Brad's 'Black Box' - wonderful!

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 11 Sep 2004 10:26 am

My new 'Black Box' came in the mail yesterday, and I took it to the theatre last night to try it out.

I don't pretend to understand what is happening or why - but the improvement in my tone was dramatic and immediate! Emmons LeGrande - 'Black Box' - Hilton pedal - Profex ll - Nashville 112 (in that order); the best sound I've ever had. It was warmer, fuller, and the harmonics sang out like never before; it's a boon!

I'll confess that I was a bit wary when I ordered it, and a little afraid of the 'King's magic clothes factor', but now I'm a total convert!

Good work, Brad - one song into last night's 'Patsy' show, and I was hooked for ever.....

Give it a try, guys!

Roger Rettig

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 11 Sep 2004 3:17 pm

I was suspect also, played one night on one I borrowed from Pete Burack, had to buy one because I knew that at the next gig I would not hear the cleanliness and string separation without it.

Glad I did. Remember always listen to Jerry Roller.

Larry Behm

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 12 Sep 2004 9:05 am

Roger, I'm so glad to hear it! Keep us updated as you get more familiar with the Box.

Thanks so much,
Brad

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 12 Sep 2004 9:32 am

Hey Brad--is your email working? I sent a note to you last night but I remember you were having some mail problems.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 12 Sep 2004 1:14 pm

Well - today I played the 'Patsy Cline' show using the "65 Emmons" 'patch' in my Profex. I've always found that one a little too brittle somehow, and I've steered clear of using it, but with the 'BB' it warmed up beautifully and had great clarity, too.

Next week I'm going to drop the Profex and see how that goes - I have a feeling it'll work out well. There's no show until Wednesday (and maybe not even then if 'Ivan the Terrible' does a little meander!), so I'll have to wait.

How about some of you local players coming by and saying 'Hello'? It's a good show, and the food's nice, too. Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, Ft Myers until 10/2.

RR

Bob Kagy · Post by **Bob Kagy** » 12 Sep 2004 1:46 pm

Roger,

Does your tone improvement with the Black Box apply to both the E9th and C6th tunings?

Larry, if you would could you reply to that question too?

Thanks, Bob

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 12 Sep 2004 3:33 pm

Yes, Bob. The back neck is warmer, and somehow 'bigger', through this device. That's my impression so far, anyway, 'though I'm playing 85% E9 on this show.

The string separation is remarkable, too, and I think it's this that has made that "65 Emmons" setting nicer to use.

I can't wait to get back to work next week!

R<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 12 September 2004 at 04:35 PM.]</p></FONT>

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 12 Sep 2004 5:07 pm

Bob, the tone is always there it is the clearity and string serpartion that stand out. This works on my Tele and my banjo too.

Larry Behm

Bob Kagy · Post by **Bob Kagy** » 13 Sep 2004 10:52 am

Thanks Roger, Larry.

I was "afraid" both of you guys would say what you did

Based on what you and everybody else is saying, I've got a dilemma . . . itch vs $$. Guess it's a familiar temptation.

Kevin Mincke · Post by **Kevin Mincke** » 13 Sep 2004 10:59 am

Bob, I've got that same problem

Morton Kellas · Post by **Morton Kellas** » 13 Sep 2004 6:09 pm

I used my Black Box out for the first time last weekend and it sounded great. I played it with my Mullen. This weekend I will try it with my Zum. It sounds good at living room levels, but it's even better at stage volumes.

Harry Williams · Post by **Harry Williams** » 15 Sep 2004 10:13 am

I'm using a BB on a Carter U-12 and like it a lot for the reasons mentioned above. I also use it on lap steel, where the only other effect I use is a bit of delay on the bluesy stuff.
Harry

------------------

Ivan Posa · Post by **Ivan Posa** » 21 Sep 2004 10:03 pm

My SGBB arrived today and it is the bees knees. I have previously recapped my Webb to Brads specs and it sounds even better with the Black Box. My SE200 Evans will get the treble pot and cap upgrade shortly but the tone has improved dramatically with the Black Box. Congratulations to Brad for such a fine product. Every Steel player should have one of these....IP

------------------

Travis Bernhardt · Post by **Travis Bernhardt** » 21 Sep 2004 10:22 pm

I seem to recall a discussion about this in the past, but was it ever determined just what exactly "string separation" means? I know what it is when I hear it--I think--but what is it that gives something this quality?

Midrange cut? Something else?

-Travis

Dan Keough · Post by **Dan Keough** » 22 Sep 2004 12:54 pm

Has anyone compared the BB preamp to the Blue Tube preamp? Would like to know. Thanx, Dan Keough

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 22 Sep 2004 1:26 pm

So glad to hear it Ivan! Keep us updated as you get more familiar with the Box.

Travis, I also know it when I hear it but can't exactly explain why it is. I'm guessing that it has to do with avoiding capacitive tone loss. Even a matchbox and a Hilton will give that separation. I think it has to do with electronically preserving more of the subtle detail from the pickup early in the chain. That way the overtones dont roll into a mush or haze, but remain clear and distinct. The BB will do an additional thing to that factor by enhancing the even ordered overtones which can also make the ear hear more clarity without having to add brightness or treble. It's a tube thang in the case of the BB.

Dan, the Blue Tube is actually a preamp in that it provides gain and tone shaping control. The Black Box is merely a buffer stage with little to no gain and no tone shaping whatsoever. Hard to compare directly. Personally I was never a big fan of the Blue Tube preamp because, at least some of their products run the tube at "starved" voltages and their components are average at best. It's not that they're bad, they just aren't boutique or high-end quality like some other gear out there.

Brad Sarno

Leland Ogle · Post by **Leland Ogle** » 27 Sep 2004 5:46 pm

Brad, I used my Black Box on two different gigs this past weekend. I think it made a big difference in my sound. I'm just an average picker but I've always been happy with my tone. Man this black box is nice. Just for the record I play a laquer Zum with Zum single coils through a NV 400 w/LeMay mod. My son and I hooked the black box to his bass played through a Peavey 210 Combo and it made a difference with it too.
Lee