Comments on AUDERE preamps?

royce420 · #1 03-14-2007, 11:28 AM

I have an EB SR5 that I have installed a Nordy 5.4 p'up in. I replaced the preamp with an SD MM preamp. I don't dig the SD so I'm going to get something else. I am also thinking about installing a jazz in the neck, maybe another Nordy or a Fralin. I was wondering if anybody could give me some info on the Audere preamp. I have been to the website and read some reviews but I just want to know if this would be right for me. I am looking for a more organic sound. I liked the stock SR5 preamp and I'm hoping to get something close to that from another preamp with the MM pickup.But I also like the idea of having a J p'up for some more options. Let me know. Thanks

4Mal · #2 03-14-2007, 02:00 PM

Organic is exactly how I would describe the Audere. Call Dave. You'll find him informative and easy to work with.

CopperheadLXXIX · #3 03-14-2007, 02:05 PM

I replaced a Bart PRE with an Audere in my 8 string fretless last year. Very versatile, and sounds almost "passive" with everything set flat, but even at some of the more extreme EQ settings, it still sounds pretty natural. Dave is a really great guy too.

jzbass6 · #4 03-14-2007, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CopperheadLXXIX

I replaced a Bart PRE with an Audere in my 8 string fretless last year. Very versatile, and sounds almost "passive" with everything set flat, but even at some of the more extreme EQ settings, it still sounds pretty natural. Dave is a really great guy too.

I agree, I have one installed in my Lakland DJ5 ( Lindy Fralin loaded) and I like the fact that the original tone and presense is mantained with everything flat. Lots of volume and very vesatile as far as tone variation, and inexpensive.

vision · #5 03-14-2007, 02:35 PM

I have the Audere 3ZB with 4 band eq on my HMR jazz, and I agree that it is VERY organic and natural. You can use extreme eq settings, and the natural tone of the bass is always going to come through. I wouldn't recommend it if you are looking for overhyped treble or boomy lows, but its perfect if you want a good passive sound with the added flexibility of eq without taking away from that natural tone.

Hollow Man · #6 03-14-2007, 02:44 PM

Mine is a ton of fun to play with. I find new sounds every time I plug it in.

**pointbass** · #7 03-14-2007, 02:58 PM

I agree with pretty much all of the opinions above. I have it in an FBB 7 and haven't had a single issue with it ...

CElton · #8 03-14-2007, 03:01 PM

+1...Absolutely love the JZ5D in my 5 string. I am totally addicted to the LowZ mode. Talk to Dave. That would probably rock in a Stingray.

**petch** · #9 03-16-2007, 07:36 AM

JZ5D in a Fender AmDeluxe 4: Awesome. Hollow man said it: you discover new tones- really good ones- every time you play. High quality, versatile, quiet, affordable... I am more stoked about this preamp now than I was when I wrote my original review!

In an SR5- why not?

wolfbass1025 · #10 03-21-2007, 10:24 PM

+1 to all the above. Organic, clear and natural. I love mine!~

4Mal · #11 03-22-2007, 09:15 AM

I just finished the install in a 90's MIM Precision SPecial. AKA Cowpoke. It's wired Vol / Vol / 3-way Z-mode / Active Passive Switch. No tone controls - the zmode does a nice job at Brite to Neutral to Dark. I'm still figuring out the hi-Z capacitence settings. I think I have the lo-z settings nailed.

I have a gucci P-Bass pickup on the way From Good Guy's Guitars for that one so I'm not quite done yet. I installed a Duncan SJB-2 at the Bridge. there is a huge difference in tonal quality between the pickups the Duncan is a lot more refined. So the transparency of the Audere works best if you also have very good pickups to work from! Not that it's a huge suprise of course. Come on Brown Truck!

adrian garcia · #12 03-22-2007, 01:42 PM

Nothing but praise for the Audere preamp and Dave Meadows!
I have it on my Nordy vj5 with Nordstrand Big Splits and the tone is to die for. Haven't had this much fun with a bass in years!

bongomania · #13 03-23-2007, 02:48 AM

Just because nothing in life is perfect, I have to be the dissenting voice here. For my tastes and purposes I did not like the sound(s) of the Audere, and my interactions with Dave were not all that great. I have gone on at length about my issues in previous threads, but I won't belabor them here because I get stepped on by all of the Audere fans when I do mention it. So let's just say the Audere product and service is great for a lot of people, but there are always exceptions, no preamp will be perfect for everyone's tastes.

brandonwong · #14 03-23-2007, 06:25 AM

I just house my audere in an external board so it's easier for me to try on different basses. From audere's website, it is not recommended as it needs the direct coupling of pickups to the inputs for the Z-mode to work correctly. Hence, i run my pickups out to the box without any tone control or just directly from my double bass(piezo) to it.

I find that it retains the original tone and timbre of the bass very well... mainly because it does not have a very wide gain to color the sound too much, especially the treble and bass knob. I can't seem to dial in a marcus miller kind of slap tone at all on my fender jazz. (not enough boost for lows and highs)
The Z-mode didn't really make "too" much of a difference in my opinion too.

Any audere buffs have this experience as well?

funkygospel · #15 03-23-2007, 07:22 AM

Can anyone give me a comparison to the sound of the Sadowsky and the Audere. I am thinking about putting either one in my KSD Jazz. I play urban gospel music.

vision · #16 03-23-2007, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandonwong

I find that it retains the original tone and timbre of the bass very well... mainly because it does not have a very wide gain to color the sound too much, especially the treble and bass knob. I can't seem to dial in a marcus miller kind of slap tone at all on my fender jazz. (not enough boost for lows and highs)
The Z-mode didn't really make "too" much of a difference in my opinion too.

I know what you mean about the boost in the treble and bass. Thats part of the reason that it's so natural, you can boost the heck out of it and it won't change the tone of your bass, there will just be more highs and lows. On my bass, I have 70's jazz pickup placement, and ash/maple woods, so it already has the Marcus Miller tone when set flat. Boosting the treble and bass on my Audere gets me even closer, but it's not gonna get you there if your bass doesn't already have that type of tone.

The Sadowsky preamp on the other hand has more boost in the highs/lows, so it may be a better fit if your looking for your preamp to color the tone more when boosting.

wolfbass1025 · #17 03-23-2007, 07:42 AM

I've really only used the audere in my fretless, apart from hearing one for a second here or there. I don't think its "the" preamp for a marcus tone, but thats about the only type of sound I would think it would not be a great candidate for.

Bongo: Sorry to hear it didn't work out for you. Its true, everything ain't for everybody. Just out of curiosity, what preamps have worked well for you??

4Mal · #18 03-23-2007, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandonwong

I just house my audere in an external board so it's easier for me to try on different basses. From audere's website, it is not recommended as it needs the direct coupling of pickups to the inputs for the Z-mode to work correctly. Hence, i run my pickups out to the box without any tone control or just directly from my double bass(piezo) to it.

I find that it retains the original tone and timbre of the bass very well... mainly because it does not have a very wide gain to color the sound too much, especially the treble and bass knob. I can't seem to dial in a marcus miller kind of slap tone at all on my fender jazz. (not enough boost for lows and highs)
The Z-mode didn't really make "too" much of a difference in my opinion too.

Any audere buffs have this experience as well?

Mine is configured without tone controls and I was specifically looking for 'organic' rather than boosted tone. The z-mode is quite effective for me but it takes listening time to dial it into a specific set of pickups. I suspect that a lot of what I'm hearing in the z-mode switch would be masked by boosted EQ. THe Z-node is my EQ.

I suspect that what you're attempting is part of the problem. You're geting a load from your cableing and with multiple basses and pickup sets, you aren't able to diai in the hi-z capacitance and lo-z impedance settings appropriately.

Far as the uber-boosted Bass & Treble I associate with Mr Miller, I tried two of Dave's basses. One was his no tone controls G&L - that's the one I was attempting to emulate. The other was a MIA J with rounds and the typical J preamp he sells with tone controls - IIRC it was Vol/Blend, z-mode, 3 band EQ - It's been a while so I may be off. Dave would certainly be able to confirm though. That Bass did a more than passable job at getting towards a Marcus like sound.

joelb79 · #19 03-23-2007, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandonwong

The Z-mode didn't really make "too" much of a difference in my opinion too.

Any audere buffs have this experience as well?

Sounds like you should be running this thing onboard. My z-mode switch mades some RADICALLY different sounds. My fav's being Hi-z and Mid-z. Low-z i have turned up a bit to loud right now because i was using it to give me enough output to drive a poweramp. and it works.

I love my audere, everything that was said about organic is true. It feels like im playing a bass not a preamp.

brandonwong · #20 03-23-2007, 10:20 AM

I will go direct from the pickups to try the Z-mode again on my electric bass.
For my double bass, it is definitely direct but the high impedance of the piezos might not match audere preamp as well so it didn't work for me at all even before my gig started.

+1 to Jake's point on the fretless.
I paired it with my BN5F and it definitely adds to the natural fretless tone. I usually like passive tone controls on my fretlesses but the audere brings the sound out even better without coloring the tone.