Best small sized tube-pre for my live rig?

mowburger · #1 04-14-2011, 11:50 AM

Hi, I'm looking at reviews on a bunch of the small tube pre's.

(ART TUBE MP, Behringer MIC200, Pre-Sonus TUBEpre, etc)

I've been using an old BOSS GT-6B into my Crown XLS2000, and it's big, heavy, and inconveniant, plus I only use a couple sounds a night, so it's a lil more than I need.

I would like to use either a BDDI or VT-bass but they don't hit the front end of my Poweramp with enough juice unless I turn knobs up where I DON"T want them. Also I think a lil tube warmth would be nice so I was thinking of a tube mic-pre to up the signal a bit and add tubey goodness.

It needs to fit on a small pedal board(no rackmount), it needs to be quiet, it needs to sound good(relative I know).

What I would like is opinions on some of these types of mic-pre's.

Anyone with experience with any of these please give me your thoughts.

I'll check back after about 5pm, I thank you my bass wielding bretheren.

ninepoundjammer · #2 04-14-2011, 11:56 AM

I have the presonus Tube pre. Not all that crazy about it as a mic pre and can't really see it being any good as a bass preamp.

testing1two · #3 04-14-2011, 05:58 PM

Don't obsess over the tube thing, it's not the sonic panacea we are led to believe. Furthermore, most of the "portable" tube units don't even supply enough voltage to the tube for any appreciable tonal benefits. Just use your ears and ignore the marketing.

I recommend the Aguilar Tone Hammer for its size, output, and excellent sound. Aguilar Amplification: Bass Pedals, Bass Pickups, Bass Preamps, Bass Amplifiers, and Bass Speaker Cabinets

If you want a good mic-pre, Summit's TD100 is a great half-rack sized unit for bass. Just remember most mic-pres don't have EQ, especially in a half rack format. size.Summit Audio - TD-100

The ones you listed above are all really sub par IMHO both in noise performance and tone for bass guitar.

mowburger · #4 04-15-2011, 06:43 PM

ccol thanx for input guys!

MuzikMan · #5 04-16-2011, 05:37 AM

The "tube" pres you mention are toys and shouldn't even be considered pro audio equipment. They don't supply enough power to do anything useful with the tubes anyway. Surely you aren't suggesting that a tube is required for good sound? Try an Avalon U5 someday and your perspective is likely to change. My recommendation for you is to try an Aguilar Tone Hammer.

**IvanMike** · #6 04-16-2011, 05:56 AM

yeah, forget tube and those are toys.....

U5 may knock your socks off.

mowburger · #7 04-19-2011, 06:20 AM

After thinking about it, I have to agree with you guys. I think I need to try all the DI's out there, thru my rig. Tone Hammer gets great reviews and looks like a bada$$ little brick! I saw the EDEN wt DI, and of course the MXR M-80, and the VT-BASS DLX, but really need to just try them all out.

The U5 is prob the beez neez but a lil to big to fit on a small pedal board like a DI can.

I thank you again guys.

In the mean time my signal is...

BASS...PHASER...BDDI...TUNER...POWER-AMP,,,CAB

and is doing a pretty fair job, damn G.A.S. !

uhdinator · #8 04-21-2011, 11:51 AM

Most cheap tube pre's use the tube for impedance matching only. Have seen some cheap units on you tube where the tube is removed and the thing still works.

I use an LA610 tube pre in my studio for bass (has a DI input as well as mic) and its great but is also $800. Have heard great things about Avalon U5 as well. But I would run a 10-15 band EQ behind it for stage use and then you are back to lugging a bunch of gear around.

I am actually considering going to a JBL PRX615 powered wedge for my stage rig and leaving the 210 and 115 cab and bass head at home.
I can run my rack tuner and a small eq with my tube pre and Im done. Feed the Thru jack out of the wedge to the FOH mixer and call it good.