REAL TUBE II 922 Preamp for Steel

Don Mogle · Post by **Don Mogle** » 2 Sep 2020 6:15 pm

Hello,

I was wondering if anybody has tried a Real Tube II 922 BK Butler preamp for steel? It has 2 tubes (12AX7s). I was thinking this might be good to add tube warmth to a Peavey solid state amp and also allow me to run 2 amps with a single guitar input. I also like the flexibility to run high gain for occasional lead parts.

I welcome any input or advice from anyone with any knowledge about these units.

Thanks,

Don

Paul Stauskas · Post by **Paul Stauskas** » 2 Sep 2020 6:58 pm

Don, I know it's not the unit you mentioned, but I have a Revelation pre-amp for sale locally. It uses 3 12ax7 tubes and can run stereo.

Let me know if it interests you!

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 2 Sep 2020 11:20 pm

Brad Sarno produces great items which have tubes. Have a look at Sarno Music Solutions.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 3 Sep 2020 2:21 am

The real tube is not a true tube preamp It has 12AX7 tubes but they are more a "starved plate" buffer than a true class A preamp. It also has TL072 Op-Amps.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 3 Sep 2020 3:05 am

Don, I have one and long ago all the guys were using them. I can't see where it adds any sweetness to the tone and haven't used it in ages. I also have 3 peavey tube preamps that are way better. Last year I got a Revelation preamp and it's much better than the previous mentioned units. However the Revelation is larger and takes more rack space. Some pro's used Mesa Boogie preamps and others had Evans. The 922 Tube Works had a steel mod that may have improved the frequency for steel. I couldn't find any information to get parts for updating mine.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 3 Sep 2020 4:48 am

The mod for steel, from what I could find, mostly just changed the input, on the second input, so a high gain (hot) steel pickup wouldn't overload the input preamp (op-amp) stage. I tried to get the info from Genz-Benz but they wouldn't give it to me (or factory mod the old original BK Butler models).

The second channel (used for steel) had a hum problem as power supply components were located next to the tone control pots and other audio components in that second channel. This was also confirmed by Genz-Benz support and required a complete redesign and why the model was discontinued.

You have to be careful and avoid the "starved plate" (low voltage) tube preamps. They are nothing more than cathode follower buffers rather than a true tube preamp such as Brad's "Black Box". They (in almost all cases) don't really give you a tube sound.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 3 Sep 2020 7:59 am

Tube Works "Blue Tube" was built for steel players.
I have that in a rack unit.
At one time Emmons sold the Tube Works equipment.
If you want a reverb unit that can't be beat use the one by Tube Works!

Erv

Don Mogle · Post by **Don Mogle** » 3 Sep 2020 11:49 am

Thanks to all who responded. Maybe I need to be looking for another preamp as per your suggestions.

Don

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 3 Sep 2020 12:19 pm

I'd give it a try.
The Tube Works stuff is great!

Erv

A J Head · Post by **A J Head** » 3 Sep 2020 3:14 pm

What model Tube works are you using, there seems to be a few different models available, some pedals and some rack mounts

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 4 Sep 2020 7:13 am

If you're talking to me, it's all rack mounted.
Erv

A J Head · Post by **A J Head** » 4 Sep 2020 2:20 pm

Thanks

A J Head · Post by **A J Head** » 4 Sep 2020 2:28 pm

What model Tube works are you using, there seems to be a few different models available, some pedals and some rack mounts

Don Mogle · Post by **Don Mogle** » 4 Sep 2020 4:05 pm

Real Tube II 922 by BK Butler...will try to upload a picture.

Brad Issendorf · Post by **Brad Issendorf** » 4 Sep 2020 9:12 pm

The unit in the middle i believe is the unit Erv is referring to. Rack mounted Blue Tube II model RT-924

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 5 Sep 2020 6:14 am

Brad,
Yes, that's the unit.
I have that in my rack, excellent preamp.

Erv

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 5 Sep 2020 8:34 am

The 924 Blue Tube II in Brad's reply was the one that was modded for steel. It was designed for bass guitar, so milder, calmer than the 922 which was designed for lead guitar. I don't know of any of the 922's that were modded for steel, but there very well may have been. The 922 panel had a DRIVE control v. the 924 GAIN. What was really nice about these units was the ability to use ea. channel separately or you could stack them together for a 3rd. sound combining the eq's of ea channel. They were particularly useful for multiple instrument players like me. They also have stereo outputs and an fx loop.

The downside was the pot quality. They had a tendency to get nosiy and sometimes even drop out the sound altogether. Mine got so bad that I had to quit using it.

After Genz Benz acquired the Tube Works company, the preamp was named 9002 and the case appeared more like the Butler 922. This was the one that Herby Wallace used in his TubeWorks rigs later on up until he passed. I don't know if this 9002 was patterned after the Butler 922 or 924 circuitry or if either.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 6 Sep 2020 5:22 am

And this is the Cadillac of reverbs.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 6 Sep 2020 7:45 am

Early 2000's I had a rack system with a 922 (original model) preamp and a MosValve 500 power amp (and two Peavey speakers like Jeff Newman and Herby Wallace used). Nice system but I never played anywhere that I needed the power or "stereo" speakers. It never left the house and was eventually parted out.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 6 Sep 2020 9:10 am

This is the original modded BTII with the 'verb unit and the 500. I'm still using it with the exception of the BT II as the pots failed and attempts to replace them went south. Black Widow 12's and 15's for cabinets.

The heart of this system is the 921 Reverb unit anyway...that's where all the sweetnes and warmth comes from. The preamp was nice because of all it's variety, but the tubes contributed little to it's tone IMO.

I replaced it with an 80s vintage Boss GL100 which is also a 2 channel preamp though all ss analog. I think it sounds just as good and is more versatile in some ways.

Yes, I know I'm a dinosaur, but I'm just so used to having the fx variety and 2nd channel for multiple instruments and applications, it would be hard to quit it.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 7 Sep 2020 4:52 am

Jerry,
I also use a Tube Works amp.
I don't know what model it is but is only takes up one space.

Erv

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 7 Sep 2020 11:06 am

Single space MV982 80W per side bridgeable to 160w mono. There is also an 80 Watter in a 2 sp. case like I have model #MV962 in my rig 2nd photo.