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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison
- Thread starter chadhargis
- Start date
Has anyone here experimented in any depth with the Tech 21 Fly Rig format pedals such as the Steve Harris and Doug Pinnick models. I was extremely impressed with how my VT Bass Deluxe reacted to my LA-1A so wondered how these might go.
I know they aren't in the boutique realm like the Oracle, but as a gigging options I think Tech21 hold their own, and the form factor of these pedals is very friendly to sit in front of the LA-1A on a metro board leaving space for plenty of other goodies. (A metro is 8" deep, LA is 4.5 and fly rig is 2.5)
I know they aren't in the boutique realm like the Oracle, but as a gigging options I think Tech21 hold their own, and the form factor of these pedals is very friendly to sit in front of the LA-1A on a metro board leaving space for plenty of other goodies. (A metro is 8" deep, LA is 4.5 and fly rig is 2.5)
I think I'm all set for this week...
top row was unintentional, but not unwelcome...
top row was unintentional, but not unwelcome...
I was hoping my Orchid Electronics Micro DI might have shown up from the UK but no such luck.
The wait continues...
The wait continues...
We certainly talk about a bunch of exotic boutique stuff in this thread, but there certainly ain't nothin' wrong with Boss!
I'm curious: how are you powering that Tubeworks? I seem to remember you mentioning having a power strip under your board, but I've scrolled back and can't find it.
5sg.
The tubeworks bluetube has its own 110 cord.
The Boss pedals are daisy chained off the tuner.
I have a Jericho power box thing under the board for the bottom row and hidden fox filter
The Doc PDR and the EP Boost are hooked up to the 9v/18v ports, but I haven't decided if I prefer the 18v on those. I think I like 9v.
Right, I get that... I have a BlueTube... But I'm curious if you're powering it off your pedalboard somehow, or if you're just using that 110 cord as it's own "wall wart." Like, you have two power cables for your board? One for the Jericho and one for the Tubeworks?
My main board already has two power cables, one for my Zuma and one for the power strip underneath. Unfortunately, due to everything I've got set up (read: "crammed") under my board, the weird shape of the HX Effects blocks all the outlets on the power strip. So short story long, if I put the Blue Tube back on my board, I'd need three power outlets just for my board.
5sg.
Cool! What's that pedal on the bottom in between the Soul Food and the Small Stone?
Somewhere back in this thread I reviewed the Bass Fly Rig and the DuG pedal. I actually carried the DuG pedal as a backup for awhile. It fits nicely in the pocket of my gig bag.
Both of them are really surprisingly good for what they are. I even gigged some with the BFR and had no issues with it. I'd say the #1 thing I have learned since starting this thread is that you don't have to spend a lot of money to have great tone IN A MIX. If you compare a Noble, Oracle, etc. to a Bass Fly Rig or a Sansamp outside a mix and compare them side by side, there is a MASSIVE difference in tonal quality. If you're recording, then I'd say go all in and drop a couple of grand on your preamp, DI, compressor, etc. But if you're playing live, all that nuance that you hear through your reference headphones is lost to the room, clanking of beer mugs, ghetto blaster stereos driving past the venue, people talking, and how good the PA and sound guy is. There is NO WAY anyone is going to tell the difference between a $150 NuX preamp and and $1000 Noble in that setting.
Now, I play mostly in church...in Nashville. Where our sounds guys normally worked for a big artist the night before. The PA's are top level and even the building acoustics aren't awful. The audience is mostly...well....reverent. So there aren't people talking and certainly no one drinking anything other than coffee. I regularly share the stage with touring musicians who play with some of the biggest names in the industry. That's why I run the expensive stuff. If anyone is going to notice the difference between $150 preamp and a $1000 preamp....the folks I play with will. The rigs they bring dwarf mine in size and cost. Without a doubt, I am the weakest link in the band every Sunday, but it makes me step up my game and practice harder to keep up with the guys who will be jumping on a tour bus the following day.
I've been using a Tone Hammer for several years and I really like it. A friend brought over a Noble preamp for me to try and few years ago, and that so far may be the only thing I prefer to my Tone Hammer. Add the Cali76-TX to the signal path, and I've got a solid, yet simple sound that FOH techs love which also sounds great in my IEM.
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I've been using a Tone Hammer for several years and I really like it. A friend brought over a Noble preamp for me to try and few years ago, and that so far may be the only thing I prefer to my Tone Hammer. Add the Cali76-TX to the signal path, and I've got a solid, yet simple sound that FOH techs love which also sounds great in my IEM.
Nice!
I love my THDI, too. Just "works" for me. I've got a Triode Beelzebub in front of it, which is another pedal I just love. And both are not that expensive. The 'Bub is $150 + shipping and a used THDI can be had for about $160-170.
Right, I get that... I have a BlueTube... But I'm curious if you're powering it off your pedalboard somehow, or if you're just using that 110 cord as it's own "wall wart." Like, you have two power cables for your board? One for the Jericho and one for the Tubeworks?
My main board already has two power cables, one for my Zuma and one for the power strip underneath. Unfortunately, due to everything I've got set up (read: "crammed") under my board, the weird shape of the HX Effects blocks all the outlets on the power strip. So short story long, if I put the Blue Tube back on my board, I'd need three power outlets just for my board.
5sg.
Ahh, gotcha, Just the two plugs.
I did read in this thread about converting it to 9v, but I'm not positive I would put the time into doing it unless My board got more crammed than it is.
I only need a third plug if I use my wireless.
DP effects Iskra OD pedal, from what I understand, mine is the pedal used in this video.
How are you liking your Blue Tube? I had one eons ago when they first came out. Older style enclosure.
Best wishes,
Brent
Lol. The ghetto blasting stereo comment made me chuckle since I play a lot on broadway and know exactly what you're talking about.
I will say this though, as far as broadway (in Nashville) is concerned - I used a tone hammer for a while down there and it performed great. I probably wouldn't have even picked anything else up if it hadn't gotten stolen. However, when I bought and started using my Noble down there I was amazed at how much better my signal coming out of FOH sounded and how much better it stood in the mix. (I run wireless and like to run around and get up on bars during gigs haha)
@chadhargis you probably are familiar enough with this sentiment since you are in Nashville as well. Not trying to knock the sound guys down there because they work long hours and do good work. That being said, they get so ear-fatigued from running for twelve hours a day that, in my opinion, by the end of the night they are not on the top of their game. They walk around during the gig trying to dial everything in but, as more people come into the shows and noise levels increase and all the other factors at play, (generally) most of the time the mixes aren't stellar. All of this to say that the Noble really made a difference for me when I started playing it in those clubs because it is a solid piece of gear that just works really well in any environment I've used it in, so far.
I'm liking it quite a bit, it's my first foray into preamps, so I don't have anything to compare to. Mine is a 2003.
I'm not positive I fully understand the difference between preamp and boost, but it's fun to have shiny things with lights on them.
That's going to be etched on my tombstone.
I've never gigged on Broadway but know many who do. I can imagine ear fatigue is bad for everyone. Especially with all the clubs going at the same time.
There is some massively good talent in Nashville though. I've been fortunate enough to study with Jeff Berlin, Adam Nitti, and Roy Vogt. Vale Johnson is one of my Facebook friends and we've chatted about going to the gun range.
It's crazy to see the talent in Nashville.
I plan on getting a lesson with Jeff at some point in the future. I've had to miss all of his group lessons because I was out on gigs, sadly.
I spent over 8 hours with him and and group of guys. It was very cool. Then his wife gave us voice lessons. She's a nice lady. Jeff is funny as hell.
