Wich Bass Preamp Pedal would you go for?

AREA · #1 07-23-2008, 05:02 AM

The Title says it all. So I would Like to hear your Opinions please...and also why u would choose this Pedal.

RickenBoogie · #2 07-23-2008, 08:24 AM

I have several preamps in my signal chain. Voted other because EBS Valve Drive is my fav. Also, MXR M80, and very soon the Xotic BB. Valve Drive is very natural sounding, that's why I like it. Doesn't sound like a "pedal", more like my amp.

Nikoubis · #3 07-23-2008, 08:51 AM

Other: Sansamp Paradriver

**grygrx** · #4 07-23-2008, 09:20 AM

Title says nothing. What do you need a preamp for? Tone shaping? DI? Drive? Just because you want one?

bongomania · #5 07-23-2008, 09:40 AM

+1, the pedals listed are all excellent and generally well-liked, so the only way to decide between them if you're going to rely on internet opinions is to be very -extremely- specific about what you need the preamp to do.

For example, do you want overdrive, or even higher levels of distortion? Do you need to be able to boost your mids? Are you trying to drive a power amp? Do you believe a preamp pedal will make a 30W practice amp sound huge? Is there something wrong with the tone of your bass that you are trying to fix? What other pedals or preamps have you tried, to compare against? Do you need it to have a DI output? Etc. etc.

Oh and BTW I'm perfectly serious.

Also the Tone Hammer is not available yet, so 99% of posts you see recommending it are from people who have never heard one.

loend68 · #6 07-23-2008, 09:43 AM

Not sure what the OP is looking for, but for me I would like to even out the signal levels in my effects chain when switching between my active Spector NS2 and a US Jazz. The different levels affect the sound of my effects. It would also be used to beef up the sound of the jazz (in the direction of the Spector sound)
Sorry if I'm hijacking....

Valerus · #7 07-23-2008, 10:09 AM

I have a Sansamp and recommend it

dannybuoy · #8 07-23-2008, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loend68

Not sure what the OP is looking for, but for me I would like to even out the signal levels in my effects chain when switching between my active Spector NS2 and a US Jazz. The different levels affect the sound of my effects. It would also be used to beef up the sound of the jazz (in the direction of the Spector sound)
Sorry if I'm hijacking....

You should check out the Radial Tonebone Bassbone, sounds about what you're looking for.

AREA · #9 07-23-2008, 12:30 PM

Oh, I want and need this Pedal, because we have some Gigs in foreign Countrys in Europe/Africa. We´re playing in Holiday Clubs in Tunisia. You know Club Robinson, Club Med, Club Aldiana and so on...

We can´t take our Equipment with us, except Guitars & Basses. They have a PA, Drums, Keys and everything there and we can use it. But i like to have my good Sound in my Pocket and the Idea is, to plug my Bass into those Preamp Pedal and from there into the Mixing Console.
That means a DI Out is important. I don´t need some Overdrive Sounds. I like it clean, but I like the Posibillity to use two Basses with different Sounds and because of this, I´ll be honest, the Radial Bassbone is my current Favourite....

dannybuoy · #10 07-23-2008, 12:40 PM

EBS Microbass has similar features too and gets a lot of praise. Dual inputs, fx loop, DI out, speaker sim, etc.

bongomania · #11 07-23-2008, 03:02 PM

Yes, based on what you're saying now, the Bassbone and the EBS Microbass are your two best options.

**bassman314** · #12 07-23-2008, 03:38 PM

I agree with the Tone Bone, however I took a look at your gear list.

Have you considered just using your head and using the XLR out? That's going to be the closest to "your sound". I know it's bigger than a pre-amp pedal, but with a correctly-sized gig bag, you might be able to keep it as a carry-on bag, and leave the cab at home.

Nyarlathotep · #13 07-23-2008, 08:07 PM

Based on personal experience with the Tech 21 ParaDriver, and the soundclips of the Tech 21 BassDriver and EBS MicroBass II that are around this forum somewhere, I vote for the MicroBass.

biggreddbass · #14 07-23-2008, 08:23 PM

I only have one passive bass and since my active basses have the Alleva Coppolo preamp, it seems only natural to use the AC outboard with my other axe. I get just enough boost without coloring/masking the tone of the bass.

AustinxHxC · #15 07-23-2008, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AREA

Oh, I want and need this Pedal, because we have some Gigs in foreign Countrys in Europe/Africa. We´re playing in Holiday Clubs in Tunisia. You know Club Robinson, Club Med, Club Aldiana and so on...

We can´t take our Equipment with us, except Guitars & Basses. They have a PA, Drums, Keys and everything there and we can use it. But i like to have my good Sound in my Pocket and the Idea is, to plug my Bass into those Preamp Pedal and from there into the Mixing Console.
That means a DI Out is important. I don´t need some Overdrive Sounds. I like it clean, but I like the Posibillity to use two Basses with different Sounds and because of this, I´ll be honest, the Radial Bassbone is my current Favourite....

I voted for the Sansamp, but based on this, the Sansamp is not a really good choice. It has a good overdrive and gives a big gritty sound, so not so clean....

I don't know what to suggest but good luck.

smo · #16 07-23-2008, 10:45 PM

I've had a couple sansamps.
Very versatile and a very useful tool for a gigging bass player.
But in all honesty - I wouldn't use it in the recording studio, as it does tend to scoop the mids a bit, and the colour it puts on the bass (think distortion etc) isn't quite my preferred tone.
But in a live setting it does great in the mix. I don't gig without it.

I haven't cast a vote - as I haven't actually tried any of the other pedals listed.

AREA · #17 07-25-2008, 08:52 AM

So, I just wanna let you know, that I pulled the Trigger on the Radial Engineering Tonebone Bassbone.

Got it today and it seemed to be the right Decision. I like the two Channels and that it doesn´t colour the Sound of your Bass in any Way. I like the Contour Shape Presets on Ch1 and the very effective 3-Way EQ on Ch2
The Routing Options and Features are awesome.

I´ve seen that most of you voted for the Sansamp, but I would not need overdriven Sounds and the Option to feed two Basses was importand to me.

Anyhow...Thanx for your Opinions.

fishtx · #18 07-25-2008, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smo

I've had a couple sansamps.
Very versatile and a very useful tool for a gigging bass player.
But in all honesty - I wouldn't use it in the recording studio, as it does tend to scoop the mids a bit, and the colour it puts on the bass (think distortion etc) isn't quite my preferred tone.
But in a live setting it does great in the mix. I don't gig without it.

I haven't cast a vote - as I haven't actually tried any of the other pedals listed.

I have had a couple of sansamp pre's as well (BDDI and the RBI), and I tend to agree with you. They are nice, but they do add a lot of color...I wound up selling them both because I wanted a cleaner preamp tone.

Jazz Ad · #19 07-25-2008, 03:09 PM

You forgot the EBS MicroBass II, many people's favorite.

knarleybass · #20 07-25-2008, 03:11 PM

I my Bassdriver DI