'Vintage Tube Preamp' Feedback
All of the feedback on this page was completely unsolicited and was either sent directly to us at Speakeasy or posted to one of a few public forums on the Internet, particularly the Yahoo Groups 'CloneWheel', 'NordElectro', and 'Rhodes'. Our Vintage Tube Preamps were designed and tested at the end of 2001 and officially released in March of 2002. Our first piece of feedback (at the bottom of this page) was from one of the prototype owners, who has since upgraded to a Stereo Rack-Mount preamp.
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.
Moe
2/29/04
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
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
It rocks
Thanks
Bill
1/18/04
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
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
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
My Speakeasy Classic makes my 145 Leslie literally scream with killer sound.
Mark Zyla
11/22/03
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
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
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
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
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
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
...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
I play a BX3 through A Leslie 21, with the SE Classic in between. I favor blues and rock. Think the classic will do it. It will definitely warm up and round out you upper end. I still have to tweak some of the patches, and change amp type with some settings, though. I have not developed my own patches yet (I'm not a gigging musician, so I can take my sweet time and play around!). You can gain up the SE and/or the CX3 for plenty of grind and growl when you want it. The SE makes a big difference.
Tony Catania
6/15/03
The Speakeasy Vintage Classic preamp was designed for the needs of a Hammond Organ and/or clone. The output "side" of the SVTP looks exactly like the output of a Hammond AO-28 preamp (the one in a B3 or C-3), while the input side is tailored towards the needs of a modern musical instrument. This sounds simpler to say than it is to do, but the Speakeasy line does it well. I guess it would be possible for one of the other tube preamp makers -- particularly, a boutique one -- to tailor their sound to the organ market, but no one else is doing so.
The whole design approach is based around the fact that a Hammond Organ is more than just a tone generator attached to an amplifier. If you were to take the actual output of the tone generator (bypassing the preamp) and connect it to a modern PA-style speaker, you would barely recognize the result! The "Hammond Sound" we all love is a collection of the efforts of the tone generator, preamplifier, and amplifier (i.e., Leslie). The Speakeasy preamp returns a very important part of the chain to your clone. In theory, other preamps could do the same -- and they all do so, to a greater or lesser extent -- but most of the products out there are geared towards the needs of guitarists, bassists, or microphones.
Bruce Wahler
5/9/03
I finally gave in and bought the speakeasy classic/147 pedal for my NORD and yes! It takes that digital edge off almost completely. I have the Leslie combo preamp pedal and the Speakeasy is actually more quiet than the Leslie pedal. This box was made with clones in mind and it is modeled after the B3 family preamp, REALLY makes a great difference. I wouldn't gig my Nord without it now.
Cole
4/9/03
I use a "howler" Speakeasy for everything and I love it. I treat the preamp like hot sauce - makes everything better. I find a setting where the acoustic piano (and I am the ONLY person out here happily using the stock mono piano sound:) sounds good and then everything else sounds fine. The acoustic piano is the one, to my ears, that needs the least distortion, so I fine tune the Speakeasy until I'm happy.
Dan
4/8/03
I use a Stereo Speakeasy Classic preamp with my Electro and it sounds great. I use it with my stereo Motion Sound KT80 rig and also use it to drive my Leslie 122 (at which point the Electro becomes mono when using the real Leslie). The "Classic" sounds great for organ and all the other sounds in the Electro. You cannot go wrong here.
Eric
4/7/03
All I can say is WOW ..... I have been coupling my Electro with a Bellari Tube compressor/limiter + 147 Leslie preamp into my 147. It sounded pretty good ....then! .... I received my Speakeasy 147 preamp with the howler option. I used it last night while playing with Hubert Sumlin, Bob Margolin, and Willie "Big Eye's" Smith. Not only was I impressed but every one of these cat's were asking what this combo was. I have to say .... If someone out there does not yet have the speakeasy preamp to couple their Nord Electro.... it is VERY worth the investment. This is the best setup I have ever had. Easy to carry, east to set up, and sounds awesome.
Bo D.
3/29/03
I can confidently say from my personal experience that the Speakeasy stereo tube preamp is worth every franc. The improvement in your instruments' sound is remarkable. Any gig I do that requires me to take my Electro, I take my Speakeasy. Even for a casual living room rehearsal, it goes along.
Mark
2/16/03
<< also, is the Speakeasy Tube preamp really worth all the money? >>
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
I just had to post to reiterate my absolute JOY with my gig rig!! I played with a SLAMMING blues band last night and my B4/SpeakEasy/Carvin KB1015 rig SMOKED!!!
I'm tellin' ya people...I am a total purist and the most critical bastard of the "realism" of my sound...and this rig INSPIRES me to play! You all know what I mean...when you play an instrument that SOUNDS like the instruments on your favorite records, you tend to reach for things you might not normally hear. Well, my rig does that for me. The guys in the band are just in AWE of how good this set up sounds!
MT
12/22/02
100% improvement on my cx3. it is unbelievable. some guys have called it creamy, I say it makes the cx3 sound sweet. (cx3 ver1, speakeasy vintage-mono, Roland kc500). it's like having a different organ. without the Speakeasy, it sounded like you're listening to it with a clogged ear, the pre-amp un-clogged it. I was not happy at all before this. save your money and buy one, don't even bother with the other pre-amps. I am not getting paid to say this. I am sure everyone that owns one will agree with me.
Joe Mercado
12/16/02
I use the stereo rack mount switchable Classic/Howler with my CX-3 (and a backup XM-1) and I say you can't get any better. You get any sound from fat warm and clean to those Santana "samba pa ti" growl and of course even more overdrive if you like. Best damn peace of gear I ever bought.
Regards,
Sven
12/16/02
I was going to sell my 925 and 860 Leslie's, but I took a shot and had Steve at Speakeasy make me up a preamp pedal for both of them. Let me tell you, with this preamp those mediocre sounding Leslie's sound great. Will it ever be just like a 122 or 147, NO, because they used by-polar instead of MOSFET power transistors, and the circuit has a fair amount of noise and hiss, but If you have a properly working Solid State Leslie don't get rid of it, get a Speakeasy preamp, or if you find an old 760, 860,900,910,925 SS Leslie cheap and in good condition, take a second look at it. After all they are real Leslie's, you will be very happy plus it will be LOUD.
Tony
12/8/02
Just tried out my new Speakeasy Stereo Classic. Who needs extreme sports, this is extreme enough. The Speakeasy preamp is working like a dream. My rig is complete.
Thomas
11/27/02
I took delivery of a dual channel Speakeasy about a month ago and I'm over the moon with it.....even the rest of the band noticed it's warm full bodied flavour.....
I haven't had chance to thanks Steve & Andy for doing such a top job....they even made sure I had it in time for a recording session against the odds....
Jon Briggs
11/11/02
Holy Moses!!! I shall be released. I received my 147 Speakeasy preamp today. Exactly when it was supposed to be here. Imagine that? MAN-THIS M.F. SCREAMS IT'S ASS OFF. Should I say it again for those of you who didn't hear me? There is absolutely no way I can run this puppy wide open. NO WAY. I'll be blowing tweeters right and left. The volume is at 11:00 or NNE and it's way loud. This thing SHAMES the TREK II pedal. I know I'm going to try and sell mine on e-bay so forget what I just said. If I had only known then what I know now I may not have bought the BX3 and kept my VK7 which was rather anemic with the Trek II. I am 50 years old and love to rock n' roll. I love a warm big Hammond sound and a Brian Auger grinder when I need it. The Speakeasy that I have will easily do both and I did not get the Howler. Needless to say, I'm a very happy camper.
Chuck
Dallas
11/6/02
PS I think I can leave my Leslie mics at home now.
I have joined the ranks of the Speakeasy converts. I got my Speakeasy preamp a week ago today, and gigged with it for the first time on Saturday. Wow, what a phenomenal difference. Previously I'd been using the Trek II preamp, and a chopped 145.
Anyway, others have already said this, but it bears repeating: the difference the preamp makes is absolutely amazing. With the Trek II preamp, it's a very short distance from max volume clean to harsh clipping distortion. I never really realized how fast and unmanageable this transition was until using the Speakeasy preamp. The Speakeasy has a very broad, very smooth transition from quiet, to loud, to louder with gentle overdrive, to louder yet with more pronounced overdrive, but at no point did I get the nasty edgy distortion which happens at the outer ranges of the Trek II's limits. Yet, sometimes in order to "catch up" with the rest of the band I'd have to operate in this nasty zone with the Trek II pedal. Somebody else said this, and I'll repeat it: with the Speakeasy preamp, your volume pedal really behaves much more like an expression pedal.
The tone controls are wonderful and very subtle. I'd try one setting, and that would sound nice, and then after a few songs I'd reach down and try reducing the treble, and that sounded nice too. I actually never did find a favorite position. I was able to find something fun and expressive with every setting I tried. Each tone setting seemed to bring to emphasize something different, but the effect was very subtle. It's hard to explain, but it was an unexpected and very pleasant thing to be able to do, tone-wise.
Anyway, I'm just knocked out by this thing. It's by far the single best investment I've made in my organ sound since I upgraded from an XM-1 to a V-5. The guitar player's comment was: "that thing sounds f-----g amazing!"
Dave
10/28/02
OK, now I can join the ranks of Speakeasy converts. I tried my new classic version of the preamp on my gig Friday night. I used it with my CX3 and my Mackie SRM450. It sounded GREAT!!!!! I cannot overstate the incredible difference it makes in the sound of the clone. All my band mates commented on how good the sound was from my CX3.
I did not have a lot of time to tweak the output and gain controls as I just flew in from Omaha from another gig, stopped by my house to pick up the Speakeasy, then off to Riverside to play at the club. I just plugged it in and started playing!
The preamp rounded out the tone beautifully. In addition, I was getting some great warm distortion at higher expression pedal levels. All I can say is that all of you with CX3's should at least try this box. You will be pleased!
David Jacques
10/27/02
I run stereo out of my Electro into the Speakeasy and then into my Roland M-120 line mixer. The Speakeasy literally lifts the Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Clavinet and Electric grand to an incredible sonic level. I'm constantly amazed at what that pre amp does to my sound. I never leave home without it anymore.
Mark Zyla
10/26/02
After gigging: What everyone is saying on the list is true. Speakeasy really does get "the sound", gets comments, and most importantly, inspires. WOW! I especially like playing with the treble control for a different kind of swell. It also goes a long way toward taming the cx-3's unruly high end.
Bill Harms
10/26/02
[The Speakeasy adds] warmth, clarity, and tones that just don't come through otherwise. Before I got my Speakeasy I was using a TubeWorks Blue Tube II and the Speakeasy just blew it away. Not all preamps are created for the same application; the Speakeasy is designed for keyboards and that makes all the difference.
Ed Fliege
10/7/02
As for the sound of the preamp - WOW! I'm hearing sounds from the VK-8 that were not there before - the sound is clearer, cleaner, brighter, deeper, richer, you name it - just a whole lot better. I'm actually a double bass player by trade and I can't wait to try the Speakeasy preamp out with my bass. If it does as much for my bass as it did for the VK-8, I'll be ordering another preamp from Steve and the boys.
John DeWitt
9/30/02
I use a Hammond XK-2, Speakeasy pre-amp, and a 147 Leslie cabinet for my gigs with the rock band "XS." I just purchased the speakeasy pedal and 6-pin Leslie adapter last week, and I'd like to share a few words about their customer service and the product.
First - I sent e-mail to Andy at speakeasy and asked numerous questions. I received a personal reply the next morning. I ordered the pedal, which I understand are custom built upon order, and had it in two days.
Second - the product is built like the proverbial brick "you know what" house and made of quality products. Nothing "cheap" about the products that went into its construction.
Third - You gotta hear this thing to believe it. The reviews I read rate this thing highly, which is why I bought it. Bottom line - I ain't giving it up! For those of you wondering and/or asking about the speakeasy, you owe it to yourself to hear it in action.
Charlie
7/29/02
A Speakeasy Pre-amp has really brought this unit alive. Fuller sound and when I change the drawbars the V3 tone change corresponds to the settings. The rest of the band is excited too, though I'm the one with the bill. :-) We all pay to play!
RG
6/20/02
I use a Speakeasy preamp with my CX3 going into two Motion Sound (pro3t and KC500 and KBR 3D) . I have to say it is a Killer Sound. I also use this setup with my Voce V5. KILLER SOUND!!!!! When I used my V5 module for the Ray Charles rehearsal with my Speakeasy preamp and the spin II going stereo into the board, He LOVED IT. He even compared me to Billy Preston (WOW). He even let me take a solo on America the Beautiful!!!!!!!!.
MikeW
6/10/02
Last night I was playing my V5 thru the Speakeasy preamp into my 145 and I gotta say....I just LOVE the Hell outta my rig. Not in 20 years have I been this pleased...it's so nice to finally have great tone and not be jonesing for anything more. It's truly an inspiring set-up, and my playing shows because all night long I'm just going AAAHHHHHHHHH.
Bill
4/24/02
Got my Vintage Clone Preamp and no shit, it does exactly what Steve said it would do. I got the air back in my sound, the Balz, and got rid of those tinny high notes on my XB2. I am done searching for that elusive combination of gear that allows me to gig without a hernia. I use the preamp with my XB2 and Motion Sound KBR-3D. I will now take on any and all challengers for getting the closest sound to the real thing possible. I feel honored to be on the ground floor of Speakeasy's and Motion Sounds cooperation in giving us old farts the sound we can live with, and most importantly, are able to tote.
Happy Pappy in San Diego
11/19/01
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