Bass Preamp in front of amp or send/return?

[RVRSCO]

Hey all. So I am looking to purchase the Darkglass Alpha Omega preamp…

my question is…should it be setup through the effects loop send and return or in front of the amp?

I've been searching the internet this morning looking for answers, but couldn't really find anything definitive.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[gtirard]

following...

 

[Zbysek]

It depends. Either way may have some advantages…

 

[gh0st42]

Hey all. So I am looking to purchase the Darkglass Alpha Omega preamp…

my question is…should it be setup through the effects loop send and return or in front of the amp?

I've been searching the internet this morning looking for answers, but couldn't really find anything definitive.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

I'd try it two different ways, depending on how much you like the coloration your Amp's preamp is currently providing.

If you like your amps tone, and tone shaping, etc and just want to add some extra switchable grit, distortion, drive, or occasional eqing, I'd run the Alpha Omega in front of your amp into the regular input.
All your Amps EQ and gain will still work this way.

If you don't care for your amps tone, and like the Alpha Omega better, or want to use ONLY the Alpha Omegas EQ and tone shaping, run your bass into the Alpha Omega, and then from the pedals output into the Effect Loop Return Jack.
This should bypass the Preamp section and eq of most amps all together, turning it into a power amp only for the pedal to drive. Typically only the Master Volume knob will do anything on your amp going this route.

Running a Preamp pedal fully in the Amps loop (Effect Send out to the pedal input, and then from pedal out into Effect Loop Return) usually isn't terribly beneficial IMHO. EQ interactions can get a little weird, and most Preamps are happier in front of the amps Preamp if you want to keep it in the mix.

 

[Jim C]

In general, I prefer outboard pedals to be in the front of the amp as more than not, there is a slight benefit in clarity. Try it both ways and report back please.

 

[mdesjardins68]

When you use external preamps, usualy it's for getting a specific or different tone then your amp.

If you run an external preamp (pedal or rack) in your amp (using the input or the send/return),
the built-in preamp section on your amp will color the sound that your are trying to acheive with your preamp.

The best way to bypass the amp preamp section, is to plug your bass or pedalboard
directly in the return connector of your amp (nothing plugged in the send connector).
This way, it bypasses the preamp section of your amp, leaving room for your external preamp.

Keep in mind that only your master volume on your amp will be working since all the preamp section will be bypassed.

 

[Nebadon2000]

All above is good advice UNLESS you have a Parallel Effects Loop such as on all MarkBass Amps

Then going into Front Input may be best.

Be aware Darkglass AO Ultra preamp pedal 1/4" out may be line level so setting gain may be tricky, others here may have experience with this and have some tips going into front input with line level and impedance
mis-match.

If you have Series Loop like most Amp Heads I would try as some have suggested going into Effect Return to avoid going through 2 preamps.

Unless you are Using Darkglass in on/off type situation then full loop connection.

PS; I have a Tube Preamp pedal Hi Output coming next month and my amp has Parallel Loop; I am going to try both ways Plug Bass into pedal then into Amp Instrument input and Plug Bass into Amp Instrument input and pedal into Effects return and see what sounds and works best.

 

[Hypocrite]

I always go straight in the front. That way the soundguy gets a tone I can adjust for him, and I can adjust my amp for what I need on stage

 

[RVRSCO]

So I picked up a new head the other day. I snagged the Genzler Magellan 350. Unfortunately it does not have a send and return. However, I believe with my Darkglass Adam I can bypass the EQ on the pedal and just use the EQ on the head. If anyone knows or has suggestions let me know. Thanks.

 

[Killing Floor]

+1 again, try both ways and pick the one you like better. There's no single best.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

I never had success stacking preamps. Add an active EQ onboard a bass and that's three potential preamps - way too much! Too difficult to accurately dial in EQ. Too much signal boost (w/distortion probable unless that's your goal). My rules of thumb:

External preamp --> send/return of a standard combo preamp/amp

External preamp --> front of a pure amp (like a QSC PLX 3602)

Active bass w/EQ --> external preamp (be careful!) --> send/return (for sure!)

Active bass w/EQ --> external preamp --> front of pure amp (be careful!)

Active bass w/EQ --> external preamp --> front of standard combo preamp/amp = potential disaster!

 

[Zoot H Rollo]

All above is good advice UNLESS you have a Parallel Effects Loop such as on all MarkBass Amps

Then going into Front Input may be best.

Be aware Darkglass AO Ultra preamp pedal 1/4" out may be line level so setting gain may be tricky, others here may have experience with this and have some tips going into front input with line level and impedance
mis-match.

If you have Series Loop like most Amp Heads I would try as some have suggested going into Effect Return to avoid going through 2 preamps.

Unless you are Using Darkglass in on/off type situation then full loop connection.

PS; I have a Tube Preamp pedal Hi Output coming next month and my amp has Parallel Loop; I am going to try both ways Plug Bass into pedal then into Amp Instrument input and Plug Bass into Amp Instrument input and pedal into Effects return and see what sounds and works best.

Effects loop: parallel to series for Markbass LM III – Our Technical Narrative

 

[ezra1]

In front of the amp .

 

[PhishPhan22]

I've also been wondering how to eq like an active preamp in a bass or pedal whichever. Like for instance. My Spector euro had a darkglass pre in it with ALOT of bass on tap. But I feel like turning the knob a little up on bass brings the higher strings more authority an sound better but do you cut more on the head or the bass when eqn? Make sense?

 

[Selim]

If your amp has "power amp in", isn't plugging your external preamp into that the way to fully bypass the amp's preamp section?

Can anyone confirm this as I hope to use an AG preamp with SVT classic head to bypass the SVT preamp and just use the SVT power amp section. Both SVT and Aguilar AG700 amps are on rider but in cases where backline don't come thru with the AG amp, I plan to use an AG preamp..

 

[bassbrad]

If your amp has "power amp in", isn't plugging your external preamp into that the way to fully bypass the amp's preamp section?

Can anyone confirm this as I hope to use an AG preamp with SVT classic head to bypass the SVT preamp and just use the SVT power amp section. Both SVT and Aguilar AG700 amps are on rider but in cases where backline don't come thru with the AG amp, I plan to use an AG preamp..

This is how 98% of the bass amps I know about work, this caveat as you may encounter some odd or vintage beasties when travelling. FWIW when I had a rider the promoter owed me a crisp or crumpled 50 dollar bill if an SVT amp or cab were provided. And yes I did collect. One way or another. .

 

[MrDinsdale]

Try both, see what works. I suspect it'll sound better in front of your amp.

If you're not running it on 100% of the time front of the amp is better as when bypassed your raw bass signal is going into the power amp which may or may not sound a bit rubbish.

PS there aren't many drives I've tried except the Model Fet and a few others like that can put out enough volume to drive a power amp.

 

[Selim]

your raw bass signal is going into the power amp which may or may not sound a bit rubbish.

But correct me if I'm wrong- it wouldn't be a "raw" signal since the external preamp is replacing the internal preamp…

 

[PapaGInTheHouse]

On my Bergantino B amp the front and effect loop inputs are both post the head's pre-amp so the only difference is that the bass-in on the front has adjustable gain.

 

[MrDinsdale]

But correct me if I'm wrong- it wouldn't be a "raw" signal since the external preamp is replacing the internal preamp…

It's essentially a drive pedal with some extra EQ options. If you want to use it as an always on pedal that's fine but as soon as you bypass it when running into the return you'd have the raw bass signal. I'm assuming it's true bypass.