I don't get $400 preamp pedals ...

[micguy]

If you're particular (feel free to use the word "picky") and you're on a search for the sound that's in your head, and you want it to fit onto a reasonable sized board, every pedal has to earn its real estate. I've bought a lot of $100 to $200 pedals, and I have a decent setup that gets me what i want. I also have a shelf full of pedals that are almost (but not quite) what I wanted - took me a while to figure all that out. And we're not even talking about the ones I returned - nope, that's not it....

While I am a bit reticent to throw $400 at one pedal, if it was really the be all and end all - it did a couple of things very well to where I didn't ever need to buy another of that type, that one pedal would actually save me money compared to buying a bunch of cheaper pedals.

If there was a place where you could go and try all the pedals in creation, and just buy the ones you want, even if it was $1000 in air fare to get there and back, I'd still save money, even buying a few $400 pedals. Having to buy (and return) pedals that might be what you want (but mostly aren't) is a very inefficient process.

 

[micguy]

Ooh, now do healthcare!

You're going to die unless you give me half of your money. Yes, it will be painful.

 

[KidAmnesia]

Fwiw, an option that's helped me is separating the preamps from the DIs. Keeps it relatively affordable and I can mix and match preamps based on need. Very helpful when recording.

I'm using these preamps at different times:
Xotic RC Bass Booster
Sushi Box Slampegg X
Sushi Box Particle Accelerator mini
Broughton SV-PRE

And these DIs:
Countryman Type 85
Radial Pro

This set up also allows you to use fx pedals between the preamp and the DI wich can be useful in some contexts.

 

[WG Plum]

I sure like my Broughton pres, all three of them.

 

[Ken Morgan]

My mesa subway di+ was worth every penny.

absolutely

 

[ImTheOnlyOne]

So, I am looking for a pedal that can boost, EQ and maybe color the tone a bit, possibly also with a DI out - in other words, a "preamp pedal".

A perfectly fine boost pedal should cost $100 or less, if it's a boost with 3-band EQ maybe $150. A combined boost/overdrive pedal with EQ options or a DI box would be about the same.

But once the pedal is branded as a "preamp" pedal, it suddenly costs twice or more - why is that?

Unit67 is well under $400. Excellent pedal and does all that.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Hopefully you’ve never looked at Nobel

 

[Slade N]

So do you get different amps, basses and cabs over $400?

 

[Rojd]

My Shift Line Olympic IIIs is pretty darn nice.

My EBS ValveDrive DI is too.

 

[tbz]

I’m not clear I follow. I’m writing this while staring at my Beheinger BDI pedal. It was $35 shipped with tax iirc.

It’s a preamp pedal. It does all of the things you’ve listed.

As others have pointed out there are a lot of options sub-$200.

 

[higain617]

I have a Sunn Model T preamp that I run into a 100w tube power amp. It sounds close to the real deal, and was nowhere near $400.

 

[arepa_funk]

This set up also allows you to use fx pedals between the preamp and the DI wich can be useful in some contexts.

Great point! Haven't done that yet (except for a HPF) but def have to experiment with that.

 

[JonathanPDX]

So, I am looking for a bass that can boost EQ and maybe color the tone a bit.

A perfectly fine bass should cost $100 or less, if it's a boost with 3-band EQ maybe $150. A combined EQ + pickups with pickup options or a cool top wood would be about the same.

But once the bass is branded, it suddenly costs twice or more - why is that?

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Ooh, now do healthcare!

Got it...

I saw a big sign at the local hospital saying:
Labor Day Sale... Triplets Delivered for the price of Twins.

They also had some others specials...
Your surgery done on time or dinner is on us.
Two-for-One Colonoscopy - Bring a friend.
All labs free with any of these procedures... and there was a -Wheel of Surgery- you could spin to select which one you get.
I won a Bile duct stent.

Might not be what ya hoped for, but every little bit helps, eh?

 

[jbybj]

I’ve never understood this apparent obsession with money and costs. Take four crisp $100 bills, touch them, smell them, stare at them for as long as you like. What does that get you? Absolutely nothing. Now, trade two, three, or all four of those bills for a nice preamp. I guarantee you will get more joy from that device than you would ever get from the money. So why spend money on gear? Because we cherish joy.

 

[el murdoque]

I can get 90ish% of what I want from a whole bunch of affordable preamps.

It's that last 5-10% that gets spendy

This right here.

Get a used Sansamp for around 150. It'll bring you reliable quality.
You want to one-up that? It'll cost you.

 

[legalbass]

I’ve never understood this apparent obsession with money and costs. Take four crisp $100 bills, touch them, smell them, stare at them for as long as you like. What does that get you? Absolutely nothing. Now, trade two, three, or all four of those bills for a nice preamp. I guarantee you will get more joy from that device than you would ever get from the money. So why spend money on gear? Because we cherish joy.

Exactly. Save reasonably, and spend reasonably. $400 is not a hell of a lot of money in the grand scheme of life.

 

[commonplayer]

I just dropped $400+ on an Origin Effects bassrig recently. Im hoping to minimize my amp situation and get vintage svt tones. The cab sim/DI is also a nice perk. We’ll see if it stays in the rotation

 

[Hambone70]

Simple. Supply and demand. If it wasn’t worth $400 to anyone, it wouldn’t sell.

 

[Killing Floor]

That $400 preamp is $650 used on Reverb.
But if the box and sticker are missing it’s only $150.