Aggressive/Mellow Preamps

[nastyn8c]

So here I am, looking at doing my next Dingwall. It's going to be a Z2. I want to get a really aggressive tone from it, and I'm looking for the right preamp. I'm also looking to have a mellow preamp in my current ABII.

Now, AFAIK, Aguilar is more aggressive, Bartolini is more mellow sounding, and that John East thing is really transparent. I don't know if these impressions are correct, if there even is a difference, or if I'm totally off-base.

That's why I'm here. I'd like a list of preamps that can either mellow out or intensify a bass's tone. Can anybody help?

[jady]

I have a Basslines MM pup with the 3 band pre that has the slap switch. It is the most aggressive sound I have ever heard!!!!

[fullrangebass]

First of all, the FD3's are aggressive to start with. IME the OBP3 is more than adequate for the job

[fullrangebass]

As far as a mellower pre-amp, I'd suggest the John East preamp or a Villex RPTB (rotary passive tone booster)

[nastyn8c]

Originally Posted by fullrangebass

First of all, the FD3's are aggressive to start with. IME the OBP3 is more than adequate for the job

Fullrange, I'm well aware that you know more about Dingwall's than I do. But that will be over eventually, because I'm only 19 and working on a herd of my own! I know I only have one right now, but it is a start

Anyway, I got the impression from the Dingwall forums that FD1's are more aggressive than FD3's. Your take?

[fullrangebass]

I respect you a lot (as I always respect ANY fellow human being) and I am happy that you own a Dingwall at this age!!! I got my first Dingwall at the age of 30

The FD1's are more hi-fi whereas the FD3's are a little more "vintage" or "conventional" (they are far from that vintage or conventional territory but there is no other way to say it). This translates to more mids that gives the aggression along with the ash (as body wood). Be patient for a week or two. i will upload samples of my herd (Z2s included). I do not need to reach out for the preamp though.

[Matt Fat Cat]

Pretty sure you'll find that once you active preamp your pickups onboard... wood tone means squaduesche. You hear the active circuit... no resonant wood tones.

[fullrangebass]

I partially agree with you. Matt Fat Cat

A "perfect" preamp cannot be an on-board preamp (as many of our highly knowlegdable fellow TBers have explained in several posts). Yet there are a few pre-amps that are quite "transparent" for the job. IMHO if you need to rely on the preamp to get the sound you are after, you have the wrong bass in your hands (this explains why my herd has grown to this extend).

There are certain pickups and preamps that impose their sound on the instrument more than allowing the wood to speak. Yet there are some pickups out there that allow for "wood" overtones even when the (transparent) preamp is engaged

[nastyn8c]

Here's the question I've always had with that argument:

Why does an onboard pre keep you from getting a transparent sound any more than an outboard? To me, an onboard pre just allows me to make faster adjustments if necessary. Unless you're recording direct or using a reference amp, when are you going to here the difference?

Also, I understand that the pre will affect my sound. In this case, that's what I want. And why does having something affect my sound prevent me from hearing the nuances of the instrument?


This question is really directed to fullrange, because of all of his experiences with the "herd". I'd like to hear a good answer to explain one way or the other, so it's open to anyone.

[DaveAceofBass]

The John East pre is the schnizel. Best sounding bass I have is all due to his pre....

[nastyn8c]

Thanks to a suggestion over on the Dingwall forums, I've decided to go for an Audere 3ZB. Any reason why I shouldn't?

[fullrangebass]

There are many knowledgable TBers that can explain in great detail why onboard preamps are sort of a compromise if we are after perfection.