Best pre-amp?

[MM-Stingray5]

I am in search of a a great sounding pre-amp im not sure what i want yet, i have been looking at the SVPs The rocktron Blue thunder and sans amp.
I cant decide which to get!

if you have had experience with these pre amps post or if you want to suggest another kind of pre amp go for it as well!

EDIT: i play metal/rock

 

[bongomania]

I'm recently a convert to SVP, and I think it is killer for fat old-school metal/rock. If you like that "nu" technical stuff, you might prefer something more transparent, probably solid state, and the Sansamp will do you right.

 

[MM-Stingray5]

I am happy with my ampegs stright sound for rock stuff but it doesnt seem to have the right.....Umph?? for the stuff i play in my band. at home i play good rock stuff I.E. UFO, scorpions,Goddo etc. But in my band i play Metalcore/metal like Lamb of God, Unearth,as i lay dying etc.

my buddy in another band that i just came off the road with has a snas amp pre amp going into an ampeg CL and i am happy with his tone so i guess thats what i am after.

Has anyone heard the Blue Thunder yet? i hear it has built in distortion(not that id use it that much) but that is a pretty cool feature on a pre amp in my opinion.
anyone used that yet?

 

[Crabby]

my stingray is absolutely killer sounding through ny Eden Navigator! Best gear upgrade I have made in years was getting a good pre amp!

 

[glivanos]

Yamaha PB-1 preamp. Good, reliable, solid state and versatile and not that expensive if you can find one.

 

[Figjam]

Anything by Demeter = great tone. Especially with a Music Man.

 

[MacGroove]

Alembic F-1X
Demeter VTBP201 or HBP1
Epifani Quest Pre, if you can find one used, discontinued. MF sold out of their stock for $499.00

 

[lug]

Avalon - if you can rob a few liquor stores, it could be yours!

 

[steveb98]

Alembic F-1X
Demeter VTBP201 or HBP1
Epifani Quest Pre, if you can find one used, discontinued. MF sold out of their stock for $499.00

+1

 

[Bassman62]

Ashdown, Good enough for the OX!

 

[MM-Stingray5]

Can anyone compare the new BBE pre and sans amp RBI?

it has come down to those two i think.

 

[ballison]

I REALLY liked my alembic f-1x...Im kinda kicking myself for selling it!

 

[j-raj]

If you have the $:
Millennia
Averill
UA

...but, for me My Trace V-Type and my TrueVoice pre are my standby's for the time being.

 

[Pako]

I have been really enjoying the Aguilar DB659. When I used the Sansamp, I actually lost detail and tone. It was odd. This is not the case with the Aguilar.

Works for me,

Good luck!

 

[zoran]

MM sounds great through glockenklang preamp. But, I supose every bass will sound great with it...

 

[SteveC]

Eden.
I also liked my Demeter but the EQ is more subtle.
I think the Avalon is a better DI than preamp,but it's nice.

 

[Jason Hollar]

Eden Navigator.

The EQ and routing options are awesome -- the compressor is amazing -- and the tube character effect can give you some of that Ampeg warmth with the clarity of solid state.

IMHO

 

[doctec]

I have both a BMax-T and a Sansamp BDDI. I mostly use the BMax at gigs. It's got a classic clean, smooth sound with lots of bottom. And I kinda like turning on the BBE process sometimes -- It seems to add some extra definition to the tone.

I've found the BDDI sounds good, too and I've used it to record a couple times with excellent results. It's got a little (or a lot depending on the settings) more "grit" the the BMax. The "grit" bugged me a little when I listened to it solo, but it really sat in the mix well. Sounded fine live, too, but I prefer the BMax-T.

 

[MM-Stingray5]

What is the approximate price of the Bmax?