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Definitely! Too many choices!! Ahhh!!
I was disappointed with the Geddy Lee one since it didn't have a darn DI output, and It's like $200 and no Di?!?!?
It's a great pedal, but I feel like they missed out on not adding a DI. I'm just looking for a clean preamp since I just want to depend on my dirt pedals for the grit. But all the other preamp are great I just want to something that will fit with rest of my pedals on my metro 20 board. But thanks for the recommendations!!
That's what I'm hoping for, there's definitely way better preamps out there for sure, but I get to point of "Too many knobs" fatigue , I think this basic enough for me to achieve some decent tones!
While there's certainly no loss of choices as the owner of 10 preamps at present ( they're my thing, what can I say?) in my experience most preamps+DIs usually will set one back more than 200 bucks.I've seen used Tech 21, 2112 preamps for $250. used and that's not bad.At the mid point a Two Notes Le Bass about $350 and at the other end of the spectrum a Noble or Cave Man go for over a grand.The thing is once I found a preamp that gives the sound I love I can't imagine being without it.
Recently thinking about investing in one of these for select gigs. Not that I would or even have the capability to run it this way but can the M81 drive a powered speaker cabinet? Just curious more than anything.
I'd say so, I'd run it using its xlr out, and not the instrument out. It's a balanced output so you shouldn’t have many issues, it's also a really great preamp.
TUNER - HPF - COMPRESSOR WITH WET-DRY KNOB - M81 - OUT TO HOUSE.
That setup will give you super powers when it comes to providing a nice clean signal.
The thing I like about the M81 is that it has both input and output. Not all DI's have that...
I've owned the M81, so I can tell you from personal experience that my signal chain suggestion works. Not sure about the Wine Cellar DI. I think it's a Sansamp Clone? You could just use it instead of the M81 and save yourself some $$....
That setup will give you super powers when it comes to providing a nice clean signal.
The thing I like about the M81 is that it has both input and output. Not all DI's have that...
I've owned the M81, so I can tell you from personal experience that my signal chain suggestion works. Not sure about the Wine Cellar DI. I think it's a Sansamp Clone? You could just use it instead of the M81 and save yourself some $$....
I am a confirmed Euphonic Audio fan. I live in a small college town where I help out the young bassists get a MBOL sound out of their amplifiers. As such, I have steered many of them to EA rigs, which are small, light, and don’t turn a fully-carved upright bass into a Fender Precision.
With Euphonic Audio no longer being an option, I started looking around for preamp/power amp solutions. A friend ran a MXR M81 directly into a Crown XLS1002 power amp and gigged with a 20-piece big band. It drove the Crown amp perfectly with loads of headroom. The DI output was very clean, too.
Is it as transparent as the Euphonic Audio preamp section? No. Is it close? Yes.
Then I got to thinking: So many amplifiers these days are using Class D power amp modules, usually from ICEpower. The only difference between them is the preamp. By plugging an upright bass into the MXR M81 and running the MXR’s output into an amplifier’s Effects Return jack, you can completely bypass the “bass guitar” preamp of, for example, a Fender Rumble 100 and use the EQ on the MXR to drive the power amp module.
I just gave a workshop at Central Washington University a few days ago and did just that.
The upshot is that the MXR M81 CAN drive a powered speaker and can turn a “bass guitar amp” into an upright bass amp. Quite well, too!
The only thing the MXRM81 is missing is a Mute switch, so I built one that grounds out the input signal. Now a bassist can tune up without the signal going out to the amp or DI.
Thanks! Very helpful. Seems like this would be a good piece of gear to own. My intent would be to use during my bands hybrid acoustic/electric shows as a way to not use backline and go right into the board, with some of my signal going to my in ears and our monitors.
Way hpf do you have btw? My setup is TUNER - DIGITECH DROP - XOTIC SP - SANS AMP BD V2
I recently sold my m81 and I got myself a Sans amp BD v2, and honestly this thing is great. It has a bit more to it than the m81, after trying all three of those pedals myself (wine cellar - m81- sans amp) I gotta say that I recommend them all.
Preamp pedals are like OD pedals, they all have their own characteristics. I started on the WC (which I've also sold) but I would buy it again, probably as a spare in case anything happened. I actually really liked it as a first preamp, I think it's a really good intro for preamps.
The M81 for me was a significant upgrade, it was a really nice pedal, and I would also buy this one again, it never failed me, and honestly, the reason I sold it was that I had the opportunity to buy a Sans amp, and after trying its "V1" I was blown away.
But what preamp do you have now?
.
I have 2. My home practice setup:
TUNER - B1FOUR - SCR-DI
The Zoom B1Four has models for cab sim, HPF, LPF, a good variety of all kinds of meat and potatoes stuff. compression, overdrive, amp sim, fuzz, envelope, octave, reverb, etc...
It's plenty for any practice needs I may have.
For Chruch:
TUNER - LPF - COMPRESSOR - MAGELLAN
I have the New Genzler Magellan Preamp, with a Broughton LPF, and a 3-knob Becos compact compressor.
MAGELLAN Preamp/DI Pedal - Genzler Amplification
CompIQ MINI Pro Compressor Pedal for Bass & Guitar – BECOSFX
Low Pass Filter | Broughton Audio
I like the Magellan for many reasons; it has two contour curves that you can toggle with a foot switch, built in HPF, input and output level control. It's little, you can give the house a pre or post DI signal. It's just really a great little pre.
Hope this helps!
Hell yeah!
Im okay with my sans amp rn, but I will check it out. Also, how is that CompIQ? I have a Xotic SP comp, but I've been thinking of trying something else, it's not bad or anything. The only worry I have with CompIQ is that it has a lot of controls, but given that it's the same size as the Xotic, which I also really like, I think I want to check it out. Not sure if you've tried other comps tho.
Thanks!
I've tried quite a few compressors. This one doesn't have that much going on. It has a wet-dry knob, which is excellent. It's a little sensitive, but knowing that when you set it, that's not that big of a deal.
I use mine as a clean boost with some compression, so for me, slow timing is great. It grabs a little later, and holds onto it a little longer...
I set mine for soft knee. It feels more musical in the context of finger-style playing. I imagine someone who slapped or tapped might find the hard knee more to their liking. The little SCF switch has to do with what you want the compressor to look for. You can select Full or Bass.
Gain is just makeup gain, so you can put back whatever level you lose to the compression "process". Ratio is how much squash you want. Threshold is at what point do you want compression to kick in.
Scroll near the bottom where they explain, they do it way better than me. Grab the tab COMPIQ 101..
CompIQ MINI Pro Compressor Pedal for Bass & Guitar
I use mine as a clean boost with some compression, so for me, slow timing is great. It grabs a little later, and holds onto it a little longer...
I set mine for soft knee. It feels more musical in the context of finger-style playing. I imagine someone who slapped or tapped might find the hard knee more to their liking. The little SCF switch has to do with what you want the compressor to look for. You can select Full or Bass.
Gain is just makeup gain, so you can put back whatever level you lose to the compression "process". Ratio is how much squash you want. Threshold is at what point do you want compression to kick in.
Scroll near the bottom where they explain, they do it way better than me. Grab the tab COMPIQ 101..
CompIQ MINI Pro Compressor Pedal for Bass & Guitar
The reason I selected the MXR M81 for this discussion was due to Z-Bass’ question on if it would drive a powered speaker. It can.
There are certainly “better” preamps out there with more features and better fidelity. However, none of them can be has for $169.95, something I had to factor into a college student’s meager budget.
My criteria for selecting a preamp were transparency, high input impedance, tone controls that actually work for the upright bass range, a good DI circuit, and affordability. The only thing the MXR M81 lacks is that last bit of transparency - and the aforementioned Mute switch.
I would certainly not put it on the same pedestal as a Broughton, but then, I couldn’t buy a Broughton for $170.
There are certainly “better” preamps out there with more features and better fidelity. However, none of them can be has for $169.95, something I had to factor into a college student’s meager budget.
My criteria for selecting a preamp were transparency, high input impedance, tone controls that actually work for the upright bass range, a good DI circuit, and affordability. The only thing the MXR M81 lacks is that last bit of transparency - and the aforementioned Mute switch.
I would certainly not put it on the same pedestal as a Broughton, but then, I couldn’t buy a Broughton for $170.
The M81 is one pedal I can never seem to get the hell away from. I’m currently using it in front of an EBS Microbass 3 as a mid boost. But I’ve also used it a ton on its own and I have never had a single thing I felt I was missing.
One of my favorite simple board that I use a lot is an M81 and a Wampler Ego. That with the Sadowsky preamp is a really great combination for me.
One of my favorite simple board that I use a lot is an M81 and a Wampler Ego. That with the Sadowsky preamp is a really great combination for me.
And, if anyone feels like there IS a change in sound with the MXR M81 turned off, there is an internal switch to turn off the buffered output and make it a true bypass when not in use. The buffer, however, is totally transparent so I leave it on, preferring to have a buffered low-impedance output.
So correct me if I'm wrong. I was wanting to use this with phantom power (not plugged in) and use it as my DI. It should work for this purpose correct?
