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My preamp journey

Yeah the Oracle is fantastic. I'm going to miss mine!
Moon, how's things? You weren't kidding when saying you needed to clean house. I'm trying to work up the nerve to do likewise.I mean how many preamps can one use, especially when said person can't get a gig. Which ones are off the table ,never to be sold? I didn't know that Ida affected you badly, that's terrible. You're do for some good luck.Hope the hands better.
 
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This thread was almost designed for me :)

Over the years I’ve struggled to find the perfect preamp for both upright and electric for whatever music project I had going on. Just when I think I have something nailed down, a band dissolves and I end up looking for something that will fit with the next project I’m involved with.

I currently have a BBE BMAX paired with a Crest Prolite 2.0 (feeding my Greenboy F212) which was perfect for the 60’s band I was playing in, and I have an EBS SC preamp which was perfect for my upright gigs. I thought I was finally done.

Now? I might be playing in a punk band :)
A first for me, but the Stanley Clarke pre and the BMAX are both way too polite for the tone I want for that project.

I mean, I can make it work (I have a metric crap-ton of pedals), but it’d be nice to have a rackmount pre for the plug and play simplicity.

I also have a Grace Designs BiX, so I thought about adding some light dirt before it and using it to feed the power amp. EQ options are minimal but should be sufficient. My Rane AP-13 is probably not the greatest option for anything :)

I’ll have to experiment with what I have to find a decent solution. Heck, it might just be as simple as putting some light dirt in the effects loop of the BMAX.

OR, I could go ahead and buy a GED 2112. I even love the color of it :)
*I need help.

edit to add that I used to own an Orange TB1000 that I found the perfect tubes for. I don’t think the Orange Bass Butler will drive a power amp, but maybe an AD200b based preamp into the BMAX might work for what I want.
 
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This thread was almost designed for me :)

Over the years I’ve struggled to find the perfect preamp for both upright and electric for whatever music project I had going on. Just when I think I have something nailed down, a band dissolves and I end up looking for something that will fit with the next project I’m involved with.

I currently have a BBE BMAX paired with a Crest Prolite 2.0 (feeding my Greenboy F212) which was perfect for the 60’s band I was playing in, and I have an EBS SC preamp which was perfect for my upright gigs. I thought I was finally done.

Now? I might be playing in a punk band :)
A first for me, but the Stanley Clarke pre and the BMAX are both way too polite for the tone I want for that project.

I mean, I can make it work (I have a metric crap-ton of pedals), but it’d be nice to have a rackmount pre for the plug and play simplicity.

I also have a Grace Designs BiX, so I thought about adding some light dirt before it and using it to feed the power amp. EQ options are minimal but should be sufficient. My Rane AP-13 is probably not the greatest option for anything :)

I’ll have to experiment with what I have to find a decent solution. Heck, it might just be as simple as putting some light dirt in the effects loop of the BMAX.

OR, I could go ahead and buy a GED 2112. I even love the color of it :)
*I need help.

edit to add that I used to own an Orange TB1000 that I found the perfect tubes for. I don’t think the Orange Bass Butler will drive a power amp, but maybe an AD200b based preamp into the BMAX might work for what I want.

Soooo many great options these days! If I was to play in a punk band, I would probably have a look at the Invalid Link Removed.

Have fun exploring, comparing and hesitating. A TB member will probably come with a new option each you think you made your mind. :)
 
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Soooo many great options these days! If I was to play in a punk band, I would probably have a look at the Invalid Link Removed.

Have fun exploring, comparing and hesitating. A TB member will probably come with a new option each you think you made your mind. :)

I'm curious about that ReVolt. I do love the SVT sound, but the ReVolt doesn't seem to have a mid control. I also have a Marshall Superbass Mk II that sounds incredible. OTOH, I did not like the LeBass at all, and I don't know if that's what they use for channel 3.

And yes, I was totally happy with my amp/pedal setup (I play a lot of punk rock) and then you mention that pedal!
 
This thread was almost designed for me :)

Over the years I’ve struggled to find the perfect preamp for both upright and electric for whatever music project I had going on. Just when I think I have something nailed down, a band dissolves and I end up looking for something that will fit with the next project I’m involved with.

I currently have a BBE BMAX paired with a Crest Prolite 2.0 (feeding my Greenboy F212) which was perfect for the 60’s band I was playing in, and I have an EBS SC preamp which was perfect for my upright gigs. I thought I was finally done.

Now? I might be playing in a punk band :)
A first for me, but the Stanley Clarke pre and the BMAX are both way too polite for the tone I want for that project.

I mean, I can make it work (I have a metric crap-ton of pedals), but it’d be nice to have a rackmount pre for the plug and play simplicity.

I also have a Grace Designs BiX, so I thought about adding some light dirt before it and using it to feed the power amp. EQ options are minimal but should be sufficient. My Rane AP-13 is probably not the greatest option for anything :)

I’ll have to experiment with what I have to find a decent solution. Heck, it might just be as simple as putting some light dirt in the effects loop of the BMAX.

OR, I could go ahead and buy a GED 2112. I even love the color of it :)
*I need help.

edit to add that I used to own an Orange TB1000 that I found the perfect tubes for. I don’t think the Orange Bass Butler will drive a power amp, but maybe an AD200b based preamp into the BMAX might work for what I want.
If the Orange tube tone does it for you then check out the AMT O-Bass. It's tiny,has a 12ax7 tube and dirt to spare.The GED 2112 is a very good one as you might know already.
 
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I haven't tried the O Bass but I have the A Bass and love it.

I'd say the baked in sound is a bit warmer and it breaks up easier and earlier. A bit like the comparison between the Sushi Box PA and UA.
I've never A/B'ed them because I did not own them at the same time, but for me, it was the form factor and the power requirements that were the deal breaker. As an always-on device or with a loop switcher it's fine if you want to set-and-forget the knobs and when your PSU delivers 12V.
 
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Id just get a sansamp rbi for that tone
From everything I’ve been reading, the RPM would actually work better for me than the RBI due to the mid setup.

Since the GED 2112 is based off the RPM, it seems like a better option (used RPM’s are apparently hard to find now).

Besides, I love to tinker and the GED 2112 has all sorts of tinkering available. If the punk band falls through, it also seems more versatile for other possible future projects.
 
From everything I’ve been reading, the RPM would actually work better for me than the RBI due to the mid setup.

Since the GED 2112 is based off the RPM, it seems like a better option (used RPM’s are apparently hard to find now).

Besides, I love to tinker and the GED 2112 has all sorts of tinkering available. If the punk band falls through, it also seems more versatile for other possible future projects.
This makes sense as the rpm has Abit less grit on hand so yeah I agree the geddy pre would make Abit more sense as it has the mid control and added grit on tap
 
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From everything I’ve been reading, the RPM would actually work better for me than the RBI due to the mid setup.

Since the GED 2112 is based off the RPM, it seems like a better option (used RPM’s are apparently hard to find now).

Besides, I love to tinker and the GED 2112 has all sorts of tinkering available. If the punk band falls through, it also seems more versatile for other possible future projects.
Just for your information about RPM. If you don't use blend that much then also mid control looses its effect, because it is part of the sansamp circuit with drive, and they are not doing anything in dry side. I was also thinking that it will be better after my years with RBI but that wasn't true for me. Most stupid think with RPM is that if you want to use it totally dry, as a clean preamp, then you don't have mid control at all. After all RBI is more flexible with bass, and it have tighter bottom end than RPM, which had strange fat bottom, but no kick. Like it was all over the place.

Maybe Geddy preamp is better as it has RPM top side and RBI bottom. I have never tried it though.
 
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All good journeys must eventually come to an end! I think I'm pretty much there ...

It took me the better part of two years, but checking out preamps (and other pedals) kept me busy and engaged in the bass world during covid and while my hand healed. I'm happy to say that my hand is almost fully healed and I have no issues playing bass, so I'm going to get back out there (once tourist season in New Orleans starts up).

Also, most of the major repairs on the house were completed last week, which means that i get my music room back! First thing I did was pop open these babies :)

Now, for the really, really hard part. I've put together three boards and POD GO, and these two boards are a little ... redundant. I am a firm believer in not letting things sit, and my wife and I are both getting rid of excess stuff (you should see my music closet - I have soooooo many gear bags and bass parts. And straps! Where did all of these straps come from?!?!?!?!?!?!?!). So, that being said, I'm going to combine these two into one board and sell the excess. I'm not even close to being sure as to what goes yet, but a bunch of this has gotta go!

I have some hard decisions over the next few days. But hey, I feel really privileged to be in this position. These are not bad problems to have!
 

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All good journeys must eventually come to an end! I think I'm pretty much there ...

It took me the better part of two years, but checking out preamps (and other pedals) kept me busy and engaged in the bass world during covid and while my hand healed. I'm happy to say that my hand is almost fully healed and I have no issues playing bass, so I'm going to get back out there (once tourist season in New Orleans starts up).

Also, most of the major repairs on the house were completed last week, which means that i get my music room back! First thing I did was pop open these babies :)

Now, for the really, really hard part. I've put together three boards and POD GO, and these two boards are a little ... redundant. I am a firm believer in not letting things sit, and my wife and I are both getting rid of excess stuff (you should see my music closet - I have soooooo many gear bags and bass parts. And straps! Where did all of these straps come from?!?!?!?!?!?!?!). So, that being said, I'm going to combine these two into one board and sell the excess. I'm not even close to being sure as to what goes yet, but a bunch of this has gotta go!

I have some hard decisions over the next few days. But hey, I feel really privileged to be in this position. These are not bad problems to have!

Congrats! But…wait? It doesn't seem to be really the end of your journey if you still have to combine and sell the excess. Or maybe it's the begining of a new "selling out" journey? :)
 
All good journeys must eventually come to an end! I think I'm pretty much there ...

It took me the better part of two years, but checking out preamps (and other pedals) kept me busy and engaged in the bass world during covid and while my hand healed. I'm happy to say that my hand is almost fully healed and I have no issues playing bass, so I'm going to get back out there (once tourist season in New Orleans starts up).

Also, most of the major repairs on the house were completed last week, which means that i get my music room back! First thing I did was pop open these babies :)

Now, for the really, really hard part. I've put together three boards and POD GO, and these two boards are a little ... redundant. I am a firm believer in not letting things sit, and my wife and I are both getting rid of excess stuff (you should see my music closet - I have soooooo many gear bags and bass parts. And straps! Where did all of these straps come from?!?!?!?!?!?!?!). So, that being said, I'm going to combine these two into one board and sell the excess. I'm not even close to being sure as to what goes yet, but a bunch of this has gotta go!

I have some hard decisions over the next few days. But hey, I feel really privileged to be in this position. These are not bad problems to have!
Glad to hear you're feeling better.I see many preamps on the boards,I have some of the same.Do you mostly combine them or switch for different songs?
 
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All good journeys must eventually come to an end! I think I'm pretty much there ...

It took me the better part of two years, but checking out preamps (and other pedals) kept me busy and engaged in the bass world during covid and while my hand healed. I'm happy to say that my hand is almost fully healed and I have no issues playing bass, so I'm going to get back out there (once tourist season in New Orleans starts up).

Also, most of the major repairs on the house were completed last week, which means that i get my music room back! First thing I did was pop open these babies :)

Now, for the really, really hard part. I've put together three boards and POD GO, and these two boards are a little ... redundant. I am a firm believer in not letting things sit, and my wife and I are both getting rid of excess stuff (you should see my music closet - I have soooooo many gear bags and bass parts. And straps! Where did all of these straps come from?!?!?!?!?!?!?!). So, that being said, I'm going to combine these two into one board and sell the excess. I'm not even close to being sure as to what goes yet, but a bunch of this has gotta go!

I have some hard decisions over the next few days. But hey, I feel really privileged to be in this position. These are not bad problems to have!
Ooph I'd have a hard time parting either of those out. Honestly I'd keep it in case you get gigging heavy and need to rehearse at a separate place that way you don't have to schlep it everytime you jam.
 
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If you wanna get rid of that Thespian, drop me a line ;-)
Absolutely my friend, although The Thespian is going to be harder than most to get rid of! I think the only things that are really off the table (at least for now) are the FatDrive and the Bass Blaster - but even that might change!
 

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