Tell me about active preamps

-=DanAtkinson=- · #1 06-17-2010, 12:21 PM

Ok, so I've always been a passive guy. Never owned an active bass in my life. I like things ultra simple, ultra pure. But I have more and more requests for custom basses with preamps.

I'm in the process of building a prototype for my own bass design, and I've decided to go active. I know some of the big names: Aguilar, Audere, Bartolini, Sadowsky, etc. What are the sonic characteristics of each? Are they much different, in reality? And obviously I'm looking for a pre that is compact and easy to install.

FYI, this first build will likely feature a DiMarzio Model P + Model J at the bridge.

Thanks for any guidance.

Tommygunn · #2 06-17-2010, 12:24 PM

Aguilar is a power house so I'm told. But Bart has one of the smoothest sounding pre's I've ever heard.

Edit: 4 band pre-amps for an aggressive tone IMO, more controls on the mids. Also a bit more versatile when it comes to getting a kinda pre or post gain effect.

fourstringbliss · #3 06-17-2010, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -=DanAtkinson=-

Ok, so I've always been a passive guy. Never owned an active bass in my life. I like things ultra simple, ultra pure. But I have more and more requests for custom basses with preamps.

I'm in the process of building a prototype for my own bass design, and I've decided to go active. I know some of the big names: Aguilar, Audere, Bartolini, Sadowsky, etc. What are the sonic characteristics of each? Are they much different, in reality? And obviously I'm looking for a pre that is compact and easy to install.

FYI, this first build will likely feature a DiMarzio Model P + Model J at the bridge.

Thanks for any guidance.

You're probably going to get a lot of votes for Aguilar (powerful with thick bass) and Bartolini (fairly balanced) but I would vote for Audere. Their preamps are designed to add flexibility without color, the balance controls are active and give you a true blend because the pickups connect to the preamp in stereo, and installation is a snap! They come prewired - there are only three wires that you need to connect. the pots are super tiny but they're not CTS - they're high quality of some other make. The preamp module is about the size of a 9v battery. The configurations are ultra flexible, and I'm sure that David Meadows (the owner) would be willing to work with you to come up with a custom model if the stock ones aren't what you're looking for. The EQ points are very well chosen as well, and add thickness and clarity rather than boominess and harshness like with some other preamps.

They might not have the name recognition that Aguilar or Bartolini have but they're top notch preamps. With the EQ set flat they're designed to sound passive.

bh2 · #4 06-17-2010, 01:02 PM

Hi Dan... I fitted a John East J-Retro in my fretless Jazz... absolute monster tone...

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

I know John, he's a nice guy and very helpful.

sixtyneedles · #5 06-17-2010, 01:07 PM

Also check out the glockenklang preamp i think from what you are describing the 2 band will fit your tastes and after your done start shiping basses to europe

And heres a vid of a p/j with the preamp on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaKSdS94id8

SC Bassboy · #6 06-17-2010, 01:10 PM

Of the preamps I have owned/own:

1. Aguilar: rich, musical and powerful
2. Audere: rich, musical, transparent
3. Seymour Duncan: clean, simple, reserved

With you being a fan of passive I would go with the Audere preamps. Easy install and they don't color the sound, just enhance. It would be a nice option on your basses (which I was drooling over the other day)

ac3320 · #7 06-17-2010, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixtyneedles

Also check out the glockenklang preamp i think from what you are describing the 2 band will fit your tastes and after your done start shiping basses to europe

And heres a vid of a p/j with the preamp on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaKSdS94id8

Dan,

I would also opt for the glockenklang for a nice boutique preamp. The aguilar pre is quite revered here, but i don't think it is as usable as the sadowsky pre or the glock pre.

The audere is a tricked out pre, with some Z-switching possible, but i think it is kind of overkill IMO.

Nordstrand, like sadowsky, has some really nice pickups and preamps to check out as well.

Personally, if i were doing an ash/maple bass, i would check out the sad pre/PUP combo or the nordy pre/PUP combo.

If i were building an alder/rosewood bass for a customer, i would consider the sad or the glock for a boutique-y modern sounding bass.

Great, GREAT stuff coming out of your shop! Thanks for contributing to the bass world

-Anthony

-=DanAtkinson=- · #8 06-17-2010, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixtyneedles

Also check out the glockenklang preamp i think from what you are describing the 2 band will fit your tastes and after your done start shiping basses to europe

And heres a vid of a p/j with the preamp on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaKSdS94id8

Man, that drummer is GOOD. He can play without even moving his hands!

fourstringbliss · #9 06-17-2010, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ac3320

Dan,

I would also opt for the glockenklang for a nice boutique preamp. The aguilar pre is quite revered here, but i don't think it is as usable as the sadowsky pre or the glock pre.

The audere is a tricked out pre, with some Z-switching possible, but i think it is kind of overkill IMO.

Nordstrand, like sadowsky, has some really nice pickups and preamps to check out as well.

Personally, if i were doing an ash/maple bass, i would check out the sad pre/PUP combo or the nordy pre/PUP combo.

If i were building an alder/rosewood bass for a customer, i would consider the sad or the glock for a boutique-y modern sounding bass.

Great, GREAT stuff coming out of your shop! Thanks for contributing to the bass world

-Anthony

I was thinking more of the Audere Classic 4-band but I forgot that Dan makes more vintage type stuff.

J or P Retro would probably be best, or something like that.

sixtyneedles · #10 06-17-2010, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -=DanAtkinson=-

Man, that drummer is GOOD. He can play without even moving his hands!

I think his name is Cubase

-=DanAtkinson=- · #11 06-17-2010, 01:19 PM

Thanks for the input so far. Good stuff.

(In hindsight, I guess this should have gone in a different forum. Maybe the mods could move it.)

Question: What about 18v vs. 9v? Any sonic difference?

Tommygunn · #12 06-17-2010, 01:20 PM

More head room so to say.

I really don't see it after I played a bongo, but I can see how you could like the difference.

ac3320 · #13 06-17-2010, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -=DanAtkinson=-

Thanks for the input so far. Good stuff.

(In hindsight, I guess this should have gone in a different forum. Maybe the mods could move it.)

Question: What about 18v vs. 9v? Any sonic difference?

Seems like a gimmick that boutique shops/preamp makers came up with a while ago. I guess it's nice to have an extra battery, but as far as "headroom" goes, if you really need that much headroom, your EQing is probably making you sound like poop.

stflbn · #14 06-17-2010, 01:27 PM

Glockenklang.
Affordable. Easy to install. Ultra clean sounding. And adaptive tonally.

Fuzzbass · #15 06-17-2010, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ac3320

Seems like a gimmick that boutique shops/preamp makers came up with a while ago. I guess it's nice to have an extra battery, but as far as "headroom" goes, if you really need that much headroom, your EQing is probably making you sound like poop.

I'm no techie, but a techie I know says that it's essentially a gimmick, with the real-world advantage being fewer battery changes. But many preamps have such light current draw that this isn't much of a factor.

Gopher Bob · #16 06-17-2010, 02:02 PM

The 18v thing probably stems from active EMGs having more headroom at 18v.

If one company's amp goes to 11 the rest will follow suit.

I'd like to vote here for active emg's and an emg or aguilar(odb2or odb3) preamp but since I won't be buying any custom bass (I wish I could!) I don't want to taint the waters with my outlandish ideas.

joeyl · #17 06-17-2010, 02:07 PM

I have only tried 3 so far after being a mostly passive fan:

Audere: transparent, musical eq but too much hiss IMO, the pickups are isolated from ground and I think that's the reason

Aguilar: monster boost! I did not find it too musical since I had to tiptoe to get a usable sound

ACG: filter based, different than the above 2, very musical, no noise whatsoever, takes some time to dial in sounds

**StrangerDanger** · #18 06-17-2010, 02:20 PM

Dont do it Dan! Resist the Darkside!

Do a Mustang instead.

BTW Im considering starting a "Basses Without Batteries Club".

stflbn · #19 06-17-2010, 02:26 PM

I can tell you from personal experience that an Aguilar OBP-3 18v has a noticable amount more output than the same exact install with 9v. My install in my Schecter was so much hotter than my other basses that I backed it off to 9v. It also was very close to clipping the input on my line6 X2 wireless... sometimes it would if I dug in to hard.

The other unexpected outcome of that additional output can be a perceived addition of punch or clarity to the sound.

Personally I feel the difference in sound is just due to more gain and moving more air, but 18v vs 9v definitely puts out more signal strength. I swapped the bass from 18v to 9v myself back to back and experienced the difference.

But, if no tonal difference there's no real reason 'to me' to run 18v unless you want more signal.

Bass-Adrenaline · #20 06-17-2010, 04:55 PM

Dang, the Audere looks promising but they REALLY need to make everything easier to understand on their site. There are so many options and everythign is just jumbled together.