Best bass preamp?

[chadds]

Hey respectfully I didn't say all and I said may.

 

[cheezewiz]

Kern IP 777, Alembic F1X are my two favorites.

 

[rxbassman]

I use an Alembic F1-X. Perfect with a PA head. 2 used ones for sale at the Alembic club, Alembic.com.

 

[modulus763]

Kern IP777 and the Read Purity rocks my boat. Got rid of my Read for an extra Kern and I use a Crest HD9 for lots of power and headroom...HEAVY

 

[gard0300]

I am a player on a budget and I like my Sansamp RBI and my Presonus Eureka through my Crown XLS1500. IMHO

 

[chadds]

Monique - OMG!
Kern - the clearest tube thing you can do & makes hug fat.
Glockenklang - SS and you'd never know it. Sweet and clear like hi-end audiophile tube amps.

 

[MarTONEbass]

I love my Read Purity. Good luck finding one though..

 

[SactoBass]

Another vote here for the Kern IP-777. I love the sound of mine.

I have never played through the Monique, but I sure would like to some day!

 

[PreEmptStrike]

Surprised no one has mentioned the Avalon U5. I am looking around for a DI and my cousin (who plays also and owns one) recommended the U5. Yes I realize it is expensive (between 5 and 6 bills) but I have been reading nothing but glowing 5-star reviews. It is on my wish list for now... I am open to hearing why some of the others mentioned might beat it out (aside from cost). -f

 

[bassfreakah]

This works great in a pinch and sounds good and phat like the svt with a good power amp.

 

[murphy]

+1 on the sansamp

However the best I have heard is my Alembic F2b

 

[armybass]

I have only had a few including the Ampeg SVP, RBI, SWR IOD and the Eden Navigator. They were all great but to my ears the old Eden was by far the best sounding to me.

 

[TonyP-]

The question is do you have any requirements?

Just "Best bass preamp?" is a little vague its like asking whats the best restaurant on a first date ('Patrick Murphy's authentic Taco Stand' or 'Tavern on the Green') Either works depending on what you are looking for.

You mentioned tube tone...

Tubing tone can very a bit?
Grit-ish (Ampeg), Clear (Alembic), or even slightly dark (Kern)

Do you want to record with this later? Is having a Jensen DI output something your looking for? Or is having a Jensen something you don't care about any balanced out will do type of thing?

Some higher end studio gear has been mentioned in this thread but some of that stuff is pricey and frankly some of it is not built as road worthy (since it is not made for that).

What have you tried and not liked?
Is there a tonal goal that you heard in your head that your seeking? If you dig the Ampeg then just try another Ampeg model.

I can tell you what I would play and why...

If I wanted a single space Tube pre I would go Kern it big sounding, great character in the mids and works well with brighter sounding basses (Modulus - Musicman, ect) However I'm not going down that route. I did own the Alembic for years and that great as well but not as much 'Me' as the Kern.

If I was going single space pre peirod I would go for the Warwick Hellborg Pre (Sounds as big as Neve studio pre, extremely articulate with detail, very clear and built to tour).

Just my $.02 sorry for being long winded...



PS. Patrick Murphy's makes one hell of authentic carnitas taco.

 

[hansfrank13]

I currently have the Alembic SF-2 into a Carvin power amp,, i like the sound but want to get some more control of the tone (like a bass, mid and trebble knob), i have the money and access to get a used Alembic F2b, do these two complement each other realy well,, i considering Demeters, and the ampeg svt-IIP,. does the ampeg compare to the alembic or demeter,,, tell me what you think about any of these, thanks
-Hans