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Double Bass Radial Engineering's Tonebone preamp - a good pick?

Chris Paget

Chris Paget

Sep 1, 2008
116
2
#1
So, I am close to pulling the trigger on one of these:
Invalid Link Removed

I really like the features, and the site recommends it for bass but also says it is designed for all acoustic instruments. So.... I am wondering if this can be recommended for upright bass. If not, what preamp might be best suited for upright bass? I've used the Fishman Pro-EQ, but maybe this is an upgrade and the low-pass filter feature might help with some tone/volume issues I've been having..
 
#2
Chris Paget said:
So, I am close to pulling the trigger on one of these:
Invalid Link Removed

I really like the features, and the site recommends it for bass but also says it is designed for all acoustic instruments. So.... I am wondering if this can be recommended for upright bass. If not, what preamp might be best suited for upright bass? I've used the Fishman Pro-EQ, but maybe this is an upgrade and the low-pass filter feature might help with some tone/volume issues I've been having..
Click to expand...

Radial has several "tonebones." This is the PZ-pre. Yours is single channel - I hadn't seen that model yet. I have the two channel model, looks like this:

p46979.jpg


GREAT preamp for upright bass. I highly recommend it. Yours is less expensive because it's one channel - so much the better. I play some gigs where I double on upright and mandolin so the two channel version is better for me.

But assuming the one channel is similar, just one channel, I highly recommend it.
 
#4
Awesome. So good to know. I've got a couple of gigs coming up where sound/tone is real important (hall/listening room type) and I'm trying to work out the kinks. I saw the two-channel but rarely play two basses in a gig enough to need that. Thanks for the recs!
 
#7
Chris Paget said:
Any thoughts on how this might compare to the Fishman Pro-EQ?
Click to expand...

Several have commented that the Pro-EQ sounds more "electric bass-ish" than the Radial units. Not 100% sure I agree, but more than one have echoed the sentiment, so there's that.


Chuck3 said:
This is the PZ-pre. Yours is single channel - I hadn't seen that model yet... But assuming the one channel is similar, just one channel, I highly recommend it.
Click to expand...

The PZ-Deluxe uses the same circuitry as the PZ-Pre, just with only the one channel. Sounds pretty much identical.



Radial gear is top-shelf, seriously road-worthy. The cases are made of 14-gauge steel; in a pinch, you can use one to pound nails into the wall to hang your band banner. ;)
 
#8
Mark Gollihur said:
Radial gear is top-shelf, seriously road-worthy. The cases are made of 14-gauge steel; in a pinch, you can use one to pound nails into the wall to hang your band banner. ;)
Click to expand...

I used one briefly a few months ago and like all Radial stuff I've used it sounded very good and is built to withstand a nuclear blast. My only complaint was that it isn't designed to have the output to drive a power amp. If (as most are likely to do) you're using it in front of a bass head this isn't an issue.
 
#10
Chris Paget said:
Interesting! Is the difference drastic between that and one channel (would think so)?
Click to expand...

I use one pickup (Fishman) for brightness, and the 2nd pickup (Gage) for thud. I usually spend a bit of time blending the two to get the tone I need, and I can get a loud sound on big stages without too much honk that works for pizz and arco. Sound guys love it...some have recommended my setup to other players. I rarely use the amp, which means I need to spend time with both the FOH and backline guys so I get the right feed through the side fills and floors.
 
#11
i also have the radial and i love it for acoustic guitar!!! my banjo player uses it in one of the bands i play in and it sounds great! the boost really helps for his breaks.

i am going to use it this weekend for the other band i play in. i just put a full circle on my bass and need a preamp. i used to use a k&k rockabilly with the preamp that came with it and then into a countryman di. i'm going to test the radial saturday. i am going to dial it in using my gk amp and i am curious....

does anyone have suggestions as to a starting point on the eq?

i do a lot better dialing in things if i have a decent starting point. how do you set your radial? i'm sure after i mess around with it, my eq will be different but if anyone could help me get started, i'd appreciate it.
 
#12
Spaldo said:
I feed 2 pickups into the 2 channel version. I just wish each channel had separate eq.
Click to expand...

+1 on the separate EQ for each channel. My one bugbear, otherwise I love it.

Chris Paget said:
Awesome. So good to know. I've got a couple of gigs coming up where sound/tone is real important (hall/listening room type) and I'm trying to work out the kinks. I saw the two-channel but rarely play two basses in a gig enough to need that. Thanks for the recs!
Click to expand...

Two Channels can save the day!
I only use one channel on my PZed-Pre, but the second channel has come into play several times when the fiddler forgot his LR Baggs, or the guitarist's amp dies, or... And that's why it irks me no end that there aren't separate EQs for each channel. Concentric knobs would've kept the EQ area on the unit tidy, but of course the $$$ would've been raised possibly too high.

Another Radial to consider is the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] – Nathan East was digging it for doubling. Ed friedland gave it a review, too. Also a two-channel though.

F-deck's HPF-pre is simple and a popular choice. I plan on getting an F-deck HPF-pre as a backup.
 

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