Outboard preamp recommendations?

[Espresto]

I'm looking to get an outboard preamp to use with a Fender Precision, and a Modulus VJ (fretless). I want to get a clear, articulate sound that can be deep and punchy if necessary. A preamp with a DI would be ideal, but it isn't absolutely necessary. I play jazz fusion and djent-y stuff. Do you guys have any ideas or recommendations? Under $500 would be nice.

I've been liking the sound of the Sadowsky outboard preamp, I've found a (overpriced) Fodera 2010 preamp on the Chinese equivalent of eBay, and it seems like you can't go five feet on music street here without seeing an Xotic BB.

I hate to feel like I'm just asking you guys to do all the work for me in finding the right preamp, but, unfortunately, I live in China, so it's almost impossible to try a lot of stuff out here. I depend almost entirely on TB for gear recommendations. I promise I'll put up a review for whatever preamp I end up with, or contribute to the community in some other way.

[CElton]

Consider an Aguilar Tone Hammer Pre/DI. Plenty of tones in that box, from Modern to Vintage.

[foderaman]

I have a 2000 Fodera Pre that I kept over the Aguilar Tone Hammer because I prefered the tone greatly over the Tone Hammer.Doesnt have a DI in the 2000 not sure about the 2010 Pre?Dont know about the New Sadowsky but I searched and found a Old Sadowsky Belt clip Model and Love it!

[Bassmec]

Originally Posted by Espresto

I'm looking to get an outboard preamp to use with a Fender Precision, and a Modulus VJ (fretless). I want to get a clear, articulate sound that can be deep and punchy if necessary. A preamp with a DI would be ideal, but it isn't absolutely necessary. I play jazz fusion and djent-y stuff. Do you guys have any ideas or recommendations? Under $500 would be nice.

I've been liking the sound of the Sadowsky outboard preamp, I've found a (overpriced) Fodera 2010 preamp on the Chinese equivalent of eBay, and it seems like you can't go five feet on music street here without seeing an Xotic BB.

I hate to feel like I'm just asking you guys to do all the work for me in finding the right preamp, but, unfortunately, I live in China, so it's almost impossible to try a lot of stuff out here. I depend almost entirely on TB for gear recommendations. I promise I'll put up a review for whatever preamp I end up with, or contribute to the community in some other way.

Where you live there is loads of tube amp and tube pre amp bowfins
As far as I can gather, why not get the schematic for something and get some bloke to build it really well.
I have a large number of pre amps by some of the best names but often find myself using an old SVT IIP or a Mesa Studio pre if I want crunch
Or dirt in it.
Chinese firm Golden age products make a Neve 1073 clone that would make a good start, then you can get a decent EQ already built in some Chinese made power amps these days.
Where do Amcron make theirs?

[gillento]

If you like the Sadowsky preamp, I'd go for the RMI Basswitch IQ DI.
That's what I did!
I played Sadowsky basses for years and since I play passive Nordys, the Basswitch is the BEST outboard preamp there is!

note: the Xotic BB is not a clean preamp (RC is better option), it is a drive pedal!

[Rob L]

I really like the Sadowsky preamp peda (BPDI)l. I think it's a great sounding pre and DI.

[Got2SadowskyNYC]

Depends on what you want to do with it.

If you want to use it as a DI and augment you amps tone, the Sadowsky is great. It's the same preamp that it's the bass. The Trebal and Bass knobs are BOOST ONLY and NO MID CONTROL. It's so quite and discrete. Other good options: Aguilar Tone Hammer It's the same idea as the Sadowsky but with more control. SansAmp Bass Driver, Works great not as quite but with nice drive function. EBS MicroBass 2 You can use it like a SansAmp but it's designed to drive a power amp.

If you want to to drive a power amp you can do it with the above BUT it's better to have something designed to do that. There are very few options for you. I use the EBS MicroBass 2. It's a 2 channel bass pre in a stomp box format. I've used it for several years. At the time it was pretty much the only thing on the market in the USA. I bought it with out every trying one. I told EBS what I was wanting to do and with what. They said they designed it to do what I was useing it for but very few people did. It's incredible.

I REALLY want to try the Basswitch IQ but that bad boy's $600 USD. Everyone I've talked to that's tried it absolutly loves it. I'm on the edge of getting one.

If you're going to use it in the studio, get the more expensive units. You're paying for quiet, hiss free. Live, it's not as important.