Favorite Bass Preamp

[RGerhart]

I'm gonna be that guy and say it:

Noble.

+1 on the Noble

But the best? Aguilar DB-680. Right away, as soon as I played it through my Accugroove Tri-112+, I heard the sound I'd been searching for.

 

[FugaziBomb]

Demeter VTBP-201

I love that preamp. I've heard people complaining about the EQ section on it not being very powerful, but I find the sweep of all the bands useful from 0 to dimed. It's hard to make the thing sound bad. I've got mine mated to a Mesa 2:Fifty on my bi-amp rig for mids/highs and the combo rules. The preamp is subtle enough to let the Mesa speak for itself, even though I am getting a little break-up from the front end of it. It's just such a killer pair, especially when I can get a little volume out of it.

 

[2saddleslab]

Ampeg SGT-DI. It's been glorious in the studio and will soon be part of my live rig.

 

[lug]

Old school here..SVT-IIP.

 

[JMarkD]

If you refer to stand alone preamps, I have three I like and they are all quite different.
Alembic FX-1 sometimes paired with an SF-2 Superfilter.
Aguilar Tonehammer preamp/DI
An old Groove Tubes Studio Series that others have mentioned.
All three provide great warmth with clarity which is my tone goal over all.

 

[Al Kraft]

Xotic Bass RC. So simple and makes your passive bass sound like a better version of itself. Adds detail and fullness, but never sounds hyped in any way. That into a JDI is all I use 99% of the time.

I should have mentioned that one in my previous post. As you pointed out does a wonderful job of bringing out what you already have in your instrument without changing or coloring it. I find it very helpful with passive basses as well. I use mine with my JDI too and it is a very complementary combination.

 

[CElton]

I have used the Aguilar Tone Hammer DI for years. Never let me down with passive or active instruments. Recently picked up an Origin Effects DCX. It is very good so far.

 

[smperry]

I don't know if I have a single favorite but standouts I've owned:
Demeter HBP-1
Demeter VTBP-201 (or whatever that model is)
Alembic F1-X
Arkham Oracle
Grace Designs Felix

 

[pepj]

I agree on the SWR400 pre stage...I have mine pretty level.
I like Demeter and am looking for an Aguilar rack model and maybe a Noble

I actually have used the TH pedal as a DI with EQ capability, because that is what is, to pleasing effect. On playback it works better than I thought when primarily I've plugged it in for an active DI.

 

[newfuture]

DIY tubepreamp. A SVT/ Marshall combination. Tube transformer balanced DI. Made it some 25 years ago, tried many preamps, but it stays.

Your mind, I like where it is at.

I have done the same by cloning the Ampeg SB12 preamp/eq and running it straight into a UTC o1 or o2 "ouncer" xfmr (have used both). One is standalone, the other uses the external power supply from a common Chinese tube mic (apex 460 et al.). They sound great and are a fairly easy build.

Currently building a stereo variation with the Alembic F2B preamp on one side and a modified James (to include mid-control) stack on the other.

 

[cnltb]

Glockenklang Bassart wasmy favourite 'bass' pre.

 

[vvvmmm]

View attachment 5432860

Ya know, this is a thread about pre's, and then ya gotta go and distract with that beautiful bass.

I mean, some people.

 

[dbmike]

I love that preamp. I've heard people complaining about the EQ section on it not being very powerful, but I find the sweep of all the bands useful from 0 to dimed. It's hard to make the thing sound bad. I've got mine mated to a Mesa 2:Fifty on my bi-amp rig for mids/highs and the combo rules. The preamp is subtle enough to let the Mesa speak for itself, even though I am getting a little break-up from the front end of it. It's just such a killer pair, especially when I can get a little volume out of it.

This. Every bass sounds distinct through it, but somehow just better.

 

[2saddleslab]

Ya know, this is a thread about pre's, and then ya gotta go and distract with that beautiful bass.

I mean, some people.

Yep, I'm that guy. It was the only pic I could find w/ the SGT-DI out of the packaging.





Really.

 

[GRichards]

Another shoutout for the Source Audio Bass Zio. Can’t get a bad sound out of it.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

What is your favorite bass preamp?

Hands down, an Eden WT-100 Navigator.

 

[rickwebb]

Tech21 VT

 

[J Wilson]

Either of the Demeters, or the Yamaha PB1, utterly solid state, but wonderful and bulletproof.

IF money was no object, the Avalon Design 737 Preamp/Optical Compressor. I played through one once, that's all it took.

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One of these days when my ship comes in . . . . this driving a couple powered Bag Ends. Better be a big ship . . . .

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I wouldn't waste my time on a pedal preamp into a good bass head.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Regarding standalone preamps it would be the Alembic F-1X (I had two of them). For a short while I owned an Aguilar DB659; it was pretty nice but I felt the EQ was pretty limited in the range of each band, however, I really like the flexibility of its effects loop.

I have borrowed other preamps to check out over the years (SWR Grand Prix and IOD, Demeter VTBP). Both of the SWRs were quite nice; the Demeter had same same issue (for me) as to the limited range of the EQ controls.

I also had a Universal Audio LA-610 Mk II. I liked the preamp very much, the compressor side not so much.

 

[Jeff Scott]

J Wilson's post reminded me that I borrowed a VT-737 for a while. I didn't buy it probably because it was more comprehensive that what I needed/wanted. If I was looking for something like that I'd consider this:

or most likely this, actually: