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My Dirt Bender - Another Jounal

#3,161
el murdoque said:
Okay, since the people in this very thread did forbid me to use cheap digital electronics for jamming with others, and I am stupid enough to listen to my anonymous peers from the internet and sold the Headrush, I need to get something that will work.

Here is my current situation:
View attachment 7389877

Pedaltrain Nano, with an older Cioks underneath (only 9V on that), and a Korg Pitchblack XS tuner.

What I need is: A killer clean sound coming out of a balanced output (1/4" TRS or XLR).
Since most of the PA systems that are used in the places where I participate in jams have a baked in mid scoop, I would need some access to 400-600Hz for a little boost. Furthermore, a comp that does decent peak limiting. I suppose I'm just taking one of my Cali76CB pedals off my other board, but I'm open to alternatives.

The obvious choice would be a preamp pedal, but the pool of quality bass preamp pedals is rather small as is, and when we remove everything that has no access to 400-600Hz mids, and furthermore discard those that I've already had and sold, there's not much left.
I already hear you saying "You just bought a Tone Hammer. That's literally a pedal with all the features you're asking for". Yes, but I don't really feel it.
The Tone Hammer 500 is a great amp and I love playing through that, but it's just not feeling the same in a pedal, at least not for me.
Furthermore, there is the power situation. The TH needs 18V, my PSU only does 9, and since it only has 4 outlets, I don't really want to go Y cable.
These jams can have percussion players that bring all kinds of microphones, and the mixers used are not top level pro quality, so it's very likely that you run into situations where phantom power is not available.
Click to expand...
If you don't feel it, you don't feel it. That said, while the TH requires 18V, it doesn't draw much current, so a pair of batteries lasts quite a long time and would free up a point on your CIOKS.

The JHS Color Box gets quite a lot of love from bassists (including Janek Gwizdala), and has 3 semi-parametric EQ bands and an output transformer. The Pulp n' Peel mentioned earlier would be another contender, and if you needed to add mids control, the Darkglass Harmonic Booster is excellent and has a small footprint (despite the side jacks), but lacks a DI out.
 
#3,163
M
el murdoque said:
Okay, since the people in this very thread did forbid me to use cheap digital electronics for jamming with others, and I am stupid enough to listen to my anonymous peers from the internet and sold the Headrush, I need to get something that will work.

Here is my current situation:
View attachment 7389877

Pedaltrain Nano, with an older Cioks underneath (only 9V on that), and a Korg Pitchblack XS tuner.

What I need is: A killer clean sound coming out of a balanced output (1/4" TRS or XLR).
Since most of the PA systems that are used in the places where I participate in jams have a baked in mid scoop, I would need some access to 400-600Hz for a little boost. Furthermore, a comp that does decent peak limiting. I suppose I'm just taking one of my Cali76CB pedals off my other board, but I'm open to alternatives.

The obvious choice would be a preamp pedal, but the pool of quality bass preamp pedals is rather small as is, and when we remove everything that has no access to 400-600Hz mids, and furthermore discard those that I've already had and sold, there's not much left.
I already hear you saying "You just bought a Tone Hammer. That's literally a pedal with all the features you're asking for". Yes, but I don't really feel it.
The Tone Hammer 500 is a great amp and I love playing through that, but it's just not feeling the same in a pedal, at least not for me.
Furthermore, there is the power situation. The TH needs 18V, my PSU only does 9, and since it only has 4 outlets, I don't really want to go Y cable.
These jams can have percussion players that bring all kinds of microphones, and the mixers used are not top level pro quality, so it's very likely that you run into situations where phantom power is not available.
Click to expand...
I haven't tried one, but am intrigued by the feature-set of the Genzler Magellan pre: https://genzleramplification.com/shop/magellan-mg-prepedal-preamp-di-pedal/
3-band EQ with semi-parametric Mid, variable HPF, 2 variable and footswitchable "contour" options (one of which does a cab-sim type curve that sounds Amgeg 8x10ish, the other a more typical scooped thing though both can be set flat), DI, headphone amp. I haven't seen anything about it overdriving, but seems like a nice (maybe not sexy looking) clean preamp option.
 
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#3,164
GrowlerBox said:
If you don't feel it, you don't feel it. That said, while the TH requires 18V, it doesn't draw much current, so a pair of batteries lasts quite a long time and would free up a point on your CIOKS.

The JHS Color Box gets quite a lot of love from bassists (including Janek Gwizdala), and has 3 semi-parametric EQ bands and an output transformer. The Pulp n' Peel mentioned earlier would be another contender, and if you needed to add mids control, the Darkglass Harmonic Booster is excellent and has a small footprint (despite the side jacks), but lacks a DI out.
Click to expand...
I've not really been super impressed by bass demos I've heard of the Colour Box (though I try not to put too much weight on video demos), but a multi-instrumentalist buddy of mine who I highly respect (one of the best bassists I know, let alone everything else he does) swears by his for bass, guitar, and everything else- but he specifically shouted it out to me for bass years back. I wish he lived close so I could demo his, though I believe it would have been one of the v1 versions with less headroom available. The semi-parametric control of all three bands is a super cool feature IMO, plus the ability to use it as a mic preamp with phantom power and everything.
 
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#3,166
sunbeast said:
M

I haven't tried one, but am intrigued by the feature-set of the Genzler Magellan pre: https://genzleramplification.com/shop/magellan-mg-prepedal-preamp-di-pedal/
3-band EQ with semi-parametric Mid, variable HPF, 2 variable and footswitchable "contour" options (one of which does a cab-sim type curve that sounds Amgeg 8x10ish, the other a more typical scooped thing though both can be set flat), DI, headphone amp. I haven't seen anything about it overdriving, but seems like a nice (maybe not sexy looking) clean preamp option.
Click to expand...
I have this, and it’s great, although quite big for a Nano board. It’s completely clean and as transparent a preamp as I’ve heard with the EQ flat, with no overdrive. It is always on or muted; there’s no “off” switch, and it should never be off in its intended role, so the mute footswitch is far more useful than a bypass would be.
 
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#3,168
el murdoque said:
That would do the job. Alas, none are available right now and I flat out refuse to buy a second hand one for over MSRP.
Click to expand...
Studio One is available right now...there are 16 units left...

www.broughtonaudio.com

Studio One | Broughton Audio

The Studio One authentically captures the character of the Neve 1073 console preamp. This high fidelity transistor preamp adds a touch of studio magic to your bass or guitar, without imposing ugly artifacts on your tone. The gain knob provides up to 20 dB of boost.The bass and treble shelving EQ...
www.broughtonaudio.com www.broughtonaudio.com
 
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#3,171
sunbeast said:
I've not really been super impressed by bass demos I've heard of the Colour Box (though I try not to put too much weight on video demos), but a multi-instrumentalist buddy of mine who I highly respect (one of the best bassists I know, let alone everything else he does) swears by his for bass, guitar, and everything else- but he specifically shouted it out to me for bass years back. I wish he lived close so I could demo his, though I believe it would have been one of the v1 versions with less headroom available. The semi-parametric control of all three bands is a super cool feature IMO, plus the ability to use it as a mic preamp with phantom power and everything.
Click to expand...
I had the colourbox v2 for a while, wasn't impressed with it at all - the low pass is voiced for guitar and destroys bass, wasn't a fan of hte distorted sound and didn't think the transformer did anything good to the sound.
Same could be said for the Broughton Studio One - transformer didn't do much, the eq as just ok. I didn't use the XLR input on either one, maybe if you use that its worth it.
I did like the Genzler Pre, and the 2 voicings work really well - a vintage one and a modern (scooped) sound - the problem with it is you can't switch between a normal clean sound and those 2 sounds - one of the voicings has to be active, so that means the one I dont want to use I dial down to bypass, I wish there was a 3rd click on the switch to switch to bypass voicings.
Instead of the colourbox or studio check out the API bass EQ pedal (real name: API TranZformer LLX Bass EQ/Boost Pedal with Overdrive) - ignore the overdrive part its not great, but the EQ is powerful and the transformer seems to tighten up bass frequencies and do good things to your sound (the API compressor is amazing as well).
ymmv!
 
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#3,173
thumbslapper said:
I had the colourbox v2 for a while, wasn't impressed with it at all - the low pass is voiced for guitar and destroys bass, wasn't a fan of hte distorted sound and didn't think the transformer did anything good to the sound.
Same could be said for the Broughton Studio One - transformer didn't do much, the eq as just ok. I didn't use the XLR input on either one, maybe if you use that its worth it.
I did like the Genzler Pre, and the 2 voicings work really well - a vintage one and a modern (scooped) sound - the problem with it is you can't switch between a normal clean sound and those 2 sounds - one of the voicings has to be active, so that means the one I dont want to use I dial down to bypass, I wish there was a 3rd click on the switch to switch to bypass voicings.
Instead of the colourbox or studio check out the API bass EQ pedal (real name: API TranZformer LLX Bass EQ/Boost Pedal with Overdrive) - ignore the overdrive part its not great, but the EQ is powerful and the transformer seems to tighten up bass frequencies and do good things to your sound (the API compressor is amazing as well).
ymmv!
Click to expand...
I have this API LLX (and the compressor, too) -- I would second all of this. It lacks a DI out, which may disqualify it in this setting, but I love the EQ points, and the whole signal gets a lift when it's engaged, even with the EQ centred. The "OD" circuit is very much in the overdriven console vein (an API console, no less), and as such, is controlled more by the signal you feed it than by any dials on the pedal itself. It's always on for me, and the compressor was too, until it was supplanted by the Echo Fix.
 
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#3,174
I looked at the API and found the EQ interesting, but was not blown away by the overdrive (which sounds terrible in demos), the side jacks and the lack of DI.

The Colour Box has seen a test, and I did not like many features on it. $500 is a bit too much and it's a bit big when you use it as a clean three band EQ with DI out - the Tech21 Q\Strip gets you basically the same, but with better filters for $200 less.


Let's look at this from a logical standpoint.

I got the space a Nano offers.

I need:
-Access to a mids EQ that's somewhere around 500Hz, give or take a few.
-Some sound sweetening
-Peak limiting
-something with bass and treble EQ
-A light drive
-optional: Something fun.


It does not have to be in a single pedal, but could also be a clever combination.
 
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#3,175
el murdoque said:
As someone who relies heavily on a compressor for peak limiting and who is so much a fan of the Cali76 Compact Bass,
will I simply use that or will I find something else?
Click to expand...
I've said it to you before, and I'll say it again for the group; Broughton Omnicomp. It's not exactly a true "budget" option, but can definitely be had for a good few pennies less than a Cali, even the old models. And I'm quite convinced that if there were a comp that could leave a similar impression equally well in both tone and function, for you specifically, this is the one.
 
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#3,176
sloppy_phil said:
I've said it to you before, and I'll say it again for the group; Broughton Omnicomp. It's not exactly a true "budget" option, but can definitely be had for a good few pennies less than a Cali, even the old models. And I'm quite convinced that if there were a comp that could leave a similar impression equally well in both tone and function, for you specifically, this is the one.
Click to expand...
Here's a list of reasons not to get that:
1. It's currently available at Broughton. You can just click on the website and buy it.
2. It looks boring
3. The Name is boring.
 
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