Steel Guitar Black Box Tube Preamplifier

[SpruceTop]

I've just ordered the Sarno Music Solutions Steel Guitar Black Box Tube Preamplifier. It'll take 2 to 3 weeks to get as they hand-build each of their products. We'll hear what this product can do for acoustic pickup/preamp systems when it arrives. More To Come ...

http://www.sarnomusicsolutions.com/products/sgbb.html

[Marty C]

I am interested to know how this works. Never heard of this one.

[varmonter]

new to me as well.
curious as it appears
to be "factory eqd" with no
tonal adjustment capabilities at
all..looking at the pics. One would
conclude this is not a
one box solution. But the specs
look interesting.
I look forward to your
review..
They also offer other tube pres that have eq and di outs...
more money of course.

[Bob Womack]

I've always looked at these and wondered. I do understand how a tube preamp would round off transients, though.

Bob

[guitaniac]

The Sarno Black Box impedance buffer box is especially recommended for mag pickups. I recall researching it a little when I owned a Wendler Electrocoustic with its unique MagPi pickup system. (Dave Wendler's MagPi system passively blends a humbucker mag pickup with a soundboard pickup. I eventually discovered that the MagPi favored a rather unusual "mid" cut at 3 KHz.)

I suspect the Black Box is more effective as the first thing a passive pickup signal sees, rather than coming later in the signal chain.

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by guitaniac

The Sarno Black Box impedance buffer box is especially recommended for mag pickups. I recall researching it a little when I owned a Wendler Electrocoustic with its unique MagPi pickup system. (Dave Wendler's MagPi system passively blends a humbucker mag pickup with a soundboard pickup. I eventually discovered that the MagPi favored a rather unusual "mid" cut at 3 KHz.)

I suspect the Black Box is more effective as the first thing a passive pickup signal sees, rather than coming later in the signal chain.

Currently, all my pickup systems are onboard preamp types, and the variable input impedance of the Steel Guitar Black Box probably would have very little tonal effect on them. This may compel me to order a James May Ultra Tonic V3 system for one of my guitars to hear all the benefits the Steel Guitar Black box has to offer.

[varmonter]

The description says
"no wall wart" assuming it has an
internal power supply.??
I wonder how similar
this is to sunrises buffer box.?
Does the black box actually contain tubes??

[loco gringo]

I've had one for over 10 years. It works great on a Sunrise pickup. That is what I originally bought it for. I use mine for electric guitars more now than acoustics, but that is because I'm not playing much plugged in acoustic currently. It works great on electric guitars as well. I've loaned mine to a couple of electric players that now own one.

It does not have an internal power supply. You plug it in the wall, or at least mine works that way. There is no wall wart. It plugs in with a regular cord. It does have a tube in it, and it is best if it is the first thing the pickup sees.

Recently, I've been attending a jazz improv workshop twice a week at our local university. I'm taking my Vox Adio Air GT modeling amp to the workshop and running the Black Box in front of it. It really makes the guitar to modeling amp combo fatter.

[varmonter]

so do you think i could run this
into a helix stomp safely without
overdriving it.

[guitaniac]

Originally Posted by varmonter

so do you think i could run this
into a helix stomp safely without
overdriving it.

Doesn't the Helix have a gain/trim control? If so, it should be no problem. The Black Box's job is to impedance buffer the signal and add that tube sound before the signal gets to a solid state amplifier. Its been claimed to help active systems as well, but the primary use is to enhance the passive mag sound.

[varmonter]

Originally Posted by guitaniac

Doesn't the Helix have a gain/trim control? If so, it should be no problem. The Black Box's job is to impedance buffer the signal and add that tube sound before the signal gets to a solid state amplifier. Its been claimed to help active systems as well, but the primary use is to enhance the passive mag sound.

Well it has a vol knob.also level controls
on most blocks. this black box has me curious
.

[Ten]

I’d be curious to know how it compares to the Sunrise box, if you have used that one.

[loco gringo]

Originally Posted by Ten

I’d be curious to know how it compares to the Sunrise box, if you have used that one.

If you mean used with a Sunrise pickup, I preferred the Black Box. I sold my Sunrise box.

I use it on pretty much everything.

[Ten]

Originally Posted by loco gringo

If you mean used with a Sunrise pickup, I preferred the Black Box. I sold my Sunrise box.

I use it on pretty much everything.

I’ve grown fond of my Black Angel and got it dialed in where I like it, for me it’s a good functional sound. I gaze at the Sunrise and these mysterious boxes and wonder, but the cost of entry vs. other pedals that do “things I have heard with my own ears” makes it hard for me to justify new prices on them.

[varmonter]

Originally Posted by Ten

I’ve grown fond of my Black Angel and got it dialed in where I like it, for me it’s a good functional sound. I gaze at the Sunrise and these mysterious boxes and wonder, but the cost of entry vs. other pedals that do “things I have heard with my own ears” makes it hard for me to justify new prices on them.

I agree. I am a tweaker.. i cant help it. it has to be a form of GAS. ha.. I always try to buy this stuff used. then if i dont like it
i can get back at least close to what i paid for it.. cant ask new prices on used stuff.