Also, the Underground Accelerator with tone stack bypassed is a Space Heater. Depends on what extra versatility you want. Space Heater with a bonus DI = Finally. Space Heater with a bonus EQ = Underground Accelerator.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
The Sushi Box FX Secret Society
- Thread starter kranahan
- Start date
Correct. I have received a dozen or so emails from people saying they don't hear the difference with the ultra hi switch activated, and I agree it's very subtle, so I figured I'll leave it out. With the treble cranked you can get plenty of high tone anyway, no point in having an extra switch.
The current version of Slampegg Bee Pre uses a 12AX7, whereas the original Ampeg B-15N used a 6SL7 tube. Grand Slampegg uses a 6SL7 like the original preamp to get a more accurate vintage tone. It's delicious. You can get part of the way there by using a lower gain tube like a 7025 in a Slampegg, but 6SL7 has an extra je ne sais quoi.
Depends on what you want. The configuration would certainly be different and I guess it partly depends on whether you use your clean boost for anything other than goosing the UA into overdrive. Having a space heater and a UA on the same board gives three nice options. I have my UA on almost all the time. I can add the space heater, which is set to give me some heavier dirt, or I can use only the space heater, which adds the extra dirt that comes with a bit of high-end, without the boosted lows/ eq that I have set on my UA. This stuff is very easy to overthink! It may be warm and welcoming, but it's a rabbit hole nonetheless. If your clean boost is used for reasons other than pushing the UA harder, I'd stick with it. If it's only to drive the UA, I'd rather have the SH.
Last edited:
Thanks! Good stuff and yes, I am tumbling down the rabbit hole. If I do ventually find a preamp with Di I really like, I would just move the Finally on the board or trade it for a newer U.S. with switch.
There was also a "bright" switch on the original 6N21B Slampegg, but that not only was subtle to the point of indistinguishable but also produced a loud *pop* when it was switched, so it didn't last long.
To my (admittedly imperfect) ears the ultra hi switch was only audibly different when you had treble completely dimed, and at that point I didn't like the sound I got with even more treble. The majority of people that seemed to ask about it left the treble control at or around noon and flipped on the switch, which isn't going to provide much difference as the EQ is going to filter out any additional highs you would have had.
Can anyone share the range of effect on the UA trim pot?
Just swapped in a 12au7 to tame the gain and roll highs.
Just swapped in a 12au7 to tame the gain and roll highs.
Glad to see you went with my name suggestion. Can't wait to hear it!
I must have one of the older version since it does pop every time I flip on the "bright" switch.
The internal trimpot is a level control that works in tandem with the Master control. Fully CCW it should strangle your output to zero, and full CW it will give you access to eardrum rupturing loudness. Admittedly less loud with a 12AU7 installed than with a 12AX7, but still very loud.
My new John Kallas build, a YBA-1 preamp, runs a couple of 12AX-7s. Look what I found inside.
Yup, I sell a handful of ready-to-solder circuit boards for fellow pedal builders. That one is my favorite one to sell because it's just a power supply, the builder still has free reign to build whatever they want with it.
@johnk_10 & @Sushi Box FX two of my favorite builders.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,636
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
I have one of those! I keep telling myself I'm going to build a 48v phantom power tube mic preamp with it... Not sure why I keep lying to myself like that.
The stock UA 12ax7 seemed hot, so I tried a 12au7. The au requires maxing the volume when the EQ is engaged and attenuates highs.
Next, I'll split the ax/au gain difference by using a 12at7. Beyond that, I may try modest turns of the trim pot.
Just going by ear. The 12ax7 is sensitive to slight turns of the volume knob with its EQ disengaged. All that available gain can be used to drive a power amp cleanly though, so that's cool.
Well it looks like Venus X is getting pushed back a little bit for revisions. As NAMM gets closer @TonyP- and I talk more and more frequently, and we decided there are a couple changes we want to make.
The biggest one is that we're going to make the cabsim only available on the XLR output, it will not be available on the 1/4" output anymore. We ran into an issue that when we had the cabsim perfectly dialed in for one, it sounded completely different on the other. We could find a balance between the two, but in talking about it we decided that the most likely use case would be that the XLR would go to FOH or a recording interface where you need the cabsim, and the 1/4" would be more likely to go to a powered monitor or a power amp, where you don't need the cabsim. This allows us to focus on making the cabsim sound perfect through the XLR and not worrying about what it would sound like through the 1/4" output.
There are a number of much less drastic changes that we are making, like minor tweaks to the EQ and gain settings for the boost channel, as well as general board-level changes to make assembly easier and more reliable for me.
So as it stands, the unit I have built up right now is still fully functional, and I will still be taking it to NAMM and getting it in the hands of professionals to try out and get some feedback. But a full release and making it available for customer ordering looks like it's going to be slipping closer to the summer.
The biggest one is that we're going to make the cabsim only available on the XLR output, it will not be available on the 1/4" output anymore. We ran into an issue that when we had the cabsim perfectly dialed in for one, it sounded completely different on the other. We could find a balance between the two, but in talking about it we decided that the most likely use case would be that the XLR would go to FOH or a recording interface where you need the cabsim, and the 1/4" would be more likely to go to a powered monitor or a power amp, where you don't need the cabsim. This allows us to focus on making the cabsim sound perfect through the XLR and not worrying about what it would sound like through the 1/4" output.
There are a number of much less drastic changes that we are making, like minor tweaks to the EQ and gain settings for the boost channel, as well as general board-level changes to make assembly easier and more reliable for me.
So as it stands, the unit I have built up right now is still fully functional, and I will still be taking it to NAMM and getting it in the hands of professionals to try out and get some feedback. But a full release and making it available for customer ordering looks like it's going to be slipping closer to the summer.
I like all the R&D going into this one!
