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Boost Up a passive bass

johnpaulbass

johnpaulbass

Nov 2, 2005
1,284
587
Slovenia
www.facebook.com
Disclosures
Endorsing Artist: Pyramid Strings, MPE Audio
#1
Hy!

I need to boost up a little the output of my '74 jazz... you know, I have an MTd 535 that has HUGEEE output .. and when I plug my jazz I need to reset all my settings on the head (I own a Ampeg svt5 pro)

What should I do ? Maybe buy a DI box like the radial Bass bone and adjust the settings on it !? ... any other solutions !? ...

I really wouldn't like to touch the bass itself..

thank you
 
#6
yeah, the SD pickup booster would work, -any clean boost pedal for that matter, the MXR micro amp is cool as well.
Something like a Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive does clean boost, and ts-9 type distorion as well (or just the clean boost), that might be a bit more fun to have a multi function pedal. Of course, you need a tech21 bassdriver DI anyway, that could do clean boost.
 
#7
uu great things you pointed out .. thank you

those pedals are exactly what I was looking for... but ya know what I like about the tonebone is thath you can put 2 basses in and regulate each one by your needs... those it acutally sound similar to those Sadowsky and Fodera stuff ?
 
#8
For those considering the Sadowsky:
If the volume is cranked an the lows and highs are neutral, you have unity gain.
This means you can't get a clean boost. You can only boost the lows and highs, and lower the output volume.
 
#9
Is the ticket for you - simply a fantastic unit for leveling signals prior to your preamp or amplifier head. DTAR also makes a good mixer/blender unit for this purpose. I use the MDB-1 for every show...set levels for each bass during sound check, switching basses becomes seamless for the FOH guy.

Jay
 
#12
Good question. I have the same dilemma between my SR4 and '74 Jazz. I'm intrigued by the "A Raven Labs MDB-1". How does that work? Do you plug the lower output bass in the A Raven Labs MDB-1, but bypass it when using the higher output bass?
 
#15
Pre-amp.

The only thing is which one - since your Jazz seems to be vintage (now that it's over 30 years old), I'd go for outboard. Tonebone is nice - looking to get one myself to switch between fretted and fretless.

Go for the onboard only if you don't like what you get in terms of sound normally from your vintage jazz (personally, I don't know if I'd be gigging with that, especially if it can't cut the necessary volume level. I'd be crushed if anything happened to it - but that's just me.)
 
#16
Or get Boss Graphic EQ pedal (GEB-7) in front of the passive bass. That way you can also EQ any frequency discrepancies your might have between both basses.

A preamp will work, but I'm guessing you want to keep the character of the bass passive. An external preamp will make the passive bass sound 'active.'
 

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