From my experience, the SC has plenty of output oomph (that's tech speak for "It gots the volts!") I realize that's not exactly scientific, but with two different QSC amps (a PLX and a GX series) I only needed 50% on both the SC's gain and volume to drive either amp to "way loud enough." YMMV, but the SC has plenty of output.
On a side note: My SC/power amp setup is still in transit; will be here in a couple of weeks. My Shuttle 6.0 that I mailed to myself to use in the interim got stolen.
It never made it to my new address. I claimed the insurance at the post office. I couldn't be ampless for two months...
I found a
great deal on a used Demeter HBP-1 (50% of new). It was made in 2001 but you would never know it by looking at it or playing through it. I was pleasantly surprised when the actual pre matched the pics and the description and was in the "like new" working condition the previous owner said it was. I lucked out.
Of course, you can't play a pre by itself...I'm now the proud owner of a Crown XLS1500 too (very happy with this amp!)
I realize this is the SC thread, but I have to say, I think I found "IT." The HBP-1 is very sterile sounding; it has no overdrive/dirt capability at all...not even a little...but OMG...can you say "warm piano tone?" Notes just RING and it "feels" organic , if that makes sense. It's a big, round, warm sound, and that's with all the twiddly knobs flat. I only have one bass w/me right now; my Ash-bodied, SX Jazz. And I'm playing through a TB110 little ported cab. (I'm a club member
) Can't wait to play my Warmoth Jazz with EMG's and Avatar 212 through it!
The parametric EQ on this thing is so flexible, it's scary. Most parametric tweaking (IME) with the SC resulted in "Well I hear the difference but I don't like it." With the HBP-1, the tweaking results in "OH, I hear what that did...that's sort of the tone from "that song"...don't want that right now...gotta tweak some more." I completely understand we're talking about two different products from two very different price ranges here. I get it. Also, the HBP-1 is a dedicated bass pre, whereas the SC is a MIC pre that can be utilized for pretty much anything (that's why I bought it.)
My pedalboard (where I get my "dirt") is in transit also. I essentially like a 70's Ampeg type tone for most things, but want the capability to do other things too. If I can get some "dirt" or "hair" (just a little) and somehow add it to the "piano tone" without changing the fundamental tone of the pre, my SC will be up for sale. Sorry for the thread derail
. I haven't posted anything about the Demeter yet...I've had no time to do anything close to a "review." Heck, I had the pre shipped to the hotel I was living in before I found a place to live! Hotel walls are really thin...the guy upstairs banged on my door at 11:00PM on a Saturday to say "Sounds great...and why are you playing that in a hotel room? Nevermind...I can hear it....knock it off!"
Wow...it all just came out in this thread. Sorry for the derail. I look forward to comparing these two rigs. I still will use the settings pointed out previously in this thread. I just couldn't figure out how to get a great tone (IMO) out of the SC. I know it's in there somewhere.
Mike
