Cheap substitute for tube preamp?

[saxdragon]

I love the sound of bass through a slightly overdriven tube amp. Unfortunately, the amp I own is an Acoustic 150 solid state, which is a good-sounding amp, but too clean. Have any of you used a cheap preamp or tube-driven effect box? (not interested in digital effects or transistors) Self-built preamps? I'm also thinking of unusual solutions, like using an old tube radio as a preamp...things like that. I used to know a guitar payer who used a vintage Wollensak reel-to-reel tape recorder as a preamp...it sounded killer!

[moose23]

VTBass

[wizay]

Originally Posted by moose23

VTBass

[jetofuj]

VT Bass is tube emulator and it should do the trick. I'd personally think of Catalinbread SFT as it's more natural sounding box.

[dannybuoy]

He said cheap. Behringer BDI-21! The only decent pedal they ever made.

[bassman1185]

I have a VT Bass and I love it. If you're really on a budget, though, take a look at ART's Tube MP and Tube PAC. I have a PAC and it's a really useful box. I would recommend that you swap out the stock 12AX7s for JJ Teslas. I did that on mine and it worked wonders.

[sirpug]

+1 to everything said about the VT Bass. Best $150 tube amp I ever bought.

[gidbass]

I use a Presonus TubePRE with a tungsol gold pin 12ax7, which is a big improvement over stock tube that it came with. Really like the warmth it gives my passive bass. Easy to overdrive if that is the sound you are after. Not as effective on active basses (IMO).

[sirpug]

Originally Posted by gidbass

I use a Presonus TubePRE with a tungsol gold pin 12ax7, which is a big improvement over stock tube that it came with. Really like the warmth it gives my passive bass. Easy to overdrive if that is the sound you are after. Not as effective on active basses (IMO).

How does that work with the bass? I had an English Muff'n but wasn't happy with the loss of my low end.

[syndroam]

EBS Valvedrive.

[gidbass]

Originally Posted by sirpug

How does that work with the bass? I had an English Muff'n but wasn't happy with the loss of my low end.

I like it. I pair it with a BOSS GEB 7 eq pedal and I have much more low end than through my amp alone, but I only have a Trace Elliot Boxer 15 as I am a bedroom bassist. I have a Squire VM and VM Fretless both stock, and this combo really helps me get a good warm sound from the gear i have. I am sure it doesn't compete with high end stuff, but for the money i paid, i am really liking the sound i am getting. Overall I do lack some low end due to my amp and stock pickups, but it isn't because of the TubePre.

Good Luck!

[scotch]

Hmmm. Obvious answers are the Tech 21 VT Bass, or similar. What do you mean by "cheap"? $100, $300, $45?

I've been in 2 pro studios in Nashville that both have an interesting approach to this (even with virtually unlimited budgets): Both engineers slightly modified an old tube personal-address preamp salvaged from old horse or dog racetrack announcement booths. Cheap & killer sounding!

[Din Of Win]

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

He said cheap. Behringer BDI-21! The only decent pedal they ever made.

This... but they're pretty hard to come by, around here at least.

[bassbrad]

The old Digitech BP8 Valve has a killer warm tube preamp (and lots of other goodies).

[Koeda]

ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp
$29 at MF. Sounds great, can saturate the tube, doubles as a di for foh. Love em. TubePac adds a compressor - even better - $99. Been using them for years.
David

[wetzelman1]

HARTKE VXL ATTACK. Makes my Ampeg B2R actually sound decent. Highly recomended for anyone who can't afford a better amp. and it's $70

[fitz420]

i always recommend the voodoo labs sparkle drive. its a tubescreamer derivative with a clean blend. it adds that "tubey" sound to my LMII quite nicely. also the xotic BB is nice as is the barber ltd sr. check em out