I have been looking for a good, recording quality, tube bass preamp that I could afford. The SWR MarkMill is $900ish and the BBE-t is around $600. I have looked at an ART tube pre that is for mics. Has anyone used this for a bass or may suggestions for other gear? Thanks
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Bass Preamps
- Thread starter Big Band Hand
- Start date
I have owned an Alembic, Presonus Blue Tube, early TC, Ampeg (unit with the graphic) and an Ampeg SVPCL.
The later is the only unit I've kept and think it sounds great.
PS - They have't been made it years but are available here and eBay for between $400 - $500.
The later is the only unit I've kept and think it sounds great.
PS - They have't been made it years but are available here and eBay for between $400 - $500.
You could also look at preamp pedals, much cheaper. As for the sound, it's subjective, and totally personal preference.
Lot's of great options and info here: Preamps
I used the Ampeg SVP-pro on an album a million years ago and I still love what it did to my tone (example). Ibanez SR 800 (P/J). Way too scooped for my taste today, but that was my fault, not the preamp's. Watch the classifieds here closely, they pop up once in a while and usually go very quickly.
I got the ART Pro-channel a few years ago for my home studio and the oh the knobs! So many choices! It's a pre/compressor/EQ and the ranges are just awesome when you really look at everything you can do. There are TWO parametric mid ranges - they can actually even overlap each other for truly ridiculous options. It's really cheap considering everything you get. I wouldn't tour with it, but mounted safely in a rack at home, it should last a long time.
For live use, I'm currently using the Sansamp RPM and couldn't be happier. Fantastic tube emulation, sweepable mids, all the connectivity options you could ever want, and paired with a class D power amp (I'm using the Crown XLS 1000) I have a very tubey, kilowatt head that weighs less than 25 pounds, rack bag, cables and all.
JohnK writes about all three of these and more at the link above. All of these options are WAY below the budget you mentioned. The most expensive being the Ampeg, but I still think you can get one of those for under $500.
I used the Ampeg SVP-pro on an album a million years ago and I still love what it did to my tone (example). Ibanez SR 800 (P/J). Way too scooped for my taste today, but that was my fault, not the preamp's. Watch the classifieds here closely, they pop up once in a while and usually go very quickly.
I got the ART Pro-channel a few years ago for my home studio and the oh the knobs! So many choices! It's a pre/compressor/EQ and the ranges are just awesome when you really look at everything you can do. There are TWO parametric mid ranges - they can actually even overlap each other for truly ridiculous options. It's really cheap considering everything you get. I wouldn't tour with it, but mounted safely in a rack at home, it should last a long time.
For live use, I'm currently using the Sansamp RPM and couldn't be happier. Fantastic tube emulation, sweepable mids, all the connectivity options you could ever want, and paired with a class D power amp (I'm using the Crown XLS 1000) I have a very tubey, kilowatt head that weighs less than 25 pounds, rack bag, cables and all.
JohnK writes about all three of these and more at the link above. All of these options are WAY below the budget you mentioned. The most expensive being the Ampeg, but I still think you can get one of those for under $500.
I'll probably be unloading my Ashdown RPM1 Jon Enwistle preamp which is loaded wich many useful featiures.
I'm having a custom built 200 watt version of the 70s Bassman 100 with torroidal transformers (to save weight) 3 stage power switching 70-140-200 watt stepping, 5 band midrange and fan cooled output valves.
I'm having a custom built 200 watt version of the 70s Bassman 100 with torroidal transformers (to save weight) 3 stage power switching 70-140-200 watt stepping, 5 band midrange and fan cooled output valves.
Whichever tube preamp you buy, get one with a real power supply - not a "wall wart" or starved plate preamp that in reality really mostly just adds noise to the signal.
NOTE: "Tube" is commonly used as a marketing buzzword with cheap preamps - so beware.
bongomania
Commercial User
Bear in mind that many tube preamps take a 12-15 V wall wart that is capable of 2000-3000 mA of current draw; and then the preamp contains a "charge pump" circuit which converts that huge amount of current into up to 300 V for powering the tube. So simply having a wall wart, even a fairly low-voltage one, is not AT ALL an indicator of whether the tube is "starved plate".
Interesting, I have never heard this about wall warts, but this is when you have to look at the individual units because unfortunately many of those with wall warts are starved plate designs.
Yeah, those are pretty good as long as the owner is willing to spend a little time understanding passive tone circuits. Otherwise getting the desired sound can be elusive. Also those things can hum when the unbalanced (phone jack) output is used. I know mine does, and I've read reports of others that do the same. However, mine's quiet when the XLR (actually the post-eq DI) out is used.
Interesting - please name 3 wall wart powered tube preamp examples (make and model) that don't have starved plates? Thanks.
@ OP, just beware!!! Wall warts are cheaper - paten wise and etc.
If you are really looking for a recording pre, I suggest you also look at tube DIs such as the REDDI or an Avalon.
First, the power supply inside the pre is doing the same work as an external one. It is converting 120V to something that the circuit needs.
I had my Kern converted from external wall wart to internal power supply by Les. He was reluctant to do it because he found that having the power supply inside did not sounded as good. If I were to use this strictly as a recording pre, I would have heeded his advise. Also, when a designer includes in internal power supply in a device, that device has to go through a more complex certification process. This prolongs the time to market and increases the cost of doing business. A previously certified wall wart removes these barriers.
I had my Kern converted from external wall wart to internal power supply by Les. He was reluctant to do it because he found that having the power supply inside did not sounded as good. If I were to use this strictly as a recording pre, I would have heeded his advise. Also, when a designer includes in internal power supply in a device, that device has to go through a more complex certification process. This prolongs the time to market and increases the cost of doing business. A previously certified wall wart removes these barriers.
You REALLY want to separate the men from the boys in preamp world? Output transformer. Good tube pres are very nice, but the output transformer makes all the difference between just sounding good and having total balls. I wouldn't even bother with one that didn't have it anymore after getting a REDDI. It's not a preamp but it's a DI with a tube and way outsized power and output transformers, and it makes all the difference in the world over similar devices that only have a few preamp tubes with no OT.
I learned this with My EBS ValveDrive. It works sometimes with the 12VAC output of my T-Rex Fuel Tank (500 mA output), but really needs a full one amp from its own power supply.
Thanks. There is nothing wrong with external power supplies (less noise issues, weight, etc) its a good idea, and Im aware of the time and money manufactures save by avoiding patens and going with cheap preexisting wall warts - but for a good tube preamp lets not confuse a good eternal power supply with a wall wart.
