Is the John East Stomp Box still available? I think it has sweepable mids and a DI.
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Pedal Preamp / DI with sweepable mids - options?
- Thread starter Bassed in NZ
- Start date
If you really get out at the end of your rope, you could just pick up an EQ pedal and combine it with something like an Exar IBEX.
Added the John East to cart and bestbassgear said - out of stock.
P.S. you could have Mike Putnam put a DI and a sweepable mid knob on your VT Bass.
P.S. you could have Mike Putnam put a DI and a sweepable mid knob on your VT Bass.
I am waiting for the Basswicth IQ DI as well (I have been a beta tester).
I am fairly sure the low band is very useable, even when boosting, esp. with passive basses.
They will start shipping sometimes mid to end March.
My next recommendation would be the Tech21 SansAmp ParaDriver
I am fairly sure the low band is very useable, even when boosting, esp. with passive basses.
They will start shipping sometimes mid to end March.
My next recommendation would be the Tech21 SansAmp ParaDriver
I'll chime in on behalf of the Tone Hammer if you are still interested
As to your original questions of Impedance levels and other various things I do not understand, I was able to find a copy of the specs and here is what Aguilar says:
Controls:
GAIN: Controls input sensitivity level
TREBLE: +/- 18 dB @ 4 kHz
BASS: +/- 18 dB @ 40 Hz
MID FREQ: 180 Hz to 1 kHz
MID: +/- 17 dB of cut or boost
Input impedance: 1meg Ohm
1⁄4 output level: 4VRMS maximum
XLR output level: 8VRMS maximum balanced
1⁄4 output noise: -95dBu A weighted
XLR output noise: -98dBu A weighted
Current consumption: 7mA
Maybe that makes sense to you - it's gibberish to me. I can however tell you what I think of it.
I bought it to give my American Vintage '62 Jazz a little pep. I like its EQ functions, and the tone of the AGS gain on it. I use it to boost my signal into my amp, and also for recording. The AGS adds a nice little bit of warmth at lower signals (as in a tube-like saturation where some compression starts to engage, and your tone becomes a little woolier), but at higher gains it is capable of fairly mean overdriven tube-like sound (I would classify it more as a fuzzy breakup) . Fully sweepable mids help me dial in just the right amount to mix at any live situation, and tweaking them together with the AGS engaged produces a variety of nice tones. All the meanwhile, depending on HOW you EQ, the Tone Hammer can stay fairly transparent, with only a little (IME) sound coloration.
I recorded some clips because I was bored, and thought I could help:
My bass setup: AV '62 Jazz, both pups full, tone rolled off 50% on neck pup, and about 60-70% off on bridge pup (I like the tone deep and punchy on this bass). Bass->Tone Hammer->Tascam US122->GarageBand. No EQ or compression applied post record.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=1092078&songID=10285697
Played with fingers showing a flat setting throughout to try and reserve transparentness of original signal.
1st run: TH bypassed
2nd run: TH engaged no AGS
3rd run: TH engaged - AGS engaged at low GAIN
4th run: TH engaged - AGS engaged at high GAIN
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=1092078&songID=10285696
Played with a pick on various settings (mainly just messing around) 1st run is bypassed, 2nd run is my normal setting, everything else is random.
If you happen to notice any buzzing in the background, I probably was clipping on the track and didn't realize until I already posted them - so if that throws you off, then .. well .. I don't know what I'll do.
Let me know what you think, and if you've got anymore questions, let me know - and I'll probably be bored enough to talk your ear off again
As to your original questions of Impedance levels and other various things I do not understand, I was able to find a copy of the specs and here is what Aguilar says:
Controls:
GAIN: Controls input sensitivity level
TREBLE: +/- 18 dB @ 4 kHz
BASS: +/- 18 dB @ 40 Hz
MID FREQ: 180 Hz to 1 kHz
MID: +/- 17 dB of cut or boost
Input impedance: 1meg Ohm
1⁄4 output level: 4VRMS maximum
XLR output level: 8VRMS maximum balanced
1⁄4 output noise: -95dBu A weighted
XLR output noise: -98dBu A weighted
Current consumption: 7mA
Maybe that makes sense to you - it's gibberish to me. I can however tell you what I think of it.
I bought it to give my American Vintage '62 Jazz a little pep. I like its EQ functions, and the tone of the AGS gain on it. I use it to boost my signal into my amp, and also for recording. The AGS adds a nice little bit of warmth at lower signals (as in a tube-like saturation where some compression starts to engage, and your tone becomes a little woolier), but at higher gains it is capable of fairly mean overdriven tube-like sound (I would classify it more as a fuzzy breakup) . Fully sweepable mids help me dial in just the right amount to mix at any live situation, and tweaking them together with the AGS engaged produces a variety of nice tones. All the meanwhile, depending on HOW you EQ, the Tone Hammer can stay fairly transparent, with only a little (IME) sound coloration.
I recorded some clips because I was bored, and thought I could help:
My bass setup: AV '62 Jazz, both pups full, tone rolled off 50% on neck pup, and about 60-70% off on bridge pup (I like the tone deep and punchy on this bass). Bass->Tone Hammer->Tascam US122->GarageBand. No EQ or compression applied post record.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=1092078&songID=10285697
Played with fingers showing a flat setting throughout to try and reserve transparentness of original signal.
1st run: TH bypassed
2nd run: TH engaged no AGS
3rd run: TH engaged - AGS engaged at low GAIN
4th run: TH engaged - AGS engaged at high GAIN
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=1092078&songID=10285696
Played with a pick on various settings (mainly just messing around) 1st run is bypassed, 2nd run is my normal setting, everything else is random.
If you happen to notice any buzzing in the background, I probably was clipping on the track and didn't realize until I already posted them - so if that throws you off, then .. well .. I don't know what I'll do.
Let me know what you think, and if you've got anymore questions, let me know - and I'll probably be bored enough to talk your ear off again
Thanks man - the Basswitch looks awesome, but having sat down and figured out what features I'd really use, don't think I could justify the $$ for using it as a single input preamp di without the effects loops. Look forward to hearing a review and samples when you get it though. The Para Driver I just didn't get on with - I guess the Sansamp vibe isn't quite me.
Check out this thread for the latest details I think - seems they're still working towards distribution. Price has been floated at ~US$500.
This has quite a bit of love here on TB - but doesn't have sweep mids so not for this kid.
Cheers man - this is where I got my starting information from and then did a bit extra research to qualify output levels etc.
Hey thanks guys for taking the time to post - much appreciated.
Dude - that's legendary! You had some time so you whipped up a quick demo for us? Awesome.
I'm liking what I'm hearing here - I don't have a lot of use for fuzz but the "clean" tones sound pretty good to my ears.
Good to hear that the sweep mids work well in a live setting. What type of rig do you run it into?
I had a ToneHammer - nice sound. The only thing that I did not like is when you engaged the AGS, the volume would spike. Other than the one quirk it's a great unit.
Cool Clips Thanx.
Cool Clips Thanx.
scotch
It's not rocket science!
- Nov 12, 2006
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My DHA DI-EQ drives a power amp with ease!
As far as transparent tone goes, check out my clips pitting it against my $600 Aguilar tube di! The DHA really stands up in the totally unfair comparison.
As far as transparent tone goes, check out my clips pitting it against my $600 Aguilar tube di! The DHA really stands up in the totally unfair comparison.
These days, I am actually just playing into a Fender Bassman TV15 combo. My Tone Hammer helps shape my Jazz tone a bit, and gives me a little more push before I go into the TV15. With the amp EQ fairly flat, (most of my tone shaping is done on the TH side, with only minor adjustments done on the amp side depending on room/situation) I get lots of punch, lots of warmth and a nice vintage-esque character. Dial in a little extra gain, tube push to the Bassman pre and I've discovered the secret to rock and roll.
(At least in my opinion).
The Tone Hammer AGS volume spike is surely something to be mentioned - but it is only an issue if you plan on using your Tone Hammer as an overdrive stomp box as well (which I don't think its design intention was exactly for). The Tone Hammer is meant as a dial-in-your-tone pedal preamp, and then leave it alone. It plays very nicely with other pedals so you can feed whatever other drives/fuzzes/whatchamacallits into it, and it will retain the shape of those pedals or IME really bring out some extra sizzle.
It boils down to this for me - the TH pre, combined with my Jazz, is MY tone. I don't really care for active basses (just my opinion guys, don't get upset
) or active tones per se, but the extra shaping and volume boost to my Jazz as an outboard option is where it's at for me.Not to mention that it is also a very useful tool for recording.
Cheers man - I checked out the clips over the weekend when doing my research - does sound good, and thanks for the confirmation that these will drive a power amp. Outside of your reviews though, not a lot of extra info around TB or the web that I could find (reviews / specs etc). Guess these are reasonably rare - have you come across many others in your travels?
And have you ever used a tone hammer, and if so, how would you compare the two?
Well worth understanding this - I'm looking for set and forget too (apart from eqing the room at start of the gig) so not a drama here - thanks for the response.
So, anyone got any experience on bass with the others that came up in the thread - the BBE Acoustimax (I've read mixed reviews online) or the LR Baggs Venue DI, or the John East STMP-01??
scotch
It's not rocket science!
- Nov 12, 2006
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- Disclosures
- Please see Profile for Endorsement disclosures
No, mine was a custom order from DHA UK. Even with shipping, it still only cost about $100 us.
If you're looking for a bit more of a 'boutique' solution, Brian at the LowEnd shop had a couple of Tru-Voice small-format tube pre's on the shelf. I had borrowed one from him to try as a studio di. It didn't perform as I'd hoped in the studio- but it slayed patched into the power amp input on my Fender 300pro! I'm often tempted to get another and find a high-powered tube power amp for live use. No mid sweep though, just 2-band shelving eq.
Cheers man - have you used one of these? What does it sound like?
Great price on the DHA - I'll get in contact with them and see if it's what I'm after. Those tube pre's sound great, but I think I'll stick a little more mainstream at the mo...thanks for your help.
