New SolidGoldFX Beta V Bass Preamp Pedal

[foal30]

Move to this:

Lpf 3 o’clock
drive 9 o’clock
Presence 3 o’clock
Body 7 o’clock
Switch position 2

opens up the treble. To my ear it also frees up the drive

 

[Nerve]

Move to this:

Lpf 3 o’clock
drive 9 o’clock
Presence 3 o’clock
Body 7 o’clock
Switch position 2

opens up the treble. To my ear it also frees up the drive

I've been using a very similar setting to this and I quite like it.

For those who are confused by the LPF switch and the LPF knob, I don't fully understand how the switch changes the values controlled by the knob but I find the knob really just works more like a tone control. If you think of the knob as a tone control, and the switch as either a mid bump in setting 1, and mid scoop in setting 2, I find it much easier to adjust.

I may be wrong, but it seems to work that way.

 

[butterfingers1]

I also use the LPF dial as a mild tone control. The switch does seem to wall off highs much more drastically.

I find Switch 1 and 2 with LPF and Presence (treble) knobs opened up sounds very similar to Switch 0 with Body (bass) boost. And these are the settings I’m settling down to.

 

[Nerve]

I also use the LPF dial as a mild tone control. The switch does seem to wall off highs much more drastically.

I find Switch 1 and 2 with LPF and Presence (treble) knobs opened up sounds very similar to Switch 0 with Body (bass) boost. And these are the settings I’m settling down to.

Good call. Agreed completely, though I do get some noise from high Presence settings. Unfortunate but expected given it's a pretty strong eq.

Another thing I've been using the switches for is to make the pedal work better with certain basses. For example, I have a Fender Starcaster (which I like, but I'm still trying to accept into the family) that is super hot in the mids. LPF switch setting 2 addresses that nicely.

 

[Surco]

Does anyone know what are Presence and Body EQ frequencies? How does Beta V work direct without any cabsim? Does anyone compared Beta V with VT Bass?

 

[butterfingers1]

I have the Broughton SVpre. By itself it sounds cleaner, nicer, has that coloured Ampeg thing. The BetaV sounds a little harsh and grating. However in a mix they are similar. If anything the BetaV blends in and punches through better, and this with settings simply at noon switch 0. Most any other settings also work fine. The SVpre needs a bit more tinkering, has to be just so, even there doesn’t quite blend in as well, nor punch as hard. It’s fine though, just different.

 

[foal30]

This Beta V really is a top pedal
Stoked I took the punt on one

 

[butterfingers1]

I can’t figure out the difference between the LPF and Presence dials. The LPF could be replaced with a mid-frequency control, or made more potent and replace the switch, or just removed.

 

[odarellmc]

I can’t figure out the difference between the LPF and Presence dials. The LPF could be replaced with a mid-frequency control, or made more potent and replace the switch, or just removed.

I'm confused, you can't figure out the pedal so they should redesign it?

 

[butterfingers1]

Perhaps you could explain the difference between the LPF and Presence dials, it would be much appreciated.

 

[foal30]

@butterfingers1

the switch and the LPF knob works the mids

try this
Presence 2 o’clock
Body 10
LPF 9
Switch 1

to my ears this is adding low mids
Drop the Presence to 10 o’clock ….then back to 8 o’clock which is a setting I really like with a 2 band Fretless Stingray

 

[foal30]

So to my ears

LPF = Mids control

Presence = Treble control

 

[foal30]

Does anyone know what are Presence and Body EQ frequencies? How does Beta V work direct without any cabsim? Does anyone compared Beta V with VT Bass?

No I do not
Never used cabs I’m or VT

Beta V EQ I look as similar to a Stingray 2 Band or a Sadowsky Pre.
The Bass or Body off the Beta V is “less” than the Sadowsky but “more” than the Stingray

YMMV!

 

[butterfingers1]

So to my ears

LPF = Mids control

Presence = Treble control

You may have mentioned this before and I forgot. That’s an interesting way to see it. As soon as I get a chance I’ll have to look into it again. The thing with the BetaV is there isn’t really a “sweet spot”, it almost works well any which way. Is it possible the LPF dial really does function as a low pass filter, but in the middle frequency range?

 

[klattman]

You may have mentioned this before and I forgot. That’s an interesting way to see it. As soon as I get a chance I’ll have to look into it again. The thing with the BetaV is there isn’t really a “sweet spot”, it almost works well any which way. Is it possible the LPF dial really does function as a low pass filter, but in the middle frequency range?

a wiring diagram would be useful. Seems like the presence control would be cancelled out by LPF but that’s not exactly what I hear. Order of eqs would be helpful.
I can get good sounds out of it but it doesn’t seem predictable.

 

[butterfingers1]

I can get good sounds out of it but it doesn’t seem predictable.

Yes exactly, well said.

Compressors are a bit like this too, although for different reasons. I don’t quite understand what I hear when tinkering with the various controls. But everything most definitely sounds better with than without.

But EQ should be easy to understand. I know what a frequency filter sounds like. The LPF on the BetaV sounds like something other.

 

[butterfingers1]

Would anyone know how the BetaV compares to Orange amplifiers?

 

[odarellmc]

Im a big fan of the Beta, had the orginal one and the MK2. Loved the Mk2 for extra headroom, running at 12V the breakup was even more smooth. And you could swith the dirt of to just have the tonalcharacter of the beta. Just love that "warm wooly blanket over my tone". I know its an bass pedal, but i tried it on guitar aswell, the higher strings however were too dark. Sadly, however the mkV has an presence control, so im eager to redo that experiment.

Im just going to leave this here for the sake of love for Beta, someone did this:

Yeah I loved my beta mk ii as well. Sold it to o finance some other pedals. Will get another just to have it, its just that good.

 

[foal30]

Beta V locked in on my board. Nice pedal.

 

[butterfingers1]

Would anyone know how the BetaV compares to simple tube preamps like the Noble? I would like to try the Broughton EDTI, but it’s 3x the price.