Genz Benz users - something to boost my input signal

SteveC · #1 06-01-2010, 09:47 PM

So after years of playing active basses, I have gone passive. so far I like it. When I had active basses, I was getting a light on the "Signal" LED on my Shuttle. I don't any more. I was debating getting something to boost my signal so I would "hit" the input with a little more signal.

Thoughts? I was thinking Avalon U5 or something...a good excuse to get one again.

bongomania · #2 06-01-2010, 09:49 PM

The U5 would be way overkill for that purpose. There are acres of really nice-sounding clean boost pedals available, so read up on those over in the FX forum.

dmusic148 · #3 06-01-2010, 09:52 PM

Can't you just raise the Input Gain knob on the shuttle to accomplish the same thing? That's what it's there for.

John Bigboote · #4 06-01-2010, 10:05 PM

IME, boosting the preamp gain and volume might not be enough to get the job done.

I sold a Peavey preamp lately, and to let the buyer hear it first, I plugged it into the input and return channels of my Shuttle 9.0.

*Damn* but it woke that head up! I hadn't realized until then how much "preamp headroom" that amp has. I'd never gotten anywhere close to overdriving the preamp, even with a 9V active bass, or from a SansAmp at instrument level; now I know that you can hit it with all kinds of signal without any problem.

(I'm convinced that people who complain that the Shuttles are underpowered/overrated simply aren't driving them with a hot enough signal; what's normal for another amp might be too weak for a Shuttle.)

I haven't gigged with it recently, but I'm going to experiment driving it with a BDDI at line level... but I also have a clean-boosting MXR MicroAmp and I'll play with that, too.

-jb

SteveC · #5 06-01-2010, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmusic148

Can't you just raise the Input Gain knob on the shuttle to accomplish the same thing? That's what it's there for.

I had them both maxed and the "signal" light never hit. I'm sure the GB guys will chime in soon enough.

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Bigboote

IME, boosting the preamp gain and volume might not be enough to get the job done. I'd never gotten anywhere close to overdriving the preamp, even with a 9V active bass. (I'm convinced that people who complain that the Shuttles are underpowered/overrated simply aren't driving them with a hot enough signal; what's normal for another amp might be too weak for a Shuttle.)

I'm not complaining about my Shuttle, but I do wonder about this.

agedhorse · #6 06-02-2010, 09:43 PM

For low level passive pickups, where you want a little input overdrive, a simple preamp pedal or boost pedal should do the trick. 12dB should be plenty.

The problem we all face is that most manufactures have moved away from low level passive pickups and onto hot actives. Some are stupid-hot at >+4dBu output level and can drive a power amp directly w/out a preamp!!! We must accomodate the range at the top end or unavoidable (and uncorrectable) distortion is the result, that leaves the few players at the other end needing a little bit more if they want to drive the preamp harder. Fdeck had a cute FET pramp project bumping around here, very similar to a circuit that I used once a long time ago. Highly recommended if you have some technical chops and the urge to learn a little.

SteveC · #7 06-02-2010, 09:59 PM

Cool. This may be a moot point as I'm not sure I'm going to stay passive - as much as I like it I miss some of the tonal options a by-passable active preamp can give.

PatrickEdmonds · #8 06-02-2010, 10:12 PM

Maybe the LED burned out...

1kinal · #9 06-02-2010, 11:46 PM

I use a Zeibek Submarine in front of my shuttle 6. I like it so much that I bought a 2nd one to leave in my gig bag for when I don't need to carry my pedalboard. The submarine is now always on. It's that good.

I'd also recommend the Xotic RC booster for what you're trying to achieve.

Have a look on the effects forum, you'll find a lot of stuff.

LeonD · #10 06-03-2010, 06:26 AM

Look into a Fulltone Fatboost. It's very transparent, has up to 35 db of gain and has treble / bass controls to do minimal tone shaping.

OTOH, I have a passive bass that has WAY more output than any of my active basses. I realize that some pickups are just low output but how far away are the pickups from the strings? Could you get a little more gain by moving them closer?

Juan Count · #11 06-03-2010, 06:34 AM

I run my passive basses through a Sadowsky Preamp/DI pedal prior to my Genz Benz GBE 600... sounds great... plenty of gain/input level to play with...

Lee Barker · #12 06-03-2010, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeonD

I realize that some pickups are just low output but how far away are the pickups from the strings? Could you get a little more gain by moving them closer?

Excellent comment, and a reminder that with challenges like this it's good to back up a little and look at the whole signal chain.

pablomigraine · #13 06-03-2010, 07:27 AM

FWIW I use a Boss LMB-3 pedal in front of the amp, and turn it up a bit past unity gain with my passive basses.

gm2_in_co · #14 06-03-2010, 07:37 AM

I've wanted a Bassbone for the switching anyway. Would it serve up the needed boost? I use almost all old passives.

DiabolicLow B · #15 06-03-2010, 07:41 AM

I have just added a VT Bass before my passive Dingwall into my Shuttle 6 and it can increase the signal quite a bit plus it sounds fantastic, really fattens up the tone.

SteveC · #16 06-03-2010, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeonD

Look into a Fulltone Fatboost. It's very transparent, has up to 35 db of gain and has treble / bass controls to do minimal tone shaping.

OTOH, I have a passive bass that has WAY more output than any of my active basses. I realize that some pickups are just low output but how far away are the pickups from the strings? Could you get a little more gain by moving them closer?

I'm puzzled because it actually sounds louder than when my bass was active. I don't recall for sure but I thought that I was lighting the signal LED when I first went passive. Maybe the LED is burned out. I guess I need to find a hot bass and try it to see. Off to the music store...

buffordbass · #17 06-03-2010, 08:19 AM

I use an MXR-M80 and it makes a world of difference too!!

SteveC · #18 06-03-2010, 10:39 PM

Never mind. Operator error. The issue was at "home" volume. At rehearsal tonight it was just fine.

Evolver · #19 06-03-2010, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

The U5 would be way overkill for that purpose. There are acres of really nice-sounding clean boost pedals available, so read up on those over in the FX forum.

True. But I did it anyway and I really like some of the sounds I can get with the U5 into a GBE 750. And, though I haven't tried very many DI's, a U5 going to FOH works really well. That said, I kinda hate taking the U5 to gigs - too nice for most the places I play and I depend on it for my home studio. Oh, and the rack ears aren't exactly cheap... Still, for about three years, I don't leave home w/o it...

blendermassacre · #20 06-04-2010, 01:43 AM

Maybe this is a better solution for my shuttle 6.0. I have it on the market, mainly because I couldn't get any drive out of it whatsoever, and having ditched an all tube head for the 6.0, I was missing the warmth.