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Sonic Farm/MAS Bass Amp project.
- Thread starter Mark Sacchetti
- Start date
Yep, they are anything but ham-fisted or clunky in their implementation.
Btw, when I say, about the harmonic generators, "I don't know how much I'd used them," I mean just that -- not that I dismiss their potential usefulness, just that such a thing is new to me and I'd have to explore them further to get a feel for how and when I might apply them.
Okay...first caveat for those sitting down to twist knobs (actually three things)
1) gain structure
2) Gain Structure
3) GAIN STRUCTURE!
I am going to sit down with the manual and do my best to come up with a signal flow chart.
If are you even in the same neighborhood as the red clip light you are in trouble. Overdriving any solid state component in the amplification chain will cause VERY nasty clipping! This is EXTREMELY important to be aware of when setting up the overdrive circuit.
1) gain structure
2) Gain Structure
3) GAIN STRUCTURE!
I am going to sit down with the manual and do my best to come up with a signal flow chart.
If are you even in the same neighborhood as the red clip light you are in trouble. Overdriving any solid state component in the amplification chain will cause VERY nasty clipping! This is EXTREMELY important to be aware of when setting up the overdrive circuit.
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Yes, how the gain is set makes a huge difference - not just in the overdrive but the compression/harmonic circuit, too, it seems. Many many choices are available from very subtle to "slap ya in the face." I'm thinking the triode mode might be very useful for other instruments, but I just love the pentode so much it is hard to spend any time with it. I found that I pretty easily can have problems with microphonics if I put the amp on top of a cab, I haven't yet tried different tubes, dampers or foam pad (just take the amp off the cab).
Hey @Thoxig where can I come see you and hear this amp here in town? Or are you just using it in a studio setting?
What the name of your band, if you have one?
What the name of your band, if you have one?
Happy that you're digging it. As far as microphonics----
I put Sorbothane feet on the amp---expensive but very good at transmitted vibration. There are also tube dampers that I installed.
To be honest--although none of us do it---you really shouldn't put any tube pre or amp on top of a bass speaker. Not just ours. I haven't had any problems with my Tantra on top of my speaker. But there was one tube that rang that I replaced on a Tantra that went out. It happens. If you tap on the amp and get a sound---let me know. I'll send a new tube.
We are using the Winged C EF86. We like the sound of this one a lot. The JJ EF86 sounds really nice and had different material for the plate. It is a little bit darker than the Winged C. Ultimately I went with the Winged C because I likes the additional detail that it provides. In an online shootout at one of the tube sellers they found that the JJ was the least susceptible to microphonics. Just sayin'.
My favorite isolation tool is a hot/cold medical gel pack. I have one that's about 6 x 12". Maybe 1/2" thick. Even on the one loud tube the amp didn't transmit vibration.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
- 19,953
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
I like to put an Auralex GRAMMA Pad between the head and cab. Sorbothane is also very nice.
Unfortunately the smallest size Gramma pad appears to be just a bit too small for the Tantra to sit upon properly/securely - and the next size up is way too large.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
- 19,953
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
I got his to use with my Composite AK cabs Mike built for me may work to isolate the Tantra?Link Removed I use it between the cabinet and my amp head and mainly when I use my Jule Dove Cage it doesn't let any cabinet vibration get to the amp.
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Hi
everyone, we are watching the first reactions to the Tantra with great interest. It would help if those early owners posted as much feedback as possible so that we can plan any future tweaks or corrections. By the way we had a lot of interested bass players check the Tantra out (with Michael's 4x6" cab) at the AES Show in LA and they were all very pleased with the sound. Looking forward the the January 2017 NAMM show in Anaheim. So, again, guys, please let us know your opinion, the more detailed, the better, if you already received the unit. Thanks much, Zoran from SF.
everyone, we are watching the first reactions to the Tantra with great interest. It would help if those early owners posted as much feedback as possible so that we can plan any future tweaks or corrections. By the way we had a lot of interested bass players check the Tantra out (with Michael's 4x6" cab) at the AES Show in LA and they were all very pleased with the sound. Looking forward the the January 2017 NAMM show in Anaheim. So, again, guys, please let us know your opinion, the more detailed, the better, if you already received the unit. Thanks much, Zoran from SF.
For those folks that find the harmonic generators "too subtle":
1. Make sure the gain (clean combined with overdriven) is as high up as the headroom allows, just short of triggering the overload LED at loudest notes played.
2. With the compressor switch to the left (out), turn the compression control fully clockwise (max compression). Although the compressor is now bypassed for the main signal path, it ALWAYS affects the harmonics circuit. If you now blend in some harmonics, they will be much more apparent. Notice that if you now back off the compressor control, the harmonics will be less pronounced (without touching the H2 and H4 blend controls). This is caused by the mathematical nature of the harmonics circuit: it responds proportional to the signal envelope and adds a somewhat percussive character. H4 in particular.
Hope that helps. If you guys have any questions, please feel free to ask.
Wow, looks like the signal routing offers a lot of flexibility, here. Thanks for pointing this out.
To clarify my earlier comment, the harmonic generators were subtle compared to what I expected (which was something like an octaver) but I didn't find them to be too subtle -- nothing pejorative intended, there. From my brief experience of them, the tracking was superb (enough that I'm not sure "tracking" is even the right word to describe how they work), and the nuanced alterations to the sound that resulted from playing around with those two knobs make the harmonic generators potentially much more broadly applicable than something like an octaver. With the compressor disengaged and the harmonic generator knobs halfway up or so, though, there seemed to me to be be plenty of effect. I don't think I tried them with the knobs cranked.
Yes, I have noticed that first stage gain influences their prominence/range. In particular I've found that the overall boost setting (lo boost-off-overall gain boost switch) will increase their effect.
What is the corner frequency of the shelves on the Bass and Treble controls and the lo boost switch?
To be honest with you, I never measured them. I had a bass plugged into the experimental EQ circuit on a breadboard and was fine-tuning the filter components as I was listening through my Adam A8X studio monitors. Whatever sounded the best is what I settled for. The treble and bass shelving EQ's, that I do know for sure, ended up positioned lower than your usual shelving EQ that goes up and down from around 1kHz.
The Lo boost is inherited from the 2DI4, no change there. Same Cinemag inductor used. The boost starts at about 300Hz and gradually increases as the frequency goes down.
Just found this site. Various sizes of feet and pads:
Isolate It! Sorbothane and Advanced Vibration Damping Isolation Products
Thanks Mike & Zoran,
The winged C is not abnormally microphonic (tapping on it does nothing unexpected), it is only when the amp is on the cab at higher gain/volume that there is any issue, and it is easily remedied by taking the amp off the cab. I tried a NOS Tesla EF806S in V1 as well - I did not notice any significant difference. Both sound mmmmmm just great. Really, really happy with the sound of this amp. Have tried it out with acoustic guitar, also very nice.
@KiRk, I sent you a PM - I'm using only at home, but glad to share the experience.
The winged C is not abnormally microphonic (tapping on it does nothing unexpected), it is only when the amp is on the cab at higher gain/volume that there is any issue, and it is easily remedied by taking the amp off the cab. I tried a NOS Tesla EF806S in V1 as well - I did not notice any significant difference. Both sound mmmmmm just great. Really, really happy with the sound of this amp. Have tried it out with acoustic guitar, also very nice.
@KiRk, I sent you a PM - I'm using only at home, but glad to share the experience.
