Gain staging with active Rhodes

[eki70]

Hi all,

I have an active VV Piano and a Rhodes Mk2 with the Avion Retroflyer preamp. I usually run them directly (through some stomp boxes) to a mixer and PA. Sounds good and clean.

However, for those special moments I'd like to sometime experiment running the pianos into a Fender tube guitar amp. Are there any best practises for gain staging in this kind of a setup - how much gain/volume should I be running at the piano´s preamp´s end, and how much at the guitar amp? Or should I go with a passive output to the guitar amp?

Any experiences are greatly appreciated!

[spave]

I don't have any personal experience on this but if no one else responds then I would reach out to VV for their opinion.

They actually did a comparison video on DI and their own tube amp a few years ago. Not sure if the signal into the amp was through the preamp but they would definitely know the best combination for the sound you want.

Here is the link to the comparison video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BlvVLCQ8Sg

I am curious on what happened to their VV50 tube amp project though. I have never heard of anyone owning one and it seems like the prototype(s)? have been kept as test amps for VV's workshop.

Hope this helps

[Jenzz]

Hi .-)

If your Fender amp has a a high / low input option (like on a TwinReverb / ProReverb), allways choos the 'low' input. VV and the RetroFlyer are operating at line level at the outputs (if turned up full), so chances are you will overdrive the input stages of the amp when using the 'high' input, regardless of the volume setting at the Amp. This is because of the inner signal flow (input --> first gain stage --> EQ --> Volume --> 2nd gain stage -->....

Jenzz