Double Bass Preamps With Variable Input Impedance

[Ric Vice]

At the time, the original Barcus Berry pickups had a “preamp interface” that
made their original silver bar piezo sound better. So, I’m happy with any convenience that improves sound provided it’s simple to use. Just my take. My preference is to have it built
in to my preamp.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

I do not have any experience with this unit but I think I might pick one up to see what it is capable of.

Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter Zi 1-channel DI and Mic Activator with Variable Impedance

I think the cloud lifter was designed for ribbon microphones.
You should double check that the input voltage and impedance range would fit a the pickup of your choice before ordering it.

 

[Wasnex]

I think the cloud lifter was designed for ribbon microphones.
You should double check that the input voltage and impedance range would fit a the pickup of your choice before ordering it.

I think the cloud lifter was designed for ribbon microphones.
You should double check that the input voltage and impedance range would fit a the pickup of your choice before ordering it.

From Cloudlifter CL-Zi | cloudmicrophones :

Variable Impedance Control

Shape tone of your mic or instrument with the Vari-Z knob.

In Mic Mode, the impedance values range from 150-15k Ohms.
In DI Mode the range is roughly 100x, or about 15k-1.5Meg
​

Cool but not really going to give you a lot of extra range for a piezo pickup IMHO.

 

[CryingBass]

Well you guys are right as always. I read 15M ohm, not 15K on the max sweep.

I saw a demo where it sounded good on a P bass, but for my different piezo basses, probably a pass.

Thanks guys

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I think the cloud lifter was designed for ribbon microphones.
You should double check that the input voltage and impedance range would fit a the pickup of your choice before ordering it.

I use a Cloudlifter for a dynamic mic, an EV RE20, to give it more clean gain going into the preamp. Mine does not have variable impedance, though.

 

[Zbysek]

Looks great but unfortunately it's out of stock

Yes, that's correct.

However, Josh Broughton is open to suggestions to make another batch of "archived" pedals. Just go on the "archive" page and insert your suggestion at the bottom of the page.

Number of pedals has been ressurected like this...

https://www.broughtonaudio.com/archive?page=2

 

[Joshua]

The Summit Audio TD-100 has a variable input. It is a wonderful tube preamp but has no eq options.

 

[Ric Vice]

The Summit Audio TD-100 has a variable input. It is a wonderful tube preamp but has no eq options.

Yes, I remember when the Summit TD-100 made the rounds on Talkbass. That was pre Headway EDB-1 and Grace Designs Felix. Players were using them as Pre Amplifiers for Power amps, unfortunately as you mentioned the only have a Gain control and
only go between 10 K and 2 Meg ohms if I'm reading the panel on the box correctly. Brad Sarno's Black Box is a great buffer preamp.

 

[iAsh]

The simplicity of a Sarno Black Box is appealing but I don’t need another high quality tube preamp just to get adjustable input impedance. My prejudice against preamps packaged as stompboxes might be giving way to the versatility of a Felix.

 

[Jefenator]

The Broughton HPF DI looks to me like a great one to try for DB piezo pickups once they get it back in stock. (Very similar to my trusty old fDeck, with a few more amenities.)

I'd love to hear from someone who has already tried one and get their impression of what the impedance sweep does. Is there a sweet spot somewhere between 1M & 10M, or do you always leave that control cranked?

 

[Zbysek]

The Broughton HPF DI looks to me like a great one to try for DB piezo pickups once they get it back in stock. (Very similar to my trusty old fDeck, with a few more amenities.)

I'd love to hear from someone who has already tried one and get their impression of what the impedance sweep does. Is there a sweet spot somewhere between 1M & 10M, or do you always leave that control cranked?

I am using it with my pasive NS Design NXT EUB. I usually set it at either 10MOhm or 5MOhm.

10MOhm position when I prefer full deep bass, 5MOhm position when I when want more articulation...

 

[Ric Vice]

The simplicity of a Sarno Black Box is appealing but I don’t need another high quality tube preamp just to get adjustable input impedance. My prejudice against preamps packaged as stompboxes might be giving way to the versatility of a Felix.

Well,
I used a Walter Woods Ultra for many years, until I came upon the Grace Felix. The Grace compares very favorably to Walter’s preamp sections, with more selective
Midrange EQ a very musical Low Cut Filter, Microphone Inputs, and two independent DI’s. I realize that it’s very expensive, but it has a 5 year transferable warranty and they rarely come up for sale as used. So you could recoup most of your substantial investment if you choose sell.

 

[iAsh]

Well,
I used a Walter Woods Ultra for many years, until I came upon the Grace Felix. The Grace compares very favorably to Walter’s preamp sections, with more selective
Midrange EQ a very musical Low Cut Filter, Microphone Inputs, and two independent DI’s. I realize that it’s very expensive, but it has a 5 year transferable warranty and they rarely come up for sale as used. So you could recoup most of your substantial investment if you choose sell.

That sounds about right but I tend to keep super high quality preamps like that. The couple that I have sold I regret.

 

[Ric Vice]

That sounds about right but I tend to keep super high quality preamps like that. The couple that I have sold I regret.

Same thing here, I have a two units stowed away in the basement. I’ll eventually sell one, once I decide which one to keep as a backup.

One is that Walter Woods Electroacoustic Ultra I mentioned.

 

[B String]

I've found the Nordstrand Starlifter to be a revelation. (and I have a lot of preamps) Very high quality components. Eq'd for upright or electric bass. Switchable impedance. A studio quality preamp/tone shaper for upright or electric bass.

 

[Ric Vice]

Nice,
It looks to be very straight forward and simple. Kind of ideal for piezo pickups. Hopefully, I'll get to try one out as nothing like this ever comes to music retailers in St. Louis.
Since it costs more I'd have to play it on a gig before I laid out $350.00 for it.