Best Box or Preamp for that Hifi clean sound

Alphaman · #1 06-22-2009, 10:35 PM

Can you guys lead me to the right box for getting a very clean, hi-fi sound. I don't know if I can get it in a foot pedal or something that mounts in a rack. Let me know your experiences. In searching it appears that EBS may have something that works in a preamp called the EBS-1 v2 possibly...not sure if they're still made or if there's a new and improved option?

line6bassist · #2 06-22-2009, 10:42 PM

i had alot of sucess with a fishman platinum pro bass eq pedal.....has tons of features that gives that great hi fi sound your looking

20db pad · #3 06-22-2009, 10:46 PM

Sadowsky preamp/DI

danjerl · #4 06-22-2009, 10:46 PM

What gear do you currently have?

Before I got sucked in to the pedal thing, I played my Ken Smith straight to my SWR Redhead and got a really clean, HiFi sound. If not exactly, almost what gospel bassist look for in tone and sound.

I'm sure others here might have better ideas than I. But, if you can tell us what you currently have, that would help us help you.

My $.015276...inflation

Alphaman · #5 06-22-2009, 10:55 PM

Currently playing a MTD635, Skjold 6, or Roscoe SKB through 2 Bergantino HS210's with a GB Shuttle 12 Max or a pair of Epifani 410's with an Eden WT550.

line6bassist · #6 06-22-2009, 10:57 PM

dude you have some gear that has that hi fi sound.....trying using the MTD going direct

Alphaman · #7 06-22-2009, 11:06 PM

It's almost there... I've heard the sound I'm looking for so I'm reaching for it! I know it's not the gear...either a preamp or a signal processor?

JMDT · #8 06-22-2009, 11:13 PM

Hmm...which pickups/preamp do those basses have. Not necessicarily the intent of the thread, but this problem may bebetter solved by finding a more suitable onboard preamp for your needs. If you really want a pedal to do this, I'd probably take a look at the Aguilar tone hammer or the Sadowski DI.

Alphaman · #9 06-22-2009, 11:20 PM

All have the stock pickups and preamps, except for the Roscoe that was just changed to Nordy Fatstacks with coil tap along with Audere preamp.

bongomania · #10 06-22-2009, 11:50 PM

In all seriousness, the more processors you have in the chain, the less clean and hifi the signal becomes. That is just an inescapable fact. There is literally no way on earth to make a signal "more high fidelity" by processing it more.

If your rig now is not "clean" enough or "hifi" enough, you have the wrong gear (or the wrong expectations) no matter what you think.

Pickebass · #11 06-23-2009, 11:08 AM

As you say "hifi" is that really what you are looking for?? Having experience with most of the equipment you are using, The berg and the shuttle with either the MTD or Skjold should get you there easily. Are you looking for more detail in your sound? More bass? more punch? Based on what you are saying, I would recommend a hifi preamp such as a Millenia TD1 or Avalon VT-737.

No floor pedal will get you there... The EBS preamp is good, but you might want to try the glockenklang amps as well.. Good luck with your search

millsbass5 · #12 06-23-2009, 11:24 AM

The Kern and DeMeter units will give you a shove in that direction,too.Wow,I never thought I'd see a post with that gear not being "hi-fi"enough.

Oh,check this out,too.Very,very informative:www.bowlusblog.com

There is some great,very informative shoot-outs of pre-amps,cabs,heads,hell,just about anything your heart desires on that site.Consequently,in most of the shootouts,he's using an MTD Bass,too.So,that will get you even closer to the "sound in your head."

dannybuoy · #13 06-23-2009, 11:31 AM

Try a BBE Sonic Stomp or Aphex Bass Xciter.

jamesie · #14 06-23-2009, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alphaman

Can you guys lead me to the right box for getting a very clean, hi-fi sound. I don't know if I can get it in a foot pedal or something that mounts in a rack. Let me know your experiences. In searching it appears that EBS may have something that works in a preamp called the EBS-1 v2 possibly...not sure if they're still made or if there's a new and improved option?

ebs microbass II for example - take a look at the ebs website http://www.ebs.bass.se/

i use this one for years - it`s versatile and the sound can go in direction of "hifi" if you want - good di

it`s all personal taste but from the technical side i would say no compromise

Jazzdogg · #15 06-23-2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alphaman

Can you guys lead me to the right box for getting a very clean, hi-fi sound. I don't know if I can get it in a foot pedal or something that mounts in a rack. Let me know your experiences. In searching it appears that EBS may have something that works in a preamp called the EBS-1 v2 possibly...not sure if they're still made or if there's a new and improved option?

There simply isn't enough information in your post for us to provide a meaningful reply.

It would be nice if you could better describe what you like and don't like aboout your present rig, how you'd describe your ideal sound, etc.

What kind of music do you play? What kind of strings do you use? How to you have the EQ set on your basses and amps? Which bassist's sound are you trying to emulate?

What, exactly, do you hope to achieve by inserting the mystery box you seek?

Andy Walhor · #16 06-23-2009, 08:34 PM

Alphaman,

By “a very clean, hi-fi sound,” do you mean that you want the sounds created by your basses to be just amplified (that is, louder, but not colored in any way) by the rest of your gear? Alternatively, do you want your basses’ sounds louder and colored—in a particular way—such that the final sounds are what you call “that hi-fi clean sound?”

bongomania · #17 06-23-2009, 08:37 PM

That's a good point there (the second option), and you may have hit the nail on the head--though I don't know if the OP realizes it.

Alphaman · #18 06-23-2009, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Walhor

Alphaman,

By “a very clean, hi-fi sound,” do you mean that you want the sounds created by your basses to be just amplified (that is, louder, but not colored in any way) by the rest of your gear? Alternatively, do you want your bass’ sounds louder and colored—in a particular way—such that the final sounds are what you call “that hi-fi clean sound?”

Yes, I'm trying to color the sound in a particular way too. The sound is already really clean and hifi with my equipment. I'm trying to find some clips that would demonstrate what I'm looking for.

Jazzdogg · #19 06-23-2009, 11:07 PM

OK, thanks for providing a context for your earlier post. Now to describe exactly what "clean hi-fi" means to you.

If you're willing to provide some additional information about the way you play, perhaps we'll be able to draw inferences that may prove helpful:

What kind of music do you play? What kind of strings do you use? How to you have the EQ set on your basses and amps? Which bassist's sound are you trying to emulate?

You might want to experiment with a graphic or, better yet, parametric equalizer to see how the sound changes when you cut or boost various frequencies.