Double Bass Single Channel Preamp

[peteswanson91]

Question for the Hive mind here! Mike Arnopol is currently building a new passive 1x8 for me, and I recently acquired a used Demeter Minnie power amp. I am looking for a preamp now…The live mic game is getting a bit much for me (recently sold my mic) and am looking for a single channel preamp to make my current Fishman full circle sound better. I am also wondering if I could get an Ehrlund and it’s preamp to run directly into the power amp…..thoughts guys and gals?

 

[Francois Blais]

Is there a volume control on the power amp?

 

[peteswanson91]

Is there a volume control on the power amp?

Yes

 

[Francois Blais]

A simple Fdeck's HPF-Pre?

 

[peteswanson91]

Ill check it out! Thanks Francois!

 

[Roger Davis]

This is a great piece of kit, a Broughton Audio DI-Hpf. Unfortunately I bought it as part of a short run and it’s now out of production but it’s probably the last piece of kit I’d ever part with. It has variable input impedance, hpf and gain. Plus phase reverse. I’ve never used it straight into a power amp but, in front of a Puma, the amp’s front end never needs adjusting.

If you find one used, bite the man’s arm off!

 

[Ric Vice]

I’ve tried running a FDeck HPF or Ehrlund Pre into my Monique M700. Neither of them really provide enough gain to drive a power amp. A used Headway EDB-2 is really a single channel EQ.

Just my take.

 

[Jim Dedrick]

I’ve tried running a FDeck HPF or Ehrlund Pre into my Monique M700. Neither of them really provide enough gain to drive a power amp.

Just my take.

So Ric is the Monique your go to power amp for the Felix?

 

[Ben Rolston]

This with the optional higher input impedance could be cool:
https://www.broughtonaudio.com/product-page/low-high-pass-filter

Or this (or course): Alix

 

[bherman]

I am very happy with the TC Q Strip. I’ve tried just about everything else out there and this preamp seems to work best for me. I run either a Gull Circle (hybrid DB) or a Realist lifeline (EUB) into a Genzler Magellan 350 and 10-2 array.

 

[Ric Vice]

So Ric is the Monique your go to power amp for the Felix?

It was, until Mike Arnopol started offering powered versions of the MAS 1/8 . I’m not sure he will continue to do that under his new arrangement with the folks at Big E.

 

[kkenda11]

I'm an EDB-2 HE user myself, but if I was committed to using only a pickup I'd probably use the ToneDexter. The Noble DI is certainly nice too!

 

[John Chambliss]

Some folks were playing with using the ToneDexter into a MAS a while back. I believe they were using the ToneDexter’s DI-out to get a hotter signal to the MAS. Audio Sprockets ToneDexter

 

[Wasnex]

Question for the Hive mind here! Mike Arnopol is currently building a new passive 1x8 for me, and I recently acquired a used Demeter Minnie power amp. I am looking for a preamp now…The live mic game is getting a bit much for me (recently sold my mic) and am looking for a single channel preamp to make my current Fishman full circle sound better. I am also wondering if I could get an Ehrlund and it’s preamp to run directly into the power amp…..thoughts guys and gals?

Demeter does not appear to indicate the sensitivity rating for the Minnie 800D. The manual for the VTBP-201-800D indicates the preamp out is +4dB. I believe this is actually +4dBu, but not certain.

The Minnie 800D page indicates, "1/4" Line Level Input (can be trimmed to match any pre)."

Not certain, but this suggests you need a pre that puts out a line level signal.

The Ehrlund EAP puts out 2VRMS, which is higher then +4dBu. For upright bass, IMHO you really benefit from flexible and powerful tone shaping. Although it appears the Ehrlund would be able to drive the Minnie, I would not consider it an ideal solution.

 

[Ric Vice]

I'm an EDB-2 H.E. user myself, but if I was committed to using only a pickup I'd probably use the ToneDexter. The Noble DI is certainly nice too!

The EDB-2 H.E. is $350.00 retail with lot of nice features, while the Noble is $1,099 with a very sophisticated tube timbre, so I guess you'd have to decide which way you wanted to go. I haven't had any experience with the ToneDexter,

and since I was one of the "early adopters" of the Grace Felix, I've stayed the course with that preamp, because it's a considerable investment, sounds incredible, and is remarkably versatile. It's too bad Broughton doesn't make that little preamp anymore. I'm assuming the folks using

the Tone Dexter with the MAS 1/8 were using the powered version. Just my take

 

[John Chambliss]

Yes. ToneDexter to a powered MAS cabinet.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I like the Noble Tube Preamp a lot for the purpose described in the OP.

 

[A Bass And Its Boy]

The Phil Jones PE-5 sounds lovely on DB when the impedance switch is set to piezo.

 

[BobDeRosa]

This is a great piece of kit, a Broughton Audio DI-Hpf. Unfortunately I bought it as part of a short run and it’s now out of production but it’s probably the last piece of kit I’d ever part with. It has variable input impedance, hpf and gain. Plus phase reverse. I’ve never used it straight into a power amp but, in front of a Puma, the amp’s front end never needs adjusting.

If you find one used, bite the man’s arm off!
View attachment 4333343

Sounds like Broughton's missing out on an excellent business opportunity to put these back into production. I don't think I've ever heard a negative word about them. Can someone who knows Broughton make this case to him? It just makes good business sense to make more of these.

 

[Francois Blais]

I have an LR Baggs Venue/DI that would fit the bill perfectly for this.