I’ve grown an interest in rackmount preamps. I love my RBI and I wonder… what are the classic bass preamps we should hear? Just curious!
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Classic rackmount preamps
- Thread starter Inconnu
- Start date
I’m not sure they’re all classics, but they all great preamps:
Ampeg SVP-CL
Kern IP-777
Jule Monique
Alembic F1X / F2B
Eden Navigator
Pearce BC1
ADA MB1
Demeter
SWR Mo’ Bass
Ampeg SVP-CL
Kern IP-777
Jule Monique
Alembic F1X / F2B
Eden Navigator
Pearce BC1
ADA MB1
Demeter
SWR Mo’ Bass
Been using an Ashly BP41 for close to 20 years.
Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
Pedulla Club #45 Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Administrator, Official Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
Pedulla Club #45
Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
Pedulla Club #45 Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Administrator, Official Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
Pedulla Club #45
I just replaced my BBE BMax for an RBI, and I like it very much.
Nothing wrong with the BMax, just not for me.
When I jumped into the rack/biamp/multiple cabs fray, I was also playing monophonic synth bass, so the Intersound IVP, with dual channels and parametric EQ, looked like a good idea…
It had all sorts of bells and whistles, except a crossover. After I drifted away from synth, I went with what I was seeing a lot of, Yamaha PB1…
Not only was it one rack space instead of two, it was solidly built, had everything I needed, and the built-in crossover was more that just a shiftable point…it was separate LPF and HPF. Still have it.
Nice question. The 'Clean Preamp' thread got some good business, but not a lot if anything related to racks.
Good list. Which of those would be closest to the Hiwatt DR103/DR405 sound? Ideally something in a short form (160mm) 1U rack, if I can get it. A big ask maybe, but the Dr. Wattson pedal is small so it's probably doable.
My personal classic is my Ampeg SVP-BSP. This is a Billy Sheehan 2-channel rack preamp with a single tube to toast things up a little (I guess). The clean channel sounds big and warm without much of any breakup if the gain is cranked.
The overdrive channel is so-so for my taste (it can get fizzy), but it has its own decent eq and it can be blended in with the clean channel. It can also run one channel or the other by itself. In the past I've plugged a Q-Tron into the effects loop of the overdrive channel with that channel's drive turned down a bit to keep it more clean than distorted. That gave me a lot of control over the Q-Tron's volume when I added that channel on top of my clean sound (footswitch).
Not exactly a super-premium preamp, but I've found this unit to be remarkably useful and the clean channel gives me a tone that I love. I dusted off this Ampeg for our last gig and ran its output right into the input of my GK MB 500 to see if that might warm up its sound a little bit. It did... and by more than a little bit. Now it's back in my fundamental sound recipe for the time being.
These gizmos are rather rare, but maybe worth watching out for. After maybe 15+ years with having my BSP, it's never occurred to me that I should get rid of mine.
The overdrive channel is so-so for my taste (it can get fizzy), but it has its own decent eq and it can be blended in with the clean channel. It can also run one channel or the other by itself. In the past I've plugged a Q-Tron into the effects loop of the overdrive channel with that channel's drive turned down a bit to keep it more clean than distorted. That gave me a lot of control over the Q-Tron's volume when I added that channel on top of my clean sound (footswitch).
Not exactly a super-premium preamp, but I've found this unit to be remarkably useful and the clean channel gives me a tone that I love. I dusted off this Ampeg for our last gig and ran its output right into the input of my GK MB 500 to see if that might warm up its sound a little bit. It did... and by more than a little bit. Now it's back in my fundamental sound recipe for the time being.
These gizmos are rather rare, but maybe worth watching out for. After maybe 15+ years with having my BSP, it's never occurred to me that I should get rid of mine.
JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
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Came here to suggest the ADA MB-1, as Dave W did, but to also add the Peavey TB Raxx. I think I've got one of each floating around here somewhere.
Mine.
Trace Elliot MP11 with backlit midi footswitch.
Trace Elliot MP11 with backlit midi footswitch.
I have recently gone back to a small rack unit . My current setup is a early Demeter blackface 1.5U tube pre and it is amazing .
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I just bought a yamaha BP1 last week.
Its joining an Alembic F1X and SWR interstellar overdrive that I already have.
I'd like to round out the collection with an Aguilar 659, F2B, Jule Monique, and a Trace V type
An SVP would be nice but its not on my list as I think I'd prefer an SVT
I had an old Demeter VTBP but I never gelled with it.
Its joining an Alembic F1X and SWR interstellar overdrive that I already have.
I'd like to round out the collection with an Aguilar 659, F2B, Jule Monique, and a Trace V type
An SVP would be nice but its not on my list as I think I'd prefer an SVT
I had an old Demeter VTBP but I never gelled with it.
The original SansAmp rackmount. The board is dated '91.
Im sure I've seen one racked - the Avalon U5 is definitely a classic
I would second the PB1. Bought one in college for a hundred bucks and used it for 15 years. Didn’t realize it was so in demand and donated it to a music school when I “upgraded” to a class D rig.
I figure some kids are getting to start off right.
