J-Retro vs. Audere?

[Wonder]

I'm thinking about installing either a J-Retro or an Audere pre-amp in a Fender MM Jazz bass or a Peavey Cirrus, replacing the MM pickups with Nordies and NOT replacing the Peavey pickups (partially because they may be too wide for anything to fit. I would appreciate feedback from any TBers that have had ANY experience with either of these preamps.

[CElton]

I had an Audere. I really liked it. It is transparent, but can get a lot of different tones with the different Z modes and pickup panning combinations. I really liked the combination of LowZ on the front pup and HighZ on the rear and pan slightly to the back pup. Great bridge tone with good clarity while the neck pup has provides awsome lows. I highly recommend it. I have not heard or played a J-Retro, but have only heard good things about them.

Good luck...

[Wonder]

Originally Posted by OP1964

I had an Audere. I really liked it. It is transparent, but can get a lot of different tones with the different Z modes and pickup panning combinations. I really liked the combination of LowZ on the front pup and HighZ on the rear and pan slightly to the back pup. Great bridge tone with good clarity while the neck pup has provides awsome lows. I highly recommend it. I have not heard or played a J-Retro, but have only heard good things about them.

Good luck...

Thanks for that succinct analysis. What kind of bass did you have it in? Did the Audere "color" your tone or was it pure?

[Jeff Moote]

Originally Posted by Wonder

Thanks for that succinct analysis. What kind of bass did you have it in? Did the Audere "color" your tone or was it pure?

The Audere set flat in mid-Z will not colour your tone at all. Mine pretty much sounds 100% the same as bypassing the preamp at those settings.

From what I've heard the Retro has more of its own colour. Not a bad thing, but it's a different approach than the Audere.

[ElBajista]

Originally Posted by Jeff Moote

...From what I've heard the Retro has more of its own colour. Not a bad thing, but it's a different approach than the Audere.

+1.

From the several J-retro units I've had over the years, they all seem to have a pretty noticeable bass boost even in the "flat" position.

[Wonder]

Originally Posted by ElBajista

+1.

From the several J-retro units I've had over the years, they all seem to have a pretty noticeable bass boost even in the "flat" position.

Is the tone of the Retro worth the "trade off"?

[brandonwong]

I had my first J-retro on my 77 jazz and it was awesome for what i can do with it. I didn't realize that it was a colored tone initially as most active basses sounded quite similiar but the retro definitely has more flexibility and punch if you want it to.
After which i got U-retro and a Retro Stompbox. They are all great and feature that slight mid-cut contour that most people either like or not like. I personally think its in the brain that people are unhappy with what is "not colored".

I got the audere a month back and tried it with my 80s Jazz. It has a "very" different tone as compared to a lot of other preamps i've tried, bartolini 2 or 3 band. I personally termed it as organic rather than "non-colored", a bit like brown rice versus polished rice, especially in high Z-mode. I never did find the low-Z as useful unless i'm doing hip-hop dance stuff where you need that boom and not the brightness of a slapping tone.

Putting both side by side, i would say the audere has tonal variation and flexibility for a more organic/non-colored tone whereas; the retro has a more powerful typical preamp sound, almost like putting your bass thru a 31 band EQ.
Having said this, i think you should give the audere a try if you have the chance; even if you like the latter power.

[John East]

Originally Posted by ElBajista

+1.

From the several J-retro units I've had over the years, they all seem to have a pretty noticeable bass boost even in the "flat" position.

Well, as Brandon points out, there isn't really a totally flat setting due to the built in contour.

And the other thing to remember, is that the bass control is boost only, so the flatest setting is with the bass fully backed off, treble and mid set central. With this setting there are still a few dBs boost at the low and upper mid/high end.

[Wonder]

Originally Posted by brandonwong

I had my first J-retro on my 77 jazz and it was awesome for what i can do with it. I didn't realize that it was a colored tone initially as most active basses sounded quite similiar but the retro definitely has more flexibility and punch if you want it to.
After which i got U-retro and a Retro Stompbox. They are all great and feature that slight mid-cut contour that most people either like or not like. I personally think its in the brain that people are unhappy with what is "not colored".

I got the audere a month back and tried it with my 80s Jazz. It has a "very" different tone as compared to a lot of other preamps i've tried, bartolini 2 or 3 band. I personally termed it as organic rather than "non-colored", a bit like brown rice versus polished rice, especially in high Z-mode. I never did find the low-Z as useful unless i'm doing hip-hop dance stuff where you need that boom and not the brightness of a slapping tone.

Putting both side by side, i would say the audere has tonal variation and flexibility for a more organic/non-colored tone whereas; the retro has a more powerful typical preamp sound, almost like putting your bass thru a 31 band EQ.
Having said this, i think you should give the audere a try if you have the chance; even if you like the latter power.

Thanks Brandon! That's the info I was looking for.

[00Funk]

I have 2 Auderes and 1 Retro. I like them both.
I like the retro a little better, because it comes with cool knobs, a push pull brite treble, and the electronics look cool. Coolness is a big + w/me. They both are excellent, though. Just a little different in personality.

[Jeff Moote]

Originally Posted by 00Funk

I have 2 Auderes and 1 Retro. I like them both.
I like the retro a little better, because it comes with cool knobs, a push pull brite treble, and the electronics look cool. Coolness is a big + w/me. They both are excellent, though. Just a little different in personality.

So do you care at all what it sounds like? Nothing is "cooler" than an instrument that sounds great

The East preamps are great, but the knobs and appearance of the electronics are the last reasons I'd give to back that up...

[00Funk]

Originally Posted by Jeff Moote

So do you care at all what it sounds like? Nothing is "cooler" than an instrument that sounds great

The East preamps are great, but the knobs and appearance of the electronics are the last reasons I'd give to back that up...

Being a bass player, is all about being cool, Dontcha know ? Coolness overides, techiness, anyday !

[bassjam]

j-retro!

[msquared]

Originally Posted by Jeff Moote

So do you care at all what it sounds like? Nothing is "cooler" than an instrument that sounds great

Tell that to all the Bongo haters out there.

[Jeff Moote]

Originally Posted by msquared

Tell that to all the Bongo haters out there.

That's exactly my point! I don't care for the Bongo appearance, but if they were what I liked the sound of best, I'd use them.

Appearance is great, but for me at least it comes after things like sound and playability. Of course I spend lots of time and money trading basses around to try out different stuff, but in the end you get closer to the ideal in all areas.

[largo]

I wouldn't play a bass if I didn't like the look of it, regardless if it was the best sounding or not. I would have to find a compromise between looks and tone.

That's why I got a custom build so that I got the best looks & tone for me.