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DSMnoisemaker & Humboldt Electronics Simplifier Bass Station
- Thread starter amper
- Start date
Yes, it’s a very impressive piece of kit. Mine arrived Friday, although I haven’t had the chance to experiment with it too much (as weekends are full of kid’s sport these days) but I’m very keen to try out different combos with the parallel and effects loops...I threw my son’s Seymour Duncan 805 overdrive in there on a whim and it works very well with the blend. I’d like to try a compressor in the loop also. I might add that it’s very quiet with my rig.
So, the Simplifier has turned up (thanks @Dsmnoisemaker ) & I've quickly got it on my board to see what it can do.
It arrived super quickly & Dan was good enough to do all the customs paperwork properly (unlike a few I could mention), so didn't get slapped with a big customs fee. Its the little details...
As a bit of back-story, I already own the OCSD & Mini's. I have a stereo-output bass, which means sometimes I need to double-up on pedals.
The OCSD is the firm favourite so far, simply for the extra control it affords. I find my Mini a little delicate - if I tap where the 'resonance' control is, it seems to cut in & out. Its a great device, but it concerned my a little bit as the Bass Simplifier is a LOT in a very compact package.
It is surprisingly small - with all the patch cables plugged in, it is still smaller than a Darkglass B7K footprint. About the same size at the 4-control TC Spark.
I've only spent one evening playing through it so far & already find it removes the need for a dedicated pre, any other cab-sim & the bonus of the parallel wet/dry dial coupled with LPF switch allows some really nice sonic layering (dirt or compression - whatever is needed).
Currently there is a @Darkglass B7K & SuperSymmetry, also an @Azure Skies PowerStage in the pre-loop & I'll be putting a @Crowella Animated in the parallel-loop very soon...
I noticed that Dan suggested that if you want a different pre-sound, putting one in the pre-amp effects loop is recommended - so you don't have to use the Ampeg-ish onboard controls. Maybe a Jule Amps Simone would work...
I'm very, very impressed.
It arrived super quickly & Dan was good enough to do all the customs paperwork properly (unlike a few I could mention), so didn't get slapped with a big customs fee. Its the little details...
As a bit of back-story, I already own the OCSD & Mini's. I have a stereo-output bass, which means sometimes I need to double-up on pedals.
The OCSD is the firm favourite so far, simply for the extra control it affords. I find my Mini a little delicate - if I tap where the 'resonance' control is, it seems to cut in & out. Its a great device, but it concerned my a little bit as the Bass Simplifier is a LOT in a very compact package.
It is surprisingly small - with all the patch cables plugged in, it is still smaller than a Darkglass B7K footprint. About the same size at the 4-control TC Spark.
I've only spent one evening playing through it so far & already find it removes the need for a dedicated pre, any other cab-sim & the bonus of the parallel wet/dry dial coupled with LPF switch allows some really nice sonic layering (dirt or compression - whatever is needed).
Currently there is a @Darkglass B7K & SuperSymmetry, also an @Azure Skies PowerStage in the pre-loop & I'll be putting a @Crowella Animated in the parallel-loop very soon...
I noticed that Dan suggested that if you want a different pre-sound, putting one in the pre-amp effects loop is recommended - so you don't have to use the Ampeg-ish onboard controls. Maybe a Jule Amps Simone would work...
I'm very, very impressed.
Really looking at this to either run with my SLO(one through the others loop) or to completely replace it.
The SLO seems like a great bit of gear - I would put it in the pre-amp loop & get the best of both worlds.
I was thinking about this last night. I'm having a hard time justifying the SLO(already have), a Broughton Studio One(already have), and a Bass Station.
I remember the PM. Lol Just haven't made a decision yet. I can imagine the tones with all three already tho....I can “help” you with that SO...
From everything I’ve read, it’s sounds like the SLO’s IR’s aren’t the best out there. There is something to be said for the DSM approach of more physical control. Being able to very quickly adjust the resonance to the room (or IEM’s) is very handy.
The Bass Station’s ace is the parallel processing though in a tiny format. Do you have pedals that need separating (like a drive or compressor without a decent blend)?
I think it’s time to let Kvek take the Broughton off your hands
I agree, the DSM analog approach has given me much better results than most else. This is the biggest contributor to my consideration of the Bass Station.From everything I’ve read, it’s sounds like the SLO’s IR’s aren’t the best out there. There is something to be said for the DSM approach of more physical control. Being able to very quickly adjust the resonance to the room (or IEM’s) is very handy.
The Bass Station’s ace is the parallel processing though in a tiny format. Do you have pedals that need separating (like a drive or compressor without a decent blend)?
I think it’s time to let Kvek take the Broughton off your hands
Should be here Tuesday. Let's see what stays on the board.
First time plugged has left me a bit underwhelmed. Hope to spend more time with it soon. Maybe it’ll get better.
How are you setting yours that is giving you success?
How are you setting yours that is giving you success?
What were you looking to use the pedal for? Were you thinking as a pre-amp mainly, or do you have a need it for parallel processing & cab-sim?
I didn't buy this for the pre-amp - its all about the adjustable cab-sim & parallel loop for me, in such a small form.
The image below shows settings I'm currently using - almost no EQ & I don't really want any gain 'colour', as I'm completely happy with the 'clean' tone generated by the pedals in the pre-amp loop (PowerStage & SuperSymmetry). I'm thinking about purchasing a Jule Amp Simone for the pre-loop in the future.
The parallel loop is for bigger dirt - @Crowella Animated (superb pedal!) & the B7K. Yes, both have blends already, but I've found putting them in parallel allows much better control. I also have a few unweildy pedals, such as a Russian Black Muff Pi, which will end up in here too.
The TC Spark is only for a Piezo output I have from my stereo bass - I just blend in some to the main sound via the SFX Splitter/Mixer.
If the @Dsmnoisemaker Bass Station switches are hard to see, I'm using the Modern > 4x10 vented > adjusting the LPF to whatever suits the dirt.
Yeah, I don't think the first priority for the Simplifier is to be a preamp pedal. That said, it is competent. I've used it live as my preamp. Trick is to work the blend dials, not leave the preamp set all the way dry.
Really just wanting the cabsim on it. I have the SVT preamp covered with my SV-Pre when I need it. Was really hoping to find better, or at least comparable, cabsim sounds that could be more easily changed as needed, than the IR's I had found for my Shift-Line Olympic. So far the only useable settings I have found are modern and the 8x10. The 1x15 and 4x10 just seem lacking. Not sure what, but something sounds off with them. But like I said, I have spent only a small amount of time with it.
As of now, I am fully bypassing the preamp and just using the cabsim part of the Simplifier.
I have an OCSD. It's almost twice as big as the Simplifier and it's bigger than I want for the purpose I have in mind.
