Best Bass preamp?

[bschuylerm]

Had 1 of these for a minute, love the tone! It is the pre section out of the SVT 2 Pro, just doesn't weigh 70 lbs. Comes in a 1u rack mount & can be found used for around $300. Has 5 tubes that can be used to really dirty up the tone in a good way.

[iualum]

An enthusiastic additional endorsement for the Kern. I'll include a Read Purity on the same level, which is to say top of the heap.

[adk teleman]

My favorite is my old BBE 383 Bass Preamp which I have used since the 90's. I am able to get the perfect sound dialed in and it is just too easy to operate!

[nostatic]

[johnk_10]

I've owned quite a few and the UA6176 is still my fave out of all of them.

[johnk_10]

I really like this one too that I built from a kit:

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by johnk_10

I really like this one too that I built from a kit:

That this in pretty sweet! does it have enough output to drive a power amp?

[Codger]

Originally Posted by johnk_10

+1

my personal favorite: UA 6176. (& i've owned and tried quite a few different pre's)

John, how do you like that 1176 compressor? I've thought of building a clone but I've been told that it is more suitable for recording vocals (which doesn't make sense IMO).

[johnk_10]

Originally Posted by CL400Peavey

That this in pretty sweet! does it have enough output to drive a power amp?

yep.

[johnk_10]

Originally Posted by Codger

John, how do you like that 1176 compressor? I've thought of building a clone but I've been told that it is more suitable for recording vocals (which doesn't make sense IMO).

it has an 1176 compressor in it and that's the best bass compressor I've ever used for bass. I even like it better than my empirical labs distressor, and that's saying ALOT.

[DaRQsiDe]

Originally Posted by johnk_10

I've owned quite a few and the UA6176 is still my fave out of all of them.

This is what heaven should look like...

[tombowlus]

Originally Posted by nostatic

+1 It's probably between Monique and my Kern IP-777, for me.

[zon6c-f]

DISCLAIMER: To each their own. We will all offer our faves, as "BEST"....

My faves are: 1)Furman pq-3, 4 6 and 8. I oWn a re issue black faced pq-3; preamp and fully parametric. Makes my anemic sounding olfd Kustom 200 sound GREAT; Like it has JBL's instead of CTS.
2) Line 6; I own a pod; an effects box. Line 6 offers many others; each is a pre-amp with tons of other features.
3) Korg Pandora PBX-4. Also a preamp with tons of effects.

[devilman666]

Eden NAvigator is my number one by far
Pope
sans amp

[Bassmann1968]

Eden NAV or H&K Bassmaster

[Emibass]

For recording only I use a UA LA-610 first generation. Sounds pretty good on bass and vocals.

My brother has a Focusrite Red 8 and with a passive DI the bass tone is to die for.

[dukeorock]

I'm with JohnK on the UA 6176. I have one and it's amazing, but it stays racked up in the studio...I don't know how well it'd hold up to touring and at that price, I have no desire to find out

If you want a super clean feature packed pre with a very useable compressor, the ART Pro Channel 2 is really tough to beat at its price point. Got one brand new for $229 and free shipping from the 'bay. Possibly the most underrated pre out there.

For a no nonsense great bass sound on the cheap, the Aguilar Tone Hammer Pre/DI is awesome as well. Just over $200, takes phantom power, has a good DI and is slightly bigger than the average stomp box...really nice.

Haven't tried one yet, but the PreSonus Eureka Pro is getting rave reviews for bass/vocals in the audio recording world and costs only $500. That could be worth looking into as well

[BurningSkies]

Originally Posted by tombowlus

+1 It's probably between Monique and my Kern IP-777, for me.

Hi Tom,

I agree. Those are the two I own these days. Although the Monique gets way more play. I used the Kern the other night as a make shift rig with a LMII, and it sounded great, and I remembered what I love about it.

[DaRQsiDe]

By the way, if anyone wants to buy an Art Pro Channel, there is two brand new on eBay for $229, shipping included

[pbassnut]

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

An 800RB is pretty damn good already...

Have you thought about an Ampeg SVP-CL?

Lotsa great ones out there, but an enthusiastic +1 on the Ampeg SVP-CL ... especially if you play a P-Bass strung with roundwounds and want a good rock sound.