Which Preamp for Jazz Bass

albass111 · #1 07-28-2006, 05:34 PM

Hello,

I have a cool relic'ed Jazz bass that I just put Nordstrand NJSV's in and I'm putting in a drop in no route preamp. The no routing leaves me with the Audere or J-retro and I wanted to hear opinions on both being that I haven't personally heard either one. Also, I was curious to know if there was a clear cut favorite.

THANKS!

Greenman · #2 07-29-2006, 12:30 AM

40 views no replies. Audere is winning in the poll. Is it because of the price?

Figjam · #3 07-29-2006, 12:43 AM

I've heard good things about the Audere.

westland · #4 07-29-2006, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenman

40 views no replies. Audere is winning in the poll. Is it because of the price?

Audere's price is good, but they make a great amp which brings out the full range of tone in your pickups ... worth it if you have great pickups like the Nordstrands. I have the JZ3 in my Geddy Lee, with Fralin pups, and it's a fantastic Fender Jazz ... better sounding than any other Jazz I've played.

Greenman · #5 07-29-2006, 01:32 AM

I'm in a build now and the last thing to order is a preamp. I am using Nordstrand big singles. I want to get a preamp that works best with single coils. I'm not to conserned about pricing.

Marcus · #6 07-29-2006, 01:45 AM

Audere all the way.

Do not discredit it because of the price. It is in NO way a cheap product. It's a top notch pre that I would put up there with the finest custom pre's. Do not think that it's another J-Retro just because it's a direct Fender drop-in either because it's a whole 'nother animal.

**bassybill** · #7 07-29-2006, 04:18 AM

Don't have experience with the Audere other than a few soundclips, but I can't see it beating the J-Retro for me as this does such a great job. I have one paired up with my Nordie NJ4SEs and it's the perfect preamp in my book, in terms of the sound, the quality and the thought that's gone into its design (especially the EQ arrangements). Generally you tend to get what you pay for.

EDIT Just listened to the clips on the Audere site, sounds okay but nothing special really. Several of them were noisy as hell, too. When any new product comes out, the hype can sometimes get in the way of fair comparisons, I suspect. I for one won't be rushing to swap my J-Retro for one of these, but you pays your money and takes your choice, I suppose.

**bassybill** · #8 07-29-2006, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenman

I'm in a build now and the last thing to order is a preamp. I am using Nordstrand big singles. I want to get a preamp that works best with single coils. I'm not to conserned about pricing.

Noise is definitely going to be a factor to consider here, then!

**David Wilson** · #9 07-29-2006, 09:08 AM

I've owned both Audere and J-Retro preamps in Jazz basses.

I want a preamp to be transparent when eq is flat, I get that with the Audere and didn't get it with the J-Retro.

My honest feeling is that the J-Retro has many great ideas in it, but it just didn't work for me as a whole. I think that slight eq pre-shape that's always present puts me off, or maybe that's not it, but all I know is that I've never liked the sound of any Jazz bass with a J-Retro in it. Other people love it, and that's fine. It's great we have these choices available to us as bass players!

On the other hand, I've had a U-Retro in some non-Jazz basses and it sounded great.

With regards to the Audere, you don't get variable mids, but to be honest I've never found a use for fully sweepable mids in any of the situations I play in. If that's an important factor, then get the J-Retro.

The Audere is not a noisy preamp from my experience with it in several basses.

JAUQO III-X · #10 07-29-2006, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassybill

Don't have experience with the Audere other than a few soundclips, but I can't see it beating the J-Retro for me as this does such a great job. I have one paired up with my Nordie NJ4SEs and it's the perfect preamp in my book, in terms of the sound, the quality and the thought that's gone into its design (especially the EQ arrangements). Generally you tend to get what you pay for.

EDIT Just listened to the clips on the Audere site, sounds okay but nothing special really. Several of them were noisy as hell, too. When any new product comes out, the hype can sometimes get in the way of fair comparisons, I suspect. I for one won't be rushing to swap my J-Retro for one of these, but you pays your money and takes your choice, I suppose.

If you have no experience with the Audere pre amp why does are your comments seem so mildly negative ?

Please anyone that is reading my post understand that just because the Audere JZ3 doesn't cost an arm and a leg does not at all take away from the great quality that goes into the Audere product,if one has any experience with top grade audio components the first thing they will recognize is the quality of parts that are in the Audere products.I let two very highly respected Bass industry insiders have a look at the Audere JZ3 and they were in awe of it's quality(it's emphasis on quality really blew them away)as far as noise I have yet to get any noise out of the JZ3 that I have installed in my fretless J Bass(again no noise at all no matter how much I turn the highs up)I'm also having an Audere system installed in a couple of other Basses that I have.I have talked to other JZ3 users and they have commented that they have no noise issues with their pre at all.I also have to disagree with your comment in this case on hype involving the new market product from Audere,the many post here at TB alone is testament that first hand experience is better than a bunch of untested hype.

And lets not forget the optional tonal changing capacitors that are offered with the JZ3 pre,another + in my book.

I use and stand behind Audere products and will continue to do so and my comments are not at all directed at the proven J-retro pre made by the talented John East.

The JZ3 and the J-Retro are two totally different type of pre's,really apples to oranges.

Albass & Greenman with all due respect the best thing you guys can do is try both pre's and the one that best fits your needs is the one.

**bassybill** · #11 07-29-2006, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

If you have no experience with the Audere pre amp why does are your comments seem so mildly negative ?

Jauqo, you're right, my post does sound too negative. Sorry!

It was just a reaction to some of the earlier comments that seemed to imply the superiority of the Audere over the J-Retro was beyond dispute (which is plain silly whichever way you look at it), and a cynicism on my part about how much experience some (but not all) of the posters and voters actually have with either product. I did make clear, as you noted, that the only experience I have with the Audere is listening to a few clips, so I will try to keep an open mind until I get to try one for myself.

As far as the noise comment goes, it was only based on what I heard on their own website, for example, this clip. It is possible that the noise here is due to other sources, perhaps?

JAUQO III-X · #12 07-29-2006, 09:39 AM

Here are some sound clips for those who may be interested.

My Audere Z-mode demonstration (if you're curious about how Z-Mode sounds)

**bassybill** · #13 07-29-2006, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

Here are some sound clips for those who may be interested.

My Audere Z-mode demonstration (if you're curious about how Z-Mode sounds)

The link to the clip in that thread doesn't appear to be working for me.

JAUQO III-X · #14 07-29-2006, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassybill

The link to the clip in that thread doesn't appear to be working for me.

You're right,it was working a moment before I posted it and now it's down.

**bassybill** · #15 07-29-2006, 10:19 AM

I'd be interested to give these a second listen if Marcus gets them up and working again.

Well, in the meantime, just to show I'm willing to put my stuff on the line, here's links to my Jazz with J-Retro/NJ4SEs...

All the clips were recorded with the J-Retro on but bass/mid/treble all set flat, pickup blend set 50:50. There’s some distortion on the peaks, because I’m no engineer. Again, sorry ‘bout that.

So, here they are…

Fingerstyle
Digging in a bit
Slap

JAUQO III-X · #16 07-29-2006, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassybill

There’s some distortion on the peaks, because I’m no engineer.

Maybe that was the case the Audere clip as well

ElBajista · #17 07-29-2006, 10:35 AM

I've only ever tried the J-retro, but I really, really want to try out the Audere. The Z-switch and capacitor choices are just too interesting to pass up for a hopeless knob-tweaker like me. I've even considered dropping an Audere in my 55-02!

That said, there's certainly nothing at all wrong with J-retro preamps! I had one for a short time, and the versatility along with key defining features (the even blend switch for both pickups without volume loss) were very cool. The Passive tone control is also a big strength of the J-Retro preamp. I liked how quickly I could get middy, punchy fingerstyle along with the essential mid-scooped slap tone. It's really a great preamp.

In short, they're both great preamps, and both have their strengths and weaknesses. I suggest you try both. (or get another jazz bass so you have one with the J-Retro and one with the Audere!)