The Tube powered Pandora's Box will be opened soon

[getBAK]

I've always been distrustful of tube amps over the years. Too many incidents of them working poorly and being temperamental. This week I talked myself into getting a Tube Preamp. A Khan VTDI to be specific.
I want to warm up my tone (into a Mesa 800+) and from what I've read everyone loves these things.

I have a feeling I'm opening a pandora's box... we'll see

 

[Killing Floor]

“I had been my whole life a bell, and never knew it until at that moment I was lifted and struck.”

 

[scubaduba]

You’ll love the Khan. Good choice.

 

[bassbrad]

Once you have the bug a visit to Sushi Box FX will be in order for many choices to get your tube fix on. I suggest you consider the MORE.

 

[scubaduba]

If you want to open the box wide there is this: Tube Preamp/DI Sound Samples — Noble, Oracle, P-15, Super Stack, REDDI, Tonecraft, Jule...

 

[Justin Keoni]

Once you have the bug a visit to Sushi Box FX will be in order for many choices to get your tube fix on. I suggest you consider the MORE.

I’ve got a Khan and just ordered a “More”. Can’t wait!

 

[Naack]

See I want to buy a Khan and an Oracle, but my heart is set on a Noble, but a few more pennies must be saved for that.

 

[scubaduba]

See I want to buy a Khan and an Oracle, but my heart is set on a Noble, but a few more pennies must be saved for that.

Why is your heart set on the Noble?

 

[getBAK]

Oh - I've been doing the research - @scubaduba I think I read the entire thread a couple of times. I'd never have known about Khan without it.

The Sushibox stuff was interesting, if they had a more definite production schedule I may have gone that way.

Frankly I was pretty set on a Noble myself, they sound fantastic in everything I hear. If they didn't have a year waiting list I would be seriously considering getting in trouble with the wife by ordering one.

 

[getBAK]

I'll also note - what my search taught me was that NO preamp does everything I want, well - so I need to be comfortable with using multiple products.

Now, if someone wants to build a Jones-stack Tube Pre, On board EQ with both HPF/LPF, gain channel stomp switch, isolated power distribution (like Nobel) XLR and 1/4" outs...

 

[Naack]

Why is your heart set on the Noble?

I have done my fair share of blind listening tests and I always seem to pick the Noble out of the bunch, so that is the main reason. Secondly, I like how it looks and for me that matters a little bit!

 

[getBAK]

The Khan arrived last night. I futzed with it a little, it adds 'something' it's hard to define, but the instrument sounds bigger and sweeter... which is what I wanted/expected. It'll go to a gig tonight with the fretless. I'm hoping to have a nice bloom of tone

 

[getBAK]

Back from the gig. This box is impressive. I decided to try this out in the most 'pure' method I could.
Ran my MTD Z5 Fretess, in passive mode.
Keeley Compressor and a Broughton HPF set to 60 hz
No amp, DI into our PA (XR-18 into 2 QSC CP12's).

It was a small room, semi-unplugged gig. I've ran this venue several times and know what to expect.

The sound was massive, just filled the whole room without being loud. Both band members and audience were floored by the tone. It almost felt like one of the old Apex Aural Exciter's going on a studio mix. The whole sound just bloomed.

While Pandora's box is open, I don't really imagine wanting another Preamp.