Classic rackmount preamps

[chadds]

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.

The Kern which is discontinued and the Monique can do Hiwatt. Hiwatt if that means to you a combination of clear hifi and colorful butter. Yep it’s possible. Speed clarity and full warmth. The Summit TD-100 does it too but is missing tone controls. The decaying notes on the Basstasters site review of the Summit show what I’m describing.

While not tube the Glock BAC does Hiwatt too. Different take as it’s SS.

My preference is the Monique. There is nothing tepid about it. It’s big.

Good luck on your search.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

I use an Alembic F-1X racked-up with a Crown XLS power amp. It's a pretty simple zip-up rack bag that sits on top of whatever speakers you want. You can bridge/mono, or bi-amp with it.

Back in the old days, I used to have a Rane AP-13 for my upright... that was a sweet preamp for acoustics. What was I thinking about when I sold that?! I bet you can't find a working one anymore.

 

[Slevage]

I leave an old Yamaha PB-1 parked at rehearsal with a 30 year old Crown and a 15” speaker.

The PB-1 is still a great piece of gear.

 

[burgerdj]

My favorite that I owned was the Ampeg SVP. I had a chance to play an Alembic FX-1 that was pretty sweet, too.

 

[57pbass]

I switch between these two.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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!

Eden Navigator. I bought this about 10 years ago as the foundation of a multi-cab concert rig I put together. It has more features than most in one package. Like optical compression, side chain, bi-amp with built in crossover, it’s stereo, L-R and Blend DI and line outs, parametric EQ.

The last gig I used it as my IEM rig. The venue had a horrible ring at 170 HZ and and the sound guy couldn’t get a handle on it with my bass cab going. Had a monitor feed in to my side chain (the level is adjustable) and it worked great. More than enough volume from the headphone out.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

+1 on the Eden

I’ve used Ampeg SVP CL and both Alembic pre’s, but my rack has been home to an EDen Navigator for years now. The Eden truly is a Swiss Army knife: broad-coverage semi-para EQ, usable onboard compressor, tube/clean, gets along well w most power amps.

+1 on the Eden Navi! (See other post for picture). Swiss Army knife is a great way to describe it.

 

[jmlee]

Eden Navigator. I bought this about 10 years ago as the foundation of a multi-cab concert rig I put together. It has more features than most in one package. Like optical compression, side chain, bi-amp with built in crossover, it’s stereo, L-R and Blend DI and line outs, parametric EQ.

The last gig I used it as my IEM rig. The venue had a horrible ring at 170 HZ and and the sound guy couldn’t get a handle it with my bass cab going. Had a monitor feed in to my side chain (the level is adjustable) and it worked great. More than enough volume from the headphone out.

View attachment 4825450

I love that, on top of all the other well-implemented features, my Navigator preamp has a heap of front panel LEDs that serve no purpose but to glow merrily away. The manual explicitly notes this. I’ve currently got a BBE BMax-T in my rack. It’s strikingly better than the BMax (no tube) with a crystal-clean, slightly warm character. Very nice pre—other than the absence of a DI out whose level is independent of the front panel gain. Looking for a reasonably-priced Yamaha PB-1.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I love that, on top of all the other well-implemented features, my Navigator preamp has a heap of front panel LEDs that serve no purpose but to glow merrily away. The manual explicitly notes this. I’ve currently got a BBE BMax-T in my rack. It’s strikingly better than the BMax (no tube) with a crystal-clean, slightly warm character. Very nice pre—other than the absence of a DI out whose level is independent of the front panel gain. Looking for a reasonably-priced Yamaha PB-1.

Funny thing about those lights. Not that I’ve done this, but when you take the cover off, trying to get all those little bulbs lined up is a royal pain I’m told. LOL!!

As for those lights glowing merrily, it’s at my back 99% of the time, so I don’t care..LOL!

 

[Altitude]

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
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+1 on the Ashly BP41. I haven't seen one in the wild for a long time, but time was I saw one of those, a Crown power amp, and a Dietz bass cabinet on many a 6th Street stage in Austin.

Hopefully, for the sake of the player, not up any stairs.

 

[Redbrangus]

I had a Furman PQ-3 with 3-band, fully parametric EQ for years until I finally gave it to friend who had more need of it than I did. This image is from an old Reverb ad; the seller was asking $379.
Link Removed

I agree with the others who have expressed high opinions of the Yamaha PB-1. It was a great piece of gear in its day and it is still worth having and using. If I stumbled onto one at anything approaching a reasonable price, I'd probably buy it, even though I don't have any particular need for it.

 

[Lostgallifreyan]

I’m not sure, I would guess none of them.

Narrows it down!

 

[Lostgallifreyan]

The Kern which is discontinued and the Monique can do Hiwatt. Hiwatt if that means to you a combination of clear hifi and colorful butter. Yep it’s possible. Speed clarity and full warmth. The Summit TD-100 does it too but is missing tone controls. The decaying notes on the Basstasters site review of the Summit show what I’m describing.

While not tube the Glock BAC does Hiwatt too. Different take as it’s SS.

My preference is the Monique. There is nothing tepid about it. It’s big.

Good luck on your search.

Thanks. I have an emulation figured out in an Oberheim GM-400 but I think I should try to do it with a valve preamp even if I have to build it from a Hiwatt schematic and parts found in an old radio (very good source!), but if any existign device also emulates the tonal action of the 'presence' control of those Hiwatt amps it might be ideal so long as it does the earlier valve and tone stuff too.

Monique sounds worth looking into. Discontinued 1U valve preamp gear is ok, so long as it does what I want and is likely to be available and maintainable. (Means no surface mount flyspec components inside.)

 

[Killing Floor]

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…
View attachment 4825322
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…
View attachment 4825327
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.

++1 for the PB1. It was a great preamp. Mine was damaged and stupidly I didn’t have it restored. Such a great range of tones. It was a powerful tool.

I have a BBE 383 in my attic in a rack. Maybe I need to see if it still works.

 

[azureblue]

I wish I still had my Yamaha PB1 pre. I upgraded the opamp chips and it was amazing - clean, clear and punchy. I was pushing a Crown with 4 15's.. I miss that sound, but not the cartage. Hm. Now I'm wondering if I could get one and drive a class D power amp. The PB1 had a lot of empty space inside

 

[David McIntire]

SWR Interstellar Overdrive is my choice. Clean it sounds exactly like my Demeter 201. But a far more powerful eq and my favorite OD circuit I've ever used. As long as it works? I'll be using it.

 

[GreyBeard]

I've owned 2 rack pre's in my career. The Alembic F1-X and the Ampeg SVP. Of the 2 I think I prefer the Ampeg. I really wish Ampeg would build a pedlal SVP-pre or bring back the rack mount version.

 

[burgerdj]

I switch between these two. View attachment 4825420

Ooo! I forgot about that Demeter! Fabulous preamp.

 

[conttador]

Aguilar DB680 & DB659

These are no longer made but if you can find these they are well worth the hunt!

 

[wcriley]

I've owned 2 rack mount preamps: a Beringer Bass V-amp Pro and a Presonus Channel Strip.
Still have the Channel Strip, but no longer use it for bass.