From billharms@billharms.com Thu Oct 31 08:46:39 2002
Subject:Re: Speakeasy gain question

--- In CloneWheel@y..., rick155@a... wrote:
> In a message dated 10/31/2002 9:50:46 AM Eastern Standard Time,
ynottnaro@y... writes:
>
> > But I'll darned
> > > if I can
> > > understand why I should need two of them.
>
> That's why I'm wondering what the benefits are when using it with a
Pro-3T, which has its own tube preamp. Isn't one enough? What am I
missing (not as a figure of speech, but literally - sonically)?

The thing about the speakeasy is that it makes harmonics and imposes
eq shifts when you drive it hard, which sound really really cool. They
are quite different than the ones you get by overdriving the MS
preamps. The speakeasy has lots and lots of output with or without a
helper preamp so the MS tube stage does get driven differently (you
need to turn pre-gain way down). BUT, if you want to be able to put
the speakeasy through its full range of tonal options, you need to
have plenty of input. The ideal would be to have total control, and to
choose which preamp stage to overdrive and how much. I don't see any
particular reason to use a *tube* pre to boost signal for the
speakeasy's input (vs. a solid state pre), other than if you
accidentally clip it it will sound better.

But, as Tony said, the Howler should take care of this input level
issue anyway.

Bill Harms