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Read the Keyboard Magazine Review[Description]
While originally conceived for the Clonewheel keyboard, the Vintage Tube Preamp can do wonders for almost any sort of audio. By broadening the range of the tone controls, todays preamps can deliver the same sort of dynamic harmonic response for synth and sampled sounds. Even a few DJs have added the Speakeasy flavor to their shows!
The Speakeasy Vintage Tube Preamp can serve up to 3 different functions depending on your rig, and the options selected.
In all configurations, it serves to “warm” and “fatten” the tone, providing the subtle distortions and nuances that can only come from real vacuum tube circuitry. Simultaneously it also provides access to Bass and Treble tone controls which have been tailored to better fit the unique range of your instrument.
In cases where it’s 1/4″ output would be used, such as being used to authenticate the tone of other manufacturer’s rotary speakers, there is also an adjustable output level allowing the preamp to either amplify the signal, or to be set closer to “unity gain” (no increase in signal, only tonal modification) when only it’s tone shaping properties are desired.
And of course, it can be used to provide all of the above, and to act as a link to control any suitable Leslie™ tone cabinet.
As noted in the review linked above, the Vintage Tube Preamp gives you the more subtile distortions associated with a “Clean” tube sound, this is due to it’s being modeled after the vintage Hammond B3 preamp, the AO-28.
In a real Hammond rig, the crazy rock distortions that first became a staple decades ago, came from that AO-28 preamp hitting a real Leslie amplifier HARD – For those who want that special Hammond at a 100mph tone with out the vintage organ and tone cabinet, we have created the “Absolute Modeling Amplfier”
22 Responses to “Speakeasy "Vintage Tube" Preamps”
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January 11th, 2003 at 8:01 pm
It was well worth the money to me. It has significantly improved my quality of life. I found other tube preamps had a muddying effect when they fattened the tone. My first impression is that the Speakeasy preserves the edge and complexity to the sound unlike some other tube preamps. In a hard-to-describe way, depending on how you have the dials set the speakeasy has a different global effect. Many very nice settings lurk in the dials.
Melvin
1/11/03
June 16th, 2003 at 8:00 pm
…what really worked for me is the Speakeasy. Can’t say enough about the difference it makes. The treble control on that is very different – not thin or piercing on the high end, just more shimmer or sparkle – something like that. I also added a dbx EQ to my rig and use that to get exactly the tone I want.
Rick
6/16/03
July 5th, 2003 at 8:00 pm
Just got my Speakeasy Classic this week and did a gig last night without trying it out first hand. No problem! Right out of the box it worked it’s magic on my V5 –>MS Pro3T/Peavey KB300 rig. Without sounding like a broken record, I can’t say enough about how impressed I am with it. I just nod my head, grin ear to ear and join the SE brotherhood. I can’t wait to try it out with both my chop B3/Trek II solid state preamp —->142 (I added the 122 option) and V5 —>142. Heck, I may revisit my OB3 squared (collecting dust) just to see what happens with these combinations. I’m also adding 1/4″ outs to my M3 and living room B3, so I can try them with it through the 142 but also add the Speakeasy in-line before my solid state 770 and have the ability to play EVERYTHING through EVERYTHING!!!!(and sometimes several at the same time!!)Yes, the SE seems like it’s expensive, but like all the other SE owners have stated it’s worth it once you experience the quantum leap from dry clone to sparkling, warm, rich full bodied (except for the warm part this is starting to sound like a beer commercial) tone that comes from the same equipment that last week seemed to fall just short of the sound I was seeking. I’m extremely pleased with my purchase. Chalk one up for the good guys. Thanks Steve and crew at Speakeasy……
D.Hoctor
7/5/03
July 10th, 2003 at 7:59 pm
I just got back from my first gig using the speakeasy classic with my XB3. I’m absolutely ecstatic. I know you’ve all heard it before, but this thing made my woolly bottomed, honky middled, shrill topped XB3 sound like a grinding, fat, punchy bottomed, smoooooth middled and topped B3. It came alive, and even the normally atrocious vib/chorus sounded respectable. It sounded good in my music room, but it sounded GREAT at volume in a band situation. It cost me quite a lot to get it here (Australia), due to crap exchange rate, shipping, duty and tax, but it was worth every penny. What was just a cop out from having to lug an A105 has become a thoroughly enjoyable playing experience. Many thanks to Steve and previous Speakeasy gushers who inspired me to buy one.
Cheers, Randal
7/10/03
July 10th, 2003 at 7:59 pm
I’ve just received my speakeasy keyboard pedal and I’m really happy with the tone I now get from my Electro. I’m in Sydney so I also had to pay the extra $ for the pedal to come that extra mile but it is worth it for sure. From what I gather there are only 2 s/e owners in Oz at the moment! Nice to have the edge… I haven’t gigged with it yet but it sounds great in the studio. thanks also to the s/e crowd….
Pete K
7/10/03
October 14th, 2003 at 7:58 pm
All of these $100 type tube mic preamps do not hit the 12AX7 tube with enough voltage to obtain desirable tube artifacts. IMO, especially in live use, some EQ adjustments can give the same results as running your signal through one of these “tube” preamps. They do increase the volume, as any preamp would. The Blue Tube is somewhat different as it adds in distortion, although I believe that the distortion is largely solid-state derived.
The Speakeasy is a different animal, a true tube preamp as in a guitar amp. It uses transformers (expensive) and is hand wired. These kind of things make a big difference in real tube circuits and are expensive to build (just check out any of a number of “boutique” tube guitar amps.) The Speakeasy does affect a signal with true tube artifacts: warmness/ roundness of tone, a certain openess, clarity & brightness, emphasis of certain pleasing overtones, and a slight yet very pleasing distortion.
Kenny Keys
10/14/03
November 16th, 2003 at 7:58 pm
I have the Speakeasy Classic stereo to use with a Nord Electro. It has the European voltage ( I live in the UK ) These preamps are expensive being hand-made, especially to import. I got lucky and bought mine from a player in Europe. It is wonderful, it brings out the best in what is already a great instrument. It’s like adding 3D ( three dimensions ) to a flat picture. It will be a one off purchase, I’ll keep it forever, whatever clone I might use in the future, so ‘expensive’ becomes ‘quite inexpensive’ really, looking at it long term.
Thomas Adamson
11/16/03
November 21st, 2003 at 7:57 pm
OK guys I got my Speakeasy a mono clone classic version. The Sound – FANTASTIC. I don’t know what EQ specs the folks at Speakeasy use (I may analyze it with Ozone later) but it is dead on!
Basically the Speakeasy classic does this:
Tames that last upper octave.
Fill outs the mids.
Punches the bass.
I don’t use much gain from the Classic (I set the gain to about 3 o’clock, or a quarter of the way). The Treble is at 12:30pm and the Bass is at Hi noon. So, basically I am using the Speakeasy to get the B3 tone. I use the gain on the Pro 145 to get the grind. And with the CX3 + Speakeasy providing the tone the spinning 3D sound just rocks!!!
Great, great sound at about 110 lbs.
Korg CX3 = 37lbs
Speakeasy Rack = 8 lbs
MS Pro 145 = 65 lbs
So, I a happy camper.
Joho
11/21/03
November 22nd, 2003 at 7:57 pm
My Speakeasy Classic makes my 145 Leslie literally scream with killer sound.
Mark Zyla
11/22/03
December 4th, 2003 at 7:57 pm
I can only speak for the V5 and OB3 squared (module). They were not very good UNTIL I added the Speakeasy Classic. They’re still not perfect, but the SE brought out a “sparkle” and vastly improved them to a level that I can live with as part of the general “compromise” that I’ve made by using a clone. I too rely heavily on C1 & C3 when I use my Hammonds and at first I was very disappointed with clones, but add LAME CHORUS IMPROVEMENT to the never-ending list of amazing magic that the SE performs…..I wish someone around here (South Central Ohio)carried Nord products, I’d like to hear the Electro’s C/V.
Dan Hocter
12/5/03
December 14th, 2003 at 7:56 pm
Not certain if Santa will be dropping a Classic Speakeasy and/or a MS Short Stack (Pro3T and Low Pro) into your stocking, but my pre-Xmas review, rather the crowd reaction to the combination last night is WOW. The band has not been out a lot recently, but a churning, burning, sizzling engine propelled the band into a new dimension last night. For the uninformed, it was a sonic surprise and for the others who knew what to ask, they commented on the sonic signature and they were loving it.
Initially, weeks ago it was “what is that and where is it going to go”? in the battle for stage geography. Now it’s a permanent fixture, having proved it’s point in re-creating an authentic sound. The separates make it easy to get in, up and down the stairs, and the Speakeasy in the rack dials in the grit.
The whole combination is a whole lot of fun to play. It was the maiden voyage for the Stack, I left the Rotosphere in the practice space, tossing caution to the wind. And I was not disappointed. Now I can focus on the music before me and work the system to the max.
Randall Gafner
12/14/03
January 17th, 2004 at 7:56 pm
I sold the HYBRID preamp that I bought from you this past fall. The man I sold it to in Italy turned out to be an electrical engineer. He wrote me later to say that he’d taken the box apart to get a look inside and the found the workmanship and quality to be “MASTERFUL” as he put it…fyi.
Mark T. Meador
1/17/04
January 18th, 2004 at 7:55 pm
It rocks
Thanks
Bill
1/18/04
January 28th, 2004 at 7:54 pm
Within an hour of posting my question, I got a call from Steven Hayes, President of Speakeasy Vintage Music. He personally answered my questions and we talked for quite a while. I’ve never had customer service like this in my entire life! I want my voice to the chorus that sings “not just great preamp, great company”.
Cliff Spencer
1/28/04
February 26th, 2004 at 7:54 pm
I have safely received pre-amp. Many thanks. I tried it out yesterday at a rehearsal with my band – I use a Korg BX-3 with Motion Sound gear. This thing rocks! Congratulations on producing such a brilliant product. Keep up the good work…
Michael
2/26/04
February 29th, 2004 at 7:50 pm
I just wanted to give an overdue shout out to Steven Hayes at Speakeasy for patient and enthusiastic tech support with my Clone preamp. I was having trouble with the gain structure getting the tone I wanted, and he helped me through my problems. Interestingly, it turns out that my old Roland line mixer was sucking the tone out of the Speakeasy somehow. When we removed it from the equation, suddenly I had the fat tone I had expected to hear.
What is even more remarkable is that I bought the preamp used from a list member instead of from the company. That made no difference to Steven, who just wants to make sure that everyone using his creations is happy with their choice. It’s an excellent product backed by excellent service.
September 16th, 2009 at 5:48 am
I has a 760 leslie speaker I meed a preamps that hook up to it so I can plug my 1/4 plug in to it
what kind the preamp I needs please let me know so I can buy one from your company thanks
willie
September 16th, 2009 at 9:53 am
What you’d want is one of our Vintage Tube Preamp pedals, with a 9 pin output option.
January 24th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
do you have a preamp with an 11 pin output and 1/4 inch input.
Tavo
February 6th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Yes, Here
April 5th, 2010 at 3:28 am
I have just purchased a Yamaha Cp-33 electric piano and a Motion Sound 500watt stereo keyboard amplifier. So of course I am wondering about using a tube preamp with this package. 500 watts will amplify everything…good bad and real ugly. Any suggestions?
April 6th, 2010 at 10:12 am
While most write ups are about using it with a Clonewheel, our vintage tube preamp also does wonders for other sorts of digital sounds as well – there are many who use it for strings, pianos, etc. who love the way it warms up and tames the top end of those tones as well. You can hear some non-organ sounds as they are “processed” by our preamp by visiting http://www.armadilloent.com/speakeasy.html – about half way down the page are some sound clips where you can hear the preamp in action!