B15ish pedal

[mattbass6945]

I've been out of the loop for a few years. We always hear about SVT type drive pedals, but is there a B15 in a box? Is this a dumb idea? Should I have had more coffee first?

 

[mattbass6945]

Upon thinking on this a little more, didn't tech 21 get there with the vt? I had one years ago, but didn't keep it around.

Are there other options?

 

[willsellout]

Broughton Audio does a B15 style preamp. It's not a pedal though.

 

[mattbass6945]

Cool! I'll check it out!

 

[willsellout]

B15N Tube Preamp DI Build Report

That is the thread where it all began with his B15 experiment. Lots of good info in there.

 

[mattbass6945]

Whoa.

 

[bassbrad]

Amp modelling has come a long way over the last couple of years and the B15 is a popular subject that can be found a lot of places. From the affordable end would be the Zoom B1on to the B3 or the B3n or the MS60B. Tech 21 offers an analog circuit that emulates the B15 and SVT, Line 6, Digitech and many others offer digital options.

 

[mattbass6945]

Yeah, I always avoided modeling stuff. I suppose a lot has changed since I first started playing. I won't rule the new stuff out! Anyone of those in particular get your goat?

 

[mattbass6945]

The Noble pre looks AMAZING, but way outside of my budget

 

[greggory garner]

The analog alien bass station has a “amp generator” which is a b15 overdrive sim. You can turn the gain all the way down for the flavor of the circuit. Sounds great. The pedal also has a compressor/ limiter, and a fuzz. It’s a great pedal.

 

[Slade N]

Catalinbread makes the SFT too

 

[basscapes]

If you can DIY/Kit it together, guitarpcb.com has a PCB called the "Guitar/Bass Driver", which is supposed to sound like an "overdriven Ampeg amp".

The circuit is more akin/clone of a Caitlinbread SFT though. So YMMV. I do like it and use it quite a bit (although, I'm still in honeymoon bliss with the Tronographic Rusty Box, which sounds nothing like an Ampeg, and yet it does!).

Personally, I'd love to see the Guitar/Bass Driver/SFT circuit with a midrange control as well...

 

[mattbass6945]

I've never seen the alien bass station before. That was pretty cool.

 

[JimmyM]

The Noble pre looks AMAZING, but way outside of my budget

Nothing B-15 about the Noble IMHO. It's more Fender than Ampeg.

But for the B-15 sound, I dig the REDDI, the VT, the SCR-DI, the P15, just off the top of my head.

 

[mattbass6945]

I just randomly came across the noble and blurted it out like a child with a candy bar and adhd.
I had the vt a few years ago and got rid of it. I don't recall why, but I'm in a different scenario musically now. Maybe I should give it another go.

The p15 looks pretty legit too.

 

[August West]

I recommend checking out A Designs REDDI. Pairs very nicely with a p bass for the classic B15 tone.

 

[telecopy]

Upon thinking on this a little more, didn't tech 21 get there with the vt? I had one years ago, but didn't keep it around.

Are there other options?

I believe the Tech 21 Character knob is kind of like the MarkBass VPF and VLE knobs in that it curves the EQ for vintage to modern sounds without touching treble, mid, etc..

 

[Zooberwerx]

The Linden Barber is a pretty cool pedal if you can find a used one at a decent price.

Riis

 

[40Hz]

I commissioned a B-15N tonestack pedal from Josh Broughton. I named mine the Alex-1 BAX. I didn’t request the ultra high or low switches. But I did get it with a gain and master volume out. Something you won’t get on a real B-15. I have the real deal to compare it to and it hits the target. It’s intended as an ‘always on’ device, so I requested it have a mute toggle rather than a stomp switch.



You might want to see if Josh has the interest and time to do up another one.

 

[pbass2]

The REDDI gets there. But it is a bit cumbersome for some folks if you need to travel light (including myself!).