Demeter Minnie 800D Question

[LowBSix]

I bought the first round of the HPB-1 preamp serial number 003 in 1982.
No DI I loved it and went to Walter Woods 450/600.

I own the Bass 600 and love it.
Tone and weight are my focus.

 

[LowBSix]

Here's a decent read on Le Bass:

"....kudos to Jeff Jenkins and Josh at vintage King Nashville for putting together a great event for Nashville Bass Hangers today evaluating about 15 of the most popular Bass preamps on the market. I wasn't even there to bribe anybody and the Two Notes placed in the top 5 among preamps that for the most part are significantly more pricey! So after an honest evaluation by some.of Nashville's top players without the rep (me) there to potentially influence the outcome here is a list of all of the pre's they evaluated and below that their top 5. Contact your Two Notes dealer and buy with confidence that this only $300 pre will smoke most others out there.

Fatboy Nickel
Fatboy Steel
Two Notes Le Bass
BAE VG DI
Rupert Neve
Radial Tone Bone Bass Bone
Spector Sonics 611-B
Eclair Evil Twin
Avalon U5
Acme Motown
LR Baggs Stadium
BAE DMP
REDDI
Ampeg SVT Tube DI
JHS Colour Box
Aguilar DB 900
Radial JDI
Noble Amps DI

Top 5 are:
Fatboy Nickel
Eclair Evil Twin
BAE VG DI
Two Notes Le Bass
Rupert Neve DI"

 

[bucephylus]

Here's a decent read on Le Bass:

Contact your Two Notes dealer and buy with confidence that this only $300 pre will smoke most others out there.

I am glad that you are enthusiastic about your product. But, this is the kind of post that doesn't do much good, IMO. Mainly, there is no context. Different basses require different kinds of voicings in the preamp. A more objective discussion of the various voicing aspects would be a whole lot more valuable than a bunch of hype.

 

[LowBSix]

Oh please. Whatever you think is none of my business. Have a beautiful day.

 

[murphy]

Please keep us posted. I suspect the result will depend entirely on what kind of instrument you are using and the voicing of that particular preamp. I have posted elsewhere that running a Sadowsky outboard preamp into the Minnie works pretty well for passive Jazz Basses. But, that particular preamp is not voiced well for active instruments; which tend to perform better with a flatter voicing.

I would think that is because your Sadowsky preamp was designed for putting an active circuit in a passive bass....If you already have a preamp in your bass...It is not what Roger designed the Sadowsky to do

 

[bucephylus]

Has anyone tried the MXR M81 into the Minnie 800D?

 

[LowBSix]

I finally got a chance to open up the 800D with the Le Bass preamp and .... WOW!
From clean tube love to a griny growl. The blend is Ver functional.

I ran the 800D wide open which gave me a lot more tones out of my MIA Fender 5 w/ Nordstrand NJS5s pups. I'm in lust.

Here's a decent read on Le Bass:

"....kudos to Jeff Jenkins and Josh at vintage King Nashville for putting together a great event for Nashville Bass Hangers today evaluating about 15 of the most popular Bass preamps on the market. I wasn't even there to bribe anybody and the Two Notes placed in the top 5 among preamps that for the most part are significantly more pricey! So after an honest evaluation by some.of Nashville's top players without the rep (me) there to potentially influence the outcome here is a list of all of the pre's they evaluated and below that their top 5. Contact your Two Notes dealer and buy with confidence that this only $300 pre will smoke most others out there.

Fatboy Nickel
Fatboy Steel
Two Notes Le Bass
BAE VG DI
Rupert Neve
Radial Tone Bone Bass Bone
Spector Sonics 611-B
Eclair Evil Twin
Avalon U5
Acme Motown
LR Baggs Stadium
BAE DMP
REDDI
Ampeg SVT Tube DI
JHS Colour Box
Aguilar DB 900
Radial JDI
Noble Amps DI

Top 5 are:
Fatboy Nickel
Eclair Evil Twin
BAE VG DI
Two Notes Le Bass
Rupert Neve DI"

 

[jasmangan]

Not to derail to much, but is there a thread or something with the one Radbass is making? I tried a couple of searches, including via all threads he's started, and haven' found it.

I'm eyeing options for pedalboard mounting power amps... the 800D caught my eye, as did the Quilter Bass Block + Tone Blocks. Having another option to peek at would be great.

Any luck with finding any info? I'm curious as well but haven't found anything either.

 

[Munjibunga]

I didn't want to derail the Monique threads with this question so I'll ask here. Has anyone used the Minnie 800D with preamps other than the Monique?

I really like the Demeter products and the amp seems like it's getting great reviews from the Monique users. I'm thinking this would be a nice combo with my Aguilar Tonehammer Pre/DI for a super compact powerful rig.

I'd have to think about the cost though - whew!

I just went ahead and got the Demeter preamp built in with the Minnie - the VTBP-M-800DJ.

 

[Michael Rhead]

Wondering how this Minnie 800D handles the "bottom" at volume. Thinking about using as a slave for a second cabinet. While I love many things about my Tone Hammer 500, the low end gets flabby at higher volumes. Since it sounds like this uses the same ICE power section, does it do better than the TH500 at getting tight bottoms?

Same as the OP, would use the send from TH500 to a power amp.

 

[pfschim]

Wondering how this Minnie 800D handles the "bottom" at volume. Thinking about using as a slave for a second cabinet. While I love many things about my Tone Hammer 500, the low end gets flabby at higher volumes. Since it sounds like this uses the same ICE power section, does it do better than the TH500 at getting tight bottoms?

Same as the OP, would use the send from TH500 to a power amp.

I thought I read that the Demeter uses a Hypex module (?), not ICE. Someone with more knowledge will correct me if I am wrong.

 

[MarkA]

I thought I read that the Demeter uses a Hypex module (?), not ICE. Someone with more knowledge will correct me if I am wrong.

Pretty sure it's an ICE 250ASX2, a la the GK MB800, TH500, and Puma 900. That's not to say that the manner of implementing the module into their respective designs wouldn't differ.

Wondering how this Minnie 800D handles the "bottom" at volume. Thinking about using as a slave for a second cabinet. While I love many things about my Tone Hammer 500, the low end gets flabby at higher volumes. Since it sounds like this uses the same ICE power section, does it do better than the TH500 at getting tight bottoms?

Same as the OP, would use the send from TH500 to a power amp.

I had a Demeter HBP-1 800D, which, I believe, uses the same 250 ASX2 as the Minnie. I would expect the performance to be similar, but I could be wrong. I used that amp as a standalone, as a sometimes-power-amp (via the effects return) for Monique, and as a preamp in front of a Crest Pro Lite 2.0. It had more kick and held together significantly better at high volume into an 8 Ohm load than my Markbass F500 did -- cruised where the F500 started to compress, but that amp doesn't use an ICE module. (The Demmie also tested well, if I recall correctly, when Bass Gear magazine put it on the bench. Maybe @tombowlus can offer some insight?) I did briefly own a Tone Hammer 500 and got the impression that the Demmie had more on tap than the TH did (definitely had a tighter low-end response), but, while I played it out a few times, I never pushed the Tone Hammer that hard, so I can't say for sure how they'd compare at their limits. A lot of the difference I perceived would, I imagine, have to do with the amps' different front ends.

I briefly tried the HBP through the 1000 ASP based amp that JGR built that Mike Arnopol's got -- that was awhile back; didn't play it on a gig or anything, but cranked it pretty loud outside. Felt like the low-end clarity and articulation were better -- and the sound smoother overall -- through that amp than through the Demmie's internal power, but I'd still put the Demmie a notch or two up from your typical "500 Watt" micro in that regard.

Sorry I can't offer a more direct comparison.

 

[tombowlus]

Yup. We put the Minnie 800D on the bench at the same time we Invalid Link Removed, and it fared quite well.

 

[Doner Designs]

Yup. We put the Minnie 800D on the bench at the same time we Invalid Link Removed, and it fared quite well.

Did you try it with the Noble DI/preamp by chance? Seems like that should be a good combination.

Must be a nice amp if Jule was recommending it for use with the Dovecage until he started offering his own power amp.

I do wonder however if there is any benefit to buying a standalone ICE based power amp vs something like the Mesa 800D, Genzler or any other respected 800 watt micro amp and then going into the effects return with whatever preamp (especially since most of those are cheaper than the Minnie plus you get an extra preamp free). I'm not opposed to paying more for something better, but am unclear on whether it really would be better.

 

[bucephylus]

I have been testing and gigging with the Minnie 800D using: the Sadowsky Preamp/DI, the Mesa Subway Preamp/DI, and the ISP Beta Preamp/DI. I just got the Beta working, and though I don't have much experience with it, it does have some very cool features. I am driving a Berg AE212 on the gig.

Other than that, they all work; and prefs will depend on the player's goals.

The Sadowsky is still my favorite. I think the Minnie is VERY cool.

 

[Chef]

My answers to that would be
Probably no advantage; unless the preamp you really like only comes as a preamp
Then
You need a separate power amp quite a lot ;/)

Did you try it with the Noble DI/preamp by chance? Seems like that should be a good combination.

Must be a nice amp if Jule was recommending it for use with the Dovecage until he started offering his own power amp.

I do wonder however if there is any benefit to buying a standalone ICE based power amp vs something like the Mesa 800D, Genzler or any other respected 800 watt micro amp and then going into the effects return with whatever preamp (especially since most of those are cheaper than the Minnie plus you get an extra preamp free). I'm not opposed to paying more for something better, but am unclear on whether it really would be better.

 

[Doner Designs]

My answers to that would be
Probably no advantage; unless the preamp you really like only comes as a preamp
Then
You need a separate power amp quite a lot ;/)

But if I send my favorite preamp into the effects return of say a Mesa 800D (for example) isn't that the same as using a separate power amp?

 

[murphy]

Using my Magellan 800 or my Mesa D-800 as a power amp only for my Demeter VTBP201 preamp sounds very quick and articulate...and great

Using same preamp into a heavy as hell 20 year old Yorkville AP1200...sound is immediately more girthy and rich sounding/ feeling....and, Oh my!

 

[murphy]

Both are very useable ..... weight will win for the gig

Sacrifice...feel.....same reason my tube amp stays at home

 

[bucephylus]

I would think that is because your Sadowsky preamp was designed for putting an active circuit in a passive bass....If you already have a preamp in your bass...It is not what Roger designed the Sadowsky to do

When you posted this, I was in complete agreement.

Since then, I have been further informed about the Sadowsky Outboard circuit. In particular, the aspect that the Volume control is a passive cut has caused me to re-evaluate the way the preamp is used. One result is that I have found the Sadowsky Outboard to be enormously helpful with SOME active basses that already have onboard preamps. My older Tobias basses with the Bart preamps get major new life going through the Sadowsky with Vol dimed, and modest Treble and Bass boost, as appropriate.

I do agree that using the Outboard with a Sadowsky onboard makes no sense, and there is no benefit to be had there.

FWIW, and just an update of my $0.019.