Best bass preamp?

[Luckydog]

Preamps I use outside of the body of the bass itself are Aguilar Tone Hammer and Sadowsky DI. Used to use VT and Sansamp, but prefer the above two pedals.

 

[chadface]

The sansamp bass driver has been around forever and can be found used for cheap. It is simple but a small turn of the knobs makes a big difference. I recommend starting with the suggested settings in the back of the manual.

 

[Rojd]

I use the Aguilar Tone Hammer, Ampeg SCR-DI, and the Amptweaker Curveball Jr. All great and slightly different flavors.

 

[Frank77]

I'm a big fan of the Tech21 boxes, particularly the Q\Strip : Lpf, Hpf, pads to go mic level or line level on both 1/4" and XLR, 2 parametric mids, etc. Plus the build quality is flawless and it sounds great.

 

[Thumpin6string]

I usually don't use an outboard preamp pedal, just the one in my bass and the one in the amp. However, I have used the Eden WTDI and it sounded great. Then again, I'm a hard core Eden fan.

 

[40Hz]

I think one of the best sounding as well as biggest bangs for the buck is a [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. The range of useful tones in this thing has to be experienced to be believed. Still just $99 on intro pricing direct.

 

[dBChad]

SWR Grand Prix, although they're getting hard to find now.

Zoom B3n is a great do-it-all platform. It's made me pretty creative, and it's a great practice tool with a headphone jack and an aux in. I've used it both live and recording and received compliments on my tone. Couples to the laptop via USB, so I can put all my patches in setlist order by dragging and dropping (super easy to use).

Trace Elliot Transit B. It does the Trace Elliot sound in a convenient stomp package.

Tech 21 SansAmp variants, an industry standard for a reason.

 

[ObsessiveArcher]

I'm a big fan of the Mesa Subway DI. If you want to go ultra portable - check out the Omnicabsim - mini:
https://www.dsmnoisemaker.com/omnicabsim-mini

 

[JohnnyBottom]

HPF, LPF, parametric mids, DI, super clean...
https://www.broughtonaudio.com/product-page/messenger

 

[nilorius]

Aguilar DB 751

 

[Bass_Kiwi]

I think one of the best sounding as well as biggest bangs for the buck is a [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. The range of useful tones in this thing has to be experienced to be believed. Still just $99 on intro pricing direct.

Well, thats not a preamp, but just an EQ pedal I believe. But awesome pedal of course.

 

[40Hz]

Well, thats not a preamp, but just an EQ pedal I believe. But awesome pedal of course.

It functions quite well as a preamp. It’s basically the preamp stage of a B-15N with enhancements. It has sufficient grunt to drive an effects loop return or a DI. So that’s enough to be considered a preamp despite its name. At least in my world. It’s one of six preamps I regularly switch back and forth among.

 

[cosmicevan]

I own an M81. I find it to be subtle. In other words, it doesn't do sweeping changes to the extreme. It's just a good, solid, basic EQ. Every other preamp I have ever owned goes much further in sculpting tone. (That's not to say the M81 is worse or those are better.... it all depends on your needs).

the other things is that the M81 doesn't color your tone much. That (again) could be a good thing if you prefer the tone of your bass. I'm thinking another M81 might do it for you. Most other preamps color your tone a lot.

So much this ---^

I had an M81 and although it did the job, it never got me excited about my tone. I ran it right into a power cab and to me, it sounded stale. Many of the suggestions in this thread are not "stale" and color your sound.

I'd suggest taking a trip with YOUR bass (and your M81) down to your local music shop and trying anything else and doing some side-by-sides. I'd think that you can find either the aguilar, mesa, or something mentioned in this thread locally to try...from there, you should see what we mean about coloring your tone. You will either never go back to the M81 or you will get another M81. I can't really see there being any middle ground.

 

[gregmon79]

Currently I’m using a MXR M81 Bass Preamp (and I love it). I’m using it on my pedalboard. But, I’m looking at picking up either another M81 to carry in my gig bag (when I’m not using my pedalboard) or maybe trying a different preamp/di. Any suggestions?

I like the Tronographic Rusty Box myself. As well as the DG B7K ultra. Those are the 2 I use and like the most. There are others I'd like to get one day. A JHS Color Box, Shift Line Olympic. I think if I replaced my existing pres, it would be with one of those or this new, boutique, bass pre that's modeled from an older Traynor head like the Rusty Box.

 

[hopwheels]

Two Notes Le Bass. A bit fiddly but so many usable tones once you get it wired.

 

[Fingerer]

Darkglass B7K Ultra. I play mostly rock. Stingray Special through a Mesa Boogie Subway D800+.
AWESOME!!!

 

[4001]

Ashley SC-40
Kern IP-777

 

[Ellery]

Currently I’m using a MXR M81 Bass Preamp (and I love it). I’m using it on my pedalboard. But, I’m looking at picking up either another M81 to carry in my gig bag (when I’m not using my pedalboard) or maybe trying a different preamp/di. Any suggestions?

All I can tell ya is I had an MXR M81, and after 2-3 years moved up to a Sanssmp BDDI v2 and immediately wished I had been using one all along.

 

[Lovep]

Lots of good choices mentioned. I have the Ampeg SCR but don’t use it often. I have also been through a few of the DG pedals. I have settled in on the Mesa Subway +. It’s a fairly large pedal, but it includes a HPF, so it saved some space on my board.

It has two sweepable mids and a voicing knob (which I love!).

 

[Windowliquor]

+1 on the RB. Only preamp I’ve ever owned.

I like the Tronographic Rusty Box myself. As well as the DG B7K ultra. Those are the 2 I use and like the most. There are others I'd like to get one day. A JHS Color Box, Shift Line Olympic. I think if I replaced my existing pres, it would be with one of those or this new, boutique, bass pre that's modeled from an older Traynor head like the Rusty Box.