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Alternative to Shift Line's Olympic MKIII

Millisec

Millisec

Jul 1, 2014
8
2
Athens, Greece
#1
Since the SLO is hard to get in the EU (I don't want to mess with customs), I am looking for an alternative tube preamp for less than 450 euros/usd.

I am aware of the markbass vintage pre and the two notes Le bass, but I might be missing more in that price range.

If you guys have tried the aforementioned preamps in comparison to the SLO, any input will be kindly appreciated.

Thanks!
 
#5
The Quilter Interbass (although not actually valve) has the tube sound in vintage mode with cab sim. It's much better than the LeBass I have and has the tube feel to it as well.
It's best regarded IMO as a preamp with a "get out of jail" loud 45W amp that you can use in an emergency but it does work well as a practice amp/headphone amp too.
The video reviews that I've seen focus on the wrong things in my opinion and the Bass Gear review just looks at it's uses as an amp and not the tone etc.
It's capable of clean warm tones and natural sounding dynamic saturation/distortion and costs less than £250 in the UK.
I haven't tried the Shift Line as I was weighing up going for a Noble but I can't imagine, given all the tube pedals I've bought in the past, anything will sound significantly better than the Interbass.
 
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#6
kasbrey said:
The Quilter Interbass (although not actually valve) has the tube sound in vintage mode with cab sim. It's much better than the LeBass I have and has the tube feel to it as well.
It's best regarded IMO as a preamp with a "get out of jail" loud 45W amp that you can use in an emergency but it does work well as a practice amp/headphone amp too.
The video reviews that I've seen focus on the wrong things in my opinion and the Bass Gear review just looks at it's uses as an amp and not the tone etc.
It's capable of clean warm tones and natural sounding dynamic saturation/distortion and costs less than £250 in the UK.
I haven't tried the Shift Line as I was weighing up going for a Noble but I can't imagine, given all the tube pedals I've bought in the past, anything will sound significantly better than the Interbass.
Click to expand...

I will give it a listen. I should mention that my recording interface (audiobox usb) only has a mic/inst inputs and no line ones. So I might have to invest in a new interface too (the di outs on all bass preamps are line level right? I am new to this stuff).
 
#7
Millisec said:
I will give it a listen. I should mention that my recording interface (audiobox usb) only has a mic/inst inputs and no line ones. So I might have to invest in a new interface too (the di outs on all bass preamps are line level right? I am new to this stuff).
Click to expand...
The Interbass DI out is via 1/4" TRS jack and is line level. There is a switch to make it headphone out instead. It does work with a mono jack too (I use it this way into my head's padded input).
 
#11
It doesn't have much cork sniffing TB elitist value,
but the Nu-x Melvin Lee MBP-5 is pretty wonderful and sounds great.

Similarities with the SLO:
Headphone out
Aux in
3rd Party IR loader
Tubey sounding (aguilar) preamp flavor.
Dirt capability

Differences:
Digital
no toobz
Active pre vs 10-2-10 style pre
Bypass switch (a plus in my book)

edit: I see you want a tube pre - I gotta start reading first posts better.
 
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