the Tonic Tube Preamp - first glimpses

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 5 Oct 2007 11:46 am

Here are our first photos of the new Tonic Tube Preamp. We expect to have units available in about 4 to 6 weeks. This is essentially a compact, portable, mono version of the Revelation Tube Preamp with the added feature of an optional internal digital reverb module. Pricing and availability coming soon.

Brad

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 5 Oct 2007 12:28 pm

comments on features:

The Bass classic/expand switch essentially re-voices the bass and low-mids to toggle between a Twin (or Deluxe, Vibrolux, Boogie Pre, Alembic pre, Vibrosonic, etc.) and a Bandmaster (or Super Reverb, Concert, Sho-Bud, Marshall (sort of), etc.). The general effect is a thickening of the upper bass or lower mids roughly in the 200Hz to 250Hz range.

The Tonic does NOT have the Aux input feature as on the Rev Pre.

The rear line-level effects send/return jacks automatically disable the internal reverb module. The rear and internal fx loops are parallel, just like the Rev.

The Tonic does NOT have the extensive "boutique" point-to-point hand wiring as in the Rev. This will make the Tonic a bit more affordable than the Rev.

The Tonic only uses 2 tubes instead of the 3 in the Rev.

The Tonic has tall feet on it to help it clear any amp handles that it may need to stand over.

We are working on a bracket design that will allow the Tonic to hang off the side of your pack-a-seat for super easy access while playing. More on that later too.

Brad

Jerry Erickson · Post by **Jerry Erickson** » 5 Oct 2007 1:09 pm

Any particular brand of digital reverb that you'd care to talk about Brad?:)

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 5 Oct 2007 1:17 pm

Jerry,

it's a custom DSP from a guy who designs DSP's for a number of big guitar amp companies. It's his own personal "large hall" algorithm on his own dsp module. I've built the circuit to host his DSP module. It's a small card that simply plugs in. It's so simple, any user could later purchase the DSP module and plug it in themself. The reverb will be an option since some people will want to use their own fx unit, or a bass player may not want any effects at all.

Brad

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 5 Oct 2007 2:19 pm

I was just asked via email about rack mounting the Tonic. The unit is only 14" wide, so it doesn't have rack ears. But it is ready to screw down onto a rack tray and will fit into a single rack space. Just unscrew the feet, and mount to tray.

Brad

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 5 Oct 2007 2:38 pm

Let me know when it's available..

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 5 Oct 2007 3:07 pm

Brad,
What is the EQ section based on ? ...Looks like a nice unit ..How would you compare the Tonic to the tone to the Revelation ? ....Thanks, Jim

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 5 Oct 2007 3:32 pm

James Quackenbush wrote:Brad,
What is the EQ section based on ? ...Looks like a nice unit ..How would you compare the Tonic to the tone to the Revelation ? ....Thanks, Jim

Jim,

the EQ is exactly the same as the Revelation. Which in turn is based around a variety of my favorite vintage Fender and other amps. The passive tonestack EQ is a familiar thing. This eq takes that and adds a toggle control over the bass/low-mid strength and also a variable control of the frequency of the midrange dip (the color knob).

Brad

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 10 Oct 2007 10:46 am

Hi Brad,
Thanks for the reply ....You mention that the Tonic has 2 tubes , and the Revelation has 3 ...What does the extra tube do in the Revelation ? .... The Tonic looks like a nice compact unit ...Jim

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 10 Oct 2007 11:13 am

Brad,
Will You be offering a "Euro"voltage model.
Best regards
Billy

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 10 Oct 2007 12:46 pm

Billy, yes it will have a switch inside for those who need to use it in a 230v/240v situation.

Jim,

good question. Consider that each tube has two identical sections.

The Rev has 3 tubes:

V1a - input (black box) section
V1b - buffered tuner send section

V2a and V2b - the gain/tone section (main preamp)

V3a and V3b - the left and right output drivers

The Tonic only has 2 tubes:

V1a - input (black box) section
- the tuner send on the Tonic is not tube buffered, but is resistively isolated.

V1b - the mono output driver section

V2a and V2b - the gain/tone section (main preamp)

So the means of cutting back to only two tubes with the Tonic was #1 by not having the actual tube section to buffer and drive the tuner, and #2 by being mono and not stereo.

V1 is a 12AU7
v2 is a 12AX7

Brad

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 10 Oct 2007 1:39 pm

Brad can you give us a hint of what the price might be? ballpark??

Terry

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 10 Oct 2007 3:54 pm

Ballpark pricing,

probably under $700 base price (no reverb). Digital reverb card option is likely $50-ish. I'll know more soon.

Brad

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 11 Oct 2007 2:37 am

Brad,
Am I correct in saying that the lead from the Steel will go to the "Tonic" and then to the volume pedal.
Billy

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 11 Oct 2007 5:39 am

Billy,

yes, this wires up just like the Revelation or the Peavey 3-wire hookup. Guitar goes straight into the first input, then the volume pedal patches into the front send/return jacks. You don't have to do this, but if you do, you get the benefit of the silent tuning and the full use of the variable impedance (vari-z) control.

Brad

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 11 Oct 2007 7:39 am

Beautiful workmanship, Brad. Will the effects loop accommodate your distortion box (what's it called again?)?

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 11 Oct 2007 8:15 am

Bobby,

if one were to use the "Dirt Box' with this preamp, it would be best to use it in the volume pedal loop since it's instrument level (and also series) there. Or it could go even before the first input. This would give yet another tube stage to help warm the transistor distortion overtones. The Dirt Box is true-bypass so when it's off, it's off.

Brad

Ivan Posa · Post by **Ivan Posa** » 11 Oct 2007 5:59 pm

Looks like another top class product from Brad. I love my Rev Pre into a SPLIT CB 12. The more use it gets the better it sounds.

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 12 Oct 2007 11:18 am

Brad,
Thanks for the info, and you used the tubes well ...Don't ya just love when a plan comes together ? ....Nice pre for sure !!...Jim

Less tubes, less circuitry, one less channel , smaller chassis ...Start the base price at $595 plus shipping, and you'll sell a million of them !!...I'll even buy the first one , ( I'm serious)...I'll even play it for a while and write a detailed review ...

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 13 Oct 2007 6:52 am

Jim,

I've submitted your proposal to the board. The board will likely form a committee next week that will in turn report back to the board. The board will report to me, and I'll report back to you about the results.

Brad

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 13 Oct 2007 7:59 am

Brad,
Boards ??....Committee's ???.....Sounds like a lot of overhead to me !!....Overhead = $$$$$......

Seriously, Thanks for the consideration ...Jim

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 9 Nov 2007 2:53 pm

Fortunately Jim, the board and all the committee members consist of me and my wife, Auset.

Check out this link for an update on the Tonic:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=120756

Tom Gorr · Post by **Tom Gorr** » 9 Nov 2007 4:00 pm

Hi Brad, what 12AX7 tubes do use in the revelation and this new product ?

You probably went through a bunch of tube trails to pick the right poison (ha..medicine..?), and I would be interested in knowing your opinions of different new production offerings.

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 9 Nov 2007 10:40 pm

Tom,

my current selection is the JJ ECC802s for the 12AU7 position, and the new reissue Mullard 12AX7. So far I'm very happy with these two tubes.

Brad

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 14 Nov 2007 11:32 am

Brad,
How would I chain my line to the amp,I have a Hilton vol pedal,and a delay stomp box,
I also use a little amp reverb.
If I use the tonic can I use the internal reverb along with the delay.
Thanks
Billy

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the Tonic Tube Preamp - first glimpses

the Tonic Tube Preamp - first glimpses

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