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I’m so lost in this preamp di world :(

PeaveyPlayer

PeaveyPlayer

Supporting Member
Jul 15, 2014
5,327
4,876
Winnipeg, Manitoba
#1
Trying to figure what preamp di I want and honestly I’m so lost …

I had an Aguilar tone hammer DI, while I do have a DB680. I wasn’t to attached to it… sold it an ended up trying a Ashdown 12band EQ but was way to noisy! And my bass couldn’t even clip it which was odd but


Anyways here’s what I’m looking for:

Clean but strong enough to push a power amp
Not noisy

Ive been looking at the
Mesa Subway DI
genz eq
Trace transit B
spectra comp
trickfish minnow
Plex?
MXR M80/M81

Diy??

Amp wise- the only amp I’ve ever been happy with was/ is my Swr Marcus Miller and currently my db680

there’s way to many options !
 
#3
If I may muddy the waters further, you might also consider the many offerings from Tech 21 NYC. I’ve settled on their Para Driver myself. I generally like MXR, but that particular preamp/DI didn’t do it for me—it sounded good clean, but I found the distortion harsh and the fixed 3-band EQ limiting. If you want clean and scooped, though, you might like it. Good luck :thumbsup:
 
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#4
Riff Ranger said:
If I may muddy the waters further, you might also consider the many offerings from Tech 21 NYC. I’ve settled on their Para Driver myself. I generally like MXR, but that particular preamp/DI didn’t do it for me—it sounded good clean, but I found the distortion harsh and the fixed 3-band EQ limiting. If you want clean and scooped, though, you might like it. Good luck :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Wasn’t a fan of scooped or distortion!
That’s why the MXR81 was also in my eyes
 
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#5
What about the tone hammer made you get rid of it?

The only one I’ve owned from your list (besides the tone hammer) is the Mesa subway +

I think the tone hammer is a great box but it takes a bit to figure it out. The controls are very interactive and not always in the most intuitive way. But lots of great sounds hiding inside.

the subway+ is a very versatile box, sounds great, loaded with features. Very well thought out. Definitely worth getting the “plus” version over the standard.
 
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#6
PeaveyPlayer said:
Wasn’t a fan of scooped or distortion!
That’s why the MXR81 was also in my eyes
Click to expand...
Ah, I read that you liked a Marcus Miller amp and thought you wanted scooped.

To be perfectly clear, the MXR I had didn’t automatically scoop things on the clean channel; it had a “character” switch that kicked in a curve I can only describe as scooped when engaged in the clean channel; boosting the mids and engaging the character switch sounded pretty good as I recall; it seemed like a well-targeted and not-ridiculous scoop that could work for a number of players. That “character” switch automatically engaged on the distortion channel; between that and the harsh nature of the distortion at any setting of the knob, it just wasn’t doing it for me. If you’re looking for something clean, basic, built like a tank, and affordable, the MXR would do the job (though the distortion section would eat up pedal board real estate); but unless you like the character of the distortion, I can’t really recommend it.
 
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#7
PeaveyPlayer said:
Mesa Subway DI
Click to expand...

never-enough said:
subway+ is a very versatile box, sounds great, loaded with features. Very well thought out. Definitely worth getting the “plus” version
Click to expand...
Somehow I missed this one in the original post. If I had a dedicated bass overdrive pedal I liked, and if I didn’t also regularly use my preamp/DI for guitar, I would probably go this route. The preamp in the Subway D-800+ seems just about perfect to me: loads of options, but incredibly intuitive for those comfortable with semiparametric EQs. If you don’t want overdrive or distortion from the unit, you’re golden.
 
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#8
Laney Digbeth Pre. Flexible EQ, strong tube sim overdrive, useful connectivity and foot switching, excellent form factor/function and great bang for buck. Check out the reviews on YT. very pleased with mine, for about half the price of the the Tech 21 VT Bass DI!
A35DD58E-194D-4757-8FC1-9B98A062380E.jpeg
 
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#11
Personally, I’ve discovered that the new EBS Stanley Clarke preamp suits my needs well. It has most of the features of the Grace Designs FeliX at half the price and the option for a parallel effects loop means that I’ll never lose my low end regardless of what I’m running in my signal chain. Its perfect for doubling even if it’s a little sterile. Of course, if you’re looking to add “flavor” that’s what other toys are for.
 
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#12
"Clean, not noisy, and strong enough to push a power amp"

Out of your list, I know the Mesa Subway DI can do everything you want, but the MXR M80/81 CANNOT do that. The MXR M81 is a very clean EQ pedal that works beautifully, but is designed to send an XLR signal out of it, not drive a power amp. The MXR M80 is 2 channel preamp with a voiced clean tone and distortion channel. I don't recommend the M80 for your needs. The clean channel is OK, but not versatile.

Double check the manuals for EACH product and find out which ones can actually push a power amp correctly. The Plex might be able to, but I am not familiar with that one.
 
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#13
Hoyt said:
Personally, I’ve discovered that the new EBS Stanley Clarke preamp suits my needs well. It has most of the features of the Grace Designs FeliX at half the price and the option for a parallel effects loop means that I’ll never lose my low end regardless of what I’m running in my signal chain. Its perfect for doubling even if it’s a little sterile. Of course, if you’re looking to add “flavor” that’s what other toys are for.
Click to expand...
I forgot to add that it pushes my Crest Prolite 2.0 very cleanly and nice.
 
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#14
Don't rule out Darkglass. I had the opportunity to try out the Mesa Subway and the Darkglass microtubes B7K ultra v2 at home head to head and for my needs and tastes the Darkglass won out easily. It has great clarity and tone, as well as a full range eq. I love the fact that with the aux in and headphone out I can use this as a stand alone quiet practice. I don't use the overdrive much, as I am a jazzer, but from what I can tell it's decent and a lot of people like it.
 
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#16
Why do you want a preamp? What is the outcome?

This question from someone who owns about 20. I use them for recording sometimes and for playing lower volume gig or rehearsal so my l’il amp sounds more like my big amp. In a perfect world my bass amp is 8-9 and the 12s are humming and a preamp pedal doesn’t help much. In a perfecter world my JCM800 is pre gain over master at 9/8 or dimed and ain’t a preamp or model in the world that comes close. So back on task, I buy preamps for those 3 reasons. What do a your desired outcome? Go from there.
 
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#17
Killing Floor said:
Why do you want a preamp? What is the outcome?

This question from someone who owns about 20. I use them for recording sometimes and for playing lower volume gig or rehearsal so my l’il amp sounds more like my big amp. In a perfect world my bass amp is 8-9 and the 12s are humming and a preamp pedal doesn’t help much. In a perfecter world my JCM800 is pre gain over master at 9/8 or dimed and ain’t a preamp or model in the world that comes close. So back on task, I buy preamps for those 3 reasons. What do a your desired outcome? Go from there.
Click to expand...

Eq and tone sculpting for passive basses/
Acting as an preamp I can pair with a poweramp
And recording applications
 
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