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Preamp... Bring Your Creativity!

O

OxJohnson

May 28, 2007
649
2
Atlanta, Georgia
digitalmirth.blogspot.com
#1
As some of you may know from earlier posts, I run a Preamp->QSC Power amp->4x10 setup. For the preamp I currently have a Sansamp Para.

The problem with the Para is that it randomly clips/distorts, sometimes even with the blend at 0% and the gain at 0%. I believe that this is due my basses overloading the input, but seeing as it does it even with my passive bass (a Yamaha RBX170) I think there may be another problem with it. I have talked to the folks at Tech21 and they have agreed to RMA it and take a look at what could be wrong with it. They are a great company as far as I can tell so far.

So... I am currently using a cheap ART Tube MP and everything sounds fine and works well. The problem with the Tube MP is that it has no EQ or other tone shaping abilities and seeing as I like my Ibanez basses, I do require a little help in this area.

So... I figured that ART must be decent if this little $39 preamp sounds as good as it does for what it is. Monday I ordered a Tube Channel Pro from MF. I got it yesterday and the output is dead. The pre send and the compressor send work, but the output does not... time to send it back.

Now, I need help to decide what to put in front of my RMX850 as a RELIABLE preamp. I just want to be done with this!!! I am willing to spend around $300 on the preamp, but it HAS to be reliable! The features that I would really like to see are:

1) Enough gain to run the input of the RMX850.
2) The ability to handle an active bass on the input.
3) A clip indicator (sounds obvious, but the Sansamp lacks this)
4) An EQ.
5) I would like a compressor, but not required.
6) I would prefer an AC power supply (no 9V batteries).
7) The ability to run the RMX and go to the board at the same time. I.e. 2 effected outputs off of one input.
8) Rack mounted is heavily preferred.

I play blues/rock and do not need distortion. Tube coloring would be nice, but not required. I am willing to even go with separate units, but the sum total should cost around $300.

After I figure out what is up with the Sansamp I will probably keep it as a backup, but I would really like something to go into the rack that I can rely on.

Any help would be appreciated! Lets get creative!
Ox.
 
#3
Have you considered a Presonus Eureka? It may be a bit more than $300, but not much more...

I know what you mean about the Pro Channel. I love the sound and controls but I've now had two and both have had issues.:(
 
#4
Sipuri,

I was actually considering the BMax, but I had bad luck with a used 383 which is the predecessor to the BMax. I was wondering if someone would bring it up. That may be the route that I go... I know Bob Lee uses a 383 with a QSC amp (go figure). Do you think it can handle high-gain basses like the SRX500 and the RD500?

dunamis,
I actually heard about the Eureka today! It is $499 on sale at GC. We were at GC and the guy there recommended it highly, but he admitted that he was a guitar player and had only used it in the studio. I would have bought it then but it was a bit out of my price range and I hadn't ever heard it mention here before. If I am going to drop that kind of coin on something I want to make SURE that it will work. Thanks for the info, I may have to consider it now.

Keep the replies coming, I need a solution ASAP!
Ox.
 
#6
fenderphil said:
sansamp has a really nice rackmount emulator preamp.
Click to expand...

I already have one of the floor models and it doesn't do particularly well with active basses. Either that or it has issues, either way Sansamp is going to look into it and try to help me out.

Are the rack units any better? I know that they don't have clip indicators, which is kind of important so I know what is going on with the rig.

If Sansamp can resolve the issue, then I will already have one... so I should be fine there. If they can't, then why would I want another one that my bass would overload? Unless, of course, the rack mount units are more tolerant.

Thanks for the help though!
Ox.
 
#9
You are correct... I misspoke there.

So, that would work? Is that a decent EQ? The irony is that I am a set and forget kinda guy, so the less knobs the better... but the Ibanez basses sound a little mid scooped to me, so I like to put it back. The RD500 is waaaaay bottom heavy IHMO. The ATK300 is fine as-is, but I have yet to gig with it.

Is there a decent rack alternative to the MP? Outside ART?

Ox.
 
#14
Again, the price is a bit higher but, you might check out the Phil Jones Bass Buddy. It's a great sounding preamp IMO, and a really well made piece of gear. It's not a rack mount though...

I just spent a few hours A/B'ing some of my stuff in front of a Bergantino IP/EX112 stack. Of the various preamps or other devices I tried, I liked it best with the possible exception of the Summit TD-100. (My tests included what I have on hand right now: Avalon U5; ART Pro Channel; ART Levelar; Tech 21 SABDDI; Yamaha NE-1).

It also has an onboard 10 watt power amp that can drive a cab at practice volume, and a headphone amp with audio input (incluing a volume control) for a stereo source like an iPod, cd player, laptop etc.) for play along using headphones.

Controls include a 5 band graphic EQ and an optical compressor/limiter that's actually pretty decent (a surprise to me, since onboard comps on preamps usually suck). And, it can be powered via either the included power supply or 9 volt batteries (2).

Pretty cool!:cool:
 
#16
Check out a Peavey Max Preamp. You can usually pick 'em up used on ebay for around $200. It's got two channels, one tube and one solid state with a blend option between them, bass, mid and high eq knobs, 7 band graphic eq, cross over, everything you need but the compressor. Plus it's Peavey so reliability isn't an issue.
 
#17
Dunamis,

I just saw your other thread about the ART Tube Channel. Did you ever get it sorted out? Does it work now?

I spent all night last night and most of the day today looking into channel strips and preamps. I keep coming back to the fact that the ART Channel has everything that I want, but I don't know if I just exchange it for one that works if I will ever trust it. Maybe I should give it another shot.

The PJB is only $329, so that is not out of my range. At that point though I wonder if just getting a dbx EQ and the prosonus TubePRE wouldn't serve me just as well.

I know that I am making this harder than it has to be. Who would think that getting a preamp would be so hard?!

As for the IVP, there was one in the classifieds, but it is now gone... This seems to be the story of my search so far!

Ox.
 
#18
OxJohnson said:
Dunamis,

I know that I am making this harder than it has to be. Who would think that getting a preamp would be so hard?!

Ox.
Click to expand...

Ox,

LOL! You're not alone my friend! I've spent hours looking at channel strips, compressors, mic pre's, preamps, active di's, etc. I want: warm but articulate preamp; EQ; compression. The Bass Buddy gives me all of these and sounds better (IMO) than some much more expensive devices. I tried a UA LA-610 for example, and find the Bass Buddy to be much more to my liking tone-wise. I've tried a bunch of stuff but I just keep coming back to the Bass Buddy.

I've thought about assembling a rack using seperate devices. Closest I've come to this is a Summit TD-100 with Summit TLA-50 for compression (still no EQ though). The TD-100 is great tone-wise but the TLA-50, not so much.

As far as the Pro Channel: based on features, it's a 10 in my book (OK, maybe a 9.9-- nothings perfect:smug:). And, it sounds very good. A little on the noisey side maybe but not too bad. Reliability though, is questionable at best.

The first one was replaced by ART (Yorkville) after the compressor died within the first hour or so of use. The second one has exhibited some problems with breakup in the preamp section if I push it hard for a while. Not reliable enough for gigging I'm afraid.

The search continues...

Peace,

Matt
 
#19
Well, after a bit more of looking I came across the Studio Projects VTB1 for a preamp. Now, it really only does the same thing that the ART MP does, but I can rack it and it has a front instrument input. Is that worth $120 to me... I dunno. The guy who plays harmonica for us just bought one and he really seems to like it. I just passed it by earlier because I thought it had nothing extra to offer over the ART. But racking is a huge deal to me as I could just leave everything hooked up in the rack while in transit and have one less thing to worry about at the show.

So, any bad news to be known about it? I did a search here and came up with 5 or 6 threads and nothing of significance either way in any of them. One thing I am interested in however is if I can take the XLR to my amp and at the same time run the 1/4" out to the board. I would think I should be able to, but the manual doesn't state either way.

Ox.
 

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