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Tube shootout with the Demeter VTBP-201

#81
Wow, how did I miss this thread? Great info. I also have the VTBP-201s and a PLX power amp.
Two questions though regarding the internal trim pot and the volume knob.
Taken from Demeter's web site

Internal Volume Trimmer: This control is designed to match the output volume of the Tube Bass Preamplifier with the input sensitivity of any power amplifier.
Click to expand...

How does one go about matching this up?

The volume knob: Most pre amps have both a gain and a master volume.
On those pres you'd set the gain so it would barely clip on your loudest notes then back it off a little and use the master volume knob for over all volume. Supposedly this achieved the best signal to noise ratio.
The Demeter only has the volume knob. So I a little lost on to set this pre amp up.


Thanks
 
#82
Rick Blanc said:
Wow, how did I miss this thread? Great info. I also have the VTBP-201s and a PLX power amp.
Two questions though regarding the internal trim pot and the volume knob.
Taken from Demeter's web site



How does one go about matching this up?

The volume knob: Most pre amps have both a gain and a master volume.
On those pres you'd set the gain so it would barely clip on your loudest notes then back it off a little and use the master volume knob for over all volume. Supposedly this achieved the best signal to noise ratio.
The Demeter only has the volume knob. So I a little lost on to set this pre amp up.


Thanks
Click to expand...

I find that this preamp puts out a fairly hot signal. Depending on what gain setting you tend to find your amp on (headroom and cabinet power handling dependant), it might be worthwhile to use a small jeweler's screwdriver to adjust that trim pot. I experimented with it, and wound up with it pointing straight to the top (12 o'clock) - works with all my basses...but that's kind of a misnomer as I use the MDB-1 to level out the output of all my instruments. I typically run my volume pot somewhere between 11 and 12 o'clock...which gives me plenty of headroom for any power amp I've used to date. Best signal to noise would probably be to run the volume on a relatively high setting...allowing you to use a very low gain setting on your power amp - make sense?

One note - I have seen it mentioned on this board that the trim pot was meant to control the D.I. output of the VTBP-201....I found that it definitely controls the line output (the "output" you connect to the power amp).

Ciao,
Jay
 
#84
Hey jay...Sorry i never followed up but here are results...
Setup: QSC RMX 1450/Deme 201s w/Avatar 410/210 Neo Stack

Stock EH tubes in both V1 and V2
-Very Mid range oriented with sort of lack of bass. Harmonics are nice and clear

Jan Philips 12ax7wa in V1 spot and EH in V2 spot
-Wow...whatever bass that was lacking with stock EH tubes, the Jan brought them out. It sounded great...but not in a live setting. With the great addition of bass that was added, a massive amount of mids were reduced. I had to cut the bass greatly and crank the mids to barely cut through two loud guitarists. I couldn't hear myself like I used to.

Stock EH in V1 spot and Jan/Philips 12ax7wa in V2 spot
-Now here's my sweet spot. Nice smooth bass with my mids back again. I've only played two gigs with this setup but it seems to be sticking with me. I cut through nicely and feel the punch on my back
 
#85
CBBass123 said:
Hey jay...Sorry i never followed up but here are results...
Setup: QSC RMX 1450/Deme 201s w/Avatar 410/210 Neo Stack

Stock EH tubes in both V1 and V2
-Very Mid range oriented with sort of lack of bass. Harmonics are nice and clear

Jan Philips 12ax7wa in V1 spot and EH in V2 spot
-Wow...whatever bass that was lacking with stock EH tubes, the Jan brought them out. It sounded great...but not in a live setting. With the great addition of bass that was added, a massive amount of mids were reduced. I had to cut the bass greatly and crank the mids to barely cut through two loud guitarists. I couldn't hear myself like I used to.

Stock EH in V1 spot and Jan/Philips 12ax7wa in V2 spot
-Now here's my sweet spot. Nice smooth bass with my mids back again. I've only played two gigs with this setup but it seems to be sticking with me. I cut through nicely and feel the punch on my back
Click to expand...

You know, I really like the slightly lower gain, sweeter tone NOS JAN tubes in V2 of this preamp...they really even out and sweeten up the tone.

While I was reading your post (second paragraph), I was thinking..."I hope he switches up and puts the EH in V1 and the Philips in V2"....great (or not so great:)) minds think alike!

I'm really sold on James' gear....kind of off topic, but I'm REALLY enjoying my new (to me) Compulator as well. I'm really not (by trade) a fan of compression on the bass live as I think the fingers should do most of the work; however, the compulator seems to be very, very transparent while every so slightly (but nicely) fattening up the tone, smoothing out the sustain, and giving the overall tone a very nice sheen.

I'm really happy those tubes are working out for you!

Jay
 
#86
vicenzajay said:
The winning combination?

V1 - Mullard
V2 - JJ/Tesla ECC 803 (long plate)

This combination has tons of gain with a big, defined, punchy low end coupled with a very musical and sweet top end.

Any given preamp is going to respond differently to any number of tubes...and each tube run is going to be different for any given manufacturer. However, I hope this helps if someone is looking for some broad generalities between these tubes and the Demeter 201.

Jay
Click to expand...

Just installed this combo. It's just as you discribed. :hyper:

Thanks
 
#87
tombowlus said:
Thank you for the offer! I should have a couple of those long plate JJ's floating around, so I'll try one in my HBP-1 when I get back from vacation (and have the time!).

Tom.
Click to expand...

Hey Tom, I know you posted this quite a while back, but what were you favorites in the HBP-1? I don't have any tubes aside from a couple of ehx brand tubes and can't try a mess of tubes. I am looking for tight detailed bass and a smooth top end. Thanks!
Alvaro
 
#88
Hyper-sloth said:
Hey Tom, I know you posted this quite a while back, but what were you favorites in the HBP-1? I don't have any tubes aside from a couple of ehx brand tubes and can't try a mess of tubes. I am looking for tight detailed bass and a smooth top end. Thanks!
Alvaro
Click to expand...

Sadly, I must admit that I did not do this yet. And with NAMM coming up next week, it's going to be a while before I'll have the time to play around with my HBP-1. But keep bugging me! :D
 
#92
Hey all, just got a Mullard in the mail. Almost wish to take a half day off work to pop it in! I read great things about the Telefunkens Ben, detailed and so forth. I will get one next week and A/B them.

Here is a great site that really does a thorough job describing all the N.O.S. tubes out there:
http://www.audiotubes.com/12ax7.htm
Rotten looking web site, kinda Geo-Cities looking. I guess if a bad looking web-site means spending less on flash and more savings for us then cool, lol.
 
#93
Hyper-sloth said:
Hey all, just got a Mullard in the mail. Almost wish to take a half day off work to pop it in! I read great things about the Telefunkens Ben, detailed and so forth. I will get one next week and A/B them.

Here is a great site that really does a thorough job describing all the N.O.S. tubes out there:
http://www.audiotubes.com/12ax7.htm
Rotten looking web site, kinda Geo-Cities looking. I guess if a bad looking web-site means spending less on flash and more savings for us then cool, lol.
Click to expand...

That is exactly where I got my NOS Sylvania tubes from. which I can not recommend highly enough! Great deals for USA made tubes compared to what Tung Sol, GE and RCA are going for.
 
#94
Calaverasgrande said:
That is exactly where I got my NOS Sylvania tubes from. which I can not recommend highly enough! Great deals for USA made tubes compared to what Tung Sol, GE and RCA are going for.
Click to expand...

Oh I like Sylvanias. Haven't tried them in a long time but I used to buy bunches of 6L6s for my old Fender Bassman...damn trades....it's long gone back in 1985. I had GAS even in high school. Used them in my Peavey Alpha Bass head. Than ks for the tip!
 
#95
I have the older Demeter 1.5 space pre bought used and opened it up tonight. Sounds great with a pair of Chinese 12ax7a tubes which came with it.
Rolled a pair of Electro Harmonix 12ax7's I had laying here. Definitely don't like the change and actually surprised at how much of a change there is. Sound is somewhat more woolly with a nasal burp in the mids. However, intrigued to play with some different tubes now.
Question: How do you identify which are the V1 and V2 tube positions? Say by looking down from the front to the back. Nothing is silk screened on the board as an identifier.

Thanks
 
#97
vlad335 said:
Question: How do you identify which are the V1 and V2 tube positions? Say by looking down from the front to the back. Nothing is silk screened on the board as an identifier.

Thanks
Click to expand...

vicenzajay may have to help you on that, I have the single tube HBP-1. I did a search online but didn't find an answer. You can send an email to James Demeter...the Mrs. should answer you....

Invalid Link Removed

Good-luck!
 
#98
I really want to try the VTBP-201. It seems like what I want, all tube, no solid state. I haven't decided to trade my HBP-1 quite yet: I'm on the fence. Is there anyone here that wants to do a trade? That'll decide for me lol. I know this isn't the right forum, so I'll prolly make up my mind soon and post in the classifieds.
 

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