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"Tubing up" the sound of an otherwise transparent floor preamp

Discussion in 'Effects [BG]' started by Tommy el Gato, Jul 2, 2008.

  1. Jul 2, 2008 #1
    Tommy el Gato

    Tommy el Gato

    Jul 6, 2007
    This is a question that's largely based on things that I've only read and have very little experiences with, especially the floor preamps I'm talking about as well as actually tube amps. Hell, I've never even been in the presence of an SVT.

    But I have to ask since A) I have little interest in buying huge, expensive tube amps, B) I own a Keeley TS9 which gets me a really nice tube-grind going into the Bassman module on my Roland CB-100 and understand that I would have trouble reproducing the sound using a floor preamp and going direct, and C) I've actually been pretty impressed by what I've heard of an Xotic Tri-Logic and it would go well with my fretless J (which is my main bass).

    So, if I wanted to take the sound of a Tri-logic or a Sadowsky preamp or something like that and add a hint of "tubiness" to it so I could appropriately apply some tube grind with my TS9, what would I do? My best guess would be a tube-compressor like the EHX Black Finger, but what do I know?
     
  2. Jul 3, 2008 #2
    bongomania

    bongomania Supporting Member Commercial User

    Oct 17, 2005
    PDX, OR
    owner, OVNIFX and OVNILabs
    My vote goes to the DHA VT1 or VT2, for providing the maximum tube flavor with the minimum noise. Other tube preamps I've owned/used were either "not very tubey" or too noisy. Some people use the Black Finger with no complaints, but for me it was far too noisy.
     
  3. Jul 3, 2008 #3
    Tommy el Gato

    Tommy el Gato

    Jul 6, 2007
    So, what you're saying is that I'm more likely to achieve desirable results if I were to add in or switch to another preamp for the tubey sounds? (as opposed to adding something into the signal chain that would add tubeyness to the flavor like a compressor or something?)
     
  4. Jul 3, 2008 #4
    bongomania

    bongomania Supporting Member Commercial User

    Oct 17, 2005
    PDX, OR
    owner, OVNIFX and OVNILabs
    Well, that completely depends on what you would consider "desirable results"! Tube devices have a wide range of sounds, there is not even close to one way to define or describe "tubeyness".

    If tubeyness to you is primarily compression, then yes a compressor will work; and some are "fatter sounding" than others, if you additionally expect "fatness". Fatness BTW is often a very slight amount of distortion- slight enough that it doesn't sound at all like distortion, it just sounds like "fatness". Or it is sometimes a boost of the mids and low mids, easily achievable with a good EQ. I mention this because if you're trying to achieve certain tonal results, it helps to know what's actually happening, in order to apply the right tools.

    If what you're talking about is more along the lines of the grind from a driven all-tube amp, just use a Sansamp. There may be better units, but only at a much higher price point. The Sansamps are specifically designed to emulate that grit/grind, whereas a Black Finger or similar tube comp cannot achieve that sound at all.

    Since you mentioned just trying to add more tubeyness to your existing dirt pedals, that's why I suggested the DHA, as it adds what I consider a lot of tubeyness to any signal. Disregard whether it is called a "preamp", as manufacturers use the word preamp in a great many ways, and all it really means in this case is there is an amplification stage that provides the tone shaping.

    Maybe if your specify with more detail exactly what type of tonal result you're after, I/we can direct you to clearer choices.
     
  5. Jul 3, 2008 #5
    TrevorOfDoom

    TrevorOfDoom

    Jun 17, 2007
    Austin, TX
    try an EHX English Muff'n