Preamp

[wmhill]

I have had good experiences with the BBE B-max preamp. It only has 1 gain adjustment, but 2 inputs- hi/low (passive & active) . Very clean and natural sounding.

 

[okcrum]

We are talking about a 62 J-Bass! Don´t do this with such a fine instrument. That would be like putting the cheapest tires on a Porsche.

It would be like putting knobbies on a Porsche because you're going offroad. Street tires would be useless. But it looks like we listen with our eyes in this thread. Perhaps we should define a minimum price that would be tolerated for a solution before suggesting one, so as not to offend the cork sniffers.

 

[chuck norriss]

for an original 62 Avalon U5

 

[dincz]

In a live performance setting, a decent small mixer will do fine. You don't need 110 dB S/N (signal-to-noise ratio) onstage when the S/N of the rest of the system is 60-70 dB and the S/N directly from the bass is around 45 dB. Distortion and response are similarly degraded from studio settings.

Absolutely dead right! The only down side to most small mixers is their mic preamps, which might be too noisy for micing quiet acoustic instruments. But for the kind of levels you get from a bass, it really isn't an issue.

 

[cnltb]

Looking for an external preamp for a 62 jazz bass.
Any suggestions ?

I'd always go glockenklang if I was after a conventional bass pre amp.
In case I wanted something in a small box I'd put a musiciansounddesign onboard pre in an external box.

 

[Sundrop66]

The Fender TBP-1 can be configured to use the effects loop just for gain to compensate for your basses' level differences. Classic Fender tone stack, warm and clean when the overdrive and semi-parametric EQ are bypassed.

 

[aledeville]

Fender TBP-1 is an excellent device. Right combination between oldschool and "vintage", and modern and deep.
The VariQ is also footswitchable. In combination with the FxLoop (used as a boost) this is very powerful.

 

[DigitalMan]

The nice thing about the Avalon U5 for this application is that the input volume is adjustable in fixed increments. For example, you could find that a value of 6 works for the Jazz, and that 4 works for the active bass. No guessing needed. Every time you switch basses you rotate the knob two clicks one way or the other.

 

[will33]

Agreed a clean DI and small mixer will do it, that is if you really want "uncolored" or close to it.

There is still the matter of the speakers used.

 

[bass12]

If all you're looking to do is add a bit of beef to your live tone you might want to check out the Xotic Bass RC Booster.

 

[NOVAX]

I'm going to say the Presonus
Eureka-The poor man's Avalon.
Stepped control knobs for repeat ability. Clean as a whistle. Looks pretty cool.

 

[Bassmunnky]

Radial Bassbone OD

My new always on pre

 

[svtb15]

You didnt give many specifcs.. So if you want pristine with PERO specs. This is ahnds down about as good as you can get.. I had the Avalon777 and presonus Eureka. both great. I even have a presonus endorsement. .but this is the best one the A-Design Ventura..
http://www.adesignsaudio.com/ventura-mic-pre-eq-di.htm

 

[Sid Fang]

Ebs microbass ii, two channels both with eq, fantastic tool.

It *does* seem to correspond to the OP's needs - A/B switchable for active/passive, can be very clean (it has tube simulation and "character" EQ circuits that can be turned on/off). I like the fact that I can phantom-power it off my mixer. It's what I use for recording, and I'm quite happy with it. It handles both my active Status and my passive NS EUB very nicely. A little quirky to set up, though.