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BASS PREAMPS,YOUR FAVORITE!
- Thread starter Dan Bass
- Start date
SVP-Pro
Had some time today so for reference, I recorded a repeated 4-bar phrase as a dry loop (direct from my looper pedal) and then same loop with seven different settings on the SVP-Pro. The recording from the SVP-Pro is off of the unit's DI set to Post-EQ. All were with these DISABLED: GraphicEQ UltraHi, UltraLo, Bright.
For reference, the key to decode the settings in the clip names are:
Gain (0-10)
Drive (0-10)
Bass (0-10)
Mid (0-10)
Mid Freq (1-2-3-4-5)
Treble (0-10)
The clip called "SVPTEST-Mine..." is an example of settings that I really like. Nice warm tone, with a little grit from the initial gain stage (G5), a tiny bit of dirt from the drive tube (D2), and a little bump in both bass and mid.
Dry: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
SVP-Mine-G5 D2 B7 M6 MF3 T5: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
SVP-G3 D0 B5 M5 MF3 T5: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
SVP-G4.5 D0 B5 M5 MF3 T5: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
SVP-G7 D0 B5 M5 MF3 T5: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
SVP-G4.5 D4.5 B5 M5 MF3 T5: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
SVP-G4.5 D7 B5 M5 MF3 T5: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
SVP-G4.5 D10 B5 M5 MF3 T5: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
drool
drooldrool
Wounded Paw Black Sheep in custom pedal enclosure instead of rack...
drooldrooldrool
I'll add to my wishlist:
- Garnet Herzog (run into a Garnet BTO Slave or Pro Super/Slave 600)
"John Johnson of Johnson Amps, Digitech and DOD, pedals and amps, told me that as a kid, he tried to make his own pedal to get the "American Woman" guitar sound and couldn't get it. However, the pedals he did make in trying to get that sound have gone on to sell hundreds of thousands for Digitech and DOD, but none got the American Woman sound.
Cheers,
Randy Bachman"
- Rusty Peter: Traynor TS50B clone
- VA 360+
- Stephenson Bass Hog
Discontinued, so will have to go with MJac's suggested Stephenson, "Fix My Duck"
- FBass Big F Boost
- ART Nightbass
::::::::::::::
Brilliant @SirMjac28, absolutely brilliant collection/selection!
:::::::::::::
I have a PZ-Pre at the core of my DB rig, since I don't gig slab. I've also run my DB through a bandmate/friend's Sans-amp and it sounded excellent.
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Good question. I thought the RPM would be hard to let go of because of the parametric mid but I guess I just like the voicing/tonality of the VT better. So far I'm not really missing the parametric mid, I find I can get enough variation in the midrange by using the character control on the VT. To answer your question, I would say that the VT is a better choice for those of us going for that Ampeg-ish voicing. The RPM is a little more of its own thing but overall I have found the VT's voicing to be more musically tasteful to my ears. I'd also say the drive control on the VT is nicer than on the RPM, I only use it very slightly because I prefer a clean tone but it works wonders for adding a little warmth.
I've had the chance of owning a few preamps myself.
Previously owned:
-Trace Elliot GP12 SMX (Had very low output, good sound, but moved on)
-Eden WP100 - The Navigator (Had low output, liked the sound of it flat only, got bored of it, and sold all my Eden cabs)
-SansAmp Bass Driver DI (Too scooped, didn't like it, hesitant about trying their newer stuff)
-Demeter HBP-1 (Fantastic preamp, a beautiful TRS output, finally some real gain! Sold it to try the UA 6176)
-Ampeg SVT-11P (Good sounding preamp, could produce some serious grit, but I just can't do the Ampeg tone. Fully respect it, but it's not my thing)
Own as of today's date (as my list of gear always changes):
-UA 6176 (Ear splitting gain! Unreal compression! Unfortunately, a lack of eq)
Preamps of high interest:
-Millennia STT-1
-Rupert Neve Designs Portico II (don't think anyone has mentioned this one just yet)
-API "The Channel Strip"
-Kern IP-777
-Aguilar DB680 (Some similarity to the Demeter HBP-1)
-Jule's Monique
-Aguilar Tonehammer Pedal / Preamp
I've been through all the big name / popular bass heads. Hybrid and All-tube.
When I started playing, I quickly made it to a rack system which was the Eden WP-100 that I had for 12 years.
Then one day I tried a Mesa rig and that changed everything. The Navigator found a home, but I kept my QSC PLX 2402.
The QSC is the one piece of a gear I've bought new and kept all this time. And now I'm back to a rack system.
I still think an Aguilar DB751 is one of the most amazing sounding amps ever made (and I did own one), but it's the limited eq is what I didn't like so much. Bit of a one trick pony, but it's a very good trick! Maybe I should cave and grab a Tone Hammer Pedal to pair with my QSC and see how that plays out.
Previously owned:
-Trace Elliot GP12 SMX (Had very low output, good sound, but moved on)
-Eden WP100 - The Navigator (Had low output, liked the sound of it flat only, got bored of it, and sold all my Eden cabs)
-SansAmp Bass Driver DI (Too scooped, didn't like it, hesitant about trying their newer stuff)
-Demeter HBP-1 (Fantastic preamp, a beautiful TRS output, finally some real gain! Sold it to try the UA 6176)
-Ampeg SVT-11P (Good sounding preamp, could produce some serious grit, but I just can't do the Ampeg tone. Fully respect it, but it's not my thing)
Own as of today's date (as my list of gear always changes):
-UA 6176 (Ear splitting gain! Unreal compression! Unfortunately, a lack of eq)
Preamps of high interest:
-Millennia STT-1
-Rupert Neve Designs Portico II (don't think anyone has mentioned this one just yet)
-API "The Channel Strip"
-Kern IP-777
-Aguilar DB680 (Some similarity to the Demeter HBP-1)
-Jule's Monique
-Aguilar Tonehammer Pedal / Preamp
I've been through all the big name / popular bass heads. Hybrid and All-tube.
When I started playing, I quickly made it to a rack system which was the Eden WP-100 that I had for 12 years.
Then one day I tried a Mesa rig and that changed everything. The Navigator found a home, but I kept my QSC PLX 2402.
The QSC is the one piece of a gear I've bought new and kept all this time. And now I'm back to a rack system.
I still think an Aguilar DB751 is one of the most amazing sounding amps ever made (and I did own one), but it's the limited eq is what I didn't like so much. Bit of a one trick pony, but it's a very good trick! Maybe I should cave and grab a Tone Hammer Pedal to pair with my QSC and see how that plays out.
I am going to buck the trend a bit here. If this thread was started in the amps section I'd say V4B as I am very pleased with the live sound from the simple tube amp. If this thread was posted in recording I'd probably mention my Reddi which I am happy to run into any high quality mic pre in a studio.
But what I can't live without is my little Fdeck HPF-Pre
But what I can't live without is my little Fdeck HPF-Pre
+1 on the vt bass di. I do like the warm sounds that it provides. and also has a great distorted sound too. it's a great preamp pedal to own for rock and metal music.
Heck yeah. Fdeck The World!
I keep one as a backup to my PZed-Pre.
Next up, I hope, is aInvalid Link Removed!
That Sonic Farm stuff looks great. And they're Canadian!
They're currently developing a bass pre-amp potentially a full-blown bass amp. There's a stealth thread on TB about it, "stealth" 'cause the thread was supposed to be about Sonic Farm's DI, 2DI4 — the DI is the start-point for the amp.
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- Mar 8, 2011
- 12,232
- 51,187
- Disclosures
- Authorized greenboy designs builder/Owner of BNA Audio
For completely different reasons my current two favorite pres are;
Reiner 6SL7 for electric. I use it on gigs but also record direct with it. Never been happier.
Michael Pope MPP2 for upright- super clean and great, well thought out interface for sculpting. I will say I don't care for it on electric, but it's not bad.
Some talk about the TubeTech MEC-1. I had one a long time ago for my studio. Decided to take it on the road and it broke down in a few days. The tech who repaired it said it should always stay racked up in the studio. Not built for touring. Kept it maybe another year and sold it off. I found it to be a very unspectacular channel strip, but I sold it for more than I paid so alls well that ends well
now a CL1-B is a different story!
UA 6176; have had one for about 15 years. Great piece for the studio. As a live bass pre? It's ok, but I just don't see what the big deal is. Awesome studio piece though!
Reiner 6SL7 for electric. I use it on gigs but also record direct with it. Never been happier.
Michael Pope MPP2 for upright- super clean and great, well thought out interface for sculpting. I will say I don't care for it on electric, but it's not bad.
Some talk about the TubeTech MEC-1. I had one a long time ago for my studio. Decided to take it on the road and it broke down in a few days. The tech who repaired it said it should always stay racked up in the studio. Not built for touring. Kept it maybe another year and sold it off. I found it to be a very unspectacular channel strip, but I sold it for more than I paid so alls well that ends well
now a CL1-B is a different story! UA 6176; have had one for about 15 years. Great piece for the studio. As a live bass pre? It's ok, but I just don't see what the big deal is. Awesome studio piece though!
- Mar 8, 2011
- 12,232
- 51,187
- Disclosures
- Authorized greenboy designs builder/Owner of BNA Audio
OK. Two gigs under my belt with the new rig. First with an Ampeg PF210-HE cab, relatively small room, sounded great. Last night with an Ampeg PF410-LF cab, also sounded great. Here's a video from last night:
Eight pages and I think I only saw one mention of the Eden WTDI World Tour Bass Guitar Preamp Pedal. I am considering one to replace my broken Sansamp BDDI. Anyone?
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