Suggest 3 band preamps please.

darkstorm · #1 02-28-2010, 11:33 PM

It would be to replace the 3 band eq in my Traben Array Attack. I would prefer one like the 3 b and Ibanez style sweeper one found in their SR300. But with individual pots for bass and treble rather then stacked. And must be without the pots attached to the circuit board like Carvin does it. Since the pots will need to go inline in same places where existing knobs are at. So far the only preamp Ive found available for purchase is the Bartolini HR-5.2. It would prob do very nicely for std 3 band upgrade. But one with the mid like the Ibanez one would be ideal.

Things Id change about the traben one is move the treble center freq to 6KHz. And shift the mid control some but I'm not certain how other then with adjustable sweep like the Ibanez style sweeper. I'm not certain what would be the ideal for me mid freq. Which makes the Bartolini HR-5.2 attractive as an alternative since it has pp selectable mid.

Music style is electronic trance, death metalish and ambient. Thanks. O btw price range is $166 or less. And must work just fine on 9 volt rather then needing 18 volts for best performance.

sheepdog · #2 02-28-2010, 11:52 PM

Audere

Zombbg4 · #3 03-01-2010, 12:07 AM

So you know and don limit your options, a preamp can be configured to fit your style. Stacked, all single, push pull, switch selectable mids, pot sweepable mids ect...all can be done youself. The bart preamp is a 918f or something, all the other numbers are the configurations they come pre-wired in.

darkstorm · #4 03-01-2010, 12:18 AM

Thanks sheepdog, Ive added the Classic Onboard Preamp 4band 5 knob/pot version to list as a possible candidate. Will check back for other candidates later tommorrow

darkstorm · #5 03-01-2010, 01:30 AM

Zombbg4, thanks, didnt know such options where commonly available for builds.

Its looking like something along the lines of 6KHz treble, 2KHz mid, 500Hz low mids, and around 60Hz bass. Or around 60HZ bass, 500Hz low mids, 6k treble as another good choice for me and my Traben. Its mid seems to be too close to the 1Khz area. (As best can tell by playing more with my Zooms 8 band eq to try and get beter sense of where wants center freqs. And picking known more liked bass and treble center freqs. If I knew how the Ibanez style sweeper works in comp to other versions of sweepable mids could make better choice. I do like theirs. Thanks

The trabens mid freq is good choice for just emphasising drive. But not where I really want it for a bit of tonal pallete boost. And its treble freq is closer to 8KHZ like my zooms and I know I like the 6KHZ center better. Lol. For bass control I want it below 80HZ. And as articulate as the pups can provide it. Maybe as low as 40HZ but I'm thinking 60HZ might be more musically useful?

Of course these possible figures are also in part based on getting better sound with my processors presets which are allready dialed in for my Ibanez SR300. Alternate choice would be simply copying the fave 8 presets to couple open banks and tweaking their eq for the Traben. But I also somehow feel the change could make the allready very good Traben even better sounding.

GeoffByrne · #6 03-01-2010, 03:52 PM

John East U-Retro or R-Retro.

http://www.east-uk.com/

darkstorm · #7 03-01-2010, 03:52 PM

Sheepdog what makes Audere your fave if I may ask?
The Z-Mode Onboard Preamp version looks tempting too but also a bit "I'd be spending three days just playing with the adjustable screw adjustments to figure them out for initial taste. The another couple days later redoing em a little. Yikes!" Bit overwhelming actually. Lol.

Rano Bass · #8 03-01-2010, 03:59 PM

I recomend this one: http://www.emginc.com/products/index/142/146/4

Sweepable mids and 3 treble frequencies to select.

sheepdog · #9 03-01-2010, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkstorm

Sheepdog what makes Audere your fave if I may ask?
The Z-Mode Onboard Preamp version looks tempting too but also a bit "I'd be spending three days just playing with the adjustable screw adjustments to figure them out for initial taste. The another couple days later redoing em a little. Yikes!" Bit overwhelming actually. Lol.

no coloration in the sound. FANTASTIC customer service. Options available: 4 band preamp available. Plus I read tons of positive reviews on here before buying it.

and you won't be retweaking them every few days. I am OCD, but once I set it, that was it. Think of it like the 3 zmodes offering 3 separate platforms that you can use the bass/mid/treble to further tweak. Sort of a dark, regular, and bright platform.

sheepdog · #10 03-01-2010, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffByrne

John East U-Retro or R-Retro.

http://www.east-uk.com/

also an excellent choice. Pricier than others, but fantastic preamp.

darkstorm · #11 03-01-2010, 07:15 PM

Rano Bass..> Thanks. The EMG BQS so far has the best looking to me freq's of the ones Ive looked into from suggestions. The sweepable mid covers what I want it to. While not exactly what I hoped for treble wise, the 3 choices would make up for that. Prob use the 5k setting. I've liked the more basic emg active eq's Ive had in other basses. So no reason I wouldnt love this one I think. And I like their orientation to all things metal and extreme music wise. Lol.

FunkyMan · #12 03-01-2010, 11:29 PM

Nobody has mentioned Aguilar OBP-3 preamp yet?

darkstorm · #13 03-02-2010, 02:16 PM

FunkyMan..> Got that Aquilar OBP-3 preamp as the other most likely one along with the EMG BQS. Thanks for mentioning it. Funkyman Was starting to wonder if any but me had noted it as perhaps whats looking for. Lol. And I found it while looking for options with google search. Lol. The Audere didnt make it due to its freq selections not gonna be right for the body woods and processor feed end results wanted. Otherwise itd of been good choice imo.

I have reprogrammed 3 banks of my processor for eq's. To better suit the Traben's sound. And liking it better then ever and better then my Ibanez actually for main bass now. This opens the possibility of upgrading the Ibanez preamp. It could use a little bit hotter output and either the EMG or Aquilar should work equally well in it with their adjustable mids. Still gotta give its top a light clear coat to better protect the glow graphics.

JackANSI · #14 03-02-2010, 02:47 PM

Glockenklang

darkstorm · #15 03-02-2010, 03:42 PM

JackANSI...> Did look at the Glockenklang website, nice but treble freq is way off from where I'm wanting. With the burl maple top, Traben dont need no boost in that upper treble range. I'd be more inclined to pick that range for an all mahogany including necks, bass whose pups where a tad lacking in upper harmonics & ovedrtones content. But I could be wrong. So Glockenklang remains the 3rd one down on short list of 3 to pick from. EMG, Aquilar, Glockenklang.

Unless someone has a upgraded version of the Ibanez style sweeper to suggest?