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BASS PREAMPS,YOUR FAVORITE!

#41
I forgot one the Stephenson Fix My Duck it's considered a booster and buffer but I used it like a preamp because of the wide range of sounds this thing can produce. This pedal is a hidden little gem that add something you can't really explain.

fmd-400.jpg
 
#43
ptensioned said:
SWR Interstellar Overdrive. Took me forever to find mine, and I paid too much for it, but what a piece of kit. The real secret is that while it does an amazing tube distortion for bass, the clean tones are just incredible. That said, I run mine through a Marshall EL34 100/100 power amp, and with the tone wide open on a set of EMG Geezers, the sound is planet smashing.

The main drawback is that mine is a sensitive piece and the distortion seems to change depending on how hot the tubes are. This means it requires constant adjustment and isn't very good live. For practise or recording, though, it's unbeatable.
Click to expand...

I could have posted the exact same review of mine. Excells at "tubey clean" IMO, despite it's name. Definitely a very versatile sounding preamp, and great patching options on the back too.
I did the Aural Enhancer bypass on mine (switchable between bypass and stock), and that was a major improvement.

Minimum 30 minutes warm up time required in the studio though.
 
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#49
Tech 21 VT-Deluxe! SIX programmable settings in an all-analog signal path! Fat tube, SVT, B-15, to full-on YES mode, it can add any kind of grit/warmth you want. The manual suggests not using an onboard pre with it.. but I use my Mike Pope Flexcore with it anyway and it works great... post-processing FX loop.. parallel out, 1/4" out, XLR out w/ ground lift/phantom power.. also runs on one-spot. Quite happy with it after selling my WTDI.
 
#50
ptensioned said:
SWR Interstellar Overdrive. Took me forever to find mine, and I paid too much for it, but what a piece of kit. The real secret is that while it does an amazing tube distortion for bass, the clean tones are just incredible. That said, I run mine through a Marshall EL34 100/100 power amp, and with the tone wide open on a set of EMG Geezers, the sound is planet smashing.

The main drawback is that mine is a sensitive piece and the distortion seems to change depending on how hot the tubes are. This means it requires constant adjustment and isn't very good live. For practise or recording, though, it's unbeatable.
Click to expand...
Have your tried changing out the tubes, or re-caping, or changing out the transistors? That would most likely fix your problem. If not then maybe checking the power supply inside. They can switch those out, with NOS stuff(if you can find it). For me I'm not good at electronics so bring my stuff to Deltronics in Chicago to do it. Like my dbx 160x upgrades with re-caping and all that jazz. Sounds amazing once it's done. Raises the level as well up from a 300
$ compressor to a 2000$ compressor. Haven't done it yet to my old swr750x pre Fender(yay) but I am saving to get it done. Will make an already great sounding amp absolutely amazing. And of course you can experiment, and upgrade stuff to your hearts content if you like(I do:) If you don't have a local guy, or don't wanna attempt yourself, you can mail it in.
 
#55
ptensioned said:
SWR Interstellar Overdrive. (...)

The main drawback is that mine is a sensitive piece and the distortion seems to change depending on how hot the tubes are. This means it requires constant adjustment and isn't very good live. For practise or recording, though, it's unbeatable.
Click to expand...

dairyman3833 said:
Have your tried changing out the tubes, or re-caping, or changing out the transistors? That would most likely fix your problem. If not then maybe checking the power supply inside. They can switch those out, with NOS stuff(if you can find it). (...)
Click to expand...

Before you go modding anything, make sure the vents on top and bottom aren't blocked by anything else in your rack. We had a big issue with this in the studio recently until I realized we'd put the IOD immediately below a full depth rack drawer, completely blocking the vents. The gain kept slowly increasing throughout the night as the tubes got hotter and hotter. As soon as we re-organized the rack to keep some space open above and below, the consistency improved dramatically.
 
#56
On to the good stuff, I really like the Avalon V5 as a pre. Can sound smooth or get a little growl in there. The U5 is also good, but not as good. Emperical labs EL9 Mic-E is phenomenal. Can do pretty much anything. Might like that more than the V5. A real suprise that's dirt cheap, considering what it can do is the Warm Audio Tonebeast. This thing is simply amazing at it's price point. I mean wow. I have it, but only use in studio for everything actually, scared to take with me to shows.

So to sum up
1) Emperical Labs EL9 Mic-E
2) Avalon V5
3) Warm Audio Tonebeast

But TBH the Tonebeast is the one I use most often. It just feels wrong putting it above the more expensive stuff. IDK why. But yeah.
 
#59
Lonnybass said:
The Alembic F-1x Tube preamp when paired with a parametric EQ.
In a pedal, the 3Leaf Enabler as a clean, warm, versatile Swiss Army Knife of a device.
Lonnybass
Click to expand...

I LOVED the F-1X and the only issue I had was exactly what you mentioned, it needed additional EQ (for me) But nothing else does quite what that piece of gear does.
 

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