Preamp pedal

For sound shaping in weird rooms I guess that more than a preamp you need somekind of EQ. IMO preamps are tools to add some colour to your tone. I hope that someone corrects me if I'm wrong.

Having a preamp pedal it's not a priority but it's a usefull tool to have on your board. In my case I use a Sansamp Bass Driver Deluxe as a main tone and DI to send signal to FOH.

 

For the use you describe I still haven't found better than the Boss PQ3Q. The Empress does it and more though.
It depends on what you expect. Do you want a DI, memories stuff ?

 

Broughton Messenger will tick all your boxes. Switchable boost, 2 mid controls, adjustable hpf/lpf. It really is a great piece of gear. You just have to wait they're back in stock.

 

You could use the Q Strip (...I have one) and pre-set it to kick in the desired mid boost (2 bands) but it kinda defeats the purpose. It's an "aways on" pedal in my arena. I guess you could add a boost pedal on the front side. The closest I've come with my arsenal is an EBS MicroBass III. It has a clean channel and OD channel, each with it's own sweepable mid. You can blend the 2 (parallel) or cascade (serial) the clean into the OD...very usable. It has its limitations as some blend settings can actually drop the volume but I've found a few work-arounds. If you don't need a tuner and compressor, a used MicroBass II would be the better deal.

Riis

 

Or try the new Source Audio EQ2.

 

I've been waiting for one since they went out of stock last year
IMO the best bang for your buck would be the Empress EQ because of the range of the filters. It has a little bit of a learning curve at first but it can help you out in a bad room really well if you get the hang of it

 

As it stands as a regular offer from Broughton, i'd wait a few more time. Josh stated some piece of gear being tough to get these last months. My guess is they're lpf/hpf related as the RFE is out of stock too. See Effectrode, demand is high on their LA-1A, but they have same supplies issues and it remains out of stock atm.

 

A preamp could certainly help with weird rooms, and I recommend having one anyway so that you can go straight to the board and not worry about lugging an amp to the show. As for the soloing, I would use a clean boost or maybe a light overdrive for that. That way you don't have to try and find just one pedal that fits both needs, you can get two pedals for their dedicated purpose really well instead of just one that either only kind of does both. I would think that most preamp pedals that fit both uses you're looking for will cost a lot more than two separate pedals.

 

Messengers went out of stock early last year with no new releases since. I believe Josh is currently working on a V2 model. He made some posts about it in the Broughton thread around that time IIRC

 

The Messenger page states they're currently built, my guess is they're not in stock due to some parts missing rather than a forthcoming Messenger V3. I *think Josh explained it a week ago or so on Broughton's thread.

 

Pairing a preamp of your choice with an SA Programmable EQ should let you handle anything and have your presets too.



Detailed review can be found here.

 

Mesa Subway DI Pre-amp. It rides on my board.
Very customization friendly.

 

Darkglass Microtubes X Ultra maybe? Good EQ on there.

 

I have wrestled with this phenomena about perceived tone in different acoustic environments. Maybe more so related to solo extended range bass with effects and e-percussion accompaniment. But, maybe similar observations may help.

First, I am figuring this to be way more complex than this simple reply...but, depending on the size of the room you are challenged to fill, your perception (and the audiences) of your contribution seems to be related to the relationship of the room size, population/sound density interference (at amplitude and tonal characteristics) and your equipment. In larger rooms, more speakers can help. More power can help. Both together can help.

Second, if going through the PA or monitors, you are reliant on the sound tech’s mix. The speakers may be different than your own and the measured effort may be more for audibility than tonality (monitors) or for frequency notching (front of house PA).

If you have a personal/backline rig...you may have to adjust settings (all settings) to accommodate front of house, monitor and your own rig monitoring.

Locally, in amateur smaller club (or similar) settings, this gets to be a challenge. Bottom line. It has taken me awhile to understand and use all of the controls I have in my rig...and I continue to learn at every opportunity. I can never stop learning or exploring. This from a guy that depended on a 1 setting for all circumstances years ago.

 

+1 excellent pre excellent toan

 

The Caline Wine Cellar. I paid 40 bucks for it and its the best 40 bucks I spent in awhile

 

I’d go for either a Mesa Subway Plus or the Broughton Messenger. I have the Mesa and love it.

 

Hm, I seem to recall it being out of stock for upwards of a year now. Mind shooting a link to where josh was saying that about the parts?