Black Box for Lap Steel with a Tube Amp

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 25 Apr 2005 2:26 pm

I play a Sierra 8 string with a Wallace Truetone in it through a Gibson GA30-RVT by way of a Boss compressor, a Teese RMC2 Wah and a Mayer Classic Fuzz. I was skeptical that a Black Box would do a lot to improve tone for my overdriven style, especially as I use a tube amp already and am seriously in love with my tone as is. I ordered the Black Box and got it today, very quick shipping and well packed. Per Brad's instructions I plugged it in and left it alone for a bit, to let the tube warm up and break in a little. I plugged my guitar through an AB box so I could compare sounds with it in and out of the chain.
I started out playing without it, went through a couple of minutes of working out the amp and getting the tubes warmed up; then I switched it on.
YEOW. Absolutely jaw-dropping, the difference. I expected a tone boost to different parts of the signal, and perhaps a volume boost; what I got was every part of the signal that was even slightly weak was brought up to liquid perfection, weak lows and mids were sweetened and the highs became crystalline and somehow THICKER. Chord work sounded exceptional and note separation was precise in ways I never thought possible. My amp sounds as though Howard Dumble had gotten hold of it and spent a year making it perfect; pushed to high volumes, the overdrive has a clarity that I never suspected this amp to be capable of. Sounds like I dig it? You betcha. This is the best value for the dollar I have ever spent on gear. Get one. Quit screwing around.

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Sierra S8, Polytone Mini-Brute IV, Gibson GA30RVT, Teese RMC2 Wah, pyrex and bakelite bars

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 26 Apr 2005 4:02 am

Keith did you leave anything out, is this how you really feel.

Larry Behm

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 26 Apr 2005 4:45 am

Sorry didn't mean to soft-pedal it.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 26 Apr 2005 7:38 am

Geez, I hate all this equivocating!

David Yannuzzi · Post by **David Yannuzzi** » 28 Apr 2005 7:34 am

Good to Know.
I play thru a mesa boogie tube amp for pedal and lap. I always heard everybody talking about Black Boxes with Solid State amps. You just saved me a post..
Now I just gotta save up some bread..
Thanks-Dave
What knd of A/B box do you use?

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 29 Apr 2005 4:55 am

Right now my AB Box is a really old Rapco, but I am after getting a Whirlwind soon. Lots quieter.

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Sierra S8, Polytone Mini-Brute IV, Gibson GA30RVT, Teese RMC2 Wah, pyrex and bakelite bars

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 29 Apr 2005 12:36 pm

Hey thanks for the great feedback on the Box Keith. I agree wholheartedly!!!

Enjoy!

Brad

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 29 Apr 2005 4:02 pm

I just got one and have fallen in love with my guitar, all over again.

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 29 Apr 2005 4:06 pm

I expected little in the way of argument Brad. So is the check really in the mail?

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Sierra S8, Polytone Mini-Brute IV, Gibson GA30RVT, Teese RMC2 Wah, pyrex and bakelite bars