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Topic: Brad Sarno Solutions |
Greg Thompson
From:
Taumarunui, New Zealand
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Posted 5 Jun 2019 10:12 pm |
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Advice please. SGBB or Freeloader.
What is the difference (effect wise) between the two.
Would you have one or both, or none.
If just one, which would you have
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Prototype Zum Encore,5&4 NZ made Rockit Champ 60watt and 100watt Amplifiers, Hilton Pedal,NYXL Strings |
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Tucker Jackson
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 5 Jun 2019 10:59 pm
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Black Box! It's the one with a tube for extra creaminess... and the Vari-Z knob is really great at tamping down any harsh peaks from your pickup. Note that it takes about 20 minutes of warm-up time for the unit to fully do its thing, so you won't get the full effect when you first plug it in. But once the tube reaches it's peak temp, you can start to hear a little tube compression and the highs become less ice-picky.
The Freeloader is also a fine buffer, but without the harmonic benefit of running through a high voltage tube. The difference between the two units is probably pretty subtle... and if you use a tube amp, the Freeloader might be all you need. But if you use a solid state amp, the Black Box is the better choice since it introduces a tube into the mix. |
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Greg Thompson
From:
Taumarunui, New Zealand
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Posted 6 Jun 2019 12:51 am
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Thanks Tucker. I use a Hilton pedal s/s and Rockit Amps s/s. The expensive choice with exchange rate etc. 
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Prototype Zum Encore,5&4 NZ made Rockit Champ 60watt and 100watt Amplifiers, Hilton Pedal,NYXL Strings |
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Karen Sarkisian
From:
Boston, MA, USA
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Posted 6 Jun 2019 4:29 am
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I have both and always use the black box with a solid state amp. When I am using a tube amp I find the Freeloader to give me what I need on gigs. Plus its smaller and easy to carry around. If I played primarily thru a solid state amp I would choose the Black Box. Honestly its nice to have both, the black box works great for direct recording also...
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Emmons, Franklin, Mullen |
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John Macy
From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
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Posted 6 Jun 2019 6:44 am
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Love my Black Box!
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John Macy
Rockport, TX
Engineer/Producer/Steel Guitar |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 6 Jun 2019 7:13 am
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| Great answers above. |
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Billy Knowles
From:
Kenansville, N. C. 28349 usa
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Posted 6 Jun 2019 8:09 am box
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Love my Black Box, Rod Dodd, who did all of Buddy Charleton's amp work, presently lives in Myrtle Beach and works on my amps, when he heard my Black Box, he had to have one. They really do the job.
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Billy Knowles
STEEL GUITAR EAST
Emmons authorized dealer and approved service technician
my web site: http://www.steelguitareast.com |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 6 Jun 2019 11:27 am
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| I think the new BB's have the Freeloader built in. |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 6 Jun 2019 12:09 pm
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| Pete Burak wrote: |
| I think the new BB's have the Freeloader built in. |
Sort of. You're probably referring to the variable-impedance tone control knob. The earliest Black Boxes didn't have that, but they have for a while now.
In that respect, the BB and FreeLoader are the same. Where they differ is that the FreeLoader's active circuit is a discrete JFET transistor powered by a 9v battery, and the Black Box is 2 stages of a single vacuum tube with a 300v B+ supply.
B |
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Steven Paris
From:
Los Angeles
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Posted 6 Jun 2019 5:50 pm
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| Brad Sarno wrote: |
| ......and the Black Box is 2 stages of a single vacuum tube with a 300v B+ supply. |
Which type of tube?
| Brad Sarno wrote: |
| .... the FreeLoader's active circuit is a discrete JFET transistor |
Which JFET transistor?
Curious minds.......
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Emmons & Peavey
Last edited by Steven Paris on 6 Jun 2019 10:23 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Len Amaral
From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
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Posted 6 Jun 2019 7:15 pm
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I have bought, sold and traded a ton of gear over the years. My two Black Boxes and my
Freeloader have never left my studio. Also, I have a Tonic Preamp that is always in my rotation. Great stuff!
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I survived the sixties! |
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Greg Thompson
From:
Taumarunui, New Zealand
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Posted 6 Jun 2019 7:18 pm
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Thanks for that Len. Darn exchange rates, work out about $700NZ here so saving pennies.
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Prototype Zum Encore,5&4 NZ made Rockit Champ 60watt and 100watt Amplifiers, Hilton Pedal,NYXL Strings |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 6 Jun 2019 7:42 pm
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I cannot and will not play without my FreeLoader.
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Lee, from South Texas - Down On The Rio Grande
There are only two options as I see it.
Either I'm right, or there is a sinister conspiracy to conceal the fact that I'm right.
Williams Keyless S-10, BMI S-10, Evans FET-500LV, Fender Steel King, 2 Roland Cube 80XL's,
Sarno FreeLoader, Goodrich Passive Volume Pedals, Vintage ACE Pack-A-Seat |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 7 Jun 2019 6:44 am
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| Steven Paris wrote: |
| Brad Sarno wrote: |
| ......and the Black Box is 2 stages of a single vacuum tube with a 300v B+ supply. |
Which type of tube?
| Brad Sarno wrote: |
| .... the FreeLoader's active circuit is a discrete JFET transistor |
Which JFET transistor?
Curious minds....... |
12AX7 withOUT spiral filament. Important to NOT have a spiral filament because of the elevated heater/cathode voltage in the output driver (follower) stage. Any vintage tube is fine and among the modern tubes, we use the Shuguang 12AX7B as it's a good hi-fi, clean tube without spiral filament. Vintage RCA is my favourite, and right up there are the Sylvania, GE, and other respected vintage 12AX7's and 7025's.
Most FreeLoaders have a J201 JFET in there.
Brad |
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 7 Jun 2019 11:49 am
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Brad, any consideration for making a smaller, lighter BB? Sure would be nice to find it lighter, easier to transport. I've always wondered why they're in that large, heavy configuration. Must be reasons!
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E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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John Goux
From:
California, USA
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Posted 7 Jun 2019 5:04 pm
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Another vote for a smaller more ergonomic Black Box.
I love the sound of this unit, even with a tube amp.
The BB can’t be mounted near the guitar pickup, or on top of an amp, because of hum issues.
Laying on the floor next to the volume pedal, you can’t see the knob.
A cube shape with knob on the top, easily reachable, would make a great unit easier to gig with. Jacks could be facing the volume pedal, Ac cable facing toward the amp.
And lighter would be welcome!
I use the Freeloader when I need EQ or buffer, but it doesn’t enhance your tone like a BB does.
John |
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Greg Thompson
From:
Taumarunui, New Zealand
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Posted 7 Jun 2019 10:09 pm
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How Guys Can I have my Topic back?
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Prototype Zum Encore,5&4 NZ made Rockit Champ 60watt and 100watt Amplifiers, Hilton Pedal,NYXL Strings |
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 8 Jun 2019 12:47 am
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| Greg Thompson wrote: |
| How Guys Can I have my Topic back? |
What, you don't like related topic ramblings? That's a Forum specialty! 
I would love to have a Black Box-mini. Quit using a loaner due to weight and awkwardness in many stage situations.
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E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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Greg Thompson
From:
Taumarunui, New Zealand
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Posted 8 Jun 2019 2:15 am
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Just trying to find out 'from the coalface' the merits or not, of the SGBB 
1. It's a heavy sucker ... and?
_________________
Prototype Zum Encore,5&4 NZ made Rockit Champ 60watt and 100watt Amplifiers, Hilton Pedal,NYXL Strings |
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Steve Spitz
From:
New Orleans, LA, USA
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Posted 8 Jun 2019 5:41 am
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| I had good luck hanging my black box on the right side of my steelseat. The knob was “face up†and I could quickly unplug the “in†cable, from my steel into my leg mounted tuner, with no noise and it kept my tuner out of the signal chain when not in use. |
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Paddy Long
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 9 Jun 2019 7:25 pm
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Hi Greg
I had one of Brad's earlier BB's and I think with your setup you will get the most benefit from a Black Box !
It will make quite a difference in a very positive way, guitar out to the BB (so the first thing the pickup see's is the tube), then to the VP and out to the amp.
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14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases. |
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Greg Thompson
From:
Taumarunui, New Zealand
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Posted 9 Jun 2019 7:48 pm
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Thanks Paddy agree with you
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Prototype Zum Encore,5&4 NZ made Rockit Champ 60watt and 100watt Amplifiers, Hilton Pedal,NYXL Strings |
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Danny Letz
From:
Old Glory,Texas, USA 79540
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Posted 10 Jun 2019 4:34 am
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| I have a very early Black Box and a many years later one. The later one IS much smaller. Maybe the dimensions are on the website for the current one. |
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Greg Thompson
From:
Taumarunui, New Zealand
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Posted 10 Jun 2019 1:42 pm
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8.5" x 4.5" x 1.75 inches
_________________
Prototype Zum Encore,5&4 NZ made Rockit Champ 60watt and 100watt Amplifiers, Hilton Pedal,NYXL Strings |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 10 Jun 2019 3:58 pm
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| Buy a Revelation preamp !!....Have your black box w/bells and whistles !! |
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