controls.....check out his recent FB post.....https://m.facebook.com/reineramplif...t_id.905620699522113:tl_objid.905620699522113
- Jun 29, 2006
- 5,148
- 3,217
- Disclosures
- President, CEO, CFO, CIO, Chief Engineer, Technician, Janitor - Reiner Amplification
I've been so addicted to the Studio 1200 that I forgot to try my backup Puma 900 with the new Barefaced Big Baby 2 cab. First impressions: the Puma sounds great with this cab, but I immediately noticed the lack of "tube amp" feel. The Studio 1200 sounds more clear, projects more "air" in the tone, and that hard-to-describe-but-you-know-it-when-it's-not-there feel of a tube amp. I don't want to spend a lot of time with this post. It's a lot easier to just unplug the Puma and plug back into Jonathan's tone machine. Hello: I'm an addict and am proud to admit it! Gimme mo' 'o that Studio 1200 tone!!
Good stuff Dave!
Part of the fun as a designer is integrating it all together into a system - even though most companies are using similar power amp modules these days (well, not this one per se), there's still a lot that can be done to impact the "feel" component (in addition to overall tone/voicing), and getting it right can add some real "heft" to the final presentation.
- Jun 29, 2006
- 5,148
- 3,217
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- President, CEO, CFO, CIO, Chief Engineer, Technician, Janitor - Reiner Amplification
Indeed! Haven't had a chance to really crank it cause I'm always working on it in the middle of the night these days when everyone is sleeping, but hopefully soon I'll get some clips up. Going to put a 6SL7 front end on it tonight and tweak some more - it's essentially shaping up to be a 700 watt BoT with the Studio 1200's EQ. And it fits in the Super BoT case to boot!
[/talk-bass-minutiae on]Lest anyone was wondering, the Studio 1200 is a wonderful companion to the Barefaced "Big Baby 2" cab. Makes the amp sound like ... a big tube amp! The tone is wonderful and true. Not sure how to measure the volume but Barefaced says a BB2 is roughly equivalent to a good 212. Probably no volume match to a Fearless 212, but it gets pretty loud. Will suffice for most of my gigs.
And when it doesn't the extra BB2 makes a truly glorious stack. Supposedly the volume potential is close to an 810 or 412. When you approach that range, the chest is thumping and the lungs are gasping. One cab is just 29lbs so they are versatile. Build quality on these cabs is stellar - ranks with the best I've encountered on any high quality commercial cab previously owned. Of course the King of the Cab is Jonathan's creation. It continues to please me every day.
I'd be tempted to try that in a L stack with the bottom cab horizontal & top cab vertical woofer lined-up over woofer, with bottom HF driver either all the way off or most of the way, adjust the top HF driver to taste.
In vertical position the horn will have the best horizontal dispersion, but don't know if that matters to you (or if in real gig situ, it would matter to me).
More stable than both vertically stacked anyway, but still getting the top HF driver close to ear level (which might work out to be too much in your ear with the HF level loud enough to make it out into the crowd).
[/talk-bass-minutiae off]
- Jun 29, 2006
- 5,148
- 3,217
- Disclosures
- President, CEO, CFO, CIO, Chief Engineer, Technician, Janitor - Reiner Amplification
No worries, I can provide more details here since you asked.
It will be a 700+ watt amp with all tube preamp (350+ VDC) and the full five-band, inductor-driven EQ from the Studio 1200. It will also have the full Jensen DI.
I'm putting it in the same rugged steel case as the Super BoT- dimensions are approximately 7.75" wide, 4.5" high, 9.75" deep.
Right now I have a 12ax7 front end but I'm going to try the 6SL7 as well.
Up top is a pic of the prototype Super BoT so you can see the case as well as the rough proto I cobbled together using an old case in the wee hours last weekend. Front panel will have input, mute, gain, five band EQ, master, pilot lamp, and DI (XLR, pre/post, and ground/lift). Rear panel will have rocker switch for power, Powercon connector/cable, fuse, and two speaker jacks. I've have updated circuit and hardware layouts done and more parts en route for another proto once I get the last tweaks worked out.
Thank you! That looks to be very tasty. And, if you care to share, what power module are you using in that?
- Jun 29, 2006
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- President, CEO, CFO, CIO, Chief Engineer, Technician, Janitor - Reiner Amplification
Eggcellent! Thanks. Interested to hear the difference between the 12AX7 and 6SL7. I'll be following this. Please post some clips when you can.
You know, I was just going to ask, re. previous conversations, if you'd done anything with the SuperBot prototype or a 6SL7 based preamp. I was thinking rack, but you've gone ahead and put a power section in it. Different form and output from the 1200... Did you incorporate any of the other tweaks to the preamp section that you mentioned earlier? It was pretty durned sweet when I tried it, but the prospect that it could be even better is exciting.
Between you and Mike, you guys are killing me. I am interested in learning more about this. How low can you go, Ohms-wise, with the ICE 700, and what are the power ratings at 8, 4, and (if it'll do it) 2.7 or 2 Ohms?
Will the be an output to drive an external power amp in addition to the DI and through-put?
Incidentally, a powered BoT pre with EQ, would be about the coolest little lunchbox style amp ever - a zillion times cooler than those little Orange amps. The only downside I can see is that the format (and tone) might attract theives... Locking it to the cab might be in order. Or unplugging it and taking it to the loo between sets.
- Jun 29, 2006
- 5,148
- 3,217
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- President, CEO, CFO, CIO, Chief Engineer, Technician, Janitor - Reiner Amplification
Hi Mark,
Haven't had a chance to play with final tweaks to the Super BoT proto, but I think tonally this sits somewhere between the original BoT proto and the updated Super BoT, but with the addition of a tube/inductor driven 5-band EQ. Since this has a master volume, you can dial in some subtle tube OD. I think this just made the Super BoT kind of moot since it offers so much more in the same package.
I can put a preamp output no problem. Was thinking about ditching it but I'll leave it in. Won't have a thru since it's an amp with a DI.
The module is rated to 2.7 ohms, you can go to 2 ohms if you put in a current limiting circuit, but I don't see the point. I'm going to add an additional massive aluminum heat sink (no fan). Will be very robust. B&O rates the module as 350 into 8, 700 into 4 at 1% THD, full bandwidth, and 800 into 4 at 10% THD, full-bandwidth (probably 400 at 8 ohm 10%). I'm going to run it full-tilt tomorrow (unless the family shuts me down!). You don't really get more power into lower loads, it just provides cab flexibility. The compression and harmonics from the all-tube preamp will add to the perceived output and overall presentation.
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- Jun 29, 2006
- 5,148
- 3,217
- Disclosures
- President, CEO, CFO, CIO, Chief Engineer, Technician, Janitor - Reiner Amplification
The upside is that the beefy steel case and metal top handle makes it a good weapon should you need to smack someone back in line.
Jeez JGR, you have a bigger lineup of products than many people/co's that go into business. Between DI's, Pre's two full on amps, the BOT, speaker cabs etc. what are you waiting for? So far the market research has shown to be all positive that I've read. Your products are obviously meticulously researched, developed and executed In fact, the one and only downside I can see is the fact prices place your gear near the top tier of gear the "above average" joe user such as myself would buy. And honestly if I was still working 300+ dates a year or still had a day job I would already have some of your gear. I think there more than enough potential customers who do their due diligence to research what the market has to offer in high quality high end bass gear that it won't take long for there to be a long line out in front of your door just waiting to snatch up the next thing off the line. Hell man, the world is your Oyster! Slap that thing with some siricha sauce throw it on the Barbie and let's eat! By the way this retirement plan seems to be falling line pretty well. Though I don't think you'll get much rest!
- Jun 29, 2006
- 5,148
- 3,217
- Disclosures
- President, CEO, CFO, CIO, Chief Engineer, Technician, Janitor - Reiner Amplification
Definitely going with the 6SL7 front end - it sounds (and feels) perfect. There are a couple of clips up now on my YT page but I don't think I can post the links here.
