Brad's Revelation Tube Preamp

Randy Beavers · From: Lebanon,TN 37090

The Fed-Ex man came to the house today and left a box with Brad's new preamp. After getting the birds nest of wires out of my rack and connecting the new pre, I was ready to listen. I've been playing it at ear splitting levels now for about 2 hours, and I can honestly say it's the best sound I believe I've ever got. It is as clean as can be, with all the tube warmth I could hope for. I have 2 other tube preamps that I can compare it to, and Alembic F-2B, and a Mesa Boogie Studio Pre. The Revelation is cleaner than either of those, plus the botton end is a little punchier sounding.

The Black Box circuitry is built into the unit and has a variable impedance control. It's not a tone control as such, but it does let you shape the high end. I have it hooked up using the 3 chord method. Straight out of the guitar to the BB section, then to the volume pedal from the send, then back to the return.

I'm running a TC Electronic G-Major through the EFX loop. That's a nice added feature. To turn the amount of reverb up or down is just like the old combo amps, a simple turn of the EFX return knob. Just like the old days.

I was sold on this unit before from the prototype I had tried. Now that Brad has done the final tweaks, I'm even more impressed with what he's come up with. I'm sure he's going to be busy trying to keep up with orders.

Also I want to add, this is not a paid endorsement. I bought my unit. What more can I say?

[This message was edited by Randy Beavers on 27 October 2005 at 11:04 AM.]

Rick Fields · From: Ohio, USA

Great news Randy. Gary Steele just got him a like new 1500 Mosvalve and should get his Revelation Pre Amp around the 1st of Nov. 1st

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

Glad to hear it Randy. Thanks for the great feedback. Yes, we've begun delivery on the Revelation Tube Preamps. Our order reservation list is filling up rapidly. They are pretty labor intensive and take a while to build, so there is a wait for one after an order is placed. Feel free to contact us if interested.

Thanks,
Brad Sarno
www.steelguitarblackbox.com

Matt Elsen · From: Deer Harbor, Orcas Island, WA

Hi Randy,
Are you using the Revalation with a combo amp, or a power amp?
How heavy is the pre-amp? How many rack spaces does it take up?
Thanks,
Matt

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

Hi Matt. The preamp weighs 8 lbs. and takes up two full rack spaces. It's about 9" deep.

Thanks,
Brad

Randy Beavers · From: Lebanon,TN 37090

Hello Matt,

I use the Revelation with any Peavey amp that has a power amp input. My favorite is the Nashville 112. Something about that little amp sure has grown on me.

Paul Honeycutt · From: Colorado, USA

That looks like a well thought out unit with lots of useful features. How do you adjust the Vari-Z? input. Just spin the knob until it sounds good, or is there a more scientific way to do it?

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

Paul, the Vari-Z knob is really something you just turn to taste. Far left settings may remind you of the kind of pickup tone you get when using a pot pedal straight into a typical Peavey amp with it's low input impedance. Nearing the middle it'll remind you of a pot pedal into say an old Twin or a Webb. As you get near max, it'll resemble the bright pickup response you get with a matchbox type device or an active volume pedal. No rules on that knob, just dial to taste. Hotter pickups seem to have more radical response to that knob.

Thanks for asking,
Brad

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

I can see turing the knob for different songs,
requiering a different steel style / tone.

I really like the reverb / effects loop NOT being inline,
but returning parallel to the pure signal of the instrument.

If you really want something in-line,
put it before or after your pedal,
but after the preamp's send.

Brad, do you recomend leaving 1 rack space above and below the unit in the rack?
Or does it self ventilate by air convection suitably?

Donald Jeunette · From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA * R.I.P.

Brad, Is this to be used instead of the BB or with it?

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Don, this is the natural extension of the BB technology.

Basically there were things Brad wanted to do,
that would never fit in a BB. No room.
Like eq. and discrete effects returns.
So he designed a preamp HIS way,
with a BB as the front end.

So short answer :
you don't need a BB in front,
because like the old Prego TV ad said.
"It's In There!"

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 29 October 2005 at 05:04 AM.]

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

Exactly. It has it's own "Black Box" built right into it. No need for both at the same time. Also, David, the Rev Pre has plenty of ventilation so you can safely fill the rack spaces above or below it. It's actually ventilated for either horizontal or vertical (steel) rack mounting.

Brad

Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

Brad, are you going to make a 230V version available like you did with the BB ? And if so, when will it be available ?

thanks

[This message was edited by Paddy Long on 02 November 2005 at 07:47 PM.]

Jim Whitaker · From: Ohio, USA

I got to hear Randy at the Lexington steel shoe this weekend & I have to say it was the best tone at the show. & thats saying something with the likes of Hughey, Wallace, Hicks & Jernigan on the same show. I think maybe the Zum hybrid had something to do with it but I have to say it was maybe the best clarity in tone I have ever heard.

Just my 2 cents

------------------
JIM
"Zum SD10 3/6 """ "74" LTD & mashville112, Pod xt, BB , Nasville 400, Profex II "53" Esquire, "63 Epiphone, "63" Precision,
"77" Jazz

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