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Question for Pedalboard owners with Class D heads

If you use a class D Amp, do you use a preamp on your pedalboard?

  • Total voters
    136
#21
Other thing to think about is an amp (depending on your amp) might not have the outputs that you want. If you are not using a speaker, in a "silent stage" type situation, you might want two outputs - FOH, and IEM mix.

For example, the Elf has a speaker out and the DI out. Only one out in a silent stage situation for that amp. Just a thought as far as some amps, and having the right tool for the job. Many preamp pedals have more than one output for a silent stage situation.
 
#22
hennessybass said:
I think he was saying that having a Pre on his pedal board would be cleaner than having a pedal board + using his regular class D head as the preamp.
One thing to deal with (the board), rather than two (the board and the amp).
Click to expand...

I run any preamps I’m using directly into
the effects return if I’m using a bass amp. So I’m bypassing the internal preamp and just using the power stage. Which basically turns it into a different amp. I don’t like stacking EQs if I can avoid it. If I have to go into the front of the amp I’ll always leave the amp’s EQ flat, keep gain as low as possible and crank the master. After that, the outboard preamp has the helm.

I understand what he was saying about simplification. But a small 12-15” effect board or a single pedal shouldn’t be that challenging to deal with if you’re sober. ;)
 
#23
40Hz said:
I run any preamps I’m using directly into
the effects return if I’m using a bass amp. I don’t like stacking EQs if I can avoid it. If I have to go into the front of the amp I always leave the amp’s EQ flat.

I understand what he was saying about simplification. But a small 12-15” effect board or a single pedal shouldn’t be that challenging to deal with if you’re sober. ;)
Click to expand...

I hear you and agree.
I just edited my post... the OP was asking about a silent stage situation, and getting a pedal preamp on the board vs just using his board + amp, with no speaker cab.
At least, that's how I was understanding the OPs question.

I also am not a fan of stacking EQs.
 
#24
hennessybass said:
I hear you and agree.
I just edited my post... the OP was asking about a silent stage situation, and getting a pedal preamp on the board vs just using his board + amp, with no speaker cab.
At least, that's how I was understanding the OPs question.

I also am not a fan of stacking EQs.
Click to expand...

Guess I missed the part about the silent stage.

So yeah. Agree. For a silent stage I’d definitely not bother with an amp at all and just use a preamp. Something like the Q-strip works well in that capacity.
 
#25
40Hz said:
Guess I missed the part about the silent stage.

So yeah. Agree. For a silent stage I’d definitely not bother with an amp at all and just use a preamp. Something like the Q-strip works well in that capacity.
Click to expand...

No worries man. The question is kind of buried in there.
707GK said:
So for those of you that have a Class D head as well as a pedalboard, do you have a Preamp/DI on your board? Is it any more or less convenient than having a class D head and using it without a speaker?
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I've actually been eyeing the Q strip. I still use my amp, but have been thinking about the Q Strip, rather than my amps DI for FOH, so I can hit the HPF/LPF and get a bit of control. Also, thinking it would be great to have if I ever get in a situation "without a speaker".
 
#27
_One//Man//Mutiny_ said:
I use a Darkglass Microtubes 900 and I have just started using a Sadowsky SPB 1
It definitely is a bass preamp more than an amp preamp.
Makes all my all of my passive basses sound like they have never sounded before, like they have an active 2 band preamp.
It also makes my actives sound even better, I'm very enamored with that preamp. I love the sound of my amp and I never got along with other preamp pedals like the tech21 stuff. The Sadowsky beefs up the sound of my bass without trying to emulate another amp
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Once I got the Microtubes 900, I didn't feel like I needed a preamp. The only pedals are the little square box and a tuner. My other rig has the Mesa Subway Pre-DI on a small board and a Tech 20 box on top of the amp. I'm using them to split the signal three ways just for the heck of it.
 
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#28
John B jr said:
Once I got the Microtubes 900, I didn't feel like I needed a preamp. The only pedals are the little square box and a tuner. My other rig has the Mesa Subway Pre-DI on a small board and a Tech 20 box on top of the amp. I'm using them to split the signal three ways just for the heck of it.
Click to expand...
Yeah I definitely don't need a preamp at all but the Sadowsky is more for like adding an active preamp to my basses, it makes my passive basses beefier, like my Squier classic vibe mustang sounds incredible through that preamp
 
#29
The preamps I use are anything but transparent, @Erik herman. (did I really write "Tech 20?") I've used active bases for as long as I can remember. Getting a passive P-bass takes away some of the fiddling with knobs. I would mainly use the balance knob but now I just move my right hand up and down the body. I like the off-bass preamps for dialing in a balanced tone and the on-bass preamps for dialing in on a song's flavor.
 
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#31
I tend to think of it as the preamp pedal is set up for your tone and then the amp is for tailoring the sound to the room your in.
So I used to always DI from my preamp, however with the TC Electronic BH550 I now need to DI from the amp as I like to use the Tone Print effects it has. That being said I am looking at buying some pedals so that I have a pedal board with preamp to DI direct and not worry about the Class D amp.
 
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#32
I have a foot in both camps. A pub I play semi-regularly is very supportive of live bands but has no decent PA support, so acts bring their own. I schelp my head an 4x10. Most bigger clubs, and the pro-hall where I play my annual charity gig with my old band from the 80s, have had decent FOH sound systems for some years now, so I just take my DI and get a monitor set up so I can hear myself.
 
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#33
Wissen said:
My amp and cab is a lifeless, characterless Carvin pair. I have never been able to get a pleasing tone out of it. Funny thing is I didn't know that until I built a pedalboard and started using some preamps for bass tone shaping. I was so oblivious about my tone that I didn't know it sucked until the day it didn't.

When I gig on bass anymore, the Carvin rig certainly comes along, but it sits dead flat and I do all the tone work on my pedals.

Not all Class D amps are able to run without a load. Right? I don't think my Carvin can. So if I ever don't need to bring my own on-stage volume solution, I leave it the hell home.
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I haven't heard of a Class D amp that needs to have a load attached, unlike tube amps, which need a load connected to the secondary of the output transformer. They can run all day just feeding the house sound from the XLR low impedance out, assuming the amp has one. It seems most do.
 
#34
knumbskull said:
I’m guessing the xlr out on your head is post EQ?

i’ve done it once by accident (with a LMKII) as i was told there was a cab at the venue (there wasn’t). Can’t say i would bother doing it again!
Click to expand...

Yes, and I should have added I have a couple pedals on my board that also have DI function if I wanted to go that route too, but I love the tone on my SVT-7 Pro, so I run my pedals to that and then to the house. Before I got this head, I used to run DI out of my Zoom B3 (last pedal on my board) on balanced line out while also sending the signal to my last combo amp for stage monitor.
 
#36
My class D amp has a preamp built in already, so the short answer is no. The long answer is I do use an additional pre when doubling on upright/electric, but that is for technical reasons unrelated to the class of the power amp.

If I'm going direct only, I just use a DI.
 
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#37
Very interesting! Thanks for all the responses!!

After reading your responses, I’m leaning towards not getting a preamp but maybe just a nice passive DI instead. I’ve used one from Warm Audio that sounds super nice and isn’t too expensive.
 
#38
I now use a helix lt, so I just look for a loud, light, easy to move power amp.

Before then I used the preamp all the time.

I even used my bass amp as a portable PA system sometimes - bass into preamp, pre out into my little behringer mixer along with mics and other stuff (backing tracks, for example), then all that back into the line in on my amp.

Started doing that with a pf350 a few years ago - damn that was a great little amp.
 
#40
Rolling Thunder said:
Question: can use the DI output on my amp with no speakers?
Click to expand...
If it is class D powered, then more than likely yes. I can with mine. I like using my amp head to DI instead of my board because I've got a nice amp head with a tube Pre-amp and I love the tone.

If I had something like 2 notes Le Bass with tubes or a high end of pre-amp of some sort, I'd likely not use my head if just going FOH and carry one less thing.
 

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