Black box to Tonemaster Twin?

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 20 Apr 2022 6:24 am

Anyone using a Sarno black box to a Tonemaster Twin? I discovered some sweet tone using a Peavey Raxx tube preamp to the front of the Tonemaster twin and wondering if the black box might give the same results. I don't have a black box to try. The Peavey TG Raxx is a rack mount preamp and not as portable.

Jeremy King · Post by **Jeremy King** » 20 Apr 2022 6:42 am

I use a freeloader with my tonemaster twin and it sounds incredible... Really sweetens the sound. I image the Black Box adds a little more warmth than the freeloader. Can't go wrong with either.

George Macdonald · Post by **George Macdonald** » 20 Apr 2022 8:43 am

I use a Black Box here at home with my Tonemaster Twin and a Freeloader when I have played out. Both work well with the terrific amp.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 20 Apr 2022 9:41 am

Thanks guys. For me just a Goodrich 7a buffer didn't help but when I added the Peavey preamp and a Alesis midiverb before the amp it came alive. I have so many gadgets already that I'm hesitant to buy more. I considered the Freeloader instead of the Goodrich, but I have a couple 7a and 6a buffers that work well.

Jerry Van Hoose · Post by **Jerry Van Hoose** » 20 Apr 2022 3:39 pm

I have a Goodrich Baby Bloomer between my Sho~Bud volume pedal and Fender Twin Reverb Tone Master, gives it a little boost and ever so slight chorus effect. Baby Bloomer switch in middle position and knob between 12 & 2 o’clock. I don’t use any other effect with this setup besides onboard reverb at about #4.

Ken Metcalf · Post by **Ken Metcalf** » 21 Apr 2022 4:59 am

Yes for Black Box to ToneMaster Twin.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 21 Apr 2022 7:41 am

Thanks again fellas. Do you feel like it sweetens the tone? I was all over the map trying every imaginable setting and outboard gear until I hit on the tube preamp. What a difference it made. Also the additional reverb and delay was icing on the cake.

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 21 Apr 2022 12:12 pm

I use a Black Box in front of my 'Tonemaster Twin' (and with my Quilter 'TT-12' as well) and it does make a decided difference with both amps.

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 21 Apr 2022 2:07 pm

The Black Box IS Magic. The Freeloader is a great choice especially if you are using a tube amplifier. I personally for just MYSELF, and ONLY ME and ONLY in MY setup, Didn't get the Baby Bloomer to pull it's weight as a good buffer. It gave a lite chorus effect I 's'pose if you're looking for that which You're not. I found what works for ME: #1 Sarno Black Box
#2 Sarno Free Loader
#3 MESA Boogie-The "High Wire Dual Buffer & Output Boost" or The "Stowaway" & add the "Clearlink Reciever"

Any of the MESA Boogie buffers I mentioned above are also fine units, just a bit pricey (you git what ya pay for), but the MESA Boogie are about the only other buffers i will personally recommend AFTER the Sarno Musical Solution Buffers hope it helps.

With that being said, a funny thing that I found, all my effect units have either "True By Pass" or a "Buffered By Pass" all are dead silent. Unlike the old effect pedals I had as a young, long haired, skinny, boozing, or doing whatever, rock guitar player. I just like every other young rock guitarist back then, i was chasing the Jimi Hendrix sound. But those early units sounded incredible. Unlike some of the digital effects today. I still love my older noisy effect units I have put on display in my music room. Such as my old original Arbiter Fuzz Face, my older Electro Harmonix units & Maestro Fuzz, and Boomerang Wah pedal just to mention A few. A good buffer like the Steel Guitar Black Box/FreeLoader, still helps tame your cable runs, noisy introduced cheaper tuners, even noisy rack gear. Gotta have my Buffer/Booster/Gates, and my Universal Audio "OX Box"

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search ... l+audio+ox

Gotta Git Ya Hear....bye

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 24 Apr 2022 6:31 am

Well I purchased a black box from a forum member and hope to have it next week. I will post my results with the Tonemaster Twin and my Telonics tca 500. Hoping for a good improvement in tone.

Larry Beem · Post by **Larry Beem** » 25 Apr 2022 6:12 pm

I run a BB then, wet reverb, then Baby Bloomer. Its fantastic!!

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 25 Apr 2022 6:19 pm

Thanks Larry. The Bloomer may be in my near future.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 28 Apr 2022 2:18 pm

Got the Black box yesterday and put it to the test today. Had my son who is a professional musician as an observer. We both agree that the Black box adds a marked improvement in tone on both amps tried. I feel that it broadens the midrange and softened the highs making the overall tone sweeter and more developed. I'm very happy with the results. Now I will fabricate a bracket to attach to my steel legs.

Richard Alderson · Post by **Richard Alderson** » 28 Apr 2022 4:21 pm

I use Black Box with TCA 500 and I love it. Now that's not an objective opinion because I never heard my TCA without BB, but after seeing how much the Black Box improved my Peavey amps and smoothed them out, I will plug the BB into any amp that's not a tube amp first and I will ask questions later.

Tommy Boswell · Post by **Tommy Boswell** » 2 May 2022 5:36 pm

Larry Dering wrote:Now I will fabricate a bracket to attach to my steel legs.

I tried that one time and got interference because the Black Box was too close to the pickup. I think it might have been a single coil pickup. Just FYI.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 2 May 2022 7:46 pm

I don't find any interference but I mounted it about 13 inches below the pickup. I feel it adds a nice dimension to the notes and smoothes the higher pitch. It's much simpler and smaller than the Peavey rack preamp I have.

Tommy Boswell · Post by **Tommy Boswell** » 2 May 2022 8:33 pm

Agree about the Black Box. Mine hangs on the pack seat or lies on the floor.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 3 May 2022 5:09 am

Tommy, I considered hanging it on the seat and I may do that in the future. I prefer my cables away from my feet and the seat hanging is a problem for that. I need it to my right side. Shoot a picture of your bracket if you get a chance. I would make it a drop over the lip bracket rather than fastened.

Brooks Montgomery · Post by **Brooks Montgomery** » 3 May 2022 9:50 am

Here’s my hay-seed Twin Tonemaster technology for the Black Box and my other pedals. They are at the ready with my right hand, and the little pedal board and black box and cables go in the crate for carrying.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 3 May 2022 1:05 pm

Not bad for a quick fix.

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Black box to Tonemaster Twin?

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