Preamp Announcement!

[Shiveringbass]

Originally Posted by bassthumpa

Question... how good a match is the Audere pre with the bart pickups compared with a bart/bart setup? I had considered upgrading my LG to the Demeter pre, but since that's not an option anymore I'm curious about how bart/Audere might work out.

Hi there,

Hopefully, I'll be able to answer that question in a few weeks

or months...


OK Gard, I've been totaly silent about that Audere as promissed,


Have I win my wedge neck ?

[chadds]

Originally Posted by emjazz

The Audere will not give you the same glassy highs as the Demeter.

I think that Roscoe would've been better off getting rid of the OBP-1 and OBP-3 pre's.

I wouldn't want Roscoe to discontinue swamp ash because I prefer spanish cedar.
I think that the Audere and Demeter pre choice are in the same ball park if slightly different. Some of us still do demolition work with our Roscoes so the OPB-1 and OPB-3 are quite appropriate. I find that a powerful pre does most of the work and I can use my amps and preamps flat in most settings. I can play very gentle stuff even in singersongwriter settings so I am happy that the options at Roscoe are varied.

[Arthur U. Poon]

Originally Posted by emjazz

I think that Roscoe would've been better off getting rid of the OBP-1 and OBP-3 pre's.

Gosh, I certainly hope Roscoe hasn't done away the Aggie OBP-3 preamp; out of the preamps I've tried, it's my personal favorite. I haven't used my SKB3006 live for over a year until last night. I switched between my Lull with Duncan single coils and an OBP-3 preamp and my Roscoe with Bartolini pickups and preamp. I'd forgotten what a great horn-like midrangey sound my Roscoe has. Overall it's sound is a bit compressed, but it's still an awesome sound in my book.

I was really excited when I saw Nordstrand pickups as an option and ever since I've been planning on sending my Roscoe back to the shop to have a set put in it, and have it's Bartolini preamp replaced with an OBP-3. My only complaint with the Bartolini preamp is that in certain clubs I get a really nasty buzzing/hiss. The only way to eliminate it is to either turn my horns or my bass' treble control completely down. I sent it to the shop to have it looked at, but it acted like my car when it goes to the shop for a problem: -It healed itself until it came back home!

I'm now thinking that I want to leave the Bartolini pickups in my bass and change out the Bartolini preamp. I want to keep my bass' midrangey, horn-like sound, but I want to knock out as much of the buzzing/hiss that I can. I love the OBP-3, I don't have any experience with the Audere preamp.

Question for Gard and my fellow RoscoeHeads: I play mainly fingerstyle. I like a Jacoesoue/Jeff Berlin horn-like sound. Between the Audere and the OBP-3, which preamp does a better job at getting this sound with the least amount of noise?

Thanks,
Art

[poptart]

Art

For my money the Bart/Audere set up gives me that sound that you describe - I also play finger style and like a nice punchy sound. The aggie is good, just not as flexible IMO.

Boh are quiet - the Audere is probably the quieter of the two.

M

[Arthur U. Poon]

Originally Posted by poptart

Art

For my money the Bart/Audere set up gives me that sound that you describe - I also play finger style and like a nice punchy sound. The aggie is good, just not as flexible IMO.

Boh are quiet - the Audere is probably the quieter of the two.

M

Thanks for your reply poptart! I'm very interested in the Audere, at this point I'm leaning towards it.

Thanks again,
- Art

[Basso Gruvitas]

Arthur,
I think both preamps do a good job of getting you a Jaco-style tone. The Aguilar has more boost and cut and gives you more of a Music Man-style preamp tone.
The Audere is more natural, less "hyped up", but also gives you less headroom on the boost. It reminds me of plugging a bass into a recording console and getting the boost and cut from there, but you hear a very natural bass tone.

[coyoteboy]

I figure this is the best place for this question:

does the Audere have noticeably more output available than the Demeter, which sounds great, but could use a bit more push to the amp's input?

With the dual stacks and switch on the Roscoe/Audere setup, is it a direct swap with the Demeter, or are there mods required to the pot holes?

[Gard]

Originally Posted by coyoteboy

I figure this is the best place for this question:

does the Audere have noticeably more output available than the Demeter, which sounds great, but could use a bit more push to the amp's input?

With the dual stacks and switch on the Roscoe/Audere setup, is it a direct swap with the Demeter, or are there mods required to the pot holes?

I did not notice a BIG difference in output, but yes, I think the Audere is a bit "hotter". As for the holes lining up for the Audere, it should work just fine - my fretless was Demeter equipped at first, and we did the transplant with no modifications to the bass.

[emjazz]

Originally Posted by coyoteboy

I figure this is the best place for this question:

does the Audere have noticeably more output available than the Demeter, which sounds great, but could use a bit more push to the amp's input?

With the dual stacks and switch on the Roscoe/Audere setup, is it a direct swap with the Demeter, or are there mods required to the pot holes?

David told me that there shouldn't be much if any more output with the Audere pre's compared to running passive...something about keeping the noise flow down to almost zero.

[Jeff Moote]

Why a hot signal is a factor for people, I can't understand. Most amps have a gain control (save some older valve designs) and unless you're running that at max and still need more gain, there is no benefit to the bass having a higher output regardless of what tone you're trying to achieve.

[coyoteboy]

I might have characterized it incorrectly, but I did notice a stark difference in output between my Demeter Roscoe and a Aguilar-equipped Dingwall super J through the same amps at Bass And Beyond when I was there a few months ago. Perhaps the 'aggressiveness' really punched through with the Dingwall by comparison.

Do I 'need' more output, perhaps not, but little of what I do in the music realm has to do with need.

Thanks for the replies folks, and it's good to know no mods would be needed should I decide to swap.

[Basso Gruvitas]

Originally Posted by coyoteboy

I might have characterized it incorrectly, but I did notice a stark difference in output between my Demeter Roscoe and a Aguilar-equipped Dingwall super J through the same amps at Bass And Beyond when I was there a few months ago. Perhaps the 'aggressiveness' really punched through with the Dingwall by comparison.

Do I 'need' more output, perhaps not, but little of what I do in the music realm has to do with need.

Thanks for the replies folks, and it's good to know no mods would be needed should I decide to swap.

Coyote,
Part of the aggressiveness was the axe, but DEFINITELY part of it was from the Aguilar preamp. The Aggie makes a great rock/funk/slap preamp.

The Demeter produces a more "dainty" tone than the Audere. I think with the Audere you are hearing more of what your bass REALLY sounds like. I'm an Audere fan.

[alangoldstein]

i think aguilar onboard pres are the best.

but its all opinion of course

hi gard!

[Shelly]

Originally Posted by Jeff Moote

Why a hot signal is a factor for people, I can't understand. Most amps have a gain control (save some older valve designs) and unless you're running that at max and still need more gain, there is no benefit to the bass having a higher output regardless of what tone you're trying to achieve.

It can be a factor in the studio when playing into a studio pre-amp as a DI. If the bass output isn't very high, the studio preamp gain must be increased, which will also increase any noise present in the signal (created by the bass or the preamp circuitry itself).

[JOME77]

OK, OK, having been quite skepticle when Roscoe originally dropped the Demeter preamp in favor of going with the Audere, I've got to say that after 3 months of gigging with the Nord/Audere combo I'm convinced that it is really all that. I was initially impressed when I first plugged it in but I've found that the more time that I've spent tweaking it, the more impressed I've become.
IMO the 2-bands of mid's and the quick tone changes available via the Z-mode switch really separates the Audere from the others. It really facilitates quick tone changes without going to the amp.

With the Thunderfunk I've always pretty much run everything on the amp flat and just tweaked the timbre and/or enhance controls every once in a while (for different tones). With the Audere I've found that I can get the tonal changes quickly from just the controls on the bass without ever touching the amp.

Versatile tone control, quite and clean sounding! I guess that it was the right choice!

Kudo's guys!

[Freddy-G.]

Originally Posted by JOME77

OK, OK, having been quite skepticle when Roscoe originally dropped the Demeter preamp in favor of going with the Audere, I've got to say that after 3 months of gigging with the Nord/Audere combo I'm convinced that it is really all that. I was initially impressed when I first plugged it in but I've found that the more time that I've spent tweaking it, the more impressed I've become.
IMO the 2-bands of mid's and the quick tone changes available via the Z-mode switch really separates the Audere from the others. It really facilitates quick tone changes without going to the amp.

With the Thunderfunk I've always pretty much run everything on the amp flat and just tweaked the timbre and/or enhance controls every once in a while (for different tones). With the Audere I've found that I can get the tonal changes quickly from just the controls on the bass without ever touching the amp.

Versatile tone control, quite and clean sounding! I guess that it was the right choice!

Kudo's guys!

That's great, Joe! I was really impressed too when a guy I know changed the preamp in his Cort to an Audere. Judging from the awesome tone, you never would have guessed that bass cost less than $500. I bet the Nords make a big difference too.

[Gard]

Originally Posted by JOME77

OK, OK, having been quite skepticle when Roscoe originally dropped the Demeter preamp in favor of going with the Audere, I've got to say that after 3 months of gigging with the Nord/Audere combo I'm convinced that it is really all that. I was initially impressed when I first plugged it in but I've found that the more time that I've spent tweaking it, the more impressed I've become.
IMO the 2-bands of mid's and the quick tone changes available via the Z-mode switch really separates the Audere from the others. It really facilitates quick tone changes without going to the amp.

With the Thunderfunk I've always pretty much run everything on the amp flat and just tweaked the timbre and/or enhance controls every once in a while (for different tones). With the Audere I've found that I can get the tonal changes quickly from just the controls on the bass without ever touching the amp.

Versatile tone control, quite and clean sounding! I guess that it was the right choice!

Kudo's guys!

...occasionally, we get it right.

[dean82]

Hi all,
I've been thinking about switching out my Barts for a set of Fat Stacks. I have a Demeter pre and I'm looking for a slightly less compressed tone without losing the thick punch that sits so well in the mix.

Does anyone have first hand experience with either Fat Stacks or Big Splits with a Demeter pre? Just for full disclosure, I have an SKB 3005, mahogany body with maple top. Standard neck with an ebony board. Any PU/Pre suggestions for that wood combo would also be greatly appreciated.

Also, if anyone can direct me to Roscoe sound samples that would be even better. Any info would be appreciated.

[poptart]

Dean

I am running Big Splits with an OBP3 pre amp in an all Ash bass and I am getting plenty of punch in the mids for my fingerstyle tone with the extra top I wanted from the Barts. There is much less low mid and extra top without being harsh or too thin sounding - I recommend them to you.

The Fatsatcks are excellent - Grad has them in his fretted 3006 I believe, I have also pout Big Singles in an SKB with great success for a more aggressive tone, with the DC having the smoothest tone to my ears but with that nice top end extension you are seeking and retain a good mid punch.

They are all different flavors but all are good

[Basso Gruvitas]

Originally Posted by dean82

Hi all,
I've been thinking about switching out my Barts for a set of Fat Stacks. I have a Demeter pre and I'm looking for a slightly less compressed tone without losing the thick punch that sits so well in the mix.

Does anyone have first hand experience with either Fat Stacks or Big Splits with a Demeter pre? Just for full disclosure, I have an SKB 3005, mahogany body with maple top. Standard neck with an ebony board. Any PU/Pre suggestions for that wood combo would also be greatly appreciated.

Also, if anyone can direct me to Roscoe sound samples that would be even better. Any info would be appreciated.

Dean, from MANY a player, including Cary Nordstrand - don't mix Nordstrands and the Demeter. No warmth, very sterile, very clacky - especially with an ebony board. Danger Will Robinson! Danger!

Consider an Aguilar or Audere instead.