Need new Preamp

[Fli]

My sansamp pbddi + power amp has done the trick to get a nice tube-like OD, but I really need something with tube OD I can rack, something with more eq, and hopefully something with a compressor. 1u if possible.

So far I've looked at these:

Sansamp RBI/RPM - same as my pedal, might go this direction, but it doesn't seem to have much more than what I already have, and the blend on my pbddi just doesn't work well when being used as a preamp, not enough volume unless blend is maxed out (any ideas?)

Rocktron Blue Thunder - havent found much useful info on this other than a few reviews on musicians friend, which I don't trust

Carvin PB15 - does it have tube emulation?

Ampeg SVP Pro - looks like too much $

Hughes & Kettner Fortress - seen one on ebay, looks like a bad motherfudger, just can't find much info

Peavey Alpha - Also found one on ebay, looks like a decent preamp

Demeter VTBP-201S - looks like this is just a "clean" preamp

Ashdown ABM RPM-1 EVO II - looks like this has everything in the world, also too much $

Any info on any of these would help, there doesn't seem to be much out there for bass preamps that aren't DI pedals.

Thanks

 

[optikhog]

Sansamp RBI/RPM - same as my pedal, might go this direction, but it doesn't seem to have much more than what I already have, and the blend on my pbddi just doesn't work well when being used as a preamp, not enough volume unless blend is maxed out (any ideas?)

AFAIK the PDDI struggles with output levels when being used as the only pre in a rig. I have an RBI and it is truly a wonderful thing to behold. I've tried a few of the other you've mentioned and always come back to my RBI.

 

[PaperbackRyder]

Sounds to me like you might dig the BMax from BBE. It has either a tube or SS model with 3 band EQ, Compressor and a Sonic Maximizer (adds a SansAmp-like sound)

 

[anonymous02282011]

explore the blogosphere. check out gearslutz.com. use the search function. the most talked about are the REDDI and the EvilTwin. "hear" them at basstasters.com

 

[DJJazzV]

My sansamp pbddi + power amp has done the trick to get a nice tube-like OD, but I really need something with tube OD I can rack, something with more eq, and hopefully something with a compressor. 1u if possible.

So far I've looked at these:

Sansamp RBI/RPM - same as my pedal, might go this direction, but it doesn't seem to have much more than what I already have, and the blend on my pbddi just doesn't work well when being used as a preamp, not enough volume unless blend is maxed out (any ideas?)

Rocktron Blue Thunder - havent found much useful info on this other than a few reviews on musicians friend, which I don't trust

Carvin PB15 - does it have tube emulation?

Ampeg SVP Pro - looks like too much $

Hughes & Kettner Fortress - seen one on ebay, looks like a bad motherfudger, just can't find much info

Peavey Alpha - Also found one on ebay, looks like a decent preamp

Demeter VTBP-201S - looks like this is just a "clean" preamp

Ashdown ABM RPM-1 EVO II - looks like this has everything in the world, also too much $

Any info on any of these would help, there doesn't seem to be much out there for bass preamps that aren't DI pedals.

Thanks

You might want to look into the Ampeg SVP-BSP if possible. I have one as my backup to my SVP-CL. It probably has all the options you are looking for, plus a separate channel for distortion that can also be blended. It's pretty cool with a really good tone.

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Good luck.

 

[groove pump]

One thing to add about the BSP preamp is that the compressor on it is only on/off with no adjustment and it squashes the crap-o-la out of your signal. It also only runs on the clean channel. This is a really great piece of gear, but expect to use a separate compressor if you need that function, too.

 

[bongomania]

The only "bass" preamps I know of that have a decent compressor onboard are the Phil Jones Bass Buddy (prob. also their P1 as well, but it's $$$) and certain Trace Elliot models. I've never heard much good about the onboard comps of other bass-specific pre's. OTOH, there are preamps out there which are not bass-specific, sometimes called "channel strips", which can work fantastically on bass and which tend to have better compressors. PreSonus, ART, and Symetrix are some prime examples where you get a lot of bang per buck, but there are lots of others.

You'll want to search this forum, and Gearslutz, on those brand names and on the phrase "channel strip".

 

[Munjibunga]

Sansamp RBI/RPM - same as my pedal, might go this direction, but it doesn't seem to have much more than what I already have, and the blend on my pbddi just doesn't work well when being used as a preamp, not enough volume unless blend is maxed out (any ideas?)

All the blend knob does is regulate how much of the sound going through your head's preamp is from the BDDI and how much is from the head's preamp. I've always run my BDDI's in front of the head with the blend all the way up. What's the need of two preamp sections in parallel?