Nobelium - tube bass preamp project

[Passinwind]

Again there may have been other factors leading to them offering that, but it made me smile because I felt like I was actually listened to.

Those guys defintely do listen and have on occasion started stocking various parts I've asked for over the years. Both Mouser and Digikey will at least look into doing so as well, IME.

 

[XjFred]

Psvane are Chinese. I recognize that they are one of the better Chinese tubes out there, but I personally don't like them. JJ are made in Slovakia so they should be easier to source than Russian tubes in Europe. JJ are my favorite because they're reasonably priced and kind of "middle of the road" tonally; I don't find them to be "too much" of anything.

TAD in Germany is also a reasonable option, though I recognize they aren't a manufacturer, they just test and relabel tubes from other manufacturers. I assume Musikding uses Psvane instead of TAD because Psvane are less expensive even when TAD is in the same country as Musikding. I don't think Musikding offered tube projects before he started carrying my boards, so I don't know if he does enough volume to warrant working out a bulk deal with a local source like TAD.

I've just reached a specialist of tubes here in France. He has recommended me a matched pairs of JJ Gold Pins 12au7 after having studied the Nobelium schematic.
I also grab a pair of 12ax7 for my incoming Bassdude (Tad V1+ selected and Tad 12ax7B), same process, the guy looked carefully at the schematic before recomandation.

 

[XjFred]

Problem solved for me. 2 new JJ Goldpins and the preamp works just as it should.

Now, I'm waiting for a Bassdude, ordered more than 2 weeks ago at Musikding. I hope to receive it during August 2026. Finger cross.

 

[XjFred]

Just to add more wind to the windmill :
I have a new bass !! My first passive bass : a Maybach Motone P. With it, the Nobelium has absolutely no noise. I used to plug my other basses in it, all active fitted with Sadowsky preamps and even if noises had 99% disappeared with my new tubes, I could still hear some in a silent room when volume knob was full open.
With the passive Maybach nothing can be heard. Probably because this one has the pick up cavity isolated.