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Post new topic Tube Works RT902 preamp question
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Author Topic:  Tube Works RT902 preamp question
Marty Nemanick

 

From:
Madera, California, USA
Post  Posted 10 Feb 2022 9:14 am    
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I recently ran across one of these in really nice condition for $125 and bought it. I have heard of some kind of mod that steel players were having done to these, do any of you know what that mod consists of?

Thank you,

Marty
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 10 Feb 2022 9:58 am    
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Is that the Blue Tube II preamp?
Erv
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Marty Nemanick

 

From:
Madera, California, USA
Post  Posted 10 Feb 2022 10:03 am    
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Erv, no I don't think so, this one has the distortion effect built in with a bypass switch. I don't see any reference to Blue Tube II, it is the "Real Tube".
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 10 Feb 2022 10:15 am    
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Marty,
The "Real Tube" was built for regular guitar, the "Blue Tube" was built for steel players.
I don't know about the Real Tube but there was a mod done on the Blue Tube.
Both great units, as was all the Tube Works stuff.
Erv
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Larry Dering


From:
Missouri, USA
Post  Posted 10 Feb 2022 5:59 pm    
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Marty, it was a tone mod. I tried to find info on it some years ago but hit a blank. I'm sure it has to do with the midrange tone control and possibly less drive on the boost circuit. I got a tube works preamp and it's ok but nothing special. It's sitting unused in one of my racks.
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Brad Sarno


From:
St. Louis, MO USA
Post  Posted 11 Feb 2022 6:53 am    
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These are adequate, utility preamps. They are not very tubey. They are mostly a op-amp, solid state preamp, but there is a dual-tube stage using a 12AX7 at starved voltages that helps inject a bit of tube coloration. The EQ is pretty Fender-ish. For $125 it's a steal, a perfectly useful preamp, but not the best sounding. They have kind of a crispy, solid state tonality for the most part but that hint of tube saves it, makes it a click nicer than an all transistor preamp.

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Marty Nemanick

 

From:
Madera, California, USA
Post  Posted 11 Feb 2022 8:20 am    
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Thank you Brad for the info and the schematic! I'll have the preamp tomorrow and play around with it using a couple of different power amps and speaker combinations. I appreciate your time in posting!

Marty
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