- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,064
- 5
- 221,109
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Most players find the driver first is much more useful, that way the DI out is post drive.
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Genzler Magellan Pre... looks tasty
- Thread starter ThinCrappyTone2
- Start date
Thing I don't like about using the headphone for a tuner out is there is no easy way to mute your signal while tuning from going to the DI (& FOH). I believe mute button mutes everything...I don’t think it’s in the manual, I just assumed that an output able to drive headphones could also drive a tuner (Peterson Strobo + HD in my case, can’t guarantee it’ll work for all)
You are correct, there is no output from the headphone jack with mute engaged. Not a perfect solution, but it works with my setup.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,064
- 5
- 221,109
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Generally, it's expected that the tuner will be placed before the preamp on the pedalboard, and the tuner's mute function would duplicate this feature if included on the preamp.
I wouldn't do it my way live without another way of muting, but it works on my home/recording board.
I don't want my tuner in the signal chain. Maybe it sucks tone, maybe it doesn't, but I still want it off to the side. Using the Magellan Pre, I actually sete up a Carl Martin stereo chorus to create a second signal path where I have a backup Sadowsky Preamp (has a 9V battery too, so it can be there even if my Cioks fails). That preamp has a tuner output on it, though I really only play through the Magellan since I got it. I just mute the Magellan to tune.
Plugging into our band's PA, the signal path here is Compressor > More (2x tubes) > Magellan > Cab M (typically with an Ampeg or Eden cab sim), pretty straightforward really -- like a tube amp with a compressor knob! The sound is always impeccable and reliable.
Plugging into our band's PA, the signal path here is Compressor > More (2x tubes) > Magellan > Cab M (typically with an Ampeg or Eden cab sim), pretty straightforward really -- like a tube amp with a compressor knob! The sound is always impeccable and reliable.
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I used to be a Genz-Benz user, back in the early 2010’s. NeoPak 3.5 head, 212 Neo Cab…. Loved it.
Anyway, my main preamp nowadays is a SansAmp BDDI V2 and while I like the way it sounds, sometimes I wish I could get a more …. “Classic” tone out of my Pbass, which gets quite colored by the BDDI. More and more I’ve been playing with the Blend knob no more than 9 o’clock, in order to keep the natural Pbass tone out of my Pbass (I play mostly with a pick). And when I play with fingers, I feel like the SansAmp tends to get overdriven too much with my usual “pick” settings.
I’m wondering if the Magellan Pre could be a good alternative….
Even if I’m looking for a tradition Pbass tone, I like my drive every now and again, so how does it play with overdrives in front of it? Do you reckon that it can do without a can sim if using an overdrive? Most likely with Contour B I assume?
Anyway, my main preamp nowadays is a SansAmp BDDI V2 and while I like the way it sounds, sometimes I wish I could get a more …. “Classic” tone out of my Pbass, which gets quite colored by the BDDI. More and more I’ve been playing with the Blend knob no more than 9 o’clock, in order to keep the natural Pbass tone out of my Pbass (I play mostly with a pick). And when I play with fingers, I feel like the SansAmp tends to get overdriven too much with my usual “pick” settings.
I’m wondering if the Magellan Pre could be a good alternative….
Even if I’m looking for a tradition Pbass tone, I like my drive every now and again, so how does it play with overdrives in front of it? Do you reckon that it can do without a can sim if using an overdrive? Most likely with Contour B I assume?
I derive my dirt from DCX Bass, MBD3, on the board with Magellan Pre-amp it plays fabulously with them also with Calamity, Carcosa & SubSpace. Now I'm not using a pure Pbass a Charvel PJ IV which has a.hot pickup but it delivers IMHO a Fantastic tone and feel. I went in thinking contour B would be my favorite but contour A is used 97% of the time no matter which bass I use.
Thanks. I assume that the curve of the Contours can be tweaked with the EQ anyway, right?
I also use the DCX for drive…. Good to hear they work well together.
I also use the DCX for drive…. Good to hear they work well together.
The EQ is very flexible. I have all sorts of drives (and other effects) in front of mine, and no issues with any of them. The Magellan is very transparent.
So with the Magellan pre. I LOVE it’s DI like ive had tones on stage i was like blahh but the FOH comes a says they LOVE my tone and I think it’s all the magic of DI. Idk im learning more as I go. But I love how if I just give FOH the control of volume the flat signal eq seems to go great with whatever Pa I plug into. I sometimes mess around at home ab use the DI from head through my studio monitors to get a feel of what full range “Pa” speakers prob sound like. Im to much of a purist of tone to prov ever get rid of cabs fully “see Mike Gordon’s rumble pad” lol. Im sure thats been around. But I think Iems prob dont quite give you the tone an eveb if it’s just me hearing it i like hearing the tone I have. I also feel Pa speakers are getting better at handling Lows.
I do wonder about buying a solid bass mic like for thr kick pedal usually. An micn one of the cabs up. A blending the DI and mic signal. I got this once at a festival. I had no idea on out rider I just put DI> XLR done. They seen my rig ab wanted to mic the 1x15 i had. A man it was like the head of a small rocket looking mic. And im almost positive they used thr DI still, an it was like having IEms without needing them. Makes me want to look into this more as a way of getting “the bass” tone more to the house W/ fx> preamps> and all. Let the DI be the foundation a the micd cab be judt over it.
In theory idk maybe some of you more experienced players can tell me with thr bigger PAs and more production? That was one of our biggest bills playing at that festival and being outdoor im sure played mad diff I know I could hear me sssoo well. Like I thought maybe I was over doing it or the sound was ab I was burying all others but not from the feedback.
Any one have experience with this?
I do wonder about buying a solid bass mic like for thr kick pedal usually. An micn one of the cabs up. A blending the DI and mic signal. I got this once at a festival. I had no idea on out rider I just put DI> XLR done. They seen my rig ab wanted to mic the 1x15 i had. A man it was like the head of a small rocket looking mic. And im almost positive they used thr DI still, an it was like having IEms without needing them. Makes me want to look into this more as a way of getting “the bass” tone more to the house W/ fx> preamps> and all. Let the DI be the foundation a the micd cab be judt over it.
In theory idk maybe some of you more experienced players can tell me with thr bigger PAs and more production? That was one of our biggest bills playing at that festival and being outdoor im sure played mad diff I know I could hear me sssoo well. Like I thought maybe I was over doing it or the sound was ab I was burying all others but not from the feedback.
Any one have experience with this?
Calebmundy
Supporting Member
- Apr 5, 2007
- 1,135
- 819
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- Endorsing Artist: DNA Amplifiers, Lākland Basses
I think it takes overdrive beautifully. My starting point for a classic Motown/vintage/americana/rock n roll sound, I would set it flat, with contour B at about 10/11 o clock, and a slight boost to the mid with the freq set at noon/800hz. Pull out some of the treble knob if the drive is sounding harsh. Experiment with the A contour if you want a more modern sound.
For the points you made is why I LOVE the Magellan it’s so flexible itd why I wonder if I would like get the kinetic maybe ger pedal Version of Magellan or maybe adding another tubed sushi fx can get me there with just ger the closest to that pure tube goodness. Obvi it will never be exactly but thats thrown me for a loop is the tones from the cabs I have an thr DI FOH are always so diff.
I have a series I 1x15 array STL cab
And. 2x10
I have a Sushi Box More (2 tubes) running before the Magellan (which runs into a Cab M for amp and speaker sim). The sound through our PA is so perfect (all the time) that I don't miss not having an amp in that context.
Hi -
As I've said, I really love my Magellan Pre. Does anyone think I would have something to gain in tone quality/flexibility by using a really good EQ pedal? Like the Genzler, or Source Audio, or Empress MKII Deluxe ? Or am I just looking for ways to help keep the economy rolling?
As I've said, I really love my Magellan Pre. Does anyone think I would have something to gain in tone quality/flexibility by using a really good EQ pedal? Like the Genzler, or Source Audio, or Empress MKII Deluxe ? Or am I just looking for ways to help keep the economy rolling?
I’m all for keeping the economy rolling. The primary question is not easy to answer for someone else, though. With the HPF, the pair of “curve filters”, the sweeping mid and well-placed bass and treble controls, there is already a good deal of flexibility. It need hardly be said that the Magellan and Re/Q will play well together. I have an API LLX near the front of my main setup that has EQ points that fall in between those of the Magellan (the 70 and 100 Hz controls interact really well for me along with relatively aggressive HPF-ing), but if I had to manage with only the Magellan it would be no hardship.
TRUE EQ pedal no but something the Broughton RFE or Zerofive Audio LowRider or DCX Bass absolutely.
My gear situation is such that my basses far outclass my amp. Then again I've been a stay-at-home bassist for the past 20-odd years so no need for a big amp, and my SWR Workingman's 12 was okay-ish enough. Just wasn't getting any solid lows, without boominess, and the higher strings were just weak, no heft whatsoever - the dreaded Aural Enhancer dip.
Enter the Magellan Pre. Straight into the FX return on the SWR. Well, let's just say it a completely transformed my little rig. All the heft I could want, with contour B for more old-school sounds if I feel so inclined. I'll probably return to TI Jazz Rounds, as DR Fat Beams feel a little overweight now.
Brilliant piece of kit. Running it at 18V as my main bass runs fairly hot. Loving how you can turn up the bass against the HPF set higher. And headphones out for the win.
Enter the Magellan Pre. Straight into the FX return on the SWR. Well, let's just say it a completely transformed my little rig. All the heft I could want, with contour B for more old-school sounds if I feel so inclined. I'll probably return to TI Jazz Rounds, as DR Fat Beams feel a little overweight now.
Brilliant piece of kit. Running it at 18V as my main bass runs fairly hot. Loving how you can turn up the bass against the HPF set higher. And headphones out for the win.
