Pope Flexcore vs Noll 4 band preamps?

[Jared Lash]

Ah...thanks for explaining that. So often people say the same words but they mean something different.

So in essence what you want is a preamp that listens to your bass, pickups, hand placement, plucking technique, etc....and intelligently EQ's all frequencies flat until such time as you move the knobs off the center detents. I don't know of anything that does that, but I bet there would be a fantastic market for it if it existed. The only thing I know of that does something like that is very high end audio gear that has a spectrum analyzer built in it and will EQ a room (or even a car) as well as use digital time alignment to make the space sound as close to flat (if that's what you want) as it can get. You can also program those devices to make a room sound as close as possible to, say...the Sistine Chapel.

My definition of a transparent preamp means it imparts no discernible change in tone to the instrument when set "flat". That is why I mentioned that it sounded the same in passive mode as it did engaged, at unity gain, set flat. From my definition, the Pope Flexcore is very transparent. That's why he goes to the trouble to use separate EQ channels for each band so there is no bleed over into neighboring channels.

I definitely agree with you.

Flat has to be measured relative to the passive setting. There's always going to be added highs (well really the lack of highs being bled off I guess) due to the impedance change but otherwise it should sound the same.

Asking a preamp to take the inherent sound of the pickups and convert them to a flat frequency response (if they didn't already have one) is a near impossible thing to ask.

By our shared definition I would agree that the Pope is a very transparent preamp.

 

[Le Basseur]

So often people say the same words but they mean something different..

At the end of the day,the major confusion is made between "transparency" and "linearity".
While the first term might become an infinite subject of debate (just think of the "HiFi/HiEnd" world),the second one is a pure technical one in terms of measurement and construction.
Yes,I really did the appropriate measurements (all set flat,ie. on pots'centers) using a function generator and a scope,most onboard preamps I measured (four different Noll models included) were showing a +/-0,3dB linearity in the 10Hz-50kHz range.Even the dreaded Bartolini MK1 wich,BTW sounds horrible when installed,made a nice figure.Again,from a tech POW,differences appear when we're looking for something else,eg.noise floor,auto-oscillating circuits on higher EQ settings and so on.
What I meant to say is the general "quest" is grossly over-inflated.In fact and,again,technically speaking,linearity and transparence are almost the same thing if you start to scratch the surface a little and if you're brave enough to admit that no bass/string set/playing hand or plectrum/PU are identical,not to mention "linear".The other major factor is the "coloration" that EACH onboard preamp imparts over the entire spectrum because of the output buffer's characteristics.Once you accept this,try looking for a preamp wich has the best noise figure and EQ freqs that you consider to be the fittest to your instrument and playing style.Install a p/p (active/passive) if possible and you'll have the best of both worlds.
End of rant.
Regards,

 

[chadhargis]

At the end of the day, if it sounds good, it's good. The best preamp I've ever experienced is the John East J-Retro which actually highlights the fact that it has a "preshape" built in. You can order a flat one, but I gambled on the fact that John knows what he's doing and got the preshaped one for my Jazz bass. I don't regret it. It's awesome. Has it's own fingerprint for sure...but awesome!

 

[CrashClint]

I am a fan of John East as well. I had the Pope in one of my Roscoe basses for a short period of time. It is a nice preamp no doubt but wasn't right for me. I have the East Uni-Pre, U-Retro and just installed an East J-Tone in my J bass. All have passive tone control. I am really liking the J-Tone, in passive it sounds just like the old control plate I removed. When you go active, you can some really nice bass or treble boost and the passive tone works in active as well.

At the end of the day, if it sounds good, it's good. The best preamp I've ever experienced is the John East J-Retro which actually highlights the fact that it has a "preshape" built in. You can order a flat one, but I gambled on the fact that John knows what he's doing and got the preshaped one for my Jazz bass. I don't regret it. It's awesome. Has it's own fingerprint for sure...but awesome!

 

[chadhargis]

I am a fan of John East as well. I had the Pope in one of my Roscoe basses for a short period of time. It is a nice preamp no doubt but wasn't right for me.

When I ordered the Pope preamp I wanted to have something different than my East equipped Jazz.

I have my monster Jazz bass that sounds like it wants to eat small children...just big, round, and pure awesome. My Lakland with the Pope pre is smoother, more linear, well behaved, and articulate. Playing them back to back is fun because I'll play the Lakland/Pope bass and think "oh this is awesome" then I'll play my Jazz/East bass and think "oh this is WAY better" then I'll switch back and the Lakland will sound better than I thought. It's just back and forth. Granted the two basses are vastly different. One is a Jazz V the other is a J/MM pickup config with switchable coils at the bridge. Also a 35" scale with lighter weight steel strings versus medium weight nickels on the Jazz. Really different tools for different jobs.

Then there is my P bass with flats...run through an external pre (Tone Hammer)....and it's...well...a P bass.

So I'm rocking three different basses, with three different preamps. I pulled the LH3 preamp out of my Lakland. It was a good preamp too.

 

[CrashClint]

what I liked about the Pope, I go wireless so I could walk out into the room and fine tune the preamp to cut through but I just didn't care for the tone outside of the mix. I think pickup placement may have been an issue as well. Talking about P basses, check out the Honey Badger pickups. TBer RocketMusic did a comparison on YouTube using his Lull P bass.

When I ordered the Pope preamp I wanted to have something different than my East equipped Jazz.

I have my monster Jazz bass that sounds like it wants to eat small children...just big, round, and pure awesome. My Lakland with the Pope pre is smoother, more linear, well behaved, and articulate. Playing them back to back is fun because I'll play the Lakland/Pope bass and think "oh this is awesome" then I'll play my Jazz/East bass and think "oh this is WAY better" then I'll switch back and the Lakland will sound better than I thought. It's just back and forth. Granted the two basses are vastly different. One is a Jazz V the other is a J/MM pickup config with switchable coils at the bridge. Also a 35" scale with lighter weight steel strings versus medium weight nickels on the Jazz. Really different tools for different jobs.

Then there is my P bass with flats...run through an external pre (Tone Hammer)....and it's...well...a P bass.

So I'm rocking three different basses, with three different preamps. I pulled the LH3 preamp out of my Lakland. It was a good preamp too.