Pricing and availability
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Average Price: $1,800
High-end/Boutique
$119
$300+
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Description
Bass guitar sounds best through tubes, especially when running direct! Tubes distort gradually with low-order harmonics, which are perfect musical intervals. The second harmonic is an octave, the third harmonic is a fifth above the octave, the fourth harmonic is a second octave, etc. This is the reason tubes sound so good, and you will notice it. Their subtle distortion provides the natural harmonics lacking in electronic instruments, and restores the dimension and feel of your bass as it was intended to be heard.
Measuring just 7 1/2” x 5” and weighing less than 3 pounds, the Noble preamp DI will change the way you think about vacuum tube gear. To keep weight to a minimum the preamp is housed in a precision machined aluminum enclosure, which is three times lighter than steel. Aluminum also delivers 30X better electrical shielding, providing a super quiet low noise backdrop for studio recording or pristine live sound. And the Noble preamp DI includes six 2ft (0.6m) DC cables to power your tuner, compressor, octave, fuzz, or other pedals from the onboard filtered and regulated 9V DC supply.
Product specs
| Brand | Noble |
| Model | Dual Vacuum Tube Preamp / DI |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 2013 - 2021 |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | DI Boxes, Microphone Preamps |
FAQs
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What makes the Noble Tube Preamp DI stand out from other DI boxes?
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The Noble Tube Preamp DI is renowned for its dual vacuum tube design, which provides a warm, vintage sound with an ultra-low noise floor. Its high input impedance is particularly beneficial for piezo pickups, making it a top choice for acoustic instruments.
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Can the Noble Tube Preamp DI be used with electric bass guitars?
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Yes, the Noble Tube Preamp DI is highly favored by bass players for its ability to enhance the natural tone of electric bass guitars, delivering a balanced and enriched sound.
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Does the Noble Tube Preamp DI require an external power supply?
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Yes, the Noble Tube Preamp DI requires an external power supply to operate, ensuring consistent performance and optimal sound quality.
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How durable is the Noble Tube Preamp DI for live performances?
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The Noble Tube Preamp DI is built with robust construction, making it highly durable and reliable for both studio use and live performances.
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Is the Noble Tube Preamp DI suitable for home studio recording?
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Absolutely, the Noble Tube Preamp DI is ideal for home studio setups, providing a tube-driven channel strip experience that enhances the quality of recordings with its rich, vintage sound.
Videos
IvanBassist
Bass Preamp/DI Comparison (Noble, Darkglass, Sansamp, Aguilar)
Reviews
PROS
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Delivers warm, full tubey sound that enhances bass tone
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Highly praised for tone clarity in live and recording settings
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Simple design with high-quality color shaping capabilities
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Consistently receives compliments on tone and signal cleanliness
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Considered a high-tier option among pedal/desktop DI offerings
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Offers excellent sound when not using an amp, ideal for studio or live DI use
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Users express willingness to repurchase immediately if necessary
CONS
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Noble Tube Preamp DI.
Features and functionality
Comparisons
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Owners find the Aguilar Tone Hammer can replicate the Noble's sound with AGS on, gain at 8:30, treble rolled back, bass boosted slightly, and mids adjusted.
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The Neptunium was swapped for an RNDI and DCX Bass, offering more drive and fuzz options, highlighting the flexibility of alternative setups.
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Use cases and applications
User experience
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Some users experience the law of diminishing returns with the Noble, noting that while it's phenomenal, cheaper alternatives like the Tone Hammer suffice for most needs.
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An owner reports integrating other preamps like DCX and bassman/svt origin through the Noble, resulting in a noticeably fatter sound.
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Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 4 Ratings
Artist usage
Add artist
"Official DI for Tedeschi Trucks Band studio. We've used it on every track of the new record. Bobby Tis the engineer loves it." Tim Lefebvre (David Bowie, Tedeschi Trucks Band, others)
"I'm hooked! Had a great time filming a little @nobleamps video with the gang. Thanks to: @kennycorsomusic @thepatchen"
In this Instagram post Ian Martin Allison shows his pedalboard where the Noble Tube DI is seen. This board is regularly used in Ian’s videos for Scott’s Bass Lessons.
In this post, L.A. Sound Design shared the pedalboard they made for Death Cab for Cutie. There's a Noble Tube Preamp seen on Nick's pedalboard.
This video that Tim Feerick posted on his YouTube channel features him performing "Head Hunter" from his band "Dance Gavin Dance". In the description, he lists the gear he used for this performance, which includes the Noble Tube Preamp DI. In the comments, Tim further explains that he used the Noble DI in his signal chain for the entirety of their newest album. Given the time frame this comment was made, it would suggest that the album Tim mentioned using the Noble DI on would be "Afterburner" by Dance Gavin Dance.
In an Instagram post by jellyquinn, Joey Howard's pedal board features the Noble Tube Preamp DI, highlighting its use during his tour with Paramore.
Featured in this March 10, 2016 video by Noble. Heller is also quoted on the official product page.
Three knobs and the truth. It is so killer. I'm rethinking my entire signal chain.
In video description:
"Recorded on a custom Fender 70's Music Master with a Noble DI/Preamp and a Cali 76 Compressor in Abelton 9."
Album Usage
The Noble Tube Preamp DI has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Noble Tube Preamp DI, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Similar
Add recommendation5 alternative and related items for Noble Tube Preamp DI, curated by the Equipboard community.
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A very different kind of DI box but a solid alternative at a fraction of the cost.
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The HX One models many pedals, the Nobel DI being one. While it doesn’t sound exactly the same, it’s close enough for the bar audiences to not know the difference and costs £1k less!
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