The Sushi Box FX Secret Society

[Btbp]

This isn't important, but I wanted to share because it came out neat. Black print over a matte black powdercoat, nuts and washers all powdercoated to match. Huge waste of time, but kind of neat.

View attachment 4896706

I love the looks of this, but my matte black with dark blue print Slampegg is unreadable in even the best light, which is inconvenient.

 

[Ethereal Thorn]

straight ahead sa500

Gss baby sumo is another good option too

 

[DrHooper]

FWIW, I do this quite often with my Aguilar TH500. I'll run an external preamp (either a tube preamp, or my pedalboard, or whatever) into the FX Return, which bypasses the whole front end of the amp and goes straight into the poweramp. It's a great way to make the most of the equipment you have available, rather than having to buy different amps for every flavour of the week. Plus, if anything ever happens on a gig , you can just unplug the preamp and plug into the regular Input on your amp as an instant backup.

One thing you can't do with this method, however, is easily switch between your external preamp and the amp preamp. Once you're plugged in to the FX Return, you'd have to unplug that and plug in to the front if you want to switch. So this method doesn't really work as a "Second Channel" effect or anything like that. It's all or nothing.

I do the same with my TH700. Bonus is, the DI (set to post) is after the fx return, so I can still send to FOH/recording desk.

The DPC5 switches between Alembic, Hiwatt, and Ampeg pre's

 

[eeyorebass]

I do the same with my TH700. Bonus is, the DI (set to post) is after the fx return, so I can still send to FOH/recording desk.
View attachment 4897764
The DPC5 switches between Alembic, Hiwatt, and Ampeg pre's

Do you find the power amp in the TH700 is pretty neutral? or does it still have some of the color that amp is known for when using the effects return?

Thanks!!

 

[NKBassman]

I would say that the poweramp on the Aguilar TH is pretty neutral. I notice a dramatic increase in overall clarity and crispness when I bypass the onboard preamp.

 

[lomo]

Do you find the power amp in the TH700 is pretty neutral? or does it still have some of the color that amp is known for when using the effects return?

Thanks!!

Virtually all SS power amps are neutral, or so close to it that they may as well be considered neutral because the deviation is inaudible, and that includes the ones within integrated bass heads. I have a few SS heads (Mesa WD800, Quilter 802, Ampeg PF800, Magellan 350), and they're all perfectly fine power sources for my pedals, which sound exactly the same regardless of which head's FX return I plug them into. That said, I prefer to run my boards right through the front end of most of them, most of the time, because I want more tone control than the pedals alone provide.

 

[eeyorebass]

Virtually all SS power amps are neutral, or so close to it that they may as well be considered neutral because the deviation is inaudible, and that includes the ones within integrated bass heads. I have a few SS heads (Mesa WD800, Quilter 802, Ampeg PF800, Magellan 350), and they're all perfectly fine power sources for my pedals, which sound exactly the same regardless of which head's FX return I plug them into. That said, I prefer to run my boards right through the front end of most of them, most of the time, because I want more tone control than the pedals alone provide.

Excellent points! I know some designers do make adjustments to the standard power modules in their integrated bass heads. And, you never know where that stuff will be in relation to an FX return. For example, does the Power Amp Damping control on your WD800 have an effect when you run through the FX return? Knowing the Tone Hammer has such a baked in flavor, I didn't want to assume it was all in the preamp, just in case.

Thanks!

 

[DrHooper]

I would say that the poweramp on the Aguilar TH is pretty neutral. I notice a dramatic increase in overall clarity and crispness when I bypass the onboard preamp.

Especially compared to the preamp with the drive turned up. I don't dislike the drive, I actually dig it quite a bit, but not when I want to hear the pedal preamp(s).
I haven't compared it to many other power amps, but yes, neutral is a word I would use. "Not in the way" is another.

 

[NKBassman]

Especially compared to the preamp with the drive turned up. I don't dislike the drive, I actually dig it quite a bit, but not when I want to hear the pedal preamp(s).
I haven't compared it to many other power amps, but yes, neutral is a word I would use. "Not in the way" is another.

Don't get me wrong, I really like the Tonehammer and there's a reason I haven't had any serious Class D amp GAS pains for years... I can get plenty of great sounds out of it that I like without using any outboard stuff at all. If I forgot my pedalboard at home tonight and only had the amp, the only thing I'd truly miss is my tuner . The rest of it is just sonic gravy.

But I also really like the sound of my pedalboard and various outboard preamps, and when I choose to use them I will typically run it into the FX Return to avoid the TH preamp imprinting its own sonic footprint where its not needed (or wanted). It's a good option to have and to know how to use, and just another tool in the box for getting the job done at the end of the day.

 

[lomo]

Excellent points! I know some designers do make adjustments to the standard power modules in their integrated bass heads. And, you never know where that stuff will be in relation to an FX return. For example, does the Power Amp Damping control on your WD800 have an effect when you run through the FX return? Knowing the Tone Hammer has such a baked in flavor, I didn't want to assume it was all in the preamp, just in case.

Thanks!

The damping knob on my Mesa is always set to minimum, and even when relaxed a bit, is extremely subtle. I would consider it to be a « fine print » variable, and essentially the only one that might even theoretically come into audible play when playing through pedals into any of the amps I listed above.

 

[4Mal]

of the SS heads I have had, so far the BB800 is way out front when it comes to being audio neutral. The Mesa Subway D-800+ was a close second. The TH and WD-800 wouldn't mke the list for me... and even though I m a GK fan boi... not on the list either. The GK's remain in my stable though because I like their sound. I've been able to find 'me' in pretty much every GK I have ever played through.

Pedal platform ? The BB800 is hard to beat.

 

[SoulReflection]

of the SS heads I have had, so far the BB800 is way out front when it comes to being audio neutral. The Mesa Subway D-800+ was a close second. The TH and WD-800 wouldn't mke the list for me... and even though I m a GK fan boi... not on the list either. The GK's remain in my stable though because I like their sound. I've been able to find 'me' in pretty much every GK I have ever played through.

Pedal platform ? The BB800 is hard to beat.

Wow, I am surprised the WD-800 didn't make your list. It's so highly rated. What was the problem?

 

[eeyorebass]

The damping knob on my Mesa is always set to minimum, and even when relaxed a bit, is extremely subtle. I would consider it to be a « fine print » variable, and essentially the only one that might even theoretically come into audible play when playing through pedals into any of the apps I listed above.

Thanks for the replies. I've been casually amp shopping (no gigs, no rush), so I've had plenty of time to think about the various options, applications, and what ifs (maybe too much).

 

[lomo]

of the SS heads I have had, so far the BB800 is way out front when it comes to being audio neutral. The Mesa Subway D-800+ was a close second. The TH and WD-800 wouldn't mke the list for me... and even though I m a GK fan boi... not on the list either. The GK's remain in my stable though because I like their sound. I've been able to find 'me' in pretty much every GK I have ever played through.

Pedal platform ? The BB800 is hard to beat.

In terms of the preamps, I agree 100%. In terms of the power sections (ie when running pedals through the FX return to bypass the preamp coloration) , IME they're all neutral.

 

[NKBassman]

@4Mal , remind me, what's BB800?

If my Aggie died all of a sudden and I was going Class D shopping tomorrow, I'd be looking at Mesa first and foremost.

 

[eeyorebass]

@4Mal , remind me, what's BB800?

If my Aggie died all of a sudden and I was going Class D shopping tomorrow, I'd be looking at Mesa first and foremost.

I'm not 4Mal, but I believe they are talking about the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed].

 

[4Mal]

@NKBassman Quilter. Pat Quiliter, the Q in QSC. You wouldn't be wrong with the Mesa as a choice.
For me the D-800+ is the sweetspot in the line. I have the DI+ as one of my preamp options. Same front end. As AgedHorse put it, a DI designed by a sound guy, bass player for sound guy bass players... or words to that effect... The Subway head made my Avalon U5 redundent...

@eeyorebass beat me to the click... yes, Quilter BB800

 

[dedpool1052]

@Sushi Box FX

If I was looking for more "clean gain" out of the DW, would I replace the first tube, second, or both with AT7s?

 

[Sushi Box FX]

@Sushi Box FX

If I was looking for more "clean gain" out of the DW, would I replace the first tube, second, or both with AT7s?

First tube will have the bigger impact of the two, but obviously both is an option.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

I apologize to anyone that has PM'd, emailed, or texted me today and haven't received a reply yet. I had today off work so I was up until 3AM working last night, then my family let me sleep until 3PM, so I woke up right before the sun went down then immediately went christmas shopping, and haven't had time to dig into getting back to people. I'm getting kids ready for bed right now, then I'll spend some time answering messages.