Brad's BlackBox

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 17 Mar 2005 6:36 am

PeeWee, great to hear from you. I'm glad it's working out for you! Keep us posted.

Pat and Ray, you bring up a good question regarding what benefit the Box may provide if you already have tubes in the preamp and/or amp, and also if you have an active volume pedal for buffering. What I've found with the Black Box is that even with my Hilton going into my Twin (that's one of my main setups) that having the Black Box up front still brings out something special that wasn't there before.

I always wanted to "inject" the tube sound into a solid state rig, but my surprise discovery was that something very interesting happens when you put a tube first, before anything else. This way the pickup directly "sees" the tube. There is a unique interaction there that seems to bring out a smoothness, extreme detail, a fatness, a warmth, and a sweet treble from the pickup that I've never heard from any solid state buffer stage. So it's not just the tube factor, it's the relationship between the pickup's coil and the tube that creates an entirely new sonic result that most of us had never heard before. Believe me it was an exciting discovery.

So, short answer, the Black Box is still quite beneficial if you already have a tube rig and/or an active volume pedal. Consider the Black Box a component of the pickup that helps generate the signal that will later feed the preamp/amp. And, buffering the pickup with a tube will always sound different than buffering with a transistor. I use the Box with my tube amps all the time and definitly prefer it to not having it there. But I'll admit I'm a bit biased.

Thanks everyone for your interest and enthusiasm. This is very exciting for us to be able to help make such a beautiful instrument sound even more purty.

Brad Sarno
www.steelguitarblackbox.com

Pat Burns · Post by **Pat Burns** » 17 Mar 2005 1:49 pm

I use the Box with my tube amps all the time.....but I'll admit I'm a bit biased.

...no pun intended?

...Thanks for the detailed response, Brad. Sounds interesting.....I'm gonna have to hear one, and then no doubt get my money ready!...

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 17 Mar 2005 2:18 pm

Ouch! That one stung. Sometimes the worst (best) puns are unintentional.

Brad

Rob van Duuren · Post by **Rob van Duuren** » 18 Mar 2005 3:09 pm

Bump for a GREAT product!
Brad, I like your philosophy. It reminds me of tube vs non-tube microphones. Thanks, rob.

Chuck S. Lettes · Post by **Chuck S. Lettes** » 21 Mar 2005 8:01 am

I, too, am a believer in Brad's "Black Box." I've been using it over a year now, and it is an essential part of my home studio recording. The "Black Box" adds a certain "mojo" to my sound. Brad has made some extra efforts with his product. He graciously updated the circuit of my effect when I saw him at the Dallas show. He and Ausset stand behind their product, and I appreciate what they have done for my sound.
Chuck

Doug Earnest · Post by **Doug Earnest** » 21 Mar 2005 11:16 am

I keep thinking if enough of us start to bug Brad (in a nice way) he will build the ultimate steel amp of all time. He is just the guy to do it. The Sarno SweeTone should be a Fender/Standel/Sho-Bud/Session400/Webb hybrid with the built in black box and volume pedal in/out and adjustable efx loops, combo and head only versions. Get to it, Brad!

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 22 Mar 2005 9:36 am

Thanks Rob and Chuck! Hey Doug, my gears are turning.

ATTN: Black Boxes nearly out of stock. I've only got a couple left and won't have new stock for about 3 weeks or so. Please contact for availability.

Thanks,
Brad[This message was edited by Brad Sarno on 22 March 2005 at 10:59 AM.]

Steven Welborn · Post by **Steven Welborn** » 22 Mar 2005 11:05 am

Hey Tommy, are you using the BB with the Webb6-14 E ? Thanks.

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 22 Mar 2005 12:27 pm

Steven, in case Tommy doesn't answer this, he told me it was the same Webb rig as usual.

Brad

Auset Sarno · Post by **Auset Sarno** » 20 Apr 2005 6:38 am

Happy 4/20 - Black Boxes are now back in stock and available for purchase!!!
www.steelguitarblackbox.com

Auset

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 20 Apr 2005 9:10 am

Brad

There was a post on the Forum a few months back where you described a slight 'mod' that was available for the earlier models. I posted on that thread asking if my BB was one of the 'early' ones, but didn't see any reply.

Do you still have a record of the serial # of the BB you supplied to me, and, if you do, could it use the 'mod'?

For the record, I'm still delighted with the difference - having another item to plug in is a nuisance, but well worth it!

Roger R.