D'Mars PreAmp only tone test

[10thTx]

Some of you know that I built the D'Mars ODS which is kind of a Marshallish clean preamp into kind of a Dumblish OD section with active FX.

I tried to take just the preamp (clean, OD & FX) without LTPI and power tubes into a PreAmp system.

So, ...................

I've put together a 3 minute sound clip with snippets from 3 different takes.

On a scale of 1-10 with "10" being truly tube like, PLEASE rate each section (A, B & C) as to where on the scale it sounds like a real tube amp being mic'd and recorded.

Part A goes from 0 - 1:05
Part B goes from 1:07 - 2:09
Part C goes from 2:10 to 3:16 (there is a slight pause in one spot but it's the same recording)

http://www.soundclick.com/player/single ... i&newref=1

I would truly love some feedback. I'd like to know how well or how poorly this effort is turning out. After I get maybe 4-5 responses, I will share what each part is, the mix and what was being recorded.

Thanks and respect, 10thtx

[10thTx]

Here is a schematic and a couple of photos.

I had someone convey to me they wanted something like this to run thru a solid state PA system where an amp could not be used on stage.

With respect,
10thtx

[martin manning]

Put my 'phones in for a good listen. Clip 3 sounds more solid-state like to me. Clips 1 and 2 both sound nice, but 2 is my favorite. The distortion is smoother and less trebly. I also don't care for the heavy reverb on 1, and as a rule I like to hear the amp alone (no FX) to judge the tone. Nice playing on all three!

[10thTx]

THANK you for the feedback and response! I'll wait for a couple more responses and then explain what is what.

The feedback is helpful to me and appreciated.

With respect, 10thtx

[Meat&Beer]

Hi Jeff,

I also checked your file(s) out with some phones. Nice stuff!

Clip one, I really like the attack, and picking clarity. A little on the treble side for me, but not too bad. I also don't like a lot of treb, so I am biased. Very smooth in the mids, nice and easy on the ears. Great sustain too!

Clip two sounds distant, and very mid dominant. Way smoothed out attack compared to track one, almost like you're finger picking. Booty bass response on this one compared to the others, I dig it. Why did the tone of the backing track change? Do I sense a reamping?

Clip three, the little bit of grit is much more up front. Sounds a little brittle at the top, with the attack reminiscent of track one. Not quite as full as one or two.

Not sure why the location/pan of the guitar moved around with the different tracks? Different backing track tone? For comparative audio analyses I also prefer nothing to change between them aside from what is actually being compared, personally.

I believe clip one was most responsive to your playing. I agree with Mr. Manning, track two is mostly my favorite, but if it was somehow 68% track two and 32% track one I would like it even better. Again, I shy away from really treble-y anything.

Overall very very nice unit, as well as playing, sir. You always make such excellent toys.

Cheers!

Chris

[Reeltarded]

Can someone post a mobile version of the link? If I select mobile or desktop from here it dumps me at soundcloud index.

[JazzGuitarGimp]

#1 and #3 sound fizzy. #2 is darker (the entire track) and I like the guitar tone, but the backing track has no life. If you could eq the backing track the same across all three samples, it might make for a better comparison. But strictly talking about the guitar's tone, #2 is the clear winner. BTW, I listened and wrote this before reading any of the other replies, so my apologies if I am being redundant. I didn't want to risk biasing my response based on someone else's reply.

[10thTx]

Guys,

PLEASE accept my apology! I should've gotten back to this post.

Part A was the D'Mars PreAmp clean and the tube OD channel and it had a digital delay in the active FX loop that I think made the tone kinda sterile to my ears.

Part B was actually the D'Mars complete amp with speaker mic'd. I stuck it in there as a baseline comparison.

Part C was the D'Mars PreAmp clean with a homemade Zenith Drive.

The project was just "OK" and no wow factor to me at all. So, it's being converted into a D'Mars ODS 6V6 combo.

The project was a success in that it worked. It was not a success in that it gave a mediocre sound, IMO.

I may create a isolation speaker cab to go with this. It may sound weird but the original idea was to have a nice tube PreAmp going into a solid state PA system for a "zero volume" stage (which is both a new and weird term and concept for me meaning no amps and everything is controlled by a mixer PA board)

THANKS so much for the feedback! I genuinely appreciate it!

Best regards and respect, 10thtx