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New Bass Preamp from Hotone - B-Station
- Thread starter Nunovsky
- Start date
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- Tags
- bass preamp hotone new bass preamp
Colour me curious. I do wish manufacturers would include signal diagrams in their manuals though. Is the compression before or after eq/drive, where does the fx loop sit? All I can tell from the manual is the pre/post switch moves the drive before or after eq.
That is a neat looking box isn't it? Compressor sounded nice and squishy 
. I might have to check this out. I would definitely like to hear some drive clips.
Brent
. I might have to check this out. I would definitely like to hear some drive clips.Brent
Maybe the graphics look better in person, but in the photo I think they are super distracting.
Could be a cool box, though...
Could be a cool box, though...
Edit!!!: Well, turns out I got this all wrong, but the link in the OP doesn't actually link to said preamp.
Here's the real link to the product on Hotone's home page: Invalid Link Removed
And from the YouTube demos I have watched it does indeed seem to be amazing value for the money.
Original post by me:
I was aware of the existence of the Hotone Xtomp pedals, but never really looked further into it.
This actually seems like an amazing multi effect, and for relatively little money considering the quality of the models available.
A fair share of bass amp models available too.
Not the best multi effect pedal if you need to change effects a lot on the fly though, but for using it as just one effect or one amp modeler of your choice, and then perhaps change your choice up once in while via the app on your computer or phone, it seems no short of amazing.
I actually consider buying the Mini version, which as far as I can tell only differs from the bigger version by being smaller and cheaper, same emulation engine, same effects available, some amount of physical controls, and stereo in and out jack sockets too, just like the bigger more expensive version.
Might be the bigger version is able to store more effects though, but as far as I can tell that doesn't seem to be the case, and since it is a bit circumstantial to change effects on the fly without having to connect it to your computer first and use the app, I can't see it being much of an issue anyway in case that this is how it is.
I'd personally most likely use it exclusively for amp modeling anyway, and would likely just chose one permanent favorite amp model to have on all the time, with set and forget it settings (likely I would end up using the Mesa Boogie Bass 400 model with it's matching 4x10" cab emulation).
The Mini version is only ever so slightly more expensive than their Binary series of pedals, and offers more bass amp models to chose from the Hotone Binary Amp pedal.
Here's the real link to the product on Hotone's home page: Invalid Link Removed
And from the YouTube demos I have watched it does indeed seem to be amazing value for the money.
Original post by me:
I was aware of the existence of the Hotone Xtomp pedals, but never really looked further into it.
This actually seems like an amazing multi effect, and for relatively little money considering the quality of the models available.
A fair share of bass amp models available too.
Not the best multi effect pedal if you need to change effects a lot on the fly though, but for using it as just one effect or one amp modeler of your choice, and then perhaps change your choice up once in while via the app on your computer or phone, it seems no short of amazing.
I actually consider buying the Mini version, which as far as I can tell only differs from the bigger version by being smaller and cheaper, same emulation engine, same effects available, some amount of physical controls, and stereo in and out jack sockets too, just like the bigger more expensive version.
Might be the bigger version is able to store more effects though, but as far as I can tell that doesn't seem to be the case, and since it is a bit circumstantial to change effects on the fly without having to connect it to your computer first and use the app, I can't see it being much of an issue anyway in case that this is how it is.
I'd personally most likely use it exclusively for amp modeling anyway, and would likely just chose one permanent favorite amp model to have on all the time, with set and forget it settings (likely I would end up using the Mesa Boogie Bass 400 model with it's matching 4x10" cab emulation).
The Mini version is only ever so slightly more expensive than their Binary series of pedals, and offers more bass amp models to chose from the Hotone Binary Amp pedal.
Last edited:
I have this B-Station, I used for a while, I was trying a Dapper Bass Strip for a while (and currently) because when I decided to swap the strip back with this preamp, I found out is no longer working (it was sitting in its box for about 6 months... I only used in the rehearsal studio...
While it was working I liked it and only replaced it as the Dapper Bass had a similar functionality and integrated a few effects (Chorus/Octaver/Env Filter/Tuner), that said, I do not like it's Env Filter so I use a external on the Fx Loop... and now I am not very happy with the drive section, which is the main reason I was planning to go back to the B-Station...
That said, if any of you know of a place I could find a circuit diagram (I am out of warranty and the cost to send the unit back to Hotone is close to buying a new one...) I'd like to take a stab at repairing the thing myself...
Symptoms are... DEAD, no sound, no lights... no joy...
While it was working I liked it and only replaced it as the Dapper Bass had a similar functionality and integrated a few effects (Chorus/Octaver/Env Filter/Tuner), that said, I do not like it's Env Filter so I use a external on the Fx Loop... and now I am not very happy with the drive section, which is the main reason I was planning to go back to the B-Station...
That said, if any of you know of a place I could find a circuit diagram (I am out of warranty and the cost to send the unit back to Hotone is close to buying a new one...) I'd like to take a stab at repairing the thing myself...
Symptoms are... DEAD, no sound, no lights... no joy...
Ever figure out what was wrong? I am considering getting one. I thought maybe your battery leaked and caused the problem, if you used one.
Sorry I never posted a follow up... the issue is resolved... I contacted Hotone for an out of warranty repair and just shipping the pedal back to China was a very expensive exercise, so I asked them if they would guide me to do the trouble shooting but they kind of evaded doing that... so I thought, that since I was already out $99 for a new one... I would at least attempt to figure it out... and I opened it... it is very simple, and there is an I/O Board, where very close to the power jack were 2 16 Ohm Resistors ( Surface mount 1206, pretty big for that kind of resistors ) which looked blown up... they were pretty glaring, so it was easy to spot... I cleaned the pads off, sourced the resistors ( I work in Consumer Electronics design, so I had a bunch of samples sent to me ) and soldered them, crossed my fingers and I have been happily playing with it since Feb/2019...
I do not know what caused the issue, likely I must have plugged a Power Supply that was either the wrong voltage or reversed polarity (I do have many of those and I don't always wear my glasses, so it is entirely possible I caused the issue unknowingly).
The pedal has been working great, we play using IEMs so no Amps, always off the DI, while my pedal was out we were putting drive and compression from the Mixer (QSC TM30), but since I fixed it, we go clean on the Mixer and all the effects are coming from the B-Station, which has a bit nicer growl compared to the QSC, and of course, I use a couple of other pedals (Chorus, Envelope Filter, and a Tuner which I have in the FX loop...
Besides that little snag... I am still very happy with it... I do not use crazy drive, I just use it to add more harmonics so that it comes through in the mix a little better and to tame the punchy-ness on my G&L L2500... which is what I play most of the time... but it works fine with a crappy Squier and an even crappier Dean... they sound much better when going through it...
This is how I found said resistors...
After my poor workmanship with a soldering iron...
All working OK
And for Clarification, I have never used a battery on it and I now have it in a pedal board with a multi-point power supply instead of a bunch of wall warts as I did before when I likely grabbed the wrong one and busted it...
I'd have to post a pic of my rig so you can see how it is being used... when I get chance...
I'd have to post a pic of my rig so you can see how it is being used... when I get chance...
Hi @ToneMaven. What do you think of your B Station now that you've had it a few months?
Good morning, well, the plan was to get together with a local guitarist I know and do some jams and maybe try an acoustic gig. Then the Covid happened. All that is on hold until a vaccine is ready for public use(I like being alive). That said, the B Station remains in its box. I did look it over and it is a solid, well made(physically) pedal and well thought out input/outputs. I've had no need for it at home, so it just sits, waiting to be loved.
Thanks for the update. I hope that things get back to normalish soon where you are. I'm in New Zealand & there's not going to be any live gigging here for a while yet either.
