No, of course not. Especially not in a full mix. Anyone who's still willing to pay the price should go ahead. I'm just annoyed by nonsensical claims. These kinds of discussions have always existed, but they were about other high-priced components. I can still remember some incredibly bizarre discussions about cables.
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What's so special about a Noble preamp?
- Thread starter BassDad1964
- Start date
No, of course not. Especially not in a full mix. Anyone who's still willing to pay the price should go ahead. I'm just annoyed by nonsensical claims. These kinds of discussions have always existed, but they were about other high-priced components. I can still remember some incredibly bizarre discussions about cables.
Kind of silly hyperbole in the other direction I think. Difference is that cables do not impart anything to the tone of your bass, but the Noble does (and does it very nicely too).
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MikeBass
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- Nov 4, 2003
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I’m well aware it does.
I should have maybe been more clear and said non-tube or something to that effect.
Ok by now surely some company is at least attempting a knockoff.
As well I see specs of different components made in the USA but I can't find what the tubes are or how they function.
I'm seeing replacement tubes for around $40 for a pair.
At that price I am guessing they are imports as very few tubes are manufactured in the USA.
As well I see specs of different components made in the USA but I can't find what the tubes are or how they function.
I'm seeing replacement tubes for around $40 for a pair.
At that price I am guessing they are imports as very few tubes are manufactured in the USA.
The tubes in the Noble are simple 12AU7 (ECC82) preamp tubes. Ships with JJ's which are from Slovakia.
For the most part, new tubes are not manufactured in the USA whatsoever. There is one boutique reboot called Western Electric but they make one very specific, very VERY expensive tube called the 300B.
I had a Noble for a long time. I very much enjoyed it, but in the long run it was worth more as a resale to me.
the SushiBox guy made the Nobelium and there was also Neptunium.
My used Noble came with the NOS GE 12AU7's that Jack offered as a premium at the time. One of them eventually went microphonic and I replaced both with stock JJ 12AU7's. I never really heard a huge difference between the tubes.
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Thanks I'm aware of 300B Western Electric used in theatre projectors ..I was guessing 12au7 they are big in tube hi fi...my bud bought a pair of 300B for a hi fi amp he's on a waiting list for going on 2 years lol..$4500 amp.
I'm sure the overall quality is very high and the price is typical in tube hi fi or often much more..thanks.
Interesting thanks for the info!
There are lots of 12au7 nos and used still as no demand in guitar tube amps not enough gain but big in tube hi fi ha!
Well, it does sound really really nice, but, as far as I am concerned, not 1000$ nice, and in the end it is a very subtle difference from any other quality DI.
I am however not a subscriber to the no one can hear the difference in the mix, and no one cares about your bass, or you for that matter, just go quit, excuse.
If you can hear, and not least feel, a difference, that'll makes you a better and a happier player.
Personally I just use a "lowly" EHX Black Finger (tube driven optical compressor, with its 2 tubes running at proper high 300V plate voltage), with the compression dialed down to pretty much non existent, as a tube preamp, and it also adds something very subtle but really really nice to my signal.
No doubt the Noble is of higher build quality though, and might add some even more subtle, even nicer to the signal, but yeah, for me definitely not worth a 1000$.
I am however not a subscriber to the no one can hear the difference in the mix, and no one cares about your bass, or you for that matter, just go quit, excuse.
If you can hear, and not least feel, a difference, that'll makes you a better and a happier player.
Personally I just use a "lowly" EHX Black Finger (tube driven optical compressor, with its 2 tubes running at proper high 300V plate voltage), with the compression dialed down to pretty much non existent, as a tube preamp, and it also adds something very subtle but really really nice to my signal.
No doubt the Noble is of higher build quality though, and might add some even more subtle, even nicer to the signal, but yeah, for me definitely not worth a 1000$.
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What I meant was that the Noble - just like certain other cables - is attributed with almost magical abilities. As I already wrote: It's undoubtedly a good device. I was even close to ordering one myself. The marketing simply works. But then common sense kicked in.
This is simply not true, capacitance is real.
That said it would be a matter of taste, and has nothing to do with price tag or build quality.
Some so called "high-end" expensive cable got much higher capacitance than some ultra cheap ones.
The ones I use are super cheap, but got very low capacitance.
They are however not the sturdiest, but cables are easy to repair, if you know how to solder, and there is a limit for how much you can improve build quality of a cable, which is a pretty low bar, and with limited extra production costs, compared to say pedals.
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D
I tried a lot of preamps, Mantle not because I realized that I was looking for a better SansAmp BDDI v2 than SansAmp and it didn't exist. I bought Noble, I said it was heaven on earth to justify the investment, I started playing the songs with the band and I didn't have the fast transient response like SansAmp and that Presence that makes any slap sound like a percussion explosion.
I bought the Origin pedals, highly praised, from Cali76 and DCX to Bassrig Super Vintage. Excellent when you play vintage rock (Pink Floyd, Yes) or alternatively and funk rock like RATM (Tim Commerford) and RHCP (Flea) with a Stingray bass. But I still went back to SansAmp combined with Empress MKII.
There's something about combining these two pedals, an immediate response and feedback that's great for slap and fast funk with lots of ghost notes, plus how percussive the sound is and how defined the lows are with the 80hz button activated.
So I'm not looking for or testing preamps anymore, it cost me a lot of money to go back where I started, which is SansAmp.
I bought the Origin pedals, highly praised, from Cali76 and DCX to Bassrig Super Vintage. Excellent when you play vintage rock (Pink Floyd, Yes) or alternatively and funk rock like RATM (Tim Commerford) and RHCP (Flea) with a Stingray bass. But I still went back to SansAmp combined with Empress MKII.
There's something about combining these two pedals, an immediate response and feedback that's great for slap and fast funk with lots of ghost notes, plus how percussive the sound is and how defined the lows are with the 80hz button activated.
So I'm not looking for or testing preamps anymore, it cost me a lot of money to go back where I started, which is SansAmp.
I’ve found that a Cali76 > Darkglass B3K/VMT > BDDI v2 > Sushibox Finally is my sound. May have some other things thrown in that are not always on, but those are the core.
dude! there is no honest way to compare what minimal (and unintended) effect cable capacitance might have vs a device, like a tube DI (Noble or otherwise), that is specifically designed and built to have an impact on tone.
So, I'm guessing your just goofing on this statement
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fair enough, but I don't really hear anyone who's an actual Noble owner/user claiming "magical abilities" for the Noble. Most actual users will say something like "it just sounds good". And to my knowledge, Jack does not market in any meaningful or overhyped way, and his list of users is a pretty solid statement.
I've said this before, I'll say it again; the Noble is not a magical device, but it does sound good. If you don't like what it does, can't afford the price or wait for the build time, there are plenty of other boxes that will work. It just seems silly to me to continually rag on a piece of gear ... on Talkbass of all places
fair enough, but I don't really hear anyone who's an actual Noble owner/user claiming "magical abilities" for the Noble. Most actual users will say something like "it just sounds good". And to my knowledge, Jack does not market in any meaningful or overhyped way, and his list of users is a pretty solid statement.
I've said this before, I'll say it again; the Noble is not a magical device, but it does sound good. If you don't like what it does, can't afford the price or wait for the build time, there are plenty of other boxes that will work. It just seems silly to me to continually rag on a piece of gear ... on Talkbass of all places
I think you understand what I meant. As I've written repeatedly, I'm absolutely convinced that the Noble is a very good device. I've also had several opportunities to test it extensively. For me personally, however, the price-performance ratio isn't right. Of course, others may see it differently, and many do. That's perfectly fine. My criticism isn't directed at the device itself, but rather at the discussions surrounding it. And I've emphasized that several times as well.
fair enough.
FWIW, I got mine used 6-7 years ago for about the price of a REDDI at the time. So for me, at least, the price/performance ratio was pretty solid.
I recently started using mine live for amp gigs. Originally bought it because we have a silent stage at church and its great for that.
My signal chain Saturday night was pedalboard > Noble DI > effects return on my Markbass 1x15 combo, and 1x15 extension cab. Best tone I ever had live. And that's saying something.
My signal chain Saturday night was pedalboard > Noble DI > effects return on my Markbass 1x15 combo, and 1x15 extension cab. Best tone I ever had live. And that's saying something.
