My preamp journey

[moon-bass]

I've had the Redstone for a few days, and it's a really nice preamp, I'm digging it with a caveat - it sounds really, really good clean - very smooth, great tone color and responsive EQ - I really like that it has mid-boost capability instead of just a mid cut. When pushed, it gets nice and dirty, but here's the caveat - I absolutely LOVE germanium on mids and highs - very smooth, almost like a crystal-like tone, like it's sparkling. It's adding presence and harmonic grit without adding highs to my tone. However, I like more grit on the low end - on the Redstone, the low end is smooth and dirty, I prefer a little more "crunch."

I'm finding that I like a more harsh clipping on the lows (a la an LED diode) and a smoother clipping on the mids/highs ( la germanium).

So I'm picking up one of these -https://kmamachines.com/machines/tyler-deluxe/

And one of these -https://www.damnationaudio.com/product/dirtmixer-bass-blender (the earlier version though).

As I consolidate my boards, I'm thinking about creating a seperate "dirt" board with a rotating selection of OD, Distortion, and fuzz pedals. This was I can set up the signal splitter and/or low end blend pedals without worrying about messing with my boards. Placement gets a little tight.

 

[moon-bass]

My updated small board. Fits very nicely (a little snug) in my Mono tick! Still need to wire it.

 

[el murdoque]

I've had the Redstone for a few days, and it's a really nice preamp, I'm digging it with a caveat - it sounds really, really good clean - very smooth, great tone color and responsive EQ - I really like that it has mid-boost capability instead of just a mid cut. When pushed, it gets nice and dirty, but here's the caveat - I absolutely LOVE germanium on mids and highs - very smooth, almost like a crystal-like tone, like it's sparkling. It's adding presence and harmonic grit without adding highs to my tone. However, I like more grit on the low end - on the Redstone, the low end is smooth and dirty, I prefer a little more "crunch."

I'm finding that I like a more harsh clipping on the lows (a la an LED diode) and a smoother clipping on the mids/highs ( la germanium).

So I'm picking up one of these -https://kmamachines.com/machines/tyler-deluxe/

And one of these -https://www.damnationaudio.com/product/dirtmixer-bass-blender (the earlier version though).

As I consolidate my boards, I'm thinking about creating a seperate "dirt" board with a rotating selection of OD, Distortion, and fuzz pedals. This was I can set up the signal splitter and/or low end blend pedals without worrying about messing with my boards. Placement gets a little tight.

It has been a few pages since I suggested getting a BDPG, so I'm gonna bring that up yet again, just to refresh your memory and get on your nerves.

Imagine you have a drive you like, that sounds a bit like a jeweler's tiny file is being dragged across your tooth.
Now step on the BDPG and it suddenly sounds like a rasp is being dragged across a giant's tooth - at least how it'd sound if you were hearing it from the giant's perspective.

 

[moon-bass]

It has been a few pages since I suggested getting a BDPG, so I'm gonna bring that up yet again, just to refresh your memory and get on your nerves.

Imagine you have a drive you like, that sounds a bit like a jeweler's tiny file is being dragged across your tooth.
Now step on the BDPG and it suddenly sounds like a rasp is being dragged across a giant's tooth - at least how it'd sound if you were hearing it from the giant's perspective.

it's on my list! There are quite a few Fuzzrocious pedals that I have been looking to try.

 

[moon-bass]

I went on a little buying spree with germanium and/or transformer based boosts and preamps. I really like what the germanium does to the top end - especially when I stack them - but I prefer something a little smoother and less crunchy for the low end.

I'm going the whole "blended signal" route. I have a few options - plain signal blend, low end boost/blend only, and splitting the signal highs/lows. I'm gonna see how it goes.

I also need to de-clutter. I mean, there is no reason why I need three synths I'm gonna start A/B'ing some gear, i.e. I have an Alix and a Studio One, and i don't need both, I don't need all of the boosts, etc.

And also, the more I mess with things, the more I like the idea of having a modular system. I only need one synth, for instance - I keep it on my small board, but if I want to run it through the Noble, I can just daisy chain.

So to that end, I definitely am going to downsize, and I think it will be fun to do some shoot outs.

I'll post results.

 

[Maxi Funkl]

I went on a little buying spree with germanium and/or transformer based boosts and preamps. I really like what the germanium does to the top end - especially when I stack them - but I prefer something a little smoother and less crunchy for the low end.

I'm going the whole "blended signal" route. I have a few options - plain signal blend, low end boost/blend only, and splitting the signal highs/lows. I'm gonna see how it goes.

I also need to de-clutter. I mean, there is no reason why I need three synths I'm gonna start A/B'ing some gear, i.e. I have an Alix and a Studio One, and i don't need both, I don't need all of the boosts, etc.

And also, the more I mess with things, the more I like the idea of having a modular system. I only need one synth, for instance - I keep it on my small board, but if I want to run it through the Noble, I can just daisy chain.

So to that end, I definitely am going to downsize, and I think it will be fun to do some shoot outs.

I'll post results.

This aught to be very interesting. Dibs LOL

 

[moon-bass]

This aught to be very interesting. Dibs LOL

for sure! I'll post the results here and y'all have dibs before they go in the classifieds or on Reverb.

I got a brand new mic for my phone, I'm hoping to take some good audio with it. I'll post it, as long as y'all put up with my noodling.

 

[moon-bass]

I sliced my index finger on my fretting hand a few days ago and haven't been able to play, so the shoot-outs have been on hold. I've amassed quite a bit of ... stuff .... that I am dying to go through. In the meantime, I'm doing some pedalboard consolidation on the easy stuff.

It's the tougher stuff that will need to wait. i don't want too much stuff just sitting in a closet when it could be used. But damn, choosing between my Alix and my Studio One is gonna be tough.

I mean, Bass Player problems, amirite?

 

[el murdoque]

Do you know the corner frequencies for the low and high shelving filters on the Alix?

 

[moon-bass]

Do you know the corner frequencies for the low and high shelving filters on the Alix?

Low is 125Hz corner frequency / 40Hz peak,

There's an internal jumper that can change the low frequency. Moving this jumper shifts the Low frequency up to 250Hz (+/-3dB) corner frequency / 80Hz peak.

The high is is 2kHz (+/-3dB) corner frequency/ 12kHz peak.

 

[el murdoque]

Would you say the lows knob on the Alix is more useful than on the Studio One?

 

[moon-bass]

Would you say the lows knob on the Alix is more useful than on the Studio One?

I haven't put them head to head yet, but here's my initial thoughts on the two:

Both add a very nice "console-like" sound to the tone. When bypasses, i purposely have my tone set very flat, but with a preamp enabled they both add body, punch, and fullness to the tone. The lows are more full, the highs are crystal clear, and there is a lot of body - it's very apparent, and that's with the EQ set flat on each preamp. I think the Alix adds more and sounds better, but I'll confirm when I do the head to head.

The low on the Alix is great - it's almost like a magic knob, and IMO definitely more useful than on the S1. More 3-D and full to my ears.

That being said, I think the S1 is better for the highs, at least for me. The Alix treble is almost like a presence control - boost the highs and you get a nice snap and shimmering treble, very clear and almost bell-like. The S1 acts more like a traditional treble, boosting and cutting similar to an active preamp on a bass. I don't like excessive treble - the only appropriate setting for a tweeter on a bass cab is "off" IMO. The S1 treble cuts down on the string noise as well when I cut it a little.

Both are top notch pieces of gear. I almost think of the Alix as like a solid-state Noble - it adds an amazing quality to my sound, a tangible harmonic saturation. In addition, the Alix sounds great overdriven - classic console clipping, not unlike the Hudson Broadcast.

The S1 won't OD at all, but it really shines when I put a germanium boost in front of it. It also adds it's own flavor of harmonic saturation, it's smaller, and has both an LPF and an HPF. It also sounds really, really good.

They are both two different flavors of awesome.

 

[moon-bass]

Speaking of different flavors of awesome, and not preamp related - I have the same mindset when looking at envelope filters. I play a lot of funk and jam stuff, so an envelope filter is critical to my sound and playing - i need a good one that is reposnive and plays well with FoH.

I've been through tons of different filters, most of the major ones on the market and a bunch of minor ones, and I've narrowed it down to three - a 3Leaf GR2, a Mutron Micro-tron IV, and a high end Mutron clone from JohnK, built with vintage opto couplers and other NOS/high end components - iI would put money on it being one of the finest Mutron clones out there.

All are three different flavors of awesome, but I really only need one.

I'm in a similar boat with compressors, although that might be a little easier. I've tried about two dozen compressors, and narrowed it down to three. A Cali76 (keeper for sure), a Becos Stella and a Becos Mini. The mini is probably gonna go.

On a side note, I might be one of the few bassists that doesn't like tube and optical compressors.

Then I want to whittle down my dirt and boost pedals. That one is going to be a LOT of fun!

 

[moon-bass]

So my finger is almost healed so I'm back to playing a little again.

Stinking knife went into one part of my knuckle and out another. It wasn't pretty.

I'm gonna hold off on shoutouts until I have a little more spare time, probably over the weekend, but at least I've been able to mess with some of the gear I've picked up.

The KMA Tyler is probably one of the coolest pieces. It's an HPF/LPF splitter/loop for effects - there is a loop on the LPF and one on the HPF and you can blend the two. I'm running heavy dirt on the top end and lighter dirt on the low end and blending the signals, and I have never heard my bass sound so punchy. I'm digging it, but it's bigger than your average pedal, and might want to go a different route with my board.

 

[moon-bass]

Starting to get some recordings done. I did these for the Baroni Labs pedal amp. Excuse the noodling .. and the dog.

I like the amp a lot, but I am not sure that I am going to keep it. I have a GR 350 for backup, and my pedalboard is not going to have any room for an amp.

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[Maxi Funkl]

Starting to get some recordings done. I did these for the Baroni Labs pedal amp. Excuse the noodling .. and the dog.

I like the amp a lot, but I am not sure that I am going to keep it. I have a GR 350 for backup, and my pedalboard is not going to have any room for an amp.

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Sounds good to me,

 

[Luke the Fluke]

The Alix treble is almost like a presence control - boost the highs and you get a nice snap and shimmering treble, very clear and almost bell-like.

when I tried the Felix briefly (with a API tranzformer v1 and a hellborg preamp) the sound and EQ seemed like it was setup for acoustic instruments first rather than electric bass (which is fine)

 

[J-phatt]

So my finger is almost healed so I'm back to playing a little again.

Stinking knife went into one part of my knuckle and out another. It wasn't pretty.

I'm gonna hold off on shoutouts until I have a little more spare time, probably over the weekend, but at least I've been able to mess with some of the gear I've picked up.

The KMA Tyler is probably one of the coolest pieces. It's an HPF/LPF splitter/loop for effects - there is a loop on the LPF and one on the HPF and you can blend the two. I'm running heavy dirt on the top end and lighter dirt on the low end and blending the signals, and I have never heard my bass sound so punchy. I'm digging it, but it's bigger than your average pedal, and might want to go a different route with my board.

I use my new Tyler Deluxe similarly, preamping the whole signal with a Hamstead Bass Odyssey then splitting it, the bass side just going to a compressor before recombining, but the treble going through some guitar fuzz, flange and Eventide Micropitch. The latter gives me a second output that can go into a guitar amp. That way the guitar amp gets a signal only when the treble circuit of the Tyler is engaged, like a soloing patch. I’m a guitarist so I think about bass oddly.

 

[moon-bass]

when I tried the Felix briefly (with a API tranzformer v1 and a hellborg preamp) the sound and EQ seemed like it was setup for acoustic instruments first rather than electric bass (which is fine)

I haven't tried in on any acoustic instruments, but it sounds damn fine on bass. Even flat, it adds a nice flavor to the tone - makes it more dynamic and full.

My brother has one of them that he uses for mandolin and he loves it.

 

[moon-bass]

I use my new Tyler Deluxe similarly, preamping the whole signal with a Hamstead Bass Odyssey then splitting it, the bass side just going to a compressor before recombining, but the treble going through some guitar fuzz, flange and Eventide Micropitch. The latter gives me a second output that can go into a guitar amp. That way the guitar amp gets a signal only when the treble circuit of the Tyler is engaged, like a soloing patch. I’m a guitarist so I think about bass oddly.

Yeah I'm really digging it. I like putting a preamp on the low end (currently a Sushibox UA) and a germanium something or other on the higher end. The bass sounds so full and punchy, and the high end sizzles, but without too much high end crappiness.