"Best" Preamp around ? ReVolt ? Darglass Vintage ? Else ?

[groovaholic]

The Palmer Pocket Bass meets all of your stated requirements.
It has clean, overdrive, and fuzz modes - but the clean is the star of the show.

And it's 100% analog - no displays or programming necessary.

They're a bit rare here in the US, but since Palmer is a German company, you might find one more easily in the EU.

 

[klattman]

Mentioned earlier but the DSM Humboldt bass simplifier covers most of that. Extremely flexible. Switches allow a dry through and lots of blend options with two channels and Di.

the preamp is a decent ampeg model.

 

[groove pump]

ahahah Yp I am not a fan of that screen, but it looks nice and appears to tick every other box.

Similarly, the DarkGlass Elements is very nice, much more affordable and small, but I am afraid I dislike the touch screen.

I was going to suggest a look at one or two video demos of the Zoom B6 before giving it a "no" vote. Despite the touch screen, it has a lot of the features (maybe all of them) that you're looking for and its layout is rather easy to use - including several multi-function knobs. I'm no tech heavy, but I was finding my way around and tweaking different things with this unit as soon as I took it home and switched it on.

 

[oberkampf]

With similar requirements, I would put the Shift Line Olympic MkIIIS (shift-line.com) on your list. They're a bit hard to find new right now, but maybe you can find a used one

 

[DonaldR]

Since you like Ampeg than why not an SCR-DI?
Doesn't have all the features you request but ticking your need list. One feature I like is it operates on 9v battery. So it's my goto preamp for jamming with friends with PA support. Fits in a gigbag and I only bring an XLR cable + a guitar cable, tuner is on my iPhone.

 

[semiprohooker]

Atomic Bass Box ticks all your boxes and more. Gives you the ability to upload IRs or you V4 if you want to be as close to the real thing, but also eliminated the need for screens and such. Simple knobs and switches to operate it.

 

[MAFbass1992]

Honestly you're asking a lot ! But I would suggest the Olympic MKIIIs. Not too big, nice fat clean sound. The EQ is very vintage-ish (Fender style)

 

[SlowpokeJoe]

Atomic Bass Box ticks all your boxes and more. Gives you the ability to upload IRs or you V4 if you want to be as close to the real thing, but also eliminated the need for screens and such. Simple knobs and switches to operate it.

+1 for the Atomic Bass Box!

It gives you a very nice blend of "Set it and Forget" physical knobs with quite a bit of behind the scenes tweaking over USB if wanted.

The ability to very quickly switch between 3 types or amp/cab sim combos is also very nice.

 

[Levent]

I did a thread not so long ago with similar needs for jazz etc. except I like a little vt drive without the distort. You might like my finds.
Clean DI & PREAMP With Headphone Output Choice.

 

[dland]

Since you like Ampeg than why not an SCR-DI?
Doesn't have all the features you request but ticking your need list. One feature I like is it operates on 9v battery. So it's my goto preamp for jamming with friends with PA support. Fits in a gigbag and I only bring an XLR cable + a guitar cable, tuner is on my iPhone.

+1 Simple device, easy to use... don't use the Scrambler portion, its seems ok (nothing to write home about).

 

[MtManiac]

I don’t own the Darkglass Vintage Ultra v2, but was absolutely considering it and we’re not a metal band. You can definitely dial down/off the drive so that it’s clean. I can’t speak to its clean tone, but I did end up buying a Darkglass Microtubes amp, and it’s clean tone is easily the cleanest sounding amp I’ve ever used, like crystal, and I’d been primarily using MarkBass prior to that.

The VM Ultra v2 also had all the features I wanted and needed, like aux in, headphones, cab sim, DI, and a pretty extensive but easy to use EQ. I was also looking at the Aguilar Tonehammer and Mesa DI, and replacing a VT Bass DI.

The amp (M500 v2) also has all those features - I’ve been bringing the head to rehearsal and just using it with no cab, as we’re all in-ears at rehearsals these days.

 

[quilanthegreat]

You'll get lots of opinions, but I really do think the Darkglass Vintage Ultra will do exactly what you are looking for. I gigged for many years using my Darkglass Vintage Deluxe as my main preamp for recording and silent stages. The Ultra has the cab sim and the headphone option, exactly what you're looking for. Good luck!

 

[antfarm]

Darkglass Element plus any preamp pedal you like.

 

[CochinoBass]

Darkglass Element plus any preamp pedal you like.

This. I use a DG Element with a Sushi Box FX Underground Accelerator tube preamp. Those two pedals alone could easily be a minimalist rig. Element is Cab Sim, tuner, EQ, headphone amp, DI, and the Underground Accelerator is the tooooby goodness.

 

[amper]

The Darkglass B7K Ultra is an excellent clean preamp. Just because they are known for their distortion doesn’t mean you have to use it.

Me, I use a DSM & Humboldt Simplifier Bass Station to do what you are trying to do.

 

[Romain909]

As of now, here are my options (and opinions) considering your suggestions :

Original choice 1 : Two Notes - ReVolt Bass. Awesome looking. 2 bands Eq no the clean channel is weird though.
Original choice 2 : Darkglass - Vintage Ultra (V2). Looks high end, but I am curious about its clean tone.

Suggestions :
1. Jad Freer Capo : Nice but no headphone out. Average design for a high price.
2. Genzler Magellan : Nice discovery. I like it !
3. GK Plex : I have read a review that does not make me think I am going to like it.
4. EBS microbass 3 : Not crazy looking but it is an interesting suggestion. I will check it out.
5. DSM Humboldt bass simplifier : I really dislike the ergonomy of the preamp. It looks crazy busy.
6. HX Stomp : looks perfect but that LCD Screen ... Not my thing.
7. Palmer Pocket Bass : If I am correct, I have read on reviews that it has an always on configuration that alters the tone. I will check again but if correct, it's off the list.
8. Zoom B6 : typically the kind of numeric pedal I want to avoid
9. Shift Line Olympic MKIIIs : No switch to bypass it. Off the list.
10. Ampeg SCR DI : I would prefer a higher quality preamp, or have more features + I remember reading complains about the screamer tone and additional noise.
11. Darkglass BK7 : Awesome suggestion. I need to figure out the differences with the Vintage
12. Atomic Bass Box : Considering it. Complex looking but great tone !
13. Darkglass element : considering it. I just dislike the touch sliders.


As of now, here is my ranking :

1st Choice :
Two Notes - ReVolt Bass.

2nd Choices :
Darkglass - BK7 Ultra
Darkglass - Vintage Ultra

3rd Choices :
Atomic Bass Box
Darkglass element

I am considering the Genzler Magellan and the EBS microbass 3 although this last one doesn't look as good nor as high end as the previous one. It may be silly, but for the price, I want it to look NICE ahah.

 

[CochinoBass]

The DG Element, IMO, is not really a preamp and it sounds sort of flat and lifeless without a preamp in front of it. I would not recommend it as a stand alone unless it was for use exclusively as headphone amp for practicing.

 

[bherman]

I would suggest giving the Genzler a serious look. Has everything you need. And the high/low pass filters are a very useful plus. Extremely high quality kit from that company.

 

[bucephylus]

As of now, here are my options (and opinions) considering your suggestions :

9. Shift Line Olympic MKIIIs : No switch to bypass it. Off the list.

The SLO does have a Thru output, which seems to tick off your bypass spec. Unclear why this needs to be switched?

Only other comment is that the different preamps all sound…somewhat different. There is a good bit more to the choice than the features; though I get it that features matter. Personally, I had to try a bunch to find what fit my needs. FWIW.

 

[MrClassicMetal]

Hi everyone.
I am currently looking for a preamp for these uses :

Play without my amp :
- Play with headphones only (late at night)
- Record myself with an interface (late at night)
- Play live without bringing my V4B and 212

In other words :
-I need a DI out
-I need a headphone out
-I want to fully bypass the preamp when needed ; and a True bypass.
-I want a ground lift switch

-Cab sim is a plus to simulate my V4B
-parallel output is a plus
-tuner output is a plus
-Eq and/or Comp integrated is a plus
-Effects Send/Return is a plus

-High current draw is not an issue (Thanks to DESS MP10. Marvelous)
-I would like not to exceed €/$ 500ish (no Noble for instance).

About me :
-I play clean most of the time (Funk, Soul and Jazz). A very light distortion may be interesting but I don't need an integrated death fuzz.
-I dislike LCD screens and ipad looking pedals. Knobs are fun and easier !

My choices :
-As of now, I like the ReVolt a lot (AMAZING look!!) clean channel is an SVT and cab sim a 810... Perfect as an Ampeg player. I just dislike the 2 bands EQ on the Clean channel. Weird choice.

-But I also like Darglass Vintage Ultra V2. Is it really meant to be played solely on the clean channel ? No distortion ? It looks like Darglass preamps are mostly engineered to be played with the Drive ON. Maybe, Marketing is leading me to think this way and this is absolutely wrong.

Questions :
Any preference between the ReVolt and the Vintage Ultra for a clean use ?
Any other preamp suggestion the would fit my needs ?

Thanks a lot !

The Vintage Ultra sounds really nice when played minus the distortion. That's how I use it most of the time. Before that I had a MarkBass Vintage Pre, but didn't really like it and traded it for the Darkglass. I'm happy with it, and as an added bonus it doesn't take as much space as the MarkBass on my pedalboard.

Lately I've been playing mostly through a Phil Jones Bass PE-5. That one has a great clean sound, highly recommended. Check it out in this video:



One of the reasons why I chose it is because you can adjust both high- and low mids. And it costs less than ReVolt and the Darkglass.