Pre amp question

Paul O'Bryan · From: Adelaide. Australia

I have just purchased a Sarno v8 preamp
They say to plug it through the back of my amplifier
So that it just uses the power and the speaker.
I like the sound of my amplifier the way it is set up
But just wanted a more tubey sound
so can I plug this through the front of the amp just
like a stomp box for instance. Can this work
or is it the wrong way of hooking it up??

Mike Wheeler · From: Delaware, Ohio, USA

What amp do you have?
_________________
Best regards,
Mike

Paul O'Bryan · From: Adelaide. Australia

Fender Steel King

Mike Wheeler · From: Delaware, Ohio, USA

I don't have a V8 (wish I did), but here's my thought.......

You could put it in the input, but it might be too noisy for you. It's a preamp, and wants to operate at line levels, so you'd have to turn the output level down quite a bit....and that could result is excess noise. But you could try it to see what you think.

Let us know what you come up with.

Actually, you'd be better off with a Black Box. It's designed to do just what you want.
_________________
Best regards,
Mike

Paul O'Bryan · From: Adelaide. Australia

That output level of the preamp you mean Mike?

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I'd use a combination of using input #2, turning down the gain on the SK and turning down the output of the preamp.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Mike Wheeler · From: Delaware, Ohio, USA

Yes, the preamp output level, Paul.
_________________
Best regards,
Mike

Len Amaral · From: Rehoboth,MA 02769

If the Steel King has a send & return on the back panel, try plugging the output of the V8 into the return of the Steel King.

Len Amaral · From: Rehoboth,MA 02769

Sorry....double post

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Len, see the first three lines.
He likes the sound of the front end of his SK and wants to keep using it. Mike kinda nailed it: Paul wants to use the V8 as a Black Box.
Most steel amps can take a line level input (even if they'd rather not), so it oughta be fine.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Len Amaral · From: Rehoboth,MA 02769

I don't get pugging one preamp into another as that will not be the most pleasing approach. The Black Box is not a preamp but would be great to use with the Steel King or any amp for that matter as the Vari Z you can fine tune the sound and get the tube warmth. But hey, if it works and you like then go for it.

I have two Black Boxes, a Tonic preamp and a V8 preamp that use with many applications. But I would never plug the Tonic into the V8. Maybe the BB into the V8 and will try that to see what vibe I get.

Lenny

Mike Wheeler · From: Delaware, Ohio, USA

Len, I agree, it's not the best application to use a preamp into the front input of an amp. But in Paul's case it seems to be the only way to see if he can get that tubey goodness he's looking for.

The point is that he's experimenting in a non-destructive way. I think that's a good thing. And, who knows, he might decide he needs that tubey sound and will end up getting a Black Box after all.

Heck, I can't even count how many gadgets I've gone through to find a sound I wanted, or needed. We all do it, to some degree. I say, more power to him.
_________________
Best regards,
Mike

Jerry Hedge · From: Norwood Ohio U.S.A.

On a Steel King there a button by the input that lowers the sensitivity of the input. Try that and see if that works for you.

Paul O'Bryan · From: Adelaide. Australia

Thanks for all the replies guys. It certainly explains to me the way it should and could be hooked up. If you were to use a power amp and speaker cabs, is there a certain type power amp to look for? Brand and wattage wise??

Len Amaral · From: Rehoboth,MA 02769

Mike:

You are correct in having an experimenting approach and I did the same thing as long as you don't harm anything.

Jerry: Definately try to lower the input signal via that button.

Paul:

The V8 is a mono preamp unlike the the Revelation that is stereo. So using a stereo poweramp using one side of the amp with no speaker is OK as long as it is safe to do so. I called Stewart and they said it was OK to do that.

Let me go out on a limb here and mention that I have adifferent setups for different situations. I have a small setup that I use when acoustic players come to my studio to jam that sounds better IMO than my bigger setups when I play with electric guitars at a louder volume and vice-versa.

My approach use to be, I want the biggest most powerful setup that the pros use. I changed my opinion and changed amps, speakers, effects units to get what I feel is a pleasing vibe for the situation I am playing in. The nice thing about a seperate preamp is you can play musical chairs with power amps and speakers. Everything in the chain will add or detract from what you are looking for. My opinions here and nothing carved in stone. Maybe you can tell us what your playing situation is and others can chime in and offer their suggestions.

Lenny

Paul O'Bryan · From: Adelaide. Australia

Well Len, i use two Steel king amps and I like the sound of them.
Obviously only use one amp a lot of the time because of the space factor.
I had been looking for a while for something simple to add a tube sound
to just top off the sound already have. So a sarno v8 come up for sale
close to my part of the world so I grabbed it, already aware of Brad making
a great product and very simple to use which I really like
. I guess I went into it a little blind simply not knowing how a
"pre-amp" really works. I played live this weekend with it hooked through the
back of my Steel king and it sounded really good but it wasn't the Steel King
sound I was used to because I was bypassing that. Obviously hooking it through
the front of the amp like i thought i could do is not really the way it is meant to be used, unfortunately because that is what I bought it for. Me not knowing obviously like I said. Then there is my other
Steel king amp? How does this get added into the mix now with the v8?
I'm thinking maybe sell one of my amps and just keep one because I like them.
And use the money for a power amp and get a couple of speaking cabs so that I can still run two speakers. But , can you run two speakers with a v8 into a power-amp and out?
I guess I am just after ideas on how people that play live with the v8 use it ??

Mike Wheeler · From: Delaware, Ohio, USA

Paul, here's another idea to try. Come out of your guitar into the V8, then to your volume pedal, then to the SK. That will get you the tube sound you want, and at the same time allow you to control the input to the SK. You'll still want the V8's output level turned down low. Yo might like the results.

If you want to run 2 SKs, just use a Y cable to feed both amps.

As to separate power amps and speakers, the choices are many. I'll leave it to others to make recommendations. But the same theory applies...split the output of the V8 to feed both channels of a stereo power amp which then feeds 2 speaker cabs. This is often referred to as a rack system, since the amp and V8 would usually be mounted in a rack case. You'd probably need some kind of effects unit also. If it were stereo, then you'd go from the V8 split into the stereo effects unit, then to the power amp/speaker. Bear in mind each piece of this puzzle will affect you sound, and it probably won't match you SK sound.

One last thought....If you really prefer the SK sound, then why loose it just to keep the V8? The way I see it, your best option is to sell the V8 and buy a Black Box. That will get you the great tube sound you want....and you can still use 1, or both, of the SKs. That to me is a win-win.

I learned the hard way, a long time ago, if you really like your rig, don't dump it for a "better" rig unless you have played through it and are totally sure you will be happy with it.

GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) is an evil master and rarely leaves you satisfied, and often full of regret!.....and broke! Sad

_________________
Best regards,
Mike

Len Amaral · From: Rehoboth,MA 02769

Mike:

I think you are spot on.

Paul, if you like the sound of the Steel King, the Black Box is the way to go. Rather than sell the V8, I would wait until a BB shows up at a reasonable price. You can always incorporate the V8 into another system later on.

Doug Beaumier played at a steel guitar convention some years back and he used a Steel King with a Black Box with a single neck Emmons and it was a beautiful thing. Like I mentioned, I have TWO BB's and a V8 and after a buffalo heard of gear has come and gone, these items will never be for sale.

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