Revelation preamps.....anyone using them?

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 18 Jun 2008 9:18 am

I don't see much about the Revelation or Tonic preamps anymore. They both seemed to be hot ticket items during the last 18 months, but lately I'm no longer finding many references to either on the forum.

Who is using them?
How do they sound?
How are they different tone-wise?
In combination with what power amps and FX?

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 18 Jun 2008 10:48 am

Just do a search under "electronics" for Revelation and you will get a lot of responses.

seldomfed · Post by **seldomfed** » 18 Jun 2008 10:53 am

I'm a new owner (yahoo) so still getting into it. Love it! I like the tone, and flexibility, and the fact I can have all controls next to me (in a rack) which was one reason I got it. I've enjoyed trying it with guitars, lap steels and the pedal steel. Primary use will be for pedal steel. Absolutely lovely tone possibilities, worth the money!

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 18 Jun 2008 10:58 am

Erv Niehaus wrote:Just do a search under "electronics" for Revelation and you will get a lot of responses.

Search reveals nothing that is both comprehensive and recent.

Stephen Silver · Post by **Stephen Silver** » 18 Jun 2008 11:33 am

I've had my Rev for about 6 months and the people I have been playing with have had nothing but great things to say about my tone (now, my playing, that's another story!)

It's warm, extremely flexible, yea it sits right next to me so I have the ability to dial it in during the first couple of songs. Plus, Brad Sarno is just a great guy and has been very helpful when needed.

All in all the only thing that comes close is my FSK with the Black Box fronting it...and it's not really that close.

SS

Roger Francis · Post by **Roger Francis** » 18 Jun 2008 12:38 pm

I've had mine about 1 1/2 yrs and love it, as mentioned it's very flexable on getting the tone you want. It's a nice warm tube sound, very clean. I use mine with a mosvalve 500 and it's a great combination. As far as effects, just about any good rack mount, or stomp box [before the amp] sounds good. I use a TC electronics G sharp with mine and i have no complaints at all. As far as power amps and speakers, it's your choice.

Jonathan Cullifer · Post by **Jonathan Cullifer** » 18 Jun 2008 1:11 pm

I've had mine for a year. I love it, especially in the studio. I liked it from day one and it just keeps getting better.

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 18 Jun 2008 1:27 pm

Tony call Doug Jones when you come to town and check out his Tonic.

Larry Behm

Dean Parks · Post by **Dean Parks** » 18 Jun 2008 4:19 pm

Paul Franklin borrowed my rig for the recent Lyle Lovett CD "It's Not Big, It's Large".

Revelation preamp, one side of a Mosvalve 80 watt power amp, speaker is old orange JBL 120 in a Fender extension cabinet. Volume pedal in the front send/return loop.

His Franklin on everything but "I Will Rise Up...", which was my Carter SD-10.

Good soundbytes on iTunes.

-dean-

Danny Letz · Post by **Danny Letz** » 18 Jun 2008 4:54 pm

I have a Tonic and I have to admit I had a very long learning curve on it because of the range of control available. I am now glad to report that I really like it. I am running it into a little Stewert 200 power amp and into a cabinet loaded with a 15" BW. The only thing I would change would be to put rack ears on it. It makes a very compact, light weight little unit.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 18 Jun 2008 6:45 pm

Tony, I have been using a Revelation pre for about 2 and a half years now ...it's the best piece of kit of ever owned, or played through by a long shot. I quite often go direct from it in the studio and it still sounds fantastic. Try one out, or bite the bullet and call Brad.

Michael Hartz · Post by **Michael Hartz** » 19 Jun 2008 9:03 am

Tony, I've had one for two yrs. now and gig with it every weekend. I am still amazed at how awesome it still sounds.With my old Session 400's I was constantly tweeking my tone depending on where I was playing and the weather conditions ( humidity ). The Rev is truly set and forget. I have soundmen from nationally known sound companies tell me they like my steel tone and that they ran the EQ on the board straight up, no tweeking was necessary. I've never had that before. I would be willing to give up all the rest of my gear, steel included, before I'd even consider getting rid of my Rev. Oh and by the way, all the comments on my tone were running the Rev direct into the board (we use in-ears). It sounds even BETTER running into my Stewart amp and 15" JBL cabs.

Randy Beavers · Post by **Randy Beavers** » 19 Jun 2008 10:41 am

I have my Tonic packed in my suitcase. I'll be in Lincoln City, Oregon this Friday and Saturday night at the Chinook Winds Casino with Lee Ann Womack. If you get a chance come on out.

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 19 Jun 2008 1:45 pm

I've had mine for something like a year and a half. It is, hands down, the most gratifying piece of music gear I've ever bought.

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 19 Jun 2008 7:33 pm

Randy Beavers wrote:I have my Tonic packed in my suitcase. I'll be in Lincoln City, Oregon this Friday and Saturday night at the Chinook Winds Casino with Lee Ann Womack. If you get a chance come on out.

Love to come out and see you, but I'll be out of town this weekend.

Just out of curiosity: Why the Tonic over the Revelation?........Portability?........Tone?

Jerry Gleason · Post by **Jerry Gleason** » 19 Jun 2008 10:28 pm

I chose the Tonic over the Revelation partly because it was more affordable, but portability and the built-in reverb were the deciding factors. I love my Tonic preamp. Brad is a great guy to deal with, too.

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 20 Jun 2008 3:20 am

I have been using the Revelation preamp for about 3 years.. I still love it !!
Hook

Roger Crawford · Post by **Roger Crawford** » 20 Jun 2008 4:25 am

I'd love to hear what effects units you guys are using. Seems like some of the TC units are getting some bad press.

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 20 Jun 2008 6:57 am

Tony you would only have to travel 100 miles to Eugene to hook up with Jerry Gleason and check out the Tonic.

Jerry is a monster player with a capital "M", it would be worth your while just to meet him and hear him play.

Once again, the NW has a bucket full of really good steelers, I love the brotherhood.

Larry Behm

Stephen Silver · Post by **Stephen Silver** » 20 Jun 2008 7:04 am

I have tried out two effects units, the Lexicon MX200 and the TC M350.

The Lexicon has a lot of nice features, but after checking both out thoroughly, the TC is what is in the rack case. I haven't had a lick of a problem, but then it is only 6 months old.

SS

Michel Rose · Post by **Michel Rose** » 20 Jun 2008 6:53 pm

I have been using the Rev for about a year now ,
Live and in the Studio , i couldn't do without it.
thank you Brad Sarno .

Dickie Whitley · Post by **Dickie Whitley** » 21 Jun 2008 9:12 am

Glenn Porter · Post by **Glenn Porter** » 21 Jun 2008 5:48 pm

I am using the Rev and TC-M350 on the road every night.
On stage and in the studio it sounds great, and I have had no problems.

Glenn

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 22 Jun 2008 6:32 pm

Ive had mine for six months. Im also running TC Furlongs 310w split cabs with it....Incredible!....

J. Dean Mooney · Post by **J. Dean Mooney** » 23 Jun 2008 5:59 pm

Tony, I have been using mine for a couple of months. If you like the warm Tube sound you will love it. Seems like I,m getting better adjustments every time I use it. Right now I,m using it in the power section of NV 400 and NV 112,s I had a complete Rack system but sold my Power Amp. Any way I don,t thinnk you will regret getting one if you do. I tried to e-mail you but guess I don,t have the right address E-Mail me if you get a chance. Thanks JDean

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Revelation preamps.....anyone using them?

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