Ampless Rig Search/Experiences

[BaltBass5]

I'll start by saying that maybe this is in the wrong place? I'm essentially going to discuss ampless options that can replicate amps.

Background:
Back a few months ago I made the decision to go ampless. My band uses a great IEM rig, I use UE Pro 11 IEM buds, every venue we play has great FOH sound or we bring our own. I am playing about 80 shows per year. Given all of the things listed above I decided there is no need to drag around a bass head and cabinet. My pre-rig chain is as follows:

Spector Euro 4 Basses > Shure GLXD16 Wireless > Durham Sex Drive (Grit) > Darkglass B3K (Mid Gain Drive) > Digitech CR7 Chorus > Empress Bass Comp >????

The Journey so far:

My initial attempt was the Origin Effects SV. I loved the tone but the fact that the SV has an 810 Speaker Sim on the XLR out that can't be shut off made the tone very "Blanketed" and muffled in my IEM's and FOH.

My second attempt was the Bergantino Super Pre. This was more inline with what I was looking for but was overkill because I am bassically relying on my Spectors for the tone etc.

My third attempt was The Tech21 GED-2112 DI combining both the Deep and Drive XLR's. This was lacking a ton of bottom end in my IEM's no matter what I tried.

My 4th attempt was the Tech21 Q Strip which allows great tone sculpting but was seriously lacking Low end, was super touch sensitive and all around was VERY bright.

Where I am at:

Looking for experiences / recommendations for things to try next.

- I don't want cab sims because with IEM's I've never mic'ed cabs I've always gone direct from my amp DI's POST EQ.
- I was playing Mesa Subway D800+ heads but Mesa Discontinued the Subway DI+ so that's not an option. (The Regular Subway DI's are sometime available but I never got along with those compared to the 800+)
- Was thinking about the following:

1. VT Bass
2. Broughton SV Pre into Radial JDI
3. Ampeg SGT-DI with cab sim switched off

 

[g4string]

Noble. I’ve owned this thing like 3xs. It’s great for ampless IEM system.

 

[BaltBass5]

Noble. I’ve owned this thing like 3xs. It’s great for ampless IEM system.

Appreciate the feedback. I actually would love to go this route but it's currently almost a year wait list.

 

[g4string]

Appreciate the feedback. I actually would love to go this route but it's currently almost a year wait list.

I think there’s one in the classifieds rn.

 

[g4string]

Nm. It sold.

 

[220_Hz]

SV-Pre into radial! I use an SV-pre into a broughton messenger V1 for my DI. most of the time I have the extra EQ from the messenger disengaged or just adding some HPF work

 

[jdwinva]

Starlifter Bass Pre / DI

StarLifter Bass Preamp/DI

 

[logdrum]

There's the guy from YT a younger guy who also teaches who was disappointed in the Ampeg over the SV . He has done a pretty popular video where he compared high dollar tube DI with $40 ones. Even though I have a rack mount Demeter pre and an Avalon U5, I am really happy with a simple Fender - Alembic inspired Sushi box pre into a Warm Audio DI. Let the FOH deal with EQing it.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

There's the guy from YT a younger guy who also teaches who was disappointed in the Ampeg over the SV . He has done a pretty popular video where he compared high dollar tube DI with $40 ones. Even though I have a rack mount Demeter pre and an Avalon U5, I am really happy with a simple Fender - Alembic inspired Sushi box pre into a Warm Audio DI. Let the FOH deal with EQing it.

Phillip Conrad?

 

[logdrum]

Phillip Conrad?

Yes. He had another video when he was touring in the UK where he expressed that. It may have been from a message . I also was not impressed by the Ampeg and returned mine immediately

 

[BaltBass5]

Starlifter Bass Pre / DI

StarLifter Bass Preamp/DI

I researched this a bit and have heard a few folks recommend it but I was reluctant because I'm not a fan of Nordstrand's Pickups/Electronics. Do you use one and if so is it colored?

 

[Gigas444]

Hi, have a look at one of the Ultra from Darkglass, been using them as pre/DI for the last few years and love their sound!

 

[BaltBass5]

Hi, have a look at one of the Ultra from Darkglass, been using them as pre/DI for the last few years and love their sound!

I actually tried a couple of the Darkglass heads when I was using amps but they are a bit modern sounding for me. I had actually considered the Vintage Ultra but I tried out a Vintage Deluxe and although the tone was great for OD and grind I wasn't in love with it as a starting point.

 

[sawzalot]

I have a Mesa Subway Plus--if you can find one on the used market, it's a great preamp and has a depth of lows that is amazing. The mic-level DI out is ridiculously quiet and it sounds awesome.

On the other side of that--I have a Line6 HX Stomp XL that I use for bass also. It's not as quiet, but the variety of amps and effects makes it a great live pedalboard. In my case, the form factor and programmability makes it a great choice for my live rig.

 

[jdwinva]

I researched this a bit and have heard a few folks recommend it but I was reluctant because I'm not a fan of Nordstrand's Pickups/Electronics. Do you use one and if so is it colored?

I have a Starlifter and it can be colored or neutral depending on settings. It sounds warm and can go from modern to vintage to flat.

 

[NorthTexasBass]

I have been ampless for awhile now and I love my Two Notes ReVolt. It has 3 channels you can switch to on the fly. The cab sim doesn't muffle the sound anywhere close to other cab sims I have used, but you can turn it off easily via a switch on the front panel if you do not want it.

 

[logdrum]

I researched this a bit and have heard a few folks recommend it but I was reluctant because I'm not a fan of Nordstrand's Pickups/Electronics. Do you use one and if so is it colored?

I don't blame you. I have 2 basses with their pickups and it's okay. I did not have a good experience with their onboard. The one on a bass I bought here used was on the fritz after being there for not so very long and not satisfying results when it was working either.

The one modeled by NUX on their MLD pre-amp is also the one I do not like. Speaking of which, you might like the NUX. You can load your own IR (one at time only and you need a PC to change it). I used that for a while and I still would live but now I relegated it to practice setup. MLD to a D-Class power section and an EA Whizzy 10 at ear level and the EA is pretty flat reference cab. I use the default MLD preamp model or the the Aguilar Tone Hammer. I am not sure how accurate but if it is, then the StarLifter model - I disliked. The MLD can bypass the cab and you can route it to the DI or out to an amp or both. It can just be a plain DI as well. The DI comes hot out of the box and you need to bring it to mic level via software

Another suggestion is the Palmer Pocket Bass. The cab sim is analog and it has a FX loop if that is important. I got mine AMZ refurb for 140. And it runs on batteries which is good for all those Craigslist parking lot deals . Both Palmer and MLD are not heavily voiced.

Both of these have drives and pretty acceptable.

I assume money is no object so maybe get the Noble or some other high end tube DI.

 

[bbeiermann]

Interested to hear what you land on. I'm in a similar position and considering going ampless.
We run IEMs, travel with FOH engineer(most of the time), and it would be nice to find something that knocks my socks off all the time. Maybe that's carrying amps haha!

Currently running Bluesman Vintage basses w/ a little overdrive > Mesa WD800 > 2x12 Cab for stage volume/feel - >REDDI for IEMs & FOH.

 

[Jon Burnet]

I will probably get run out of town, but i was not digging in ears until I got my Tonex. I'm not a knob fiddler. I set my amp like i like it and will probably never touch it again. I have my tonex set for a basic good for everything tone, an over driven b15, and a noble.
If you wanted something a little more deluxe, you could go quad cortex? Kemper?

 

[Rip Van Dan]

I'll start by saying that maybe this is in the wrong place? I'm essentially going to discuss ampless options that can replicate amps.

Background:
Back a few months ago I made the decision to go ampless. My band uses a great IEM rig, I use UE Pro 11 IEM buds, every venue we play has great FOH sound or we bring our own. I am playing about 80 shows per year. Given all of the things listed above I decided there is no need to drag around a bass head and cabinet. My pre-rig chain is as follows:

Spector Euro 4 Basses > Shure GLXD16 Wireless > Durham Sex Drive (Grit) > Darkglass B3K (Mid Gain Drive) > Digitech CR7 Chorus > Empress Bass Comp >????

The Journey so far:

My initial attempt was the Origin Effects SV. I loved the tone but the fact that the SV has an 810 Speaker Sim on the XLR out that can't be shut off made the tone very "Blanketed" and muffled in my IEM's and FOH.

My second attempt was the Bergantino Super Pre. This was more inline with what I was looking for but was overkill because I am bassically relying on my Spectors for the tone etc.

My third attempt was The Tech21 GED-2112 DI combining both the Deep and Drive XLR's. This was lacking a ton of bottom end in my IEM's no matter what I tried.

My 4th attempt was the Tech21 Q Strip which allows great tone sculpting but was seriously lacking Low end, was super touch sensitive and all around was VERY bright.

Where I am at:

Looking for experiences / recommendations for things to try next.

- I don't want cab sims because with IEM's I've never mic'ed cabs I've always gone direct from my amp DI's POST EQ.
- I was playing Mesa Subway D800+ heads but Mesa Discontinued the Subway DI+ so that's not an option. (The Regular Subway DI's are sometime available but I never got along with those compared to the 800+)
- Was thinking about the following:

1. VT Bass
2. Broughton SV Pre into Radial JDI
3. Ampeg SGT-DI with cab sim switched off

I've never used IEM's but sounds like you are using DI's with Preamp built-in. If that's what your using, I can recommend the Eden WTDI that I've been using for many years. I use when we play going directly to a sound board (plug into a snake). I also use it when I'm forced to use a backline that I either don't care for or don't want to spend the time to figure out what sounds good with it - that's why I bought it actually. I plug into my WTDI and plug it into the effects return of said backline. That sends the signal from my built-in Eden WT preamp directly into the amps power section and viola! that amp now sounds like my Eden and DNA gear. And since I know how to make my bass sound great through that, I don't have to waste time twiddling knobs.

I had to plug into our own small PA one night when the backline amp I'd been forced to use over the last year suddenly wasn't there when we showed up. Worked great through our little board and just played my bass through the mains and the monitors that night. And finally, I recorded with it at a pro studio in Seattle. They really didn't want me to use it, but I insisted. I have a passive Jazz. I set the bass and treble flat on the WTDI; set the mids to 500Hz (toggles to either 2.2KHz or 500Hz); boosted it to 1:30; and away we went. At the end of the 3-hr. recording session both the Sound Engineer and the owner of the studio come out to see what I was using that sounded so good and recorded so well. Engineer said the only thing he adjusted on the raw tapes was the level and left everything else flat. He didn't have to make any EQ changes or add any compression. Of course during the mix down I'm sure he did, but didn't need to use any on my raw signal.

So if you are looking for a very clean, clear, articulate, and warm sound, you might want to check out the Eden WTDI. It also has a one-knob compressor built in that works surprisingly well. Street price was $149 when I got mine and last I saw it was $169 to $179.

Here's a picture where you can see the features pretty well. It comes with its own 15v power supply: