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I need a preamp that....
- Thread starter two fingers
- Start date
I hesitate to bring this up for fear if sounding like a broken record, but a decent compressor that’s properly dialed in can cure a raft of ills when it comes to beefing up a signal, adding some punch, and balancing things out. A lot of things I used to try and tweak EQ settings just right for I’ll now do with a compressor, and sometimes a mild OD for a little extra sauce on top.
A Southampton Fifth Gear or Ictineo paired with a Keeley Bassist - or a Lounsberry Rupert teamed with a Ovnifx Smoothie - are two of the more potent combinations in my bag of tricks.
Sorry for further muddying up the waters.
Minor observation when it cones to that Ray thing: I’ve found the signature Stingray sound to be impossible to precisely duplicate with outboard gear. And believe me I tried. Filters, tilt EQ, graphic and parametric EQs, different preamps - the works. After which I reluctantly concluded it’s cheaper and more efficient to just get a Ray or one of its sister brands and call it a day if that's the tone and response you absolutely want. That or install an actual MM Ray pickup in the right position on the body to at least get you in the ballpark.
A Southampton Fifth Gear or Ictineo paired with a Keeley Bassist - or a Lounsberry Rupert teamed with a Ovnifx Smoothie - are two of the more potent combinations in my bag of tricks.
Sorry for further muddying up the waters.
Minor observation when it cones to that Ray thing: I’ve found the signature Stingray sound to be impossible to precisely duplicate with outboard gear. And believe me I tried. Filters, tilt EQ, graphic and parametric EQs, different preamps - the works. After which I reluctantly concluded it’s cheaper and more efficient to just get a Ray or one of its sister brands and call it a day if that's the tone and response you absolutely want. That or install an actual MM Ray pickup in the right position on the body to at least get you in the ballpark.
My Seymour Duncan Paranormal has pretty wide bass, mid and treble controls. 12dB at 30 Hz, 600 Hz and 5.2 kHz.
Works great with thin sounding Jazz with 70" pickups.
If you want something inexpensive and simple, but high-quality, this is it.
Works great with thin sounding Jazz with 70" pickups.
If you want something inexpensive and simple, but high-quality, this is it.
Up until your post, I thought the SCR-DI was pretty awesome...
... not sure what I was thinking... and what timing! Trash pick up is tomorrow!
I'm thanking you now, kinda sir!
Try an old Furman PQ-3 or 4
View some u-toob videos am the vast dynamic character capeabilities
Offers pre amp boost only of 3- band fully parametric An amazing tweakers toy
Eden Navigator - 3 bands of highly effective semi-parametric EQ and a decent compressor. I/O for days. Not a pedal but not too bad on the back. You should be able to get super clean example for about $350 on the used market. You don't need the foot pedal that comes with it, so that can save some money or widen your search for a unit.
The Tech21 Q-Strip looks very interesting but I have no personal experience with it. If I were to decide I needed that kind of eq again I'd probably check it out first.
The Tech21 Q-Strip looks very interesting but I have no personal experience with it. If I were to decide I needed that kind of eq again I'd probably check it out first.
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@two fingers if you do decide to go SpectraDrive, ping me. I'm looking at selling mine (again) because I don't currently *need* a pre/DI, though the spectracomp is high on my list thanks to the showing in the SD.
I had the Spectradrive for a few weeks. Very nice, very powerful tone, but not very versatile if EQ is what’s needed.
Another vote for the Q/strip. The most powerful EQ pedal ive ever used.
Another vote for the Q/strip. The most powerful EQ pedal ive ever used.
The Ampeg SCR/DI’s preamp circuitry and Ampeg’s Classic Preamp sounds like the preamp stage in an Ampeg BA series amplifier. That’s what it sounds like because that’s what it is. If that’s not your thing, or you just don’t like the Ampeg sound, then it’s not the preamp you want to use.
The Darkglass B7K is a totally different pedal that that struck me as more geared towards being an effect than a straight ahead preamp. And I was pretty disappointed with the one I had - and sold fairly quickly. Especially after all the rave things I heard about it. Which is not to say Darkglass “kinda sucks” to borrow your phrase. It’s just not a sound everybody will warm to. I myself wasn’t happy with it. But that’s me.
Good to have a lot of different choices.
I love the ampeg tone, ive never owned any other amps since ive started playing bass.. since ive added the b7k to my ampeg svt, it made the sound so much better.
Not arguing with you. I just wanted to point out that a B7K and a BA preamp circuit are two different things and a comparison between the two is kinda apples and oranges.
On a side note, always glad to meet a fellow Ampeg liker.
Bought my first (a used B-15N) back in 68-69 when I was just a kid. Still have it, and it’s still going strong. Wish I could say that about some of the other amps I’ve owned since then.Maybe it’s because a B-15 is what I cut my teeth on. But to this day, that signature Ampeg vibe through a CTS 15” is still what I think of as the perfect bass tone.
Like those DeBeers diamond ads used to say: “When the right one comes along, you’ll know.”
yes in deed my brother. ampeg is the only way to go. I am only 32 now been playing since I was 21, my first amp was ampeg b4r I think was the name. and a 410hlf ..the amp lasted me a long time as I got It used from a buddy who had it maybe 10 years,and it lasted me another 5 or so before I sold it to get my svt pro...and I traded my cab to a guy for a 810 fender pro cab. and man I tell you what that thing kicks a lot of air..Not arguing with you. I just wanted to point out that a B7K and a BA preamp circuit are two different things and a comparison between the two is kinda apples and oranges.
On a side note, always glad to meet a fellow Ampeg liker.
Maybe it’s because a B-15 is what I cut my teeth on. But to this day, that signature Ampeg vibe through a CTS 15” is still what I think of as the perfect bass tone.
Like those DeBeers diamond ads used to say: “When the right one comes along, you’ll know.”
