Budget 3 band preamp recommendations?

[Jamesemt]

I've got an OLP Levin which plays really well, but the preamp will easily distort if I dial in too much boost. I'm presuming this isn't normal ? (Never played an active before).

Can anyone recommend a cheap upgrade? (Don't want to spend a lot as it's not in keeping with the bass!!)

Any ideas?

 

[David Jayne]

Honestly, IMO unless you are prepared to shell out for a good one, you're better off with none.

 

[Jamesemt]

OK, so what's the cheapest 'good' one out there?

 

[john_g]

what about an Audere? $150 (US)

 

[3506string]

I've got one of these for my rogue lx406-pro because i used up my budget on the pickups with bartolini's so I didn't have a lot to spend on a pre. I am not sure how it sounds to some of the higher $$ preamps but it sounds worlds better that the stock rogue one. It is very clean, transparent, hi-fi sounding. For the price its not a costly mistake

 

[mr sprocket]

You could alos check the Artec preamps
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=350145952949

I have the two band version and about to get the three band. Not the top of the line but better than some of the stocks and works well for me.

 

[molotovshake]

Spend some time on EBAY. I got a Bart NTMB 3 way for 90 bucks and they always have aguilars for cheap.

 

[Jamesemt]

Thanks for all the replies. Will keep a lookout on ebay and on here.

 

[bassmanrocke]

Are you sure it's your preamp. Are you running into a padded input on your amp. If you are running into the passive input you may be overdriving the preamp which is causing distortion. If this isn't the problem, I would second the recommendation of 3506string. I have used the 2-band version of that preamp in two budget builds, and it has impressed me in both basses.