Just got to play with my Black Box

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

So I bought a used one off the forum (Sorry, Brad. I do plan to get an Earth Drive, I'll make that a new one), and got to monkey with it today. I'm not sure why people on here put stock in what I say about things, but I'm tickled y'all do.
Anyhow, I really dig this box.
No, Craig, it doesn't mean I stopped using my Izzy. It lives on the output of my volume pedal.
I only dragged out two of my amps, my UL Twin with two stock speakers and my Session 400. Signal chain was kept simple in the six configurations I tried. 1: Zum-120-Twin 2: Zum-120-Session 400 3: Zum-BB-120-Twin 4: Zum-BB-120-400 5:Zum-BB-120-Izzy Plus-Twin 6: Zum-BB-120-Izzy Plus-400
Into the Twin, I wasn't expecting a huge amount of difference. It didn't surprise me. Just a bit sweeter, and I dug it. I'll still justify using it with my tube gear because it has a tone knob that takes me from dark to bright and sounds good all the way across. When I added the Izzy, it got a bit brighter and clearer. The Izzy stays.
Into the 400, WOW. If you can understand the concept of WOW and subtle together. It really does tubify a solid-state sound. And the Vari-Z works its stuff. When adding the Izzy, I had to roll back the presence a bit, but that's normal when adding an Izzy.
Bottom line, I will ALWAYS run the BB in front of my Peavey gear, and I will USUALLY run it in front of my Fender gear.
It's not an effect, it makes your tone sweeter and more pleasant. Having played into one today, I can say I wish I'd bought it sooner and it's totally worth the new price.
I ran out of time to do any videos. Sorry. I plan to next week.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Mike Bowles · From: Princeton, West Virginia, USA

yes lane it sure improves you tone sometimes i unhook mine just so i will never forget how much better tone i get with it.
_________________
Mike Bowles

Lyle Dent · From: Little Rock ,Arkansas

You think that's sweet, just wait till you get your V8 Octal to plug your SGBB into. Tone to the bone!
_________________
Rittenberry Prestige SD-12,Mullen G2 SD-12 ,Mullen PRP S-12 BMI S-12 V8 octal, BJS Bars, LiveSteelStrings,Steelers Choice Seat.

Todd Goad · From: Gray, Georgia, USA

Yes Videos Please.
_________________
Todd
Mullen G2 "THE SAVIOR" BJS Bars Peterson Stroboflip Tuner NV400 GoodrichL20

Jim Priebe · From: Queensland, Australia - R.I.P.

Lane - just shows it's always good to keep an open mind about all sorts of gear - hint, even delays lol.
I wouldn't play without my BBox both for guitar and steel.
_________________
Priebs GFI ('09)Short-Uni10. GFI ('96)Short-Uni SD11. ('86)JEM U12
www.steelguitardownunder.com

Larry Hamilton · From: Amarillo,Tx

I used. BB for the longest time, then bit the bullet for the full Monty and got Brad's Revelation which has a built in BB. Every time I turn it I find something new and usable but always go back to the "area" I like best. But yeah the BB is or was a keeper.
_________________
Keep pickin', Larry

Brett Lanier · From: Hermitage, TN

I've had my black box for a few years but only recently learned that I like it much more between the vol pedal and fx pedals. I use it all the time now, and get to keep the pot pedal feel which I love.

Douglas Schuch · From: Valencia, Philippines

Lane, we will keep paying attention if you keep sharing - your willingness to share and help others on the forum is much appreciated! And in this case, very useful info. It is only mildly interesting when someone says "I use this and love it". It is much more helpful to describe (and we hope eventually post videos) of A/B tests. So I guess I add a Black Box to my possible gear acquisitions in the near future.
_________________
Bringing steel guitar to the bukid of Negros Oriental!

Mike Bowles · From: Princeton, West Virginia, USA

yes larry im the one that bought your bb i really like it thanks
_________________
Mike Bowles

Larry Hamilton · From: Amarillo,Tx

Hey Mike, it's so cool you still use it. I really liked it. The tuner out for silent tuning is IMHO worth the money. FYI the BB of course work is the same way in the Rev. Need a little something but don't quite know what the BB us the first place I go.
_________________
Keep pickin', Larry

Bill Moran · From: Virginia, USA

Paul Sutherland · From: Placerville, California

I used my Black Box last night on a 5 string banjo!!

The signal path was:

Banjo with a Schatten pickup,
to the Black Box,
to a Country Man DI,
and then to FOH on the xlr send,
and to my Fishman Loudbox on the 1/4 plug send for my stage monitor.

It worked flawlessly and the BB certainly tamed some of the harshness of the electrified banjo.

I tried using the BB in conjunction with a Twin Reverb for PSG, and did not like it. Things got too mushy. Just doesn't seem necessary to add a tube buffer when using an all tube amp.
_________________
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing.

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

It's funny. In the past few years, the Black Box has grown in popularity for use with piezo acoustic pickups. Hank Singer (fiddle with George Jones, Lee Ann Womack, etc.) uses one enthusiastically, Buddy Miller, and many more now. I'm selling almost as many Black Boxes to acoustic players as I am guitar, bass, and steel players. The tube really does transform that typically harsh, hard, barky, glassy piezo sound into something MUCH more natural and microphone-like. All that midrange EQ surgery we chase with acoustics is suddenly gone and it becomes much easier to get a tone. The highs become sweet and natural, not glassy. The midrange becomes more woody and like the guitar. The bass becomes more bouncy and responsive. My wife uses K&K pickups on her banjo and it was a real game changer there too.

It's really interesting how wildly reactive an acoustic pickup can be depending on the first active electronic device it sees. FET's and transistors just can't really handle the crazy impedance behavior of piezos. That harshness, that glassy treble, that barky midrange, that's all a form of distortion. Tubes naturally can more easily and comfortably track the wildly fluctuating impedance action of a piezo, so in effect, the tube circuit is actually cleaner, lower distortion, more natural and worlds more pleasant on the eardrums.

B

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

Also, the Black Box is getting some good use on the current Garth tour.

B

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Brad, I plan on putting a pickup on my '51 Kay M1. Will let you know how the BB works with Super Twin with a closed back cabinet 15.
Tom recommended the Realist pickup.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Kevin Mincke · From: Farmington, MN (Twin Cities-South Metro) USA

I just emailed Brad as I'm revamping my pedal board and want to use the BB in front do everything as I play several instruments. I used to go directly out df steel to BB and onto effects/VP etc but am so pleased with the BB for dobro, acoustic, mandolin I am going to incorporate it into my chain via passive A/B Y box and see what it sounds like. Just FYI my purpose emailing Brad was to clarify my use of a Boss lS-2 line selector as input for my other instruments to BB. This device is "active" and won't work well (negate) BlackBox and he suggested a standard passive A/B.
BlackBox= Smile

Bruce Bouton · From: Nash. Tn USA

Love my black box.!

Doc Hall · From: Galveston, Tx

I got mine recently. Brad knows what he's doing. If you want to play through a solid state amp, it's the way to go. The box really tones up your output. Best investment I've made in a long time.

Forum Index > Electronics		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic