2 Band Versus 3 Band

[dmas81]

Yikes. Clearly you have too much money. You should send me some.

Haha it’s called not getting married and no kids man. I’m not saying it’s the way, it is a way though.

 

[dmas81]

Is this a humble brag about 35 basses some of which are fairly high end?
The only way to somewhat properly compare two preamps is to install them in the same, single bass.
Then of course, that is an exercise in futility as the two preamps would be of a different design and will color the sound differently and that has nothing to do with the number of eq bands... unless the more bands is more cumbersome to setup kind of argument.
You also have not mentioned if you actually use heavy adjustment on the preamps or leave them give or take in the middle. I kind of do not really use the EQ except to maybe nudge one of the knobs about a tenth of the travel here and there. But when I get into desires of heavily scooped sound, I find that 3-bands are hands down, offers more variety and extreme. My personal favorite type of preamp is a combination of standard 2 band EQ with added mid-frequency adjustment. This is basically low-shelf, high-shelf, and added mid band-pass. It offers great variety of tones with most tones very usable. Even better if the mid -band has the frequency adjustment, but that can be a smidge overboard with flexibility.

Not a humble brag. I’ve bought at good prices and resold usually breaking even or making a buck. Plus not married or have kids and have a good job.

thanks for the info. Who makes the preamp you are describing. BTW Brian from Low End bass does actually make a preamp that switches from 2b to 3b so there is a way to compare them. Even using that amp, the 2 band was more impressive.

I did get an answer back from him specifically on this question and he agreed two bands sound better because the frequency width is broader on 2b. Also stated 2b’s have greater headroom.

 

[dmas81]

All due respect, but I've posted maybe 5 times on TB and I've regretted posting on this site extactly 5 times.

TRUST ME WE ALL KNOW SOUND IS SUBJECTIVE. This is why I very clearly said "IMO". It goes without saying at this point. I was simply looking for some feedback that some of you gave, without taking a shot at my original post, as to the differences in those preamps and why I would prefer one over the other from a technical side.

Thank you to the rest of you who commented without the snarky responses.

I did get a response from Brian Barrett who makes Low End basses as well as the only preamp I know of that can be switched from 2b to 3b. When I played that preamp, the 2b sang to me. Regardless here was his response for those of you that care to know:

"In a 2 band the mid floats as you boost or cut the bass and treble. When you have a 3 band or a 4 band etc., while people think more knobs mean more control, what actually happens, you center a frequency every time you add a potentiometer. So things no longer float or are influenced by the bass and treble. It changes the eq curves. On top it requires more power, so 2b will be a bit stronger in both extremes"
​

He sent me this text while on vacation and it was quick and dirty but essentially told me the "Q" or width of frequencies being boosted on a 2b are wider than the more narrow frequency points of a 3b or more.

 

[kgbeast]

... Who makes the preamp you are describing.
.

Audere described their preamps like that. Also the preamp in Peavey Cirrus. There can be more. I have not tried many preamps. I stuck on Peavey Cirrus preamp, it is my fave for now. I have retraced it on a smaller board and use that in 3 basses I have... Neither is actually Cirrus.

 

[eniac]

Haha it’s called not getting married and no kids man. I’m not saying it’s the way, it is a way though.

LOL, just what I did. And now I have a house full of expensive stuff I never use, and I can spend my days building amps and electrocuting myself. Mouser just built a warehouse extension and they emailed me to say it was all my fault.