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5 Preamp choices , which do you like best

J

Jammin Johneboy

Guest
Dec 23, 2011
230
50
Ontario
#1
Hello everyone . I have been considering getting a preamp lately and after reading things here on Talk Bass I have learned about a few preamps that people like here .

I have found the following preamps for sale here in Canada :

Yamaha PB1 used in nice shape , $300

Demeter HBP-1 used in nice shape, $550
....."current production model"

Pearce BC1 used in nice shape, $ 425

or
A new Tech 21 RBI OR RPM about $400 with taxes .


I am only thinking of buying one ;

So here's the big obvious question.

Out of these units which one would you buy?

Would you be able to put them in order of preferance ?

I really appreciate and look forward to your comments , thankyou .
 
#2
Demeter - 1
yamaha 10
Sansamp 12
pearce 99

Basically the Demeter is crystal clear, quick and wonderful. Loved my VTB201's except that the EQ was too subtle. I always wanted more tone scultping ability. The HBP-1 solves that adding the semi parametric 2 band after the basica VTB 201 toine stack.

If you like the sound of your bass, you will like the Demeter. Everything else you mention would not be on my list for various reasons. The Yam is incredibly clean but not exciting in the way that the Demeter is to my ear. The Pearce is old ... wouldn't trust it. Clarity is not a stroing suit of the Tech 21 stuff...

On my list would be the Alembic F1X, the BBE BMaxT and also the SVP-Pro if you are an Ampeg fan. I would be torn on the Demeter, Alembic and BBE myself. I'm a big fan of the Fender Showman Amp - the Alembic and BBE cop that vibe with enhancements. The crossover in the F1X, the semi parametric mid after the passive tone stack in the BMaxT. The Demeter is something else but it is some thing else very, very good. For me it could come down to my current gig, cab's the bass ... For me they are each really nice preamps...
 
#14
pickles said:
Id get a suttlemax 9.2 over any of those. The only preamps that are worth the trouble are svp-pros, swr iods, and f1-xs IMHO.
Click to expand...

I disagree.

My Jule Monique sounds incredible and is just over 20lbs in a 4U rack with a 2000w poweramp. Not micro amp tiny, but worth lugging around a rack unit IMO as it kills every other amp I have owned/played (including a SM 12.0 and a GBE1200 that I previously owned). Not cheap at about $1k for a rack version, but worth the $$$ to me.

A Mike Pope, Demeter or Alembic (or the SVP or RBI/RPM) are all 1U, so a a fairly compact/light 2-3U rack is an option.
 
#15
PB1-
I had one and upgraded all of the TLO op amps in it, and that really made is sound much clearer. You can easily change the frequency of the bass and treble controls. Want to make it much lighter? Take off the top and bottom. I think Yamaha used heavy gauge steel there just to make the thing weigh more and make you think there's more to it. I replaced mine with aluminum.
 
#16
#18
SteveD said:
I'm looking for a preamp that will give me natural tube sag/compression, at least that's what I call it.

For example my 67 Ampeg B15N does that if that gives you an idea.

Thanx
Click to expand...

I was loking for that sound, and my Ampeg SVP Pro gave me the best result. The poweramp is solid state, 2 x 700 Watt @ 4 Ohm, 2 x 480 Watt @ 8 Ohm, 1200 Watt bridged @ 4 Ohm.

But I have this old, sealed D.I.Y. 410''-cab, built exactly like a Ampeg 810'' flatback, cut in half. So your results may vary due to your cab.
 
#19
Thankyou for your replies everyone . Very much appreciate the knowledge from experienced people .

I have done some more reading and given it more thought , I am leaning toward a new Tech 21 , SansAmp RPM right now . I am not buying something immediately , but fairly soon . So still time for some thought .
 

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