Tube preamp

All topics involving amplification and other accessories you are using with your Nord, and how all those things work together.
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orcoaffamato
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Tube preamp

Post by orcoaffamato »

Hi,

is anybody using a tube preamp with keyboard/synth/organ?
I'm considering this atm: http://www.effectrode.com/products-page ... ming-soon/

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Re: Tube preamp

Post by cphollis »

Why? Looking for a warmer, slightly distorted sound? The built-in amp sims on the Nords do a decent job for me when I want a gritty EP or similar.
I think I have gear issues ....
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Re: Tube preamp

Post by RedLeo »

If you want to overdrive or distort your sound, then a tube preamp might work for you. but if you're hoping that a tube preamp will warm up and thicken a clean sound, then I'm afraid that they're just so much snake oil. People often think that their sound is now "better" simply because a tube preamp will increase the volume, but if you match your levels with and without the preamp, you'll find that they don't deliver as advertised. If you want to improve your sound significantly, there are far better ways to spend your money.
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Re: Tube preamp

Post by AinTziLLo »

i use a tube preamp mainly for balanced outputs... :-)
My setup:
Korg SV1 BK73 - Numa Organ 2 - Nord Lead A1 - Novation Bass Station II - Ibanez SR1005EFN - Armon P300 - FBT ProMaxx 12A - Proel Tube100USB - Ibanez SB7 & AP7 - Boutique Overdrive & Crunch - Reference Laboratory cables
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Re: Tube preamp

Post by Six-string-man »

The Neo Ventilator 2 has a very good overdrive sound, but you are into big bucks. I don't know the pedal that you have posted about, but Effectrode make great stuff. I have their o/d pedal for guitar, and it is excellent.

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Re: Tube preamp

Post by stiiiiiiive »

Yep, I once used an EHX LPB2ube with my NL2X. I wanted to replace my G2 with something more immediate, but was a bit disappointed by the sound as my G2 is well programmed (thanks to the community); so I got this one (Long story short: I still have my G2 but no NL2).

I don't know what to think about that. When playing just one note, it did not make an obvious change to me: it was audible with headphones and quite loudly. But when playing polyphonically, yeah, I could overload it a bit and there was an interesting difference. Something in the vein of overdriving a guitar amp rather than changing the character of the synths modules.

I've used a Nord Electro since 2009 and as soon as I play an EP, I can't help from enabling the amp sim: I just love that crunch rather than pure, clean sounds. Try the unit, be aware of the impedance matching issue, and tell us what :)
Last edited by stiiiiiiive on 01 Jun 2015, 13:40, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Tube preamp

Post by rvdh190 »

I run my NE3 organ output to a Marshall 100 W tube guitar amp with a Marshall stack. OK, I play in a bluesrock band where the analog sound is wanted. I thought of getting a vent but this setup delivers an amazing sound. I use the NE3's leslie sim. Since the Marshall isn't mine, I am looking for a London City which sould deliver the same sound.
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