do i need a pre-amp booster?

Higgins666 · #1 05-24-2009, 06:11 PM

the two basses that i use for my live performances (me dean demonator & traben chaos obsession) both have active electronics, but the dean is MUCH louder than the traben, id like to balance the volume of these two without just turning the volume down on the dean (as it alters the amount of drive, with i love). i was thinking running a clean boost after my gain based effects would work, something like the ehx nano lpdb

thanks in advance

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RickenBoogie · #2 05-24-2009, 07:04 PM

How about one of them BassBone's? Sounds like exactly the gadget you need.

JimmyM · #3 05-24-2009, 07:45 PM

A clean boost would work. Anything that can give you a volume boost while retaining your tone would work.

takfar · #4 05-24-2009, 08:20 PM

I'm surprised JimmyM didn't specifically suggest a VT Bass with "flat" settings on, with the level knob higher than unity (works perfectly as a powerful clean boost). I'm pretty sure it'd fit the bill.

Jimbob Jones · #5 05-25-2009, 08:06 AM

I think JimmyM didn't suggest the VT Bass because:

a) if all the OP wants is clean boost, then there's no point in spending the extra $

b) The VT-Bass is a "tone shaping" pedal, if you want boost that isn't going to effect your signal, it's probably not a great idea. I'm not saying that the VT bass cant do just clean boost, but it leaves the potential for knobs getting knocked and changed etc. that isn't there with a simpler pedal like the LPB-1.

Anyway, yeah, the LPB-1 will do what you want, and is pretty cheap.

JimmyM · #6 05-25-2009, 08:21 AM

VT's great, but as Jimbob said, other pedals are cheaper and easier to work as a clean boost than the VT.

coreyfyfe · #7 05-25-2009, 09:08 AM

I do the same when switching between my G3 and jazz. I use a catalinbread serrano picoso, mostly because it's so small, but also because it's very clean. The G3 is so damn quiet it's ridiculous.

Planet Boulder · #8 05-25-2009, 10:00 AM

Just get an MXR Micro Amp (can be had for relatively cheap on ebay) and be done with it. You can't go wrong with that.

John Bigboote · #9 05-25-2009, 10:04 AM

+1 on the MXR micro-amp. I got one to better drive my power amp because the output of the Hartke VXL I was using is too low, and it worked great. Not using it any more since I've moved to a SansAmp that doesn't need the boost, but the MXR was perfect for my needs.

-jb