Favorite Bass Preamp

[Isaac_James]

I recently picked up a SansAmp Para Driver (sold my Fly Rig as I didn't use a lot of the other stuff on it) and I'm really loving it. It's very close to a Bass Driver but with an adjustable midrange that makes it much more versatile - it can cut or boost anywhere from 160Hz to 3kHz. That plus a blend knob means it works for just about anything I want.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

I run my Empress Para Deluxe II into the Sansamp

 

[Blues Bass 2]

The ones I had and gigged are my favorites . SansAmp RBI and Ampeg SVPCL . Don't have them anymore but still love them .
I also love the pre in my Genz Shuttle 6.0 and the pre in my PF 800 is fairly close to the SVP .

 

[pfschim]

I've been through a ton of preamps and my favorites have a Fender tone stack with a parametric EQ.

Rackmount? Fender TBP or Demeter HBP-1.

Floor/pedal? SIB Fatdrive is #1, followed closed by Sushibox UA and Master Effects Thespian (need to add a seperate parametric pedal though).

Non Fender tone stack - The Noble is first, followed by Audio Kitchen Fake Plastic Trees and Free The Tone Bass Blaster.

If you're looking for a good studio quality, you can't beat the Grace Designs ALiX.

Jack has said that the Noble tone stack is definitely Fender inspired. ..... just saying

 

[pfschim]

I enjoy my Noble above the rest. But I am perfectly happy with a VT Bass v2 or VT Deluxe. I also enjoy the flexibility of the pres in the Mesa Walkabout and WD800. I'm definitely a tube guy at heart.

 

[Hip_Pocket]

Im using the Millennia STT-1 but that probably doesn't count. Bass specific? Probably the Kern

 

[DaveParker39]

Idk probably one of the Sansamps.
I use my Rumble 800 preamp (post-amp/speaker sim DI) even if I have the amp volume all the way down, I just like it, but that's an amp.

 

[EvilJ]

Demeter HBP-1 and the built in one on my Trickfish rig.

 

[Pings Bass]

Whatever is in the console or interface

 

[Altitude]

I’ll half joke like @Al Kraft did; I like the preamp in my GK MBFusion head. But not totally joking, I’ve been taking that head to no-amp gigs without a cabinet and using it like a preamp/DI. It sounds that good.

I’m not sure there’s a pedal version of that preamp (the Plex has no tubes) and the head isn’t much larger than a pedal anyway.

 

[MynameisMe]

I love my Mesa Subway Pre/DI
My favorite for almost 6 years

I had one of these and regretted it after selling it. Very underrated.

 

[Evan J]

If simplicity and quality are your thing, I highly recommend the DCX bass. It doesn’t make bad noises.

I have tried a stupid amount of preamps with complicated EQs. And I wasted so much time tweaking. This is the perfect box if you want studio quality tone FAST. It’s like the Noble in that regard.

But if you like sitting and fiddling, some sort of para EQ will be your jam.

 

[Jeff Scott]

But if you like sitting and fiddling, some sort of para EQ will be your jam.

Thanks for reminding me that I've had two Furman PQ-3 preamps (1978 green-face, and a later black-face version). Both were excellent. To me, full parametric was never an issue.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I’ve owned quite a few different rack mountable tube preamps over the years. I’ve kept my two favorites:

A Demeter HBP-1 and a Jack Read Purity tube preamp.

I think I’ve owned my HBP-1 for about 20 years, and I still play through it frequently.

I also own a Tech 21 GED-2112 preamp, and IMHO, it’s fantastic.

 

[40Hz]

I’m an unapologetic preamp junkie.

My three preamp mainstays are:

• Alembic F-1X (classic Bassman)
• DiCosimo 360+ (Acoustic 360)
  
• Broughton Alex-1 Bax (B-15N)

These are run directly into a power amp. Usually a Crown XLS.

Others I use:

• Sushi Box Slampegg Bee (B-15)
• Lounsberry Rupert (bass Plexi)
  
• Barber Linden (B-15 on steroids)
• One Control Crimson (70s tube vibe)
• One Control Silver Peg (SVT)

These are either run into the front of an amp, or boosted if necessary, and then run into a power amp. About half the time I’ll be using a FoxFear Tweed 55 pedal power amp for lower volume situations.

 

[vvvmmm]

I really like the pre on the PF50t.

 

[rufus.K]

Tronographic Rusty Box

 

[Jugghaid]

Trace Elliot V-Type.

 

[moon-bass]

Jack has said that the Noble tone stack is definitely Fender inspired. ..... just saying

Do you know where he said that? I had heard that before, but never actually read it anywhere. The EQ on the Noble is shelving/active, while the Fender TMB is passive and interactive. Maybe inspired because of the simplicity (two knobs)? I'm just curious as to where this came from as IMO the two are not very much alike

 

[pepj]

And it depends what you want it to do...
My signals tend to be quite neutral so I really am not attracted to huge tone shaping capabilities..I've got the bass set up so it just a signal tweak, imv.
The SWR pre stage with the semi parametric is immensely capable of shifting your sound but I learnt early on not to go there.
Its a reason why I'm not a fan of John East pre..and the fact that Demeter is pretty subtle is a much appreciated thing.