Reiner Amplification Megathread

[JGR]

Yes. It certainly does. And... your assistant is very well trained! If you can answer here, is this going into production? And will it be before, during or after the Studio 1200 ?

Thanks! The Studio 1200 is already in *production* so to speak - trying to get the last four of ten out by the end of the year.

This one will go into production as well - should be a bit easier and quicker to build, relatively speaking, than the Studio 1200, so hopefully I can do better at getting more of them out in the wild. I have parts coming so that I can build a second clean prototype with an optimized layout, so if it comes together as it should, I'll try to start building some after I get the last four of the Studio's off the bench.

 

[thumbs&fingers]

FYI, no one should complain about your production times. I have dealt with numerous other builders who were more than a one man operation and took longer to deliver.

 

[JGR]

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!

Indeed, I've been building the "virtual" product line for years now! I just need time and some cash flow!

 

[ahc]

Thanks! The Studio 1200 is already in *production* so to speak - trying to get the last four of ten out by the end of the year.

This one will go into production as well - should be a bit easier and quicker to build, relatively speaking, than the Studio 1200, so hopefully I can do better at getting more of them out in the wild. I have parts coming so that I can build a second clean prototype with an optimized layout, so if it comes together as it should, I'll try to start building some after I get the last four of the Studio's off the bench.

Thanks for the info. I'll be patiently watching and waiting for any news. I know the first run of the Studio 1200 sold fast and I'm sure this one will too. You need to get your "assistant" to help you speed up the process. He's an accomplished knob-turner already.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

There was a faint buzz while playing my S1200 atop a Bearfaced BB2 cab. I thought the buzz was in my house joists/rafters. But after adding a 12x12" Auralex 2 pad, the buzzing disappeared. I suspect reverberations off the thin walls of the BB2 cab were passing through the amp. The combination of this amp and cab produce huge, thick lows even at low volumes. So the lesson here is ... there is no rule for using an amp pad with the Studio 1200. Sometimes you may need one; sometimes you may not. It also provides peace of mind for protecting the tubes from daily reverberations.

Auralex Acoustics BABYGRAMMA 15 x 15 x 1 3/4 Inches Isolation Platform
Amazon.com: Auralex Acoustics BABYGRAMMA 15 x 15 x 1 3/4 Inches Isolation Platform: Musical Instruments

Link Removed

 

[JGR]

There was a faint buzz while playing my S1200 atop a Bearfaced BB2 cab. I thought the buzz was in my house joists/rafters. But after adding a 12x12" Auralex 2 pad, the buzzing disappeared. I suspect reverberations off the thin walls of the BB2 cab were passing through the amp. The combination of this amp and cab produce huge, thick lows even at low volumes. So the lesson here is ... there is no rule for using an amp pad with the Studio 1200. Sometimes you may need one; sometimes you may not. It also provides peace of mind for protecting the tubes from daily reverberations.

Auralex Acoustics BABYGRAMMA 15 x 15 x 1 3/4 Inches Isolation Platform
Amazon.com: Auralex Acoustics BABYGRAMMA 15 x 15 x 1 3/4 Inches Isolation Platform: Musical Instruments

Link Removed

Yeah, I usually put foam under my amps for mechanical isolation - that said, the noises I experience are typically mechanical rattles, not tube microphonics.

Leaning on the gain a bit, eh Dave?

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

Yeah, I usually put foam under my amps for mechanical isolation - that said, the noises I experience are typically mechanical rattles, not tube microphonics.

Leaning on the gain a bit, eh Dave?

Busted. T-u-b-e--A-d-d-i-c-t-i-o-n.

 

[BassGreaser]

JGR, I just sent you a PM asking about the Studio 1200. (I didn't know the amp's model name before sending the PM)

 

[JGR]

JGR, I just sent you a PM asking about the Studio 1200. (I didn't know the amp's model name before sending the PM)

PM returned!

 

[thumbs&fingers]

Reference an amp pad, currently I'm using a tecpadz. It's an interesting solution, seems to work well.

 

[Ewo]

Reference an amp pad, currently I'm using a tecpadz. It's an interesting solution, seems to work well.

Clever idea! Are you using the version with sorbothane half-spheres?

 

[thumbs&fingers]

Yes I am, pretty cool

 

[Fuzzbass]

Last time I visited Jonathan I heard his 1x10, tall 2x10, and 1x15-plus-mid. I was impressed with all of 'em, but the tens are more practical for my needs. Interesting developments in the new video below. Well... I thought the 10" speaker looked funny but I think the dust cap is just hidden in shadow. Anyway, Jon mentioned adding a mid driver to the 1x10, and I think it sounds great, even when tube grit is added.



Already love my Studio 1200, it's my #1 for everything, so the smaller amp is not on my radar.... yet.

 

[winegamd]

That is one great sounding cab. I am sure the amp has something to due with it, too...

 

[murphy]

Wow...great sounding amp

 

[MarkA]

Last time I visited Jonathan I heard his 1x10, tall 2x10, and 1x15-plus-mid. I was impressed with all of 'em, but the tens are more practical for my needs. Interesting developments in the new video below. Well... I thought the 10" speaker looked funny but I think the dust cap is just hidden in shadow. Anyway, Jon mentioned adding a mid driver to the 1x10, and I think it sounds great, even when tube grit is added.



Already love my Studio 1200, it's my #1 for everything, so the smaller amp is not on my radar.... yet.

Hey, Fuzzbass, even though you've got the Studio doing duty for you, I'd be interested to hear your opinions of it and the little amp relative to each other. I realize that they're probably more similar than different, and that different cabs might render a straight up comparison difficult, but if you have thoughts to share...

On another note, you've still got that old B-15, right? Was there an amp that reminded you more of that? .

I'll stop with the unfair questions now!

 

[Fuzzbass]

Mark, you must be thinking of someone else... I wish I had an old B15! Seemed to me from the video that the 700 will get warmer than the 1200, but I don't have enough direct experience to do a worthwhile comparison. Last time at JGR's I mostly played my 1200 through his new cabs.

So, Jonathan: what's your comparison of 700 vs 1200? Isn't the 700 a 6L6 6SL7 design? I believe the EQ is about the same, but are you going for more warmth in the gain structure, or am I just hearing the mid driver?

 

[JGR]

On another note, you've still got that old B-15, right? Was there an amp that reminded you more of that? .

@kd5uwl Has a B15 and Studio 1200
@Zoomie has a B15 and 6SL7 preamp

So, Jonathan: what's your comparison of 700 vs 1200? Isn't the 700 a 6L6 6SL7 design? I believe the EQ is about the same, but are you going for more warmth in the gain structure, or am I just hearing the mid driver?

I think the mid driver in that video might be a dB or two too hot for my tastes at the moment, but I'm glad it sounds warm to you rather than harsh!

The EQ in the VHF700 (frequency points and inductor/cap circuitry) are exactly the same as the Studio1200, but the EQ is driven by a 6SL7 rather than a 12ax7, so that will have some impact, mainly at higher boost settings. But it would be instantly familiar if you've used the Studio1200, and I'm just splitting hairs for accuracy.

With the VHF700, the gain structure consists of one 6SL7 and one 12au7 whereas the Studio1200 uses two 12au7s and one 12ax7; in the VHF700, there is a lot of clean headroom, but you can dial in some nice grit at higher settings if you dig in, compliments of the lovely 6SL7, which does add it's own unique texture to the tone, and it also responds a bit differently to your attack.

In contrast, the Studio1200's 12au7 front end stays pretty clean all the way up, it just gets thicker at higher gain settings. The attack is a bit more immediate. You can dial in some grit with higher gain settings and some EQ boost, but it is a more subtle type of overdrive.

So while I think it's safe to say that both designs have the characteristics you'd expect from a nice tube front end, I think my boring names are actually a pretty good descriptor - the Studio is intended to be warm, clean, and clear like some of the prized old studio gear, while the VHF700 is going for a more Vintage yet still HiFi character. Both are similar in that they are pretty flat/neutral without a strong baked-in voice, have a pretty even response across the spectrum, and shouldn't require any additional low pass filtering.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

Both are similar in that they are pretty flat/neutral without a strong baked-in voice, have a pretty even response across the spectrum, and shouldn't require any additional low pass filtering.

This is the intelligent way to voice a preamp. Much easier and simpler to tweak on our end as the venue, type of music, or whatever so requires it to be. However, after months of using this amp almost every day, I still keep most of the dials at high noon.

 

[MarkA]

My bad on the B-15 mixup, guys. You all look alike on the internet! I've never played through one - would love to experience that someday.

I picked Jonathan's brain on the Studio vs. VHF a bit the other day -- I thought you'd played the cabs with the new amp and was looking for more impressions on those hard to quantify subtleties of tone and feel. Never played a Studio 1200, though I have heard two iterations, now, of the BOT. From Jonathan's descriptions, though, it sounds as if he might successfully have combined my favorite aspects of each.

I *think* I've got an idea of how the Studio and the VHF might compare, tonally. Would be interesting to play both and see what the envelope (attack/sustain/decay) is like between them.

Now that I know what it stands for, VHF isn't a bad name.