Today I resurrected my Dean Markley Bass preamp after many years on the shelf, and was reminded of what a cool device it is. Once again, an internet search brought up almost nothing, and what little I found suffered from misinformation. In October of 2006 I posted an inquiry at the Alembic Club which to this day, has had zero replies. So I thought I'd make this thread in the unlikely event that someone might be searching for info.
Contrary to this thread, SOLD - Dean Markley Preamp DB this preamp is not designed for Double Bass, but rather electric Bass. The "DB" designation refers to Dual Row, Bass.
It sports a pretty neat feature set. One input, switchable between two independent channels, (front panel rocker switch or remotely through a FS jack). The A channel is solid state, with a volume (labeled preamp) and a 5 band EQ. Lo Bass, Bass, Lo Mid, Mid, and Treble. I don't know all the frequency centers but I remember the Lo Bass is at 40Hz. The B channel is selectable between a solid state, and a 12AX7 tube gain stage. With Preamp, 5 band EQ, and a master. Even with the preamp maxed through the tube, I cannot get any overdrive at all. This thing is all clean, all the time, with a ton of headroom, (active Musicman feeding it).
It has an effects loop, with attenuation available on the send and return, switchable with an external foot switch. There are full range outputs, 1/4" and XLR, and 1/4" High/Low crossover outputs, with the crossover adjustable from 150Hz, to 1.2kHz. There is also a 1/4" and XLR Direct out, which I have never used. Dare I make an assumption, I believe it's a Through output that bypasses the EQ.
This thing is designed to have no character of it's own. Outside of the pungent, supremely useful EQ, it is wholly transparent. The ability to have two completely different EQs, that you can switch between, is very gig friendly.
About 10 years ago, I thought it might be failing. It was randomly emitting a subtle bloom of white noise with signal present. Dean Markley, no longer supporting this device, hooked me up with Terry Laul, the fellow that designed this device. It was through my communication with Terry that I learned a little bit about the Preamp DB. He suggested, based on my description, that a Limiting Diode had failed, and he graciously sent me a schematic. I never got around to following up, as I was knee deep in rack preamp exploration, and quickly moved on. Remembering the previous issue, the first thing I did today, before powering it up, was to thoroughly clean all the Ins and outs with DeOxit. Wouldn't you know, problem solved.
Anyway, anybody out there remember these?
Contrary to this thread, SOLD - Dean Markley Preamp DB this preamp is not designed for Double Bass, but rather electric Bass. The "DB" designation refers to Dual Row, Bass.
It sports a pretty neat feature set. One input, switchable between two independent channels, (front panel rocker switch or remotely through a FS jack). The A channel is solid state, with a volume (labeled preamp) and a 5 band EQ. Lo Bass, Bass, Lo Mid, Mid, and Treble. I don't know all the frequency centers but I remember the Lo Bass is at 40Hz. The B channel is selectable between a solid state, and a 12AX7 tube gain stage. With Preamp, 5 band EQ, and a master. Even with the preamp maxed through the tube, I cannot get any overdrive at all. This thing is all clean, all the time, with a ton of headroom, (active Musicman feeding it).
It has an effects loop, with attenuation available on the send and return, switchable with an external foot switch. There are full range outputs, 1/4" and XLR, and 1/4" High/Low crossover outputs, with the crossover adjustable from 150Hz, to 1.2kHz. There is also a 1/4" and XLR Direct out, which I have never used. Dare I make an assumption, I believe it's a Through output that bypasses the EQ.
This thing is designed to have no character of it's own. Outside of the pungent, supremely useful EQ, it is wholly transparent. The ability to have two completely different EQs, that you can switch between, is very gig friendly.
About 10 years ago, I thought it might be failing. It was randomly emitting a subtle bloom of white noise with signal present. Dean Markley, no longer supporting this device, hooked me up with Terry Laul, the fellow that designed this device. It was through my communication with Terry that I learned a little bit about the Preamp DB. He suggested, based on my description, that a Limiting Diode had failed, and he graciously sent me a schematic. I never got around to following up, as I was knee deep in rack preamp exploration, and quickly moved on. Remembering the previous issue, the first thing I did today, before powering it up, was to thoroughly clean all the Ins and outs with DeOxit. Wouldn't you know, problem solved.
Anyway, anybody out there remember these?
