I've tried a few and the best I've found is an EBS MicroBass 3.
Except for an Ampeg rack-mount valve one, which is even better!
Except for an Ampeg rack-mount valve one, which is even better!
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I’m so lost in this preamp di world :(
- Thread starter PeaveyPlayer
- Start date
If you want clean and quiet tone/eq shaping for recording purposes, I'd recommend the Tech21 Q\Strip. Just a great para eq with high and low pass filters.
Here I am perfectly happy with my preamps and along comes the Digbeth. Demos, here I come!!
Edit: FWIW, I split my pres from the DI so I can mix and match if I need to. Have the Broughton Fliptop and SV-PRE, and used the Ampeg in the past. Into a Radial Pro or Countryman 85, into recording interface.
The Mesa Subway+ preamp is a terrific option. It has separate XLR outputs, each with their own volume controls, one for DI to the FOH console and another for driving a power amp. It's a really well-executed piece of gear that checks all of your boxes (clean, extremely quiet, strong enough to drive a power amp).
The Mesa Subway+ preamp is a terrific option. It has separate XLR outputs, each with their own volume controls, one for DI to the FOH console and another for driving a power amp. It's a really well-executed piece of gear that checks all of your boxes (clean, extremely quiet, strong enough to drive a power amp).
The Mesa Subway+ preamp is a terrific option. It has separate XLR outputs, each with their own volume controls, one for DI to the FOH console and another for driving a power amp. It's a really well-executed piece of gear that checks all of your boxes (clean, extremely quiet, strong enough to drive a power amp).
I went though a bunch before landing on what I have. What I learned for me was to be clear about what features were must have, and go from there. For me it was; built in mute, tuner out, variable hpf, built in clean boost, flexible eq without being too complicated, DO out with ground lift, balanced line out for power amp. Your list might be different, but that for me helped narrow it down.
I have a Trace Elliot transit B, it's a great sounding full featured pre amp. But much like your Ashdown 12 band pre, it's almost impossible to clip the input. It has a very low sensitivity or something. Even with a hot active bass the input volume needs to be almost on full to get a strong signal.
I have a Noble that's been very good to me for a lot of years. I've put well over 1,000 rowdy gigs through it and it still keeps ticking.
I'm a habitual knob-turner; a behavior that often took away from me actually enjoying playing the bass lol. The Noble has 2 knobs and that fixed me right up.
I'm a habitual knob-turner; a behavior that often took away from me actually enjoying playing the bass lol. The Noble has 2 knobs and that fixed me right up.
You are right to be confused. Everyone has their favorite, usually their current choice or GAS, these days preamp / DI combo boxes are all the rage. Some makers and users want a "best" all in one box, cramming in the most features while others go for quality, while that may fit the needs of numbers of players they will all leave most with some frustration. Truth told they are mostly decent choices, some better than others, cheap to astronomical. I'm old school and don't mind having to mix and match to get the best result.
Decide what general sound you want tube or solid state, amp or studio
Type of EQ 2,3,4 band or something more or different
Features distortion, compression, lpf/hpf, speaker SIM, aux in, headphone out
Active DI, passive DI, Jensen transformer or other
Power options 9v, phantom
Every week it seems there is a new even "besterester" choice to condrum us further.
I'm using a combinations of Sushi Box Underground Accelerator, Sushi Box Particle Accelerator, Southampton Ictineo, Sushi Box Finally Tube DI with Jensen or Radial JDI.
Decide what general sound you want tube or solid state, amp or studio
Type of EQ 2,3,4 band or something more or different
Features distortion, compression, lpf/hpf, speaker SIM, aux in, headphone out
Active DI, passive DI, Jensen transformer or other
Power options 9v, phantom
Every week it seems there is a new even "besterester" choice to condrum us further.
I'm using a combinations of Sushi Box Underground Accelerator, Sushi Box Particle Accelerator, Southampton Ictineo, Sushi Box Finally Tube DI with Jensen or Radial JDI.
This: Tube Preamp/DI Sound Samples — Noble, Oracle, P-15, Super Stack, REDDI, Tonecraft, Jule...
My favorites are all there.
My favorites are all there.
Plex will push a power amp, and has compression if you want to safely push it fairly hard (I am getting great sounding ss distortion into a behringer 3000 this way)
But there is some hiss with high output and some added with compression. It is not terrible, and its mostly around 7.5khz (The behringers overly high set trebble.knob is pretty much a great hiss killer to boot, whereas the plex has a useful trebble set more around j bass peak)
Plex is very much a YMMV rather than a safe bet (been great for me).
But there is some hiss with high output and some added with compression. It is not terrible, and its mostly around 7.5khz (The behringers overly high set trebble.knob is pretty much a great hiss killer to boot, whereas the plex has a useful trebble set more around j bass peak)
Plex is very much a YMMV rather than a safe bet (been great for me).
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I've tried a bunch and settled on a Tech 21 VT Bass DI. Was not expecting it to sound as good as it does. Whisper quiet and a lot of tone sculpting capabilities.
I would just say that this complicated road is not needed.
An amplifier has a built in EQ, many basses have built in EQ, the fact that people see a need for another EQ between the bass and an amp, and before the Mixer's EQ is wild to me. How many EQs is too many? How many extra places to screw up gain staging does everyone need? How many distractions from playing the songs is enough?
Who is this preamp supposed to benefit? you? the band? the audience?
An amplifier has a built in EQ, many basses have built in EQ, the fact that people see a need for another EQ between the bass and an amp, and before the Mixer's EQ is wild to me. How many EQs is too many? How many extra places to screw up gain staging does everyone need? How many distractions from playing the songs is enough?
Who is this preamp supposed to benefit? you? the band? the audience?
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Tech 21 2112 does most of what's needed in a preamp.If you are a fan of Mesa check out Master Effects Super 800 .And I can attest the Origin Effects Bassrigs are fantastic.We are in a Golden Age for bass preamps.
