Varialogue1 Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 I saw a post over on the Helix forum where someone is raving about the 'tube coloration' the ART preamp gives to the helix. They hook it up to the effects loop of the helix and place it prior to the cabs. Does anyone think this could make the Firehawk tones fatter and warmer? Has anyone tried it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ppiluk Posted November 24, 2015 Share Posted November 24, 2015 I am picking my Firehawk up thursday so obviously I have never tried this but there seems to be some logic to it. I might pick one of these up along with my Firehawk is the music store has one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Varialogue1 Posted November 24, 2015 Author Share Posted November 24, 2015 Cheers ppiluk. The art tube pedals going for buttons on eBay. Might just order one. Let me know if you get a chance to try it. We are either gifted tone prophets sent to unlock the highest level of tone sweetness...or we're fools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ppiluk Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 Picked up my Firehawk today but the store didn't have the ART Preamp in stock. I will look online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Varialogue1 Posted December 6, 2015 Author Share Posted December 6, 2015 Just bagged one on eBay. Should be here in few days. I'll let you know if it's a waste of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ppiluk Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 I hope it will...I suspect it will make a small but noticeable difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Varialogue1 Posted December 10, 2015 Author Share Posted December 10, 2015 My Tube preamp has arrived. Let the experimentation begin.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ppiluk Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 I can't wait to hear about your experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Varialogue1 Posted December 11, 2015 Author Share Posted December 11, 2015 Well I've had an hour or 2 with the art tube v3 linked up to the fx loop of the Firehawk. I was using it through headphones. I was filled with warm hope after a minute when the little valve began to glow inside the preamp. I played around with various clean and high gain sounds, placing the fx loop before and after the amp, tried out the different input and output levels and wasn't really impressed. However after a lot of playing time, when I turned off the preamp I kept feeling that my original Firehawk tone was missing something. The upshot is that There is a small but noticeable improvement to the warmth of the tone in my opinion and I genuinely think I now can't do without it! It must be placed after the amp and before other effects in the chain. It seems. Ps I really hope I'm not imagining the difference so I would welcome any one else's views who is able to try it out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ppiluk Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 Thanks for the report! I think I am going to pick one up and try it for myself. Its pretty cheap so I think is worth a try! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Varialogue1 Posted December 12, 2015 Author Share Posted December 12, 2015 I ended up playing Red House for an hour. The Woodstock version. I have a red house tone which is dropped down a half step using the bender effect. When I turned off the wee ART v3 after that time it definitely felt like the fire went out somehow. As an aside, why would any of us want to 'break out of the pentatonic rut' when Hendrix makes music like this from almost one position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ppiluk Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 It is amazing how many of the best guitar players are able to get such a wide variety of music out of a limited number of notes. BB King even has a section of the guitar named after him...the BB Box! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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