Active / passive preamp in a stompbox

[blackfire74]

Hi guys,
Is there any chance I can find a bass preamp like Audere 4-band with Z-Mode but in a stompbox? I'd rather keep passive electronics in my Jazz Bass as I like to play old time music, but lately I went into modern stuff, too, and I wish to get rid of that single coil zing. I had an active bass with passive singles and it sounds marvelous, so modern, tight, humbucker like. If I could get such preamp I asked about I could use it whenever I want, or simply turn it off or even disconnect ftom signal chain and play passive.

 

[sunbeast]

Hi guys,
Is there any chance I can find a bass preamp like Audere 4-band with Z-Mode but in a stompbox? I'd rather keep passive electronics in my Jazz Bass as I like to play old time music, but lately I went into modern stuff, too, and I wish to get rid of that single coil zing. I had an active bass with passive singles and it sounds marvelous, so modern, tight, humbucker like. If I could get such preamp I asked about I could use it whenever I want, or simply turn it off or even disconnect ftom signal chain and play passive.

Most active preamps will work totally fine outside the bass, but the Audere Z-mode preamps are something of an exception because the Z-mode switch requires separate inputs for signal ground and pickup ground in order to function correctly. The Audere Classic preamps as well as probably 90% if other preamps should work just fine externally. If you plan to run it from a power supply instead of a battery, be aware that this could possibly make for a higher noise floor depending on the preamp and the environment you are playing in. You will also lose some degree of high-end content because of the added cable capacitance between the pickups and the preamp/buffer (likely not going to be very noticeable unless you are using very bright tones).

I've built a number of internal preamps into external boxes, including EMG, Bartolini, Aguilar, East/ACG, Lusithand, and probably some others too and never had any issues.

 

[monti2889]

Wouldn't an eq effect pedal be a bit more versatile?
Otherwise, it wouldn't be too difficult to build a pedal for the existing preamp. Some basic soldering, drill some holes in whatever you want to use for a case. Or repurpose an old pedal case.