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Hunting for the ideal preamp/amp sim

DaveParker39

DaveParker39

World Heavyweight Champion
Supporting Member
Feb 28, 2022
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#1
So I am looking for a pedal-format amp sim/preamp that I can use direct into the board or into the power section of a traditional bass amp. Everything from solo rehearsal to full band.

I use an always-on analogman juicer compressor, an OC-5 for old school octave tones, sometimes chorus, and sometimes an additional drive or fuzz pedal.

I play predominantly fingerstyle, sometimes with a pick for heavier rock parts, occasional slap. I would describe my styles as rock, heavy metal, motown, and contemporary/pop music. When I use my Axe-FX I typically model using an SVT type platform, if that information is useful at all.

Must haves:

1) DI (XLR) and 1/4" outs
2) Good quality speaker simulation and/or IR Loader for DI (XLR), optional for 1/4"
3) natural, warm overdrive (not overly harsh, fizzy, or mud)
4) sounds good with a variety of basses
5) plays nice with pedals
6) can serve all the functions of an amp for tonal purposes (to be amplified by a PA or recorded directly)

Nice to haves:

1) Footswitchable overdrive
2) Not super expensive... if the answer is a $500 answer I will (begrudgingly) consider it, but I'd prefer something more affordable

Things I have already tried and didn't like:

1) Tech 21 VT Bass DI - Not bad, we're on the right track, but I found it didn't play as nicely with external pedals
2) Ampeg SGT-DI- Vary harsh drive tone I found unusable
3) Tech 21 Fly Rig- I liked the external effects but felt the core amp tone was harsh.

Things on my interest list that I haven't tried yet:
1) Origin Effects Bassrig Super Vintage - sounds good in clips, no footswitchable drive but I imagine I would dial in a core "edge of breakup" tone and add a boost up front for more dirt. More than I want to spend.
2) Darkglass Microtubes B7K Ultra- has everything on paper, just not sure if it is versatile? Also a little more than I want to spend.
3) Darkglass Vintage Ultra- same as B7k, just wondering if this one would have more flexibility for non-heavy playing

Any thoughts/suggestions?
 
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#2
DaveParker39 said:
So I am looking for a pedal-format amp sim/preamp that I can use direct into the board or into the power section of a traditional bass amp. Everything from solo rehearsal to full band.

I use an always-on analogman juicer compressor, an OC-5 for old school octave tones, sometimes chorus, and sometimes an additional drive or fuzz pedal.

I play predominantly fingerstyle, sometimes with a pick for heavier rock parts, occasional slap. I would describe my styles as rock, heavy metal, motown, and contemporary/pop music. When I use my Axe-FX I typically model using an SVT type platform, if that information is useful at all.

Must haves:

1) DI and 1/4" outs
2) Good quality speaker simulation and/or IR Loader
3) natural, warm overdrive (not overly harsh, fizzy, or mud)
4) sounds good with a variety of basses
5) plays nice with pedals
6) can serve all the functions of an amp for tonal purposes (to be amplified by a PA or recorded directly)

Nice to haves:

1) Footswitchable overdrive
2) Not super expensive... if the answer is a $500 answer I will (begrudgingly) consider it, but I'd prefer something more affordable

Things I have already tried:

1) Tech 21 VT Bass DI - Not bad, we're on the right track, but I found it didn't play as nicely with external pedals
2) Ampeg SGT-DI- Vary harsh drive tone I found unusable
3) Tech 21 Fly Rig- I liked the external effects but felt the core amp tone was harsh.

Any thoughts/suggestions?
Click to expand...
Have you tried Two Notes products? ReVolt Bass (analog preamp + cab sim) or Opus (digital amp & cab sim)
 
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#5
Agular Tone Hammer Preamp V1 ticks almost all of the boxes, while being an analog preamp.
Main flaws: speaker sim is on only when OD is on, and switching OD on introduces big boost in signal. Ideally, you should use it as a low to medium always-on OD, and that's where it shines.
The rest is very good: it sounded great with any bass guitar I plugged in; EQ controls are all that I need (and nothing too much), parametric mid works great, OD is very good, everything is good quality (XLR out, switches). There is a reason why it's highly regarded on this forum.
I haven't used V2, but I don't see it praised as much.
 
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#6
gtirard said:
Have you tried Two Notes products? ReVolt Bass (analog preamp + cab sim) or Opus (digital amp & cab sim)
Click to expand...

I might be interested in the Opus. I downloaded a free demo of their Genome software for my DAW and decided to buy the full license based on my experience. I considered getting the Opus since it includes a Genome license, but I mainly needed the software.

That said, if the Opus sound is similar to the Genome, it should be good and have enough variety for the request here. The $299 price is in line with other devices being considered. The question would be how easily the OP can navigate the Two Notes two knob interface. It seems a little tricky for adjusting in a live setting. I assume most users tweak presets with the app at home and not at a gig.
 
#7
I should add that the Genome deciding factor for me was the sound with my Bass VI and the guitar amps and cabs. The BDDI V2 I use sounds pretty similar to the bass sounds I liked most in Genome so I could’ve just kept using the BDDI. I also considered the SansAmp PSA 2 for bass and Bass VI sounds. It might be worth a look for the request here. I see the Tech 21 box mentioned in the OP didn’t work well with pedals, so this could have the same issue. I don’t have problems with the sounds I get running fuzzes into my BDDI.
 
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#8
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#9
Does the inexpensive part and ticks every box, it is the NUX MLD NBP5. Needs a Windows or Mac PC to add your own IRs and change what is currently being used and to adjust the DI and headphone level. However if you have android, one of the members here has created an app. Yep you can enable the DI on the XLR only or on the 1/4 or both has a pass through. Preamp is simple TMB with sweepable frequency and they have 3 models also changeable via app, based on Aguilar, Nordstrand and their own. IR can be on even if preamp is bypassed, so can just be an IR loader at the very least OD is mild and bleandable. Typical NUX quality. The 8 built in IRs cannot be over ridden but you can edit the HPF and LPF frequencies. You have 8 additional slots for your own IRs. --


I also have a copy of the DSM simplifier bass station. I believe this may have been the supplier of the original boards, as the sound and output level is the same as the OG. It maybe the same board,

Analog cab SIM and only one preamp Ampeg CL possibly but more of an approximation. It has the best routing options, 2 XLRs for bypass and affected signal, 2 FX loops and some flexibility with the mic positions, OG is 350 but the copy is 99. You cannot engaged or disengage the OD, you can just blend in what you need.

I use a Bergantino IP310 which is really an FR/FR powered speaker or through my Acoustic Image heads and of course direct to DAW or FOH


1767287320483.png

This is the copy of the DSM Humboldt Bass Station that I have. No computer needed.
 
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#10
Also the UAD Apollo interfaces are coming down in price, If you are lucky someone may already have an Ampeg or GK oe Aguilar emulation. I have used mine in gigs using a power amp or powered speaker amplification. I see them as cheap as 150. A unison mode plugin will not need a PC connection and those bass amp plugins usually are. This is definitely an out of the box xolution, but their plugins and IRs are top notch, Of course you have limited control without a PC but if you dialed it in, you really do not need to adjust anything. I have used this before and FOH love it. They are also fantastic interfaces for your DAW and durable.
 
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#12
Another +1 for Opus. You can do a trial run of Genome which is Two Notes software suite. The preamp and power amp simulations perform identically in pedal format so if you like what you’re hearing, you can get that in Opus. You need a little bit of desktop interaction to load up new cabinets or download firmware but otherwise the entirety of Opus can be handled on the LED screen or over bluetooth with the app. I was super adverse to going digital but the app is pretty intuitive and latency is <6ms (and can go as low as 2.2ms).
 
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#13
NUX MLD and Two Notes Opus were the first to come to mind. The Starlifter model on the MLD is legit and the Opus has killer preamp/cab models. Never tried the Simplifier, but I've been wanting one for a while (not that I meed it). If your pockets felt a little deeper, a used HX Stomp is a one-stop-shop (even without the XLR, sounds amazing straight into the FOH). Lots of good options mentioned here. Good luck with your preamp journey and let us know what you end up with!
 
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#14
Maybe an IR modeler would work?

I have not delved into the world of IRs or modeling my own amps, but the ToneX one pedal looks pretty cool and is competitively priced and has what looks like decent app support. I don’t own one, but I’ve been tempted more than once.

I have no connection with the company.

It has a bunch of other cool features and for the DI part, you could use a DIM stick which is super small, or could could combine it with your BDDI
 
#16
I've tried a LOT of stuff over the years, from Tech 21 to Ampeg, BOSS, and you name it. In the end, the best piece of gear I've owned is a SWR Interstellar Overdrive preamp. It does everything you want aside from a speaker emulator, but it does have a speaker out that pushes 5W or so. It's my go-to pre for recording and live. Its the only pre I know of that actually has power tubes in the circuit, not just preamp tubes. Otherwise, I also have a V1 Aguilar Tone Hammer pre on my pedalboard. It is a fine piece of gear as well. The distortion circuit is pretty useless IMO, but you can easily get a warm, phat overdrive for always-on use.
 
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#17
DaveParker39 said:
So I am looking for a pedal-format amp sim/preamp that I can use direct into the board or into the power section of a traditional bass amp. Everything from solo rehearsal to full band.

I use an always-on analogman juicer compressor, an OC-5 for old school octave tones, sometimes chorus, and sometimes an additional drive or fuzz pedal.

I play predominantly fingerstyle, sometimes with a pick for heavier rock parts, occasional slap. I would describe my styles as rock, heavy metal, motown, and contemporary/pop music. When I use my Axe-FX I typically model using an SVT type platform, if that information is useful at all.

Must haves:

1) DI (XLR) and 1/4" outs
2) Good quality speaker simulation and/or IR Loader for DI (XLR), optional for 1/4"
3) natural, warm overdrive (not overly harsh, fizzy, or mud)
4) sounds good with a variety of basses
5) plays nice with pedals
6) can serve all the functions of an amp for tonal purposes (to be amplified by a PA or recorded directly)

Nice to haves:

1) Footswitchable overdrive
2) Not super expensive... if the answer is a $500 answer I will (begrudgingly) consider it, but I'd prefer something more affordable

Things I have already tried and didn't like:

1) Tech 21 VT Bass DI - Not bad, we're on the right track, but I found it didn't play as nicely with external pedals
2) Ampeg SGT-DI- Vary harsh drive tone I found unusable
3) Tech 21 Fly Rig- I liked the external effects but felt the core amp tone was harsh.

Things on my interest list that I haven't tried yet:
1) Origin Effects Bassrig Super Vintage - sounds good in clips, no footswitchable drive but I imagine I would dial in a core "edge of breakup" tone and add a boost up front for more dirt. More than I want to spend.
2) Darkglass Microtubes B7K Ultra- has everything on paper, just not sure if it is versatile? Also a little more than I want to spend.
3) Darkglass Vintage Ultra- same as B7k, just wondering if this one would have more flexibility for non-heavy playing

Any thoughts/suggestions?
Click to expand...
I would try the darkglass b7k but also the vintage. You sound like you'd probably have an easier time with the vintage because it's made to be overall warmer in tone and less edgy and hi-fi. But I would also say if possible break this up into 2 pedals because sometimes you can get closer to the best of both worlds when you pair a really nice EQ and preamp flavor with the fuzz or overdrive. Case study for me is the GK Plex and Aguilar tone hammer. They can either sound killer solo or awesome together. I don't really use overdrive much but it'll sound good with the ags on. Also the Plex has a drive setting too that's pretty versatile because of the parameters as well as the compressor. Both are not cheap but it's basically shelved my other pedals because it sounds so nice. But I would definitely chain 2 if you can. All in 1 we have some cool options like Markbass, genzler, ebs, even TC spectra drive would be something in your wheelhouse. That one has a lot of customization. If not for the magic combo I settled on I'd still be using my spectra drive. All the ones I've mentioned have a di and technically are amp sims in the sense they all color your tone in different ways. I tend to look at pedals like mini amps. They all sound a little bit different and finding your sound takes some trial and error.
 
#18
I'm always chasing a wide range of tones, styles and basses and have yet to find a universal solution so reliance on my ever growing collection of magic boxes for recording. For live the closest I get is using a multieffect with a passive DI and single effects for specific needs. Lots of choices for Sims and IR but for me Zoom MS60B or MS60B+ is close enough, ymmv. The SVT model is pretty good but I'm no expert as I'm not a fan like most bass players are.

Since you mentioned SVT these are tasty choices.
www.mastereffectspedals.com

Super Three Hundred | Ampeg SVT in a box for Bass | Master Effects

The Super Three Hundred pedal puts the classic 300 Watt Ampeg SVT tone on your pedalboard without having to use a rare and heavy 40+ year old amplifier with an 8x10 speaker cabinet.
www.mastereffectspedals.com www.mastereffectspedals.com
 
#19
DaveParker39 said:
2) Darkglass Microtubes B7K Ultra- has everything on paper, just not sure if it is versatile? Also a little more than I want to spend.
3) Darkglass Vintage Ultra- same as B7k, just wondering if this one would have more flexibility for non-heavy playing
Click to expand...

Microtubes Infinity might be worth a look. You get the B7K and VMT along with the X and compression. New ones will blow your budget but there’s used ones out there around $400, which is still high but might be worth the price.
 
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#20
Aguilar ToneHammer V1. OR - if you can find it, an EBS ValveDrive with the XLR out. OR - an Ampeg SVT-DI or its newer replacement iteration, the KhanDI. You won't need or want a cabinet simulator if you have either of those. Cab sims, try as I may, never sounded right (or good) to me even direct. But I like a tube DI (or a good solid state approximation) DI and never have relied on a cabinet as part of my sound that I needed to chase.
 
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