I want to give bit of a caveat before starting this review: I do not know much about DIs or preamps. There might be better preamps and DIs out there, but for what I need this does the job.
The Bass Simplifier is a preamp/DI designed by DSM (of Omnicab fame) and Humboldt Electronics, and built by DSM in Spain. This little box is full of features, including one that I think should be standard across ALL preamps, an effects loop (two of them actually). It also includes a cab sim feature, with three selectable cabinets, microphone simulation, speaker voicings, and a speaker resonance control. In addition, it comes with a 3 band EQ, mid frequency select, a parallel/phase switch, and the usual volume and gain knobs. The preamp blend control blends the two effects loops (the preamp FX and parallel FX). It is big on features, and in a unit that is the size of a standard Boss pedal, that is mighty impressive.
I came across this preamp because I needed a preamp with an effects loop and possible cab sim should I have to run ampless. The ever famous SansAmp BDDI by Tech 21 sounds great but it does not have an effects loop. The Darkglass preamps also sound great but were eye wateringly expensive and also did not have effects loops (why Darkglass?). The GK Plex was an option but it did not have a cab sim. This was also the same with the Radial Bassbone, which was way too large to fit on my board. The Two Notes LeBass has an effects loop and a cab sim, but it's of a 1x15 and could not be changed without purchasing a separate proprietary unit from Two Notes AND is the size of a minibus. Nu-X has the Melvin Lee Davis DI, which has a loadable cab sim, but no effects loop...you get the gist now as to what I needed. Enter the DSM Simplifier Bass Station (or Bass Simplifier for short). It's small (!), has an effects loop (!!), isn't tremendously expensive (at least compared to the Two Notes or Radial units), and has a cab sim, though not loadable like the Nu-X unit.
In my use the Bass Simplifier acts as a hub for my electronics. I have a clean signal going directly into the input of the unit from my TU-3 (I hesitate to call it a pedal as there's no footswitch), and have the rest of the effects going into the return of the first effects loop. I also have a signal going from the send of the effects loop into three more effects before going into a passive summer, gets combined into the first signal from the first bank off effects, and into the aforementioned return. It's a complicated setup, but the Simplifier handles it wonderfully, and it enables me to have a clean signal underneath my distorted signal (and I love distortion, so that's a necessary thing to have). Controls are intuitive and easy to read, and the preamp feels solidly built though I did have to hand tighten a few nuts when it first came. However, I have not had any issues with build quality yet; I've owned the Simplifier for little over a year now and nothing has come up yet. I also like how it is very small; it's the size of a Boss pedal, which means that it won't take up much space compared to the titan that is the Radial Bassbone or the absolute chungus that is the Two Notes LeBass. Pedalboard friendly AND chock full of features? Sign me up.
DSM states that the Bass Simplifier is based off an Ampeg SVT. I do not own an Ampeg SVT, so I cannot verify those claims. I also do not own any Ampeg cabinets that it claims to emulate, so I cannot verify if the amp or cab sim are accurate to the real things. I will say though that this preamp does sound good, and having the cab sim means that I can run ampless should I need to. I do wish there were more EQ controls - a 5 band would be great and would be more accurate to have than the 3 band and mid shift. I also could not tell much difference between the 4x10 and 8x10 cab sims. I am not sure if I have a defective unit, or if that is intentional; again, I don't own anything Ampeg. Cranking the gain also makes the Simplifier sound like arse. I'm sure if you want a tad of overdrive it would sound great, but turning it up makes my bass sound like a bad time after Taco Bell. Just leave it clean and let any dirt boxes you have do the heavy lifting.
In short, if you need a preamp that is full on features and not on size, the Bass Simplifier is the way to go. Yes, it is a bit on the pricey side. There are cheaper DIs, but they don't have both cab simulation and effects loops; just one or the other (to say nothing about how Darkglass preamps don't have effects loops. Considering how much those cost that's triflin'). But it's worth the cost, and a handy tool to have on hand.
The Bass Simplifier is a preamp/DI designed by DSM (of Omnicab fame) and Humboldt Electronics, and built by DSM in Spain. This little box is full of features, including one that I think should be standard across ALL preamps, an effects loop (two of them actually). It also includes a cab sim feature, with three selectable cabinets, microphone simulation, speaker voicings, and a speaker resonance control. In addition, it comes with a 3 band EQ, mid frequency select, a parallel/phase switch, and the usual volume and gain knobs. The preamp blend control blends the two effects loops (the preamp FX and parallel FX). It is big on features, and in a unit that is the size of a standard Boss pedal, that is mighty impressive.
I came across this preamp because I needed a preamp with an effects loop and possible cab sim should I have to run ampless. The ever famous SansAmp BDDI by Tech 21 sounds great but it does not have an effects loop. The Darkglass preamps also sound great but were eye wateringly expensive and also did not have effects loops (why Darkglass?). The GK Plex was an option but it did not have a cab sim. This was also the same with the Radial Bassbone, which was way too large to fit on my board. The Two Notes LeBass has an effects loop and a cab sim, but it's of a 1x15 and could not be changed without purchasing a separate proprietary unit from Two Notes AND is the size of a minibus. Nu-X has the Melvin Lee Davis DI, which has a loadable cab sim, but no effects loop...you get the gist now as to what I needed. Enter the DSM Simplifier Bass Station (or Bass Simplifier for short). It's small (!), has an effects loop (!!), isn't tremendously expensive (at least compared to the Two Notes or Radial units), and has a cab sim, though not loadable like the Nu-X unit.
In my use the Bass Simplifier acts as a hub for my electronics. I have a clean signal going directly into the input of the unit from my TU-3 (I hesitate to call it a pedal as there's no footswitch), and have the rest of the effects going into the return of the first effects loop. I also have a signal going from the send of the effects loop into three more effects before going into a passive summer, gets combined into the first signal from the first bank off effects, and into the aforementioned return. It's a complicated setup, but the Simplifier handles it wonderfully, and it enables me to have a clean signal underneath my distorted signal (and I love distortion, so that's a necessary thing to have). Controls are intuitive and easy to read, and the preamp feels solidly built though I did have to hand tighten a few nuts when it first came. However, I have not had any issues with build quality yet; I've owned the Simplifier for little over a year now and nothing has come up yet. I also like how it is very small; it's the size of a Boss pedal, which means that it won't take up much space compared to the titan that is the Radial Bassbone or the absolute chungus that is the Two Notes LeBass. Pedalboard friendly AND chock full of features? Sign me up.
DSM states that the Bass Simplifier is based off an Ampeg SVT. I do not own an Ampeg SVT, so I cannot verify those claims. I also do not own any Ampeg cabinets that it claims to emulate, so I cannot verify if the amp or cab sim are accurate to the real things. I will say though that this preamp does sound good, and having the cab sim means that I can run ampless should I need to. I do wish there were more EQ controls - a 5 band would be great and would be more accurate to have than the 3 band and mid shift. I also could not tell much difference between the 4x10 and 8x10 cab sims. I am not sure if I have a defective unit, or if that is intentional; again, I don't own anything Ampeg. Cranking the gain also makes the Simplifier sound like arse. I'm sure if you want a tad of overdrive it would sound great, but turning it up makes my bass sound like a bad time after Taco Bell. Just leave it clean and let any dirt boxes you have do the heavy lifting.
In short, if you need a preamp that is full on features and not on size, the Bass Simplifier is the way to go. Yes, it is a bit on the pricey side. There are cheaper DIs, but they don't have both cab simulation and effects loops; just one or the other (to say nothing about how Darkglass preamps don't have effects loops. Considering how much those cost that's triflin'). But it's worth the cost, and a handy tool to have on hand.
Thank you for doing the review - was very helpful for me in making the decision to get one!
Best regards and hugs
Kristian