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API TranZformer Bass Preamp

#4
could the guys in the demo video pick up a bass that has a modern tone with some round wounds on it? Jeez. I guess this is a conscious effort to appeal the the vintage/booteek crowd? I'm sure this is a good pedal and all, and I could be tempted b/c I loves me bass preamp/comp/DI pedals, but I'd like to hear some more varied bass selections before getting too excited. Unfortunately, my work speakers won't allow me to get a good bearing on what's happening with this pedal, but IMHO flat wound strung basses don't represent either the widest of tone or dynamic variation for demo purposes. Asking close to $500 for a pedal of this type, you'd better demo convincingly that it SHINES, or don't bother wasting your time.

A helpful hint to the guy in the video (with the Hofner bass): if you're going to look all zombie when you're playing, you might want to zoom in on something else other than showing your waist-up body shot...or...hire someone to do the video that looks at least the smallest bit excited to be playing the bass. JMHO.
 
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#7
Les Claypool has been using a vintage API EQ unit lately, right? I know Geddy used one in his old rig for many years when he was using Wal basses.

I don't know the recording on the demo seems too "clacky", "clanky" to me?

I agree with the other posters that the addition of some more modern basses with roundwounds would be helpful!
Brent
 
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#11
jimfist said:
could the guys in the demo video pick up a bass that has a modern tone with some round wounds on it? Jeez. I guess this is a conscious effort to appeal the the vintage/booteek crowd? I'm sure this is a good pedal and all, and I could be tempted b/c I loves me bass preamp/comp/DI pedals, but I'd like to hear some more varied bass selections before getting too excited. Unfortunately, my work speakers won't allow me to get a good bearing on what's happening with this pedal, but IMHO flat wound strung basses don't represent either the widest of tone or dynamic variation for demo purposes. Asking close to $500 for a pedal of this type, you'd better demo convincingly that it SHINES, or don't bother wasting your time.

A helpful hint to the guy in the video (with the Hofner bass): if you're going to look all zombie when you're playing, you might want to zoom in on something else other than showing your waist-up body shot...or...hire someone to do the video that looks at least the smallest bit excited to be playing the bass. JMHO.
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+100. I would never want that video to represent my company if I was in the business.
 
#13
jimfist said:
could the guys in the demo video pick up a bass that has a modern tone with some round wounds on it? Jeez. I guess this is a conscious effort to appeal the the vintage/booteek crowd? I'm sure this is a good pedal and all, and I could be tempted b/c I loves me bass preamp/comp/DI pedals, but I'd like to hear some more varied bass selections before getting too excited. Unfortunately, my work speakers won't allow me to get a good bearing on what's happening with this pedal, but IMHO flat wound strung basses don't represent either the widest of tone or dynamic variation for demo purposes. Asking close to $500 for a pedal of this type, you'd better demo convincingly that it SHINES, or don't bother wasting your time.

A helpful hint to the guy in the video (with the Hofner bass): if you're going to look all zombie when you're playing, you might want to zoom in on something else other than showing your waist-up body shot...or...hire someone to do the video that looks at least the smallest bit excited to be playing the bass. JMHO.
Click to expand...

This.

Literally nothing that's going on here sounds like it's worth $500: it just sounds like those instruments with flats through a mic'ed Portaflex.

They're also claiming it's a DI signal straight to the board, so why on earth are the cabs and mics even featured at all?
 
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#16
peterpalmieri said:
....API is as highly regarded as is possible and there is a good chance this thing is top notch.
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Agreed! A few days ago I read a post of the API 525 compressor (the comp circuit that is inside this pedal) comparing it to the 1176. The person said that the API 525 had more character/color than the 1176. So like I said in the other API thread, this API pedal would be a great side-by-side comparison with the Cali76 TX (transformer version).

-Frank
 
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#19
In my lengthy and varied experience with bass gear, I've come to the conclusion that the most expensive, hi-fi, boo-teek, soup of the day, break your bank gear rarely yields large, positive, audible differences in a live rig. It might sound godly in your bedroom, or make a great versatile studio tool - but the nuances of such gear are often buried in a live band mix. Especially for the weekend warriors playing through an average PA that's been unloaded out the back of your car. The exception might me nice tube heads.

I wish I had all of the money back I spent on high end stuff, especially for upright bass. The journey has lead me back to what I call "off the shelf" gear (stuff that you could pick up at music stores when those things still existed). I've never sounded better, and I'm not so worried about my gear.

#runonsentences
 
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