Preamps

[Ryan_B]

I have been enjoying my Bassbone. There are two channels which allow for two different basses - fretted & fretless, or fretted & upright. If you use only one, switching channels is like changing preamps on the fly because both channels are available to the single bass. EBS Microbass offers this too with drive, but the cost for me has been prohibitive.

The effects loop insert is great too - if something happens to your signal chain, your sound can still go through by bypassing the loop.

Overall it is a transparent signal. If you want color, go somewhere else.

-Ryan

 

[bobbybass85]

Another post for the Tone Hammer. You can do a TON with the eq, the tone isn't as "colored" as a Sansamp, AGS can be very useful as a boost if you like to add a little grit.

Love it.

 

[robbotbass]

SansAmp paradriver

 

[Vlad5]

(sigh) I'll play even though I agree with Bongomania, get ready for every 'pre-amp' currently available to be listed, including some rack mountable versions...

My choices (and I've tried the 'popular' contenders) are:

#1
Tech 21 Sans Amp Para Driver DI - lightweight, good DI, widest mid sweep available (afaik) as clean as you like, as dirty as you like (provided you like analogue circuit tube emulation ala the Sans Amp drive). More (ie; actual) mid control than the Bass Driver DI.

#2 (very close #2 by the way)
Aguilar Tone Hammer - I really like the boost footswitch option, great to use at the end of a pedal chain to do what a pre-amp does and overdrive a tube amp on the fly (do bassists still do this often?) Very interesting and useable grit drive based on the mid control setting. Only # 2 because its so big and heavy... Really, I liked it a lot!

If someone gave me either I'd play with em again, just to be 100% sure I didn't need em. But I've owned both and sold em, and only to fund other options, which I'm still experimenting with... (I do miss the DI's on either/both though).

On a personal note, I think the Agie is sexier, if that matters...

Good luck!

 

[Kevdel]

Sadowsky

 

[ghiadub]

Tone Hammer

 

[Vlad5]

heh heh... here we go....

 

[randysmojo]

I've used Sans Amps before and though they work, I find them lacking a personality if that makes sense. I would go for the Aguilar Tone Hammer myself.

 

[ex-tension]

Not mentioned in the topic yet:

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http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f36/mxr-bass-d-i-distortion-soundclips-356264/
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f36/seriously-m-80-bddi-793348/


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http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f36/eden-wtdi-direct-box-preamp-693230/


http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f36/mxr-bass-d-i-distortion-soundclips-356264/

 

[DeathFromBelow]

Tone Hammer.

 

[blastjv]

Yeah, this thread is a little...vague???

But, since we're listing, don't ignore the Xotic BB Bass Preamp (Love what it does to my tone!!!)

-JV

 

[BobaFret]

Is this to run a poweramp or just before another pre? I ask because not all of them will drive a poweramp properly alone.

The Tone Hammer will and does a good job of that.

 

[floydman]

I like the Sadowsky but I'd love to check out that Eden unit

 

[jhfishn]

ToneHammer

 

[Rocksolid]

The Radial Bassbone is really a DI - not a Pre. I have a Radial Bassbone which I tried to run a Powered monitor with and the signal wasn't hot enough. In the End I purchased a ART Tube MP studio to use as a Pre to run an active monitor with and it works really well.

I have the DI out of the BB to go to the desk and the out of the BB goes to the Tube MP then xlr out to my powered monitor.

So the question is - Do you want a DI or a Pre Amp? Bass bone is a good 2 channel DI with some tone shaping capabilities whereas the SansAmp and others are Pre Amps.

 

[Dustin Teel]

The Behringer V-Tone bass pedal sounds virtually identical to the Tech 21 tube emulator pedals and is only about $40. When it first came out, someone posted recordings of the VT Pedal vs. the Behringer V-tone using the same bass line and most TB members who tried to distinguish "which was which" were unable to do so. They sound virtually identical. If you're trying to get that warm tube tone and save some cash, I vote Behringer. Despite the brand's poor reputation, the pedal is outstanding. It has become a central piece of my rig.

 

[jumbodbassman]

Leeds.

tell us more about the leeds. not a lot of info on tb

 

[NeroJazz]

Carrots

 

[Caboclan]

Sansamp BDI Rocks!

 

[FaithNoMan]

tell us more about the leeds. not a lot of info on tb

For the tones I go for, I think it definitely beats the BDDI and anything T21 has made before it. I'm NOT a big Ampeg guy, though. I like the rougher crunch sounds of Hiwatt, Mesa Bass 400, and Marshalls.

This pedal shines here, unlike the VT which to me sounds "gloggy" and waterlogged when it gets overdriven(like an Ampeg!).

With the range of the character knob combined with interactive overdrive, bass, mid, and treble controls I have not yet begun to dissect this pedal, but have gotten some awesome tones from it already.

I've owned the BDDI, Tri-Ac, and the PSA-1, and now only own this pedal as my preamp. This pedal made my PSA sound like a toy in comparison. The warmer midrange is the big difference, it seems.

Here it is DI at mild breakup:

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and DI at full tilt:

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