Help me choose a Preamp pedal?

[VanishingPoint]

What's up everyone? My wife recently bought me a Proco Rat 2 as a gift and it's got amazing grit, but what I really want to get into is a nice preamp pedal to fatten the tone of my Jazz. I've got some gift cards to burn, but I'm looking to stay under $200 and I've got my eye on a few. Unfortunately for me, the nearest Guitar Center is closed indefinitely from being damaged in a tornado and the only other music shop in town is a local place with a small number of effects. So I'm hoping to get a few opinions on a good preamp with not a lot of bells and whistles.

The main two I'm considering is 1) the MXR M81 Bass Preamp at $169 and 2) Earthquaker's Tone Job at $145. I've listened to tons of demos for both, though sadly haven't seen any for bass featuring the Tone Job. I've read the Tone Job works with both guitar and bass... Anyone have any experience with either? I'm also open to other options, if there's good enough reason.

 

[blindrabbit]

Aguilar Tone Hammer

 

[Bubby Brown]

The new bddi from tech21 with the added mid knob and mid select looks pretty cool for $9 extra. cant go wrong with a tone hammer either but it's a bit more then your budget new.

 

[Bubby Brown]

I don't have experience with the two pedals you listed but if you aren't looking for DI with your pick and want transparent tone shaping then a SA programmable eq pedal for tone shaping and a tc mojomojo pedal to kick a little dirt in. The two together should bring you in at or under budget new (the SA for 149 and the mojo mojo for 49).

 

[Jonny_Orange]

I have a MXR80 DI+ which I have used a lot and love. Most of my basses are active but the 3 band eq on the pedal does a great job of tone shaping. The M81 which I did consider looks a good option. I chose the M80 for the added distortion to save some space on my board.

 

[devnulljp]

Get an older v1 Bassbone and be done with it. Built like a tank, great DI, sounds fabulous. Cheap as chips now the v2 and OD versions are out.

 

[Bassie82]

Aguilar Tone Hammer

 

[GMC]

The MXR M81 is excellent. But also consider the Empress ParaEQ, which takes it to a whole different level.

 

[jcburn]

+1 for the MXR M80 DI+. Nice 3 band EQ (60hz, 800hz and 4khz if my memory serves me well), magic "color" button (which is essentially a well crafted mid scoop, with the ability to dial the mids back in via mid control), clean DI and separate distortion channel that (with the blend feature) can actually used as a 2nd clean channel if desired. Definitely aimed at a modern punchy sound and modern,gritty distortion.
Tone Hammer is a great suggestion too. Probably more versatile in the EQ department, however I disliked the overdrive (too dark and woolly for me) and the gain boost when engaging the AGS circuit is too much to be usable as a second channel...but still a great pre-amp.
I've never liked the Tech 21 Sansamp stuff.

 

[father of fires]

The new bddi from tech21 with the added mid knob and mid select looks pretty cool for $9 extra. cant go wrong with a tone hammer either but it's a bit more then your budget new.

The what?!?

 

[Bubby Brown]

The what?!?

 

[chumbo73]

I recently bought the MXR M81 and I love it.

DI sound great, you can add some punch and clarity and do whatever you want with the mids.

 

[Aqualung60]

I have to agree with the others on the Aguilar Tone Hammer.

 

[DavC]

you asked for a pre to 'fatten up your tone' ... as in EQ? or warmth .?

i've had the MX81 ... the pre/eq worked fine , i run passive basses/gtrs

but now i have a tube warmer ... Eden GlowPlug , which has a real tube ... no eq , just sweepable freq for dirt which makes it work very well with any instrument .

had a Tone Hammer ... very nice and ads some warmth


usually preamps are made to be clean ... as are eq's ...

 

[jwilson67]

I'm assuming they are GC gift cards? 2nd question is what kind of amp are you playing through? If fattening up your tone is what you want then you might actually be needing an EQ pedal and a compressor.

 

[jwilson67]

GC has this used: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

It's right by my work so I've seen it in person and it is pretty much mint condition. Here is the Ovnilab review - this might be what you're looking for. Diamond BCP-1

 

[MNAirHead]

MXR is very dependable...

 

[ThePresident777]

I like the Tech21 Blonde:

 

[BassikLee]

Yep, that's why the joyo american sound is so popular. It is effectively a clone of the T21 blonde.

 

[Doner Designs]

The MXR M81 is excellent. But also consider the Empress ParaEQ, which takes it to a whole different level.

I was just wondering to myself what people typically do with the usual "preamp pedals" that the tone controls on the amp and/or bass can't do just as well (unless stomp switching of the EQ is needed - maybe to accompany other pedals). Totally agree on the Empress for always on tone sculpting.

An OD/Distortion pedal with EQ I totally get but I don't really think of those as preamp pedals per se. In my mind those are effects pedals that allow you to dial in the right bass/treble mix to optimize the effect.