Sarno Tube Preamp?

[Ozopart]

Has anyone had any experience with any of the Sarno Music Tube Preamps? I found them in researching Jerry Garcia equipment. They look interersting, and combined with a sold state power amp they look like they might make a nice rack system.

 

[Lbpesq]

While I don’t have one, I have played with several people that do. They’ve also been discussed extensively at a Grateful Dead forum: rukind.com. They are amazing preamps. Brad makes two versions, the original and one with “Jerry mods”. The only reason I haven’t picked one up is that I was already playing through an Alembic F-2B preamp when the Sarno came out. I have a Sarno Earthdrive on my board and had one of his Black Boxes. Brad makes excellent products.

Bill, tgo

 

[Ozopart]

While I don’t have one, I have played with several people that do. They’ve also been discussed extensively at a Grateful Dead forum: rukind.com. They are amazing preamps. Brad makes two versions, the original and one with “Jerry mods”. The only reason I haven’t picked one up is that I was already playing through an Alembic F-2B preamp when the Sarno came out. I have a Sarno Earthdrive on my board and had one of his Black Boxes. Brad makes excellent products.

Bill, tgo

I imagine the Alembic is considerably better being priced at $3,300. And their guitars seem to be over $20K. Not in my budget for sure.
While I love the Dead, and in saw them dozens of times from the late 60's to the later 70's, I am not trying to sound like Jerry, as I am certain no amount of identical equipment would allow me to have his fingers and brain. But I do like the pure/clean tone and in general that is what I am searching for. I haven't found that yet with my Fractal FM3 and EVPXM12-MP FRFR.
If the Sarno Tube preamp is a good piece of equipment for working towards a cleaner sound, it would be a nice purchase, and not too expensive either. Only downside is it is non-returnable. But at $710 it isn't a huge investment. I was thinking of maybe pairing it with a KSR 100w power amp, and maybe a KSR 2x12 cabinet with possibly the Weber Ceramic Michigan 12 speakers.
So many choices and options, and so little budget!

 

[Spud]

I imagine the Alembic is considerably better being priced at $3,300. And their guitars seem to be over $20K. Not in my budget for sure.
While I love the Dead, and in saw them dozens of times from the late 60's to the later 70's, I am not trying to sound like Jerry, as I am certain no amount of identical equipment would allow me to have his fingers and brain. But I do like the pure/clean tone and in general that is what I am searching for. I haven't found that yet with my Fractal FM3 and EVPXM12-MP FRFR.
If the Sarno Tube preamp is a good piece of equipment for working towards a cleaner sound, it would be a nice purchase, and not too expensive either. Only downside is it is non-returnable. But at $710 it isn't a huge investment. I was thinking of maybe pairing it with a KSR 100w power amp, and maybe a KSR 2x12 cabinet with possibly the Weber Ceramic Michigan 12 speakers.
So many choices and options, and so little budget!

First things first, hows your beard game?

 

[Ozopart]

First things first, hows your beard gam

Stuble at the moment! But there were times I saw the Dead where Jerry didn't have a beard.

 

[Spud]

Ok, well I used to have a Sano solid state 1x12 amp long ago, probably no relation. Sounded good though.
For Jerry, just begin playing random arpeggios all over the fret board one after another!!

 

[Spud]

Stuble at the moment! But there were times I saw the Dead where Jerry didn't have a beard.

Maybe your recollections are a tad hazy? You did buy a toasted cheese sammy from one of the busses didn't you?

 

[Scab Pickens]

For Jerry, just begin playing random arpeggios all over the fret board one after another!!

Oh come on now, Spudster!

You did buy a toasted cheese sammy from one of the busses didn't you?

At my one and only Dead show (Jerry's last - Chicago), the Fromunder cheese was plentiful and downright pungent. Just kidding!

 

[Lbpesq]

If you saw Jerry sans beard, you got on the bus long ago, as did I. If you look around and are patient, you can pick up a used F-2B for <$1000. If I were in the market today, I’d probably go for the Sarno unit, if for no other reason than it includes reverb, which the Alembic doesn’t.

Bill, tgo

 

[Ozopart]

If you saw Jerry sans beard, you got on the bus long ago, as did I. If you look around and are patient, you can pick up a used F-2B for <$1000. If I were in the market today, I’d probably go for the Sarno unit, if for no other reason than it includes reverb, which the Alembic doesn’t.

Bill, tgo

Indeed it was a LONG time ago. Again, I saw them dozens of times, but really never after the late 70's early 80's. I was at Watkins Glen. Not the best show, but still good. I was at the 1974 Roosevelt Field show. That was a Wall of Sound show. A great show. The most memorable shows though were at the Fillmore East. I remember those shows well, even though I was a bit fogged during them. If you were ever at the Fillmore East and went into the bathroom, you would know what I mean. Anyway, the shows started at 8 p.m. with the NRPS playing for a couple of hours. Often Jerry playing banjo during those sets. Then an intermission. Then the Dead playing acoustic for a couple of hours. Then an intermission. Then the Dead playing electric until the early morning. I was young then.
Thanks for the info on the premaps. I am sort of indifferent about the inclusion of reverb, but since it is intended to be a reporuction of the Twin Reverb preamp section, it would really have to include reverb to be authentic. I had a Twin Reverb in the day, but sold it long ago. Too heavy, too loud.