Preamp suggestions?

Are you looking for a clean sounds, a little hair, lots overdrive? For clean and simple, I like the MXR M81 or the Mesa Subway DI (although the Mesa stuff had a major price increase earlier this year). I used a Darkglass Alpha Omega Ultra, which was great on clean and used the distortion for a real low overdrive. The graphic EQ on that is nice.

 

I have both and think they are both excellent choices for tone shaping. The FET-F2B has that timeless sound of clean Fender bass amps that we all adore. The Ictaneo starts there and adds a little bit of modern tonal sheen to your clean. As front end driver or last stage polisher both do a fine job.

 

+1 on the Mesa Subway DI/preamp.
it adds so much to my mix.

 

I really love the Shift Line Olympic. A punchy tube preamp with D.I. Small considering it’s a tube inside and very well built. It’s the best preamp I’ve tried so far and I’ve tried a lot. But of course, that’s a matter of taste. Check it out!

Shift Line OLYMPIC MkIIIS Tube bass preamplifier with IR-based cabinet simulation

 

solid rig!
the Mesa DI may be a bit redundant for you then...

 

I'm not quite clear on what you are trying to achieve... Tone controls? A certain brand's character?
Having said that, I love my Ampeg SCR-DI, from motown to salsa to grind and clang, it's all there, and I can go straight to the PA if needed.

Diego

 

I have a Broughton Messenger which I really like, very clean modern present sound. Solid clean gain and clean boost. HPH and LPF, tuner out, DI. I also have a radial Bassbone OD that I use with db as it has high impedance input. Also a very nice unit, hpf, tuner out, DI, mute, not a fan of the OD or fx loop so I don't use those.

 

A 4/5 band para eq with hi and lo pass filters into a power amp. You can recreate any sound out there.

 

If you just want everything else in your setup to sound a bunch better, get a Noble.

 

For tone-shaping, I doubt you could do better than a parametric eq, like this: ParaEq
It is NOT a preamp, but since you don't need a DI, this could be the ticket. No tuner out, but you can prolly use the one in the d800+.

Happy hunting!

PS. That Chromatron looks sweet!

 

As preamps go, I really like the trace Elliot transport B. It has some really useful flavors and is very clean and quiet!

 

I agree with diegom 100%!

I did a lot of research over a year into preamps and EQ units.
First, I bought a Boss GEB-7, which was a step forward in EQ quality.
A very good unit. $100.
Then, I noticed the Empress Para EQ, and researched it for about 7 or 8 months before buying it. $250, but worth every penny.
This thing can take most of the thump out of a P-bass or add highs to a muddy bass. It's got a long learning curve, but once you become familiar with what it's capable of, you'll think it's the best pedal you ever bought.
I know I do.
It's fantastic. I'm still learning after about 6 months.
I recommend it to anyone.
Mike

 

I have the Messa Subway preamp DI and I think it is outstand. I saw this yesterday from Broughton called the Messenger and it looks like a very fine clean preamp with some nice features.

https://www.broughtonaudio.com/product-page/messenger

 

I’m really intrigued by Nordstrand Audios “Rocket Surgeon” preamp.

 

Broughton Messenger preamp is what you are looking for if you need nice and clean with no baked in tone.

The Fet f2b / Broughton Silver Deluxe are Alembic/Fender designs that have that tone stack. Clean and only slight furry but that tone stack dominates.

The Ictineo is one of my favorites as well.