Double Bass Brad Sarno’s V8 Octal preamp

#141
Dee-man said:
You can come try it next time you're in the Bay Area. ;)
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flatback said:
Yeah Brad can make them with a mid knob.
There is no demo but two in the Bay Area to try.
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Appreciate it, gents! I am a long way from the Bay, though.

Brad told me that his flagship preamp has a Black Box front end into an Octal V8 preamp. At first I really liked having the BB in front of the V8 there is a slight difference in the signal : a little more direct into the slightly more wide open Octal preamp. But simplicity wins and the V8 by itself is quite the sound. Also I think I like the Octals doing the imp matching and the purity of that more then I like the slightly more granular 12AX7 tube as the first stage, but really ...this is a sentence that no one should feel good about... Just the simple V8 into a powered speaker is rocking.
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Why should no one feel good about a simple setup rocking? (Actually, I have a guess.)

If you're referring to the Revelation preamp, it appears to have the Black Box front end you mention but to run 12AX-type tubes throughout (though it appears they might have used other tubes at one time).

From the manual:

All Revelations made after October 10, 2008 are designed to operate with 12AX7s or their counterparts (ECC83, ECC803, 7025, etc.)
​
 
#143
Recently found a local dude who has a cache of NOS tubes and he sold me a pair of RCA military 6sl7's for the Sarno V8. I have had a few different used tubes in there, some with microphonics a bunch that are just stellar....all of them slightly different. Amazing how much sonic variation there is in tubes and especially how that makes a huge difference when amplifying double bass piezos. These new RCA's are the best. Smooth, hi gain, with a kind of sonic presence and harmonic evenness that is just craxy good. The build quality and style of tubes makes a big difference and new Russian or Chinese tubes can't come anywhere close to old American workmanship.
The Sarno V8 is such an incredible preamp for upright. It just is. On a gig the sound is the best I've ever had and I don't miss a mic.
 
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#146
This is how I have been using my V8 lately: Wilson K4 and bridged Yamahiko (six pickups ...what am I crazy) one goes into the BB, one into the V8 then mixed in the Felix. Stupid, I know but silly cool and sounds stellar. Plug and play...ok 2 plugs and play but a whole lot of sonic possibilities for an upright bass. Just for S**** and giggles I brought the MAS16 in addition as an extension speaker to the last Thunder Jazz gig(what a name I know but that is pretty much how we play) aimed the 16 up towards me and left the 18 flat on the ground, and it was just perfect...except for the piano player (who is a baddass bassist too) laughing at my ridiculous complications...He sure liked how it sounded though.
 

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#147
flatback said:
This is how I have been using my V8 lately: Wilson K4 and bridged Yamahiko (six pickups ...what am I crazy) one goes into the BB, one into the V8 then mixed in the Felix. Stupid, I know but silly cool and sounds stellar. Plug and play...ok 2 plugs and play but a whole lot of sonic possibilities for an upright bass. Just for S**** and giggles I brought the MAS16 in addition as an extension speaker to the last Thunder Jazz gig(what a name I know but that is pretty much how we play) aimed the 16 up towards me and left the 18 flat on the ground, and it was just perfect...except for the piano player (who is a baddass bassist too) laughing at my ridiculous complications...He sure liked how it sounded though.
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Looks like that BB is a bit precarious! Interesting idea using the MAS 16 pointed up towards you as a monitor and the 18 as the main speaker. I’ve thought about doing that but have always gone with 2 MAS 18’s if I need more volume.
 
#150
It's the purity of the circuit that i love about the V8: It is made to have no grit, no distortion, just a pure clean tube signal (like a tube powered Grace circuit) Almost every other tube preamp has a nod (or knob) for distortion. THat's why it is so good for upright, no guitar madness...that and the tube impedance matching. The difference between the sound of a Wilson K4 tubed in the V8 and just straight into the Felix is huge...sound like different pickups.
Speaking of which man the Wilson K4 in today's world with all the great pre/amps and speakers should be given another look. I know I know you will never cut into your bridge, but the pickup is totally worthy of a renaissance.
 
#152
Hi!
I’ve been following this thread with great interest but since I live in Europe, ordering something from the US seems a bit risky.
But there are other tube preamps made here, that I could try (for example a pedal from gp-light stone). Would it be safe to say that I would have a similar effect with any high quality tube pedal with a high imp setting?
Best
Kristian
 
#153
Kristian,
Unless, GP-Light Stone uses Octal Tubes ( i.e. 6SL7’s) in a three stage tube preamp, the tone quality would be somewhat different. Octal tubes were used in the classic B-15N preamp circuit, that’s so revered for it’s timbre and warmth. Of course, there is the Noble Bass Pre that sounds lovely. I believe they use 12 ax7’s
Just slapping a single tube has became IMHOa gimmick for amplifier designers to tout in the early nineties. Eden would be an example. Just my take.
 
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#154
Ric Vice said:
Kristian,
Unless, GP-Light Stone uses Octal Tubes ( i.e. 6SL7’s) in a three stage tube preamp, the tone quality would be somewhat different. Octal tubes were used in the classic B-15N preamp circuit, that’s so revered for it’s timbre and warmth. Of course, there is the Noble Bass Pre that sounds lovely. I believe they use 12 ax7’s
Just slapping a single tube has became IMHOa gimmick for amplifier designers to tout in the early nineties. Eden would be an example. Just my take.
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Here’s a short description of the gp- light stone:
The centerpiece is two tubes of the type ECC 83 / 12AX7, which are operated under typical operating conditions (anode voltage over 200V-). Three stages work as voltage amplifiers, while the last stage is used for impedance conversion and sends the output signal to the amplifier input at a low resistance and thus less susceptible to interference.
 
#155
Light Stone looks really interesting. K. Looks like a 9v plug which makes me wonder about how much those tubes are bing powered but I'll look at it more closely when I get a minute.
I want a report on that 5 string Zagora.....
 
#156
flatback said:
Light Stone looks really interesting. K. Looks like a 9v plug which makes me wonder about how much those tubes are bing powered but I'll look at it more closely when I get a minute.
I want a report on that 5 string Zagora.....
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Hey man! She’s on the way but I’ll go to vacation on Thursday so I’m not sure if she’ll arrive before I go. I don’t know what’s worse, getting her and then have to leave one day later or not getting her and thinking about how she’ll sound during the holidays…! :)

The light stone preamp seems nice! It’s totally handmade and it can be done after your requests(higher imp, for example).
Quite affordable too, compared to the “competition”.
 
#159
Brad Sarno said:
Hey friends. We are updating our website and would love to find some nice sounding video links to any of you playing bass thru our V8 preamp. If anyone has a link they'd like to share, we'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!!!
Brad Sarno
www.sarnomusicsolutions.com.
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Cool, Brad Unfortunately, I don't have one just yet. I have a vintage Ampeg B 15N(C) that is humming like a bee hive. So that takes priority.:)

All the Best

Ric Vice

P.S. I believe you know my brother in law Rick Smith who works at the St. Louis Zoo and lives a couple of blocks away from you.:thumbsup:
 
#160
Hi folks what is the latest on these now?
I am getting interested into a V8 (I have an Ampeg B25 which sounds sick for P bass but use other solutions for acoustic bass, eich T500+barefaced or QSC K8.2).
Currently the best sound I can produce in the preamp section is through a EDB-2HE + REDDI. Considering also the new Headway EDB2-VAP. Inputs?
 
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