Aguilar OPB-3 versus Audere 4-band EQ

[Josh Pelican]

I am about to order a new preamp for my six-string bass (setup in F#). I have them configured to pretty close prices. I am absolutely stumped.

Audere 4-Band EQ:
Volume; Balance; High Mid; Low Mid; Treble/Bass stacked
$141
After shipping and handling it will come to $167.

Of course, the 4-Band does not include the Z-switch.

Aguilar OBP-3
Volume; Blend; Treble; Mid; Bass; Mid-Frequency Selector Switch.
$156.
After shipping and handling it will come to $186.

For an additional $40 I can have the Aguilar pre-wired and tested.

I've been reading reviews on Audere and Aguilar preamps for a good month now trying to figure out which one I want. After a lot of reading up on pickups, I've come to realize I will be ordering Nordstrand pickups to run with them.

I was thinking about the Audere 3-band EQ; however, it says I need passive pickups. The 4-band EQ supplies the coupling capacitors to install in between the pickup hots and the preamp inputs. That way I don't have to worry about waiting for the Nordstrand pickups.

The prices are so close! Someone help me! I just want good low-end frequency!

[coolrunner989]

Do you want something that is fairly subtle/transparent or do you want something that has a definite voicing of its own? That's the difference between Audere and Aguilar in my limited experience and from what I gather here on TB.

[line6man]

Originally Posted by Josh Pelican

I was thinking about the Audere 3-band EQ; however, it says I need passive pickups.

Nordstrand's are passive.

[line6man]

Originally Posted by coolrunner989

Do you want something that is fairly subtle/transparent or do you want something that has a definite voicing of its own? That's the difference between Audere and Aguilar in my limited experience and from what I gather here on TB.

With Aguilar being the transparent preamp, and Audere being the one with it's own flavor added to the sound.

[Josh Pelican]

I had a feeling Nordstrands were passive. I noticed a lot of people with Auderes and Nordstrands.

I think the answer here is Audere. It's slightly cheaper and I'm being told it will make a world of difference.

My only problem is my current pickups are active (as far as I know), and I will have to get the coupling capacitors to attach them to my pickups now. I assume they are easy to remove once I get Nordstrands?

[coolrunner989]

Originally Posted by line6man

With Aguilar being the transparent preamp, and Audere being the one with it's own flavor added to the sound.

I was actually thinking the other way around. Granted, I haven't spend extensive amounts of time with either, but the Aguilar sounded a lot like a Sadowksy preamp to me in terms that it had a very distinct tone to the EQ changes.

[Josh Pelican]

My only problem is I don't know how many of my local stores know anything about Audere preamps...

[line6man]

Originally Posted by Josh Pelican

I had a feeling Nordstrands were passive. I noticed a lot of people with Auderes and Nordstrands.

I think the answer here is Audere. It's slightly cheaper and I'm being told it will make a world of difference.

My only problem is my current pickups are active (as far as I know), and I will have to get the coupling capacitors to attach them to my pickups now. I assume they are easy to remove once I get Nordstrands?

Very few pickups are active, only EMG and MEC come to mind. Seymour Duncan makes a couple of actives now, IIRC.

90% of the time "active bass" refers to passive pickups and an active preamp.

[Josh Pelican]

I'm thinking mine are not active. It's a basic ESP preamp. It said the preamp was active and that's it. I guess I won't need the capacitors. That would make more sense, and a hell of a lot easier to install with a luthier/local music store.

It also makes the Audere a few dollars less.

[Josh Pelican]

Can anyone tell me how long the wires that have the battery clip are? My battery pack isn't near the cavity of the electronics, it's practically on the opposite side of the bass. They are a good 6-7 inches apart. Do all preamps have wires that long for the batteries?

[jwbassman]

I installed the Audere Classic 4 and Big Singles in the Lakland 44-01 I had. It was a killer combination. I did extensive research on both Audere and the Aguilar. IMO the Audere is a more organic and transparent pre-amp. Both are great though. From my experience the Audere and the Big Singles match very well.

[Josh Pelican]

Those are the exact pickups I'm ordering (except for a six-string, of course).

I think I should take the Audere route.

[Chronicle]

Originally Posted by coolrunner989

I was actually thinking the other way around. Granted, I haven't spend extensive amounts of time with either, but the Aguilar sounded a lot like a Sadowksy preamp to me in terms that it had a very distinct tone to the EQ changes.

+1. The Audere's are transparent and the aguilar's color the tone.

[jwbassman]

Originally Posted by Josh Pelican

Those are the exact pickups I'm ordering (except for a six-string, of course).

I think I should take the Audere route.

You won't regret it. Worse case you pull it, sell for about what you paid for it and put in the Aguilar. I doubt you'll end up doing that. I like the Audere pre-amps. My Ramirez Single Cut has an Audere 3ZB in it and I'm very happy with it also.

[Josh Pelican]

Hmm, I think I might have to research a little more just in case. Right now I'm looking at pretty close prices, but everywhere I look people praise BOTH preamps.

I haven't heard many sound clips for the Audere, but everything I've heard with the Aguilar (Spector, Modulus, etc.) have been amazing.

I'm going to research more on people mixing them with Nordstand pickups (which seems to be a lot of you!).

[Josh Pelican]

What kind of benefit will the mid-frequency selector switch give me over an Audere with just a mid control?

[line6man]

Originally Posted by Josh Pelican

What kind of benefit will the mid-frequency selector switch give me over an Audere with just a mid control?

I don't understand the question.
A mid frequency selector would allow you to choose between two different frequencies for the midrange rather than just one.
That's the benefit...

[Josh Pelican]

Oops, sorry! I meant to ask the benefit of a mid-frequency selector switch over a Z-switch (or vice versa).

[Yorke]

I actually own both ( Audere being 3 band instead of 4), The Audere is in a MIM Jazz bass with Bertolini Split coil Pick-ups. The Aguilar is in a lakland 55-01 with Bertolini Soap Bar pick-ups.

Obviously the bass's are different, but I have found the Audere to be very transparent, the Eq control does not really add anything pleasant to my ears, I leave it flat. In fact when I use that bass I engage my graphic Eq which I have setup for the Audere Bass. It does have a small 3 way toggle, that will change the personality of the pre-amp, from vintage, modern, to balls out thunder.

The Aguilar is colored, but in a good way, fat and punchy comes to mind, its a very pleasant sounding bass pre-amp. You can really do alot with the EQ, small adjustments will make a big difference in the tone. I do use that EQ on the Lakland Bass.

I have considered switching the Audere out for an Aguilar, but the bass sounds pretty good for now. You have to use passive pickups with the Audere, not sure about the Aguilar as someone had already modded the bass when I bought it used.

[Josh Pelican]

The Aguilar can certainly go with active pickups.

How ballsy would you say the Aguilar can get? As someone who plays a bass setup in F#, I need that low end.