Have a week to buy a Pre-amp

I'd say get a Tech21 VT bass pedal and a nice DI box. The VT can drive a power amp, and it's got the SVT tone in spades.

 

I thought I would never see you endorse a Tech21 product

While it is not likely to get SVT tone from any preamp (including SVP-CL. I have one), I would suggest checking out SWR. I especially like the IOD, because I was able to get a slight tube break-up sound while I had it. I also would suggest checking out Aguilar DB 659, which I like very much. What I am trying to say is that you should be able to find one of the discontinued good-old preamps (including SVP-CL) in your time frame.

Some people swear on Tech21 rackmount stuff, but I didn't find them to be "my thing"; whatever that means to you. I haven't tried the VT pedal and I am not interested in doing so.

Other than that, one of the mods opened a preamp comparison thread a while back. It's definitely worth checking out and I remember him liking BBE TMax. Other people would chime in on this. And of course there is the http://basstasters.com/

 

Me either... this is the first one that IMO does what it claims to in a satisfactory way. A bit noisy though.

 

Were it me... I'd stick with what you know - an older Ampeg preamp would fit the bill... I had one for years, liked the tone but hated the noise... but still, it sounded dandy...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ampeg-SVP-CL-Classic-Tube-Pre-Amp-VERY-NICE_W0QQitemZ160348184542QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item25557f1fde&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1240|293%3A1|294%3A50

 

I don't know I actually liked the sansamp rpm I have much more then the rbi. It does comp a pretty good SVT tone, but what I like more is that it has this nice sort of chainsaw grit.

 

The VT is only noisy when you crank the drive hard. I think it's very quiet on more normal settings, and it's no noisier than an SVT being cranked into the red. If you want true SVT sound in a small box, it will definitely do it.

I never tried to run it as a preamp, but it will work as a preamp, though you'd still have to get a DI if you're not micing. If I had a power amp rig, I could be tempted to using only it. I have some vintage Ampeg stuff but I still use the VT with it, and I use it a lot by itself when I record.

 

another vote for the VT Bass

 

Try the Tech21 RBI if you can. I've done A/B comparision with SVP-Pro preamp and it was a very one-sided battle. I ended up selling the SVP-Pro and buying Bassdriver DI programmable (RBI on stompbox format basically). It is not for everyone, but worth considering for you.

 

one of these maybe: http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/ART-Tube-MP-Studio-Mic-Preamp?sku=180581

 

If you can't get the ampeg in time, my "Suggestions" are
first:the Fender pre, followed by one of the Alembic preamps.

 

Tech 21 RPM hands down. Still may favorite preamp and I've owned a few (Ashdown RPM, Ampeg SVP-CL, SWR IOD, Aguilar DB659, Tech 21 RBI).

 

With the SVP-CL you will have to make sure it has the high output mod done. I also think I'd carry two. The VT pedal, you could probably get two shipped this week.

BOB

 

fwiw, I use a Yamaha poweramp/cabinet stack with the VT Bass as my tone shaper.

As mentioned previously, it will drive the poweramp and function as the preamp. IMHO, it doesn't do this well because I have to turn the level on the VT bass to full. Even then the signal seems a bit anemic to me.

I bought an inexpensive microphone preamp. Like this:

It sits on top of my poweramp.

This allows the VT bass to stay at a unity level (where on/off the bass level through the device is the same). I use the mic pre to raise the level to line level for the poweramp.
This works really well for me.

Again, the VT can do it alone, but unity is lost as you must run the level at full volume.



[edit to add] Someone mentioned the ART Tube MP earlier. I used to use one of those instead of the M-Audio. It worked fine, until I started having issues with the tube becoming unseated on a regular basis.

 

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=562436&highlight=preamp

Here's an SVP-Pro preamp in the classifieds right now. $375 shipped. Jump on it! Add $20 and have the seller ship it next day air.

/not affiliated with the seller.

 

You need to change the gain on the output stage. Jerrold has the info, I dont as I dont have the unit.

I meant to type SVP-CL as in preamp.....

BOB

 

http://www.google.com/cse?cx=018394770372758774523:kqdhmppenta&ie=UTF-8&q=SVP-CL&sa=Search

^^^ There's a good start ^^^