Probably the best way to resolve this is to go on a preamp bender. You can’t have too many.
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Preamp: Deep, clear lows wanted
- Thread starter el murdoque
- Start date
When I can't use my Eden amp through my DNA cabs I use a WTDI which is a DI stompbox with built-in Eden WT preamp and adjustable compressor. Has bass EQ centered at 30Hz, mid EQ that can be toggled from low-mid at 500Hz (where I use it with my Jazz) to high mids at 2KHz, and a treble shelf control for everything above 2KHz. Also has the Eden Enhance control which IMO is good for practice, slap, and solo's. It boosts bass and treble while scooping the mids. If you turn it up above 9 o'clock in a group, you will start to disappear. By 11 or 12 o'clock you will be totally lost in the mix. Good news is that if you want a boost in the bass without scooping the mids or boosting the trouble, just push in the bass boost button (nice feature!). It also has a Gain control as well as Master.
If you are familiar with Eden and DNA they produce incredibly clear, clean, warm, and full sound. How tight your bass actually sounds is dependent upon what cab you are using because they put out very clear sound throughout the bass spectrum of frequencies and the ability to replicate those sounds is only limited by the cabs you use. In 2019 I used it at a professional recording studio Seattle. With my passive '82 Jazz bass I ran the controls flat and ust boosted the low-mids (500Hz) to 1 o'clock or slightly past that.
After the 3-hour session the sound engineer and the owner of the studio came over to see what I was using because it sounded so good. They played back a few parts of one of the songs and asked me what I thought of it. I told them it sounded like there was a little more bass than I was used to hearing but that it was full and clear and not muddy at all. The engineer said, "that's your raw signal as you sent it to us. The only thing we adjusted on the board was the level. We didn't adjust any of your EQ or add any compression to your signal". I handed the box over to them to inspect and the owner said, "doesn't Eden want to sell amps anymore?"
It's really a great little box with built-in preamp and adjustable compressor. The sound of your low end will be limited by the cabs you use with it, not by the abilities of this preamp/DI box to generate them.
InterBass
I buried this in my other post. The Quilter bass amp, BB-800 is very clean without being abrasive.
I buried this in my other post. The Quilter bass amp, BB-800 is very clean without being abrasive.
D
Deleted member 165050
Guest
I've had a couple of these and they are very good and not over-expensive. There are different versions I think with different power requirements (although I believe they are all sold with PSU) and the earlier ones weren't always too happy with high-output active basses. Compressor is a one-knob deal but is just right for EBG. A great little box and if you want deep sounds they are in there for sure.
Nuts! I missed your "effects loop" requirement. You can certainly plug effects into the input but the WTDI doesn't have a dedicated effects loop. However, the Eden Terra Nova module does.
The TN module is actually the exact same preamp as the one on my class D, TN-226 amp that I use for small venues with a single 112 cab. Has a gain control with gain set light that will flash and dance when you've set it correctly, a bass shelving EQ for everything 30Hz and below, two semi parametric controls covering everything from 30Hz up to 2KHz and a treble shelving control that covers everything above 2KHz. I has a bass boost button like the WTDI and the Enhance (shape control) like the WTDI. It's about 3 pedals wide and has a footswitch on/off for mute; on/off for Enhance (you can set a solo or slap sound up with the Enhance control and turn it on and off as needed). It has a full effects/return loop and you can turn the effects loop on and off with that footswitch too. You could actually get at least three or four different sounds out of it by just stepping on the appropriate footswitch.
It comes with a 15v power adapter and works with either a 15v or 18v. A really nice thing if you're going to incorporate it into a pedal board is the ability to take either positive-center OR negative-center power adapters by just toggling the DC polarity switch on the back. It has aux-in and headphone jacks on the back, ground -Lift, and a tuner out. The DI out has pre/post toggle and a DI level switch (toggles from line to mic levels) It also has 1/4" left and right outputs on the back as well as active and passive inputs on the side. This has an auto-compressor that I've found to be really nice on my actual TN amp. It is very smooth and not harsh at all. When you have the compressor engaged you can control it with the gain knob and as you turn it up it adds more and more compression. When the compressor is engaged, that gain clip will flash as it engages and releases. Dimensions are 10.2" wide, 2¾" tall, and 6.3"deep.
These are a little hard to find right now but I saw a new one on Reverb for $199. Here's a couple of pics:
Freekmagnet
Commercial User
I’m on one of those right now! I just got a Creation Audio Funkulator, and I have a Craig Anderton Super Tone Control and a Nathan East Preamp clone on my workbench being built.
Correct answer. Do not really need a pre-amp for the band I once sub-in for what the BL called as Booty bass driven. This band did reggae and world music with African Club sounds Was using a Mesa 400+ that had a graphic EQ and into a a 1X15 and 210.
You can have all the pedals and preamp but your tone stack should be capable as well as your power amp and the speakers of course
And in general at least IME, fx loops on bass thin out the sound. If I were you I'd use a Boss LS-2 so that your sry bass sound is not affected. Even though FX loops are parallel, something like the LS gives you control. It really is superior to the blend of a pedal. Some FX loops have a blend capacity but those are rare.
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
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- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
I couldn't get a 400+ clean enough.
It's why I started using much higher power class D amps with tube preamps.With the Alembic SFX2, you could vibrate the floor, rock the walls and more. It does seem to drop off a bit around 3k or so but it’s a worthy trade off. It’s the coolest sound shaper I’ve heard that come close to what you’re after.
I really prefer to leave the heavy lifting to the PA. I'm not on IeM's and have moderate tinnitus. For me and the reset of my band, we really prefer low stage volume. We also feature a lot of close 3 part harmony and none of us want our hair parted by a wedge...
So... a preamp based rig sending to FOH and a reasonably neutral cab - unlike @BurningSkies 1566 which can only be termed 'unreasonable' and neutral ;-) - works best for me.
I like the sound of that Eden DI... I have alway dug the Eden sound. Never experienced the reliability issues that they had way back there. A couple of years ago I had a Navigator rebuilt. Racked it up and there it sits. Maybe that Eden DI has some of the magic?
So... a preamp based rig sending to FOH and a reasonably neutral cab - unlike @BurningSkies 1566 which can only be termed 'unreasonable' and neutral ;-) - works best for me.
I like the sound of that Eden DI... I have alway dug the Eden sound. Never experienced the reliability issues that they had way back there. A couple of years ago I had a Navigator rebuilt. Racked it up and there it sits. Maybe that Eden DI has some of the magic?
Righto ... one mor3 plus for the hx stomp. Octavers suck. Period. End of story. Unless combined with an HPF that lets you roll off the sub octave down low. Down low is going to vary rig to rig but most rigs just lose it below G on a 4 string. @BurningSkies ... yeah dude, you are probably an exception ;-) What is sweet about the HX is being able to drop an hpf in front of the octaver on a separate path. Full range on one, sub octave hpf'd on the other. Very nicely cleans up the mud...
If you’re not worried about money you could go with a programmable EQ, like the Boss EQ-200, and the Two Notes Torpedo C.A.B.
No need for an effects loop cause you can put whatever effects you want between the eq and cab.
No need for an effects loop cause you can put whatever effects you want between the eq and cab.
My $0.02 : you need less of the lows than you may think.. for that kinda thing I would bump up around 120hz, smoothly roll off everything higher, then dial in the low-lows to taste; don’t make the low-lows the heart of your sound, you WILL be flabby.
you may also consider a HPF like the microthumpinator etc to cut out the subsonic lows- this, counterintuitively, can make your low end perform better.
also your speakers have a lot to say, if you’re struggling to get the sound you want
Sorry if this isn’t what you asked, it’s just that most modern preamps can ‘do’ any ‘sound’ unless they’re overly specific or old school focused. Get the features you need first, because almost any pre/amp can achieve any common sound- struggle beyond that is either user error or limitations somewhere else in the chain.
first to recommend EBS Microbass3? a little surprised. 2 independent or bendable channels, fx loop w stereo option, stereo or pre/post(at the same time) DI outputs. Oh, it sounds really good. Built in tuner, onboard comp.
I was thinking the very affordable Eden WTDI would be perfect for what your describing.
I AB’d the WTDI with a Sansamp and what a difference. The WTDI is so much cleaner and fat sounding. That bass boost button is unreal. Truthfully I find it so fat it’s unusable accept to fatten up a tiny cab at low volumes.
The regular EQ on the WTDI is very useful though and definitely worth your time to preview if you can get around the fx loop need.
What’s in the fx loop?
I AB’d the WTDI with a Sansamp and what a difference. The WTDI is so much cleaner and fat sounding. That bass boost button is unreal. Truthfully I find it so fat it’s unusable accept to fatten up a tiny cab at low volumes.
The regular EQ on the WTDI is very useful though and definitely worth your time to preview if you can get around the fx loop need.
What’s in the fx loop?
