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Best Preamp of these...
- Thread starter Thurisarz
- Start date
Presonus tube pre = fantastic tone.
Not the blue tube.. The bluetube sucks a fat one. The TubePre however is one of my favorites. I am currently thinking about just using a Presunus TP and getting rid of my eden navigator. but damn I sure do love compression
Jonathan
Not the blue tube.. The bluetube sucks a fat one. The TubePre however is one of my favorites. I am currently thinking about just using a Presunus TP and getting rid of my eden navigator. but damn I sure do love compression
Jonathan
Honestly, I would say save up a bit and look into the Demeter, Sadowsky, Aguilar or Radial. They really are voiced better for bass. Should be able to get one of these used pretty reasonable.
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http://www.tonebone.com/tb-bassbone.htm
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http://www.tonebone.com/tb-bassbone.htm
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Use good headphones
Use good headphones
funkybassplayer
Commercial User
One budget bass pre that i didn't see mentioned is the Phil Jones Bass Buddy. I think for the size and features that this lil monster has that it might be a good consideration for you. IMHO it is a bit transparent sounding so if you really want to know what your bass sounds like then it will let you know.
Chef
In Memoriam
I've used the eden navigator quite a bit for both DB and electric.
They run about $550 used.
For about that same coin, you can get a used Thunderfunk, which does a little better yet, and has power too...
However, it does not have as nice a comp/limiter, nor as many in/outs, if those are important to you.
They run about $550 used.
For about that same coin, you can get a used Thunderfunk, which does a little better yet, and has power too...
However, it does not have as nice a comp/limiter, nor as many in/outs, if those are important to you.
It would seem from your list that your are on a tight budget, so the ART Tube MP is IMHO your best bet. It's not perfect but for the price ($30 - $45) they are extremely hard to beat and they can be quite versatile. I've seen them used for bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar and microphones. I started using the Invalid Link Removed in late '98 and I'm happy with the results it can produce. Much of the time with bass I also use it with a compressor, which is a great help and something you should consider purchasing, at some point, as well. I have a couple of friends who use the slightly less expensive Invalid Link Removed and swear by the results they're getting.
i can't vote cause i didn't try the other one but i have great result with the TubePre from Presonus...
I used the PreSonus TubePre heavily for a year and a half. I was driving it hard too! 
I loved the ability to mix in the tube drive with the clean sound. Use it if you want a very punchy, clean sound, and the ability to dial in overdrive without turning into mush.
I eventually killed my TubePre though... I was using an active 5er w/the bass EQ cranked going into the thing. I was plucking 1-5 intervals with the TubePre cranked. Occasionally it would clip. While doing this, it start distorting in an unpleasant way (not tube drive), but the clip light didn't come on. Oops. I turned it off. Came back an hour later, turned it on. No sound. Tube change. Still dead. The end.
The TubePre was great. Just don't abuse the crap out of it constantly like I did.
I loved the ability to mix in the tube drive with the clean sound. Use it if you want a very punchy, clean sound, and the ability to dial in overdrive without turning into mush. I eventually killed my TubePre though... I was using an active 5er w/the bass EQ cranked going into the thing. I was plucking 1-5 intervals with the TubePre cranked. Occasionally it would clip. While doing this, it start distorting in an unpleasant way (not tube drive), but the clip light didn't come on. Oops. I turned it off. Came back an hour later, turned it on. No sound. Tube change. Still dead. The end.
The TubePre was great. Just don't abuse the crap out of it constantly like I did.
bongomania
Commercial User
Although I haven't used any of the ones listed, I have used other units by some of the various brands, and of them I think ART and Presonus generally offer a better quality per dollar.
Chef
In Memoriam
Keep in mind, he wants to use this for DB as well.
That means, in my experience, "big parametric eq section required."
That means, in my experience, "big parametric eq section required."
bongomania
Commercial User
Fair enough. That points to choosing a simple pre with no EQ now, and adding a Presonus or ART half-rack parametric EQ later.
It looks like you are hovering around the $100 mark. I would second the Phil Jones Bass Buddy if you can get to the $300 mark. Of the ones you mentioned, I would go with the TubePre. I used one for a while. If you get a new tube (JJ ECC83), it will come to life. It actually starts to naturally compress a little as you dial in the gain. It sounds great!
I would also be looking at the BBE Bmax preamp. I found one used for €150,- (in the Netherlands) but you can probaly pick it up for less in the states. It has built in the BBE Sonic Maximizer and a compressor, balanced DI etc. etc. A nice very good sounding 19" preamp. Don't know about the other preamps tough just tought I should share this with you.
