Subway+ Bass DI-Preamp II

[AObando2002]

First initial reaction: I like it by itself, not digging how it takes pedals. Any tips?

Should add more details. It really does not like the Bass Micro Synth or the Big Booty Judy.

 

[gustobassman]

Mine arrived yesterday and sounds amazing!
I do want to try it through the effects loop of my amp.
Right now I’m going straight into the front end.
But Andy was super helpful about giving me info running into the power amp and trying the return of the effects loop.
But I’m really curious about running it fully through the effects loop.

My basic settings right now.
Love the punch and clarity.
Tons of tones in this thing.

View attachment 7488336

Sounds great through the return of the FX loop. I've done it several times live with the new 800D amplifier. It sounds killer with how the 800D power section is designed.

First initial reaction: I like it by itself, not digging how it takes pedals. Any tips?

Should add more details. It really does not like the Bass Micro Synth or the Big Booty Judy.

Interesting.. everything I've put in front of it sounds fantastic. C4 and the synth/dirt presets i created on the Anagram. I'm curious what the BMS is putting out that isn't jiving with the new preamp.

 

[DJ Bebop]

First initial reaction: I like it by itself, not digging how it takes pedals. Any tips?

You know, I haven't plugged any pedals into it yet Must try.

I do know when I plug pedals into my WD for some reason they sound better, real, true. So I need to try the Subway+ to see if I get the same results.

What pedals are you using that don't seem to be cooperating with it?

I see your list now. What is happening, too hot of a signal going to the preamp? Too little signal? Distortion? Buzzing?

 

[agedhorse]

After a bunch of experimenting with my various other pre’s.
I find no need for them at all.
Not even the Empress para eq.
And I’m now running the Mesa through the effects loop.
Balance has been restored to my world of electric bass.

Often, less is more.

 

[AObando2002]

You know, I haven't plugged any pedals into it yet Must try.

I do know when I plug pedals into my WD for some reason they sound better, real, true. So I need to try the Subway+ to see if I get the same results.

What pedals are you using that don't seem to be cooperating with it?

I see your list now. What is happening, too hot of a signal going to the preamp? Too little signal? Distortion? Buzzing?

Solo Dallas Bass-X, Big Booty Judy (rat), Origin DCX Bass (tone shaper), Micro Synth V2, Cali 76 Compressor

 

[DJ Bebop]

Sounds great through the return of the FX loop. I've done it several times live with the new 800D amplifier. It sounds killer with how the 800D power section is designed.

I find that to be true as well into my WD. I like how it sounds high and tight on high damping, but can get round and bouncy on medium damping, maybe something similar you are experiencing with your 800D and it’s different damping character

 

[gustobassman]

I find that to be true as well into my WD. I like how it sounds high and tight on high damping, but can get round and bouncy on medium damping, maybe something similar you are experiencing with your 800D and it’s different damping character

I believe so.

I've tried it through the efx return on the 800D, D800+ and WD800.. it sounds great through all of them TBH

 

[Pep]

Right! I re-edited my explanation.
It is running the Subway+ back into the Aux In not the effects return.
That way the amp’s preamp is still accessible.

Thanks for the catch

Lucky guess on my part.

 

[Pep]

The Effects Return bypasses the internal preamp. When the external preamp is plugged into the Effect Return, the internal preamp is not heard.

With the external preamp is inserted between the Effects Send and the Effects Return, the amp's internal preamp is now running through the external preamp, the Subway+. They will be “stacked” and both will be heard.

If the external preamp is going into the Aux Input of the amp. It will not bypass the internal preamp, the internal preamp would also be available and active, unless you used the amp’s mute switch to disengage the amp’s internal preamp. Likewise if you use the external preamp’s mute switch.

So if I want to bypass the internal preamp I run the DI-Preamp into the Effects Return?

 

[gustobassman]

So if I want to bypass the internal preamp I run the DI-Preamp into the Effects Return?

yessir (i know you werent asking me, just confirming what DJ said)

 

[DJ Bebop]

So if I want to bypass the internal preamp I run the DI-Preamp into the Effects Return?

Yes!

 

[Pep]

I’ll give that a try. Thanks guys!

 

[AObando2002]

Way too quick of a try, but it’s gonna have to go back unfortunately.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Way too quick of a try, but it’s gonna have to go back unfortunately.

What was happening?
You never said what was going on with it.

 

[AObando2002]

What was happening?
You never said what was going on with it.

It clips very heavily with effects. Anything high gain get super fizzy and loses all bottom end. I adjust the input gain and adjust the the gain/volume levels of all the pedals. It’s sounds good clean, but it doesn’t take pedals well to me.

 

[DJ Bebop]

It clips very heavily with effects. Anything high gain get super fizzy and loses all bottom end. I adjust the input gain and adjust the the gain/volume levels of all the pedals. It’s sounds good clean, but it doesn’t take pedals well to me.

Huh
Not doubting you but this is the first complaint I’ve seen about this DI on this subject of pedals and being non-compatible.

Maybe some of the cats that are sporting large pedal boards can chime in that are using the Subway+ DI Preamp with no problems

 

[agedhorse]

It clips very heavily with effects. Anything high gain get super fizzy and loses all bottom end. I adjust the input gain and adjust the the gain/volume levels of all the pedals. It’s sounds good clean, but it doesn’t take pedals well to me.

That’s not right. The preamp has a lot of headroom when properly set up.

What pedals are you using into the preamp, and by any chance are you boosting the levels a lot out of the pedals?

Where is the gain control on the preamp set?

What voltage are you by operating it at?

We have a LOT of players using it with a wide variety of pedals and this is the first problem I have heard.

 

[Kaepora]

That’s not right. The preamp has a lot of headroom when properly set up.

What pedals are you using into the preamp, and by any chance are you boosting the levels a lot out of the pedals?

Where is the gain control on the preamp set?

What voltage are you by operating it at?

We have a LOT of players using it with a wide variety of pedals and this is the first problem I have heard.

Beat me on it way faster. I advocated earlier on using it like this, and I'm not getting any of the same type of behavior, even when pushing a very hot signal from something like an active G&L. I am though, using a compressor as first in my chain to keep levels in check.

I'd suggest popping to 18v if you have a PSU on board that can allow you do so. 9v was fine, but liked how things 'opened up' a little more at 18v.

Gut is telling me we're hitting something too hard somewhere. Hoping this gets resolved!!!

 

[AObando2002]

That’s not right. The preamp has a lot of headroom when properly set up.

What pedals are you using into the preamp, and by any chance are you boosting the levels a lot out of the pedals?

Where is the gain control on the preamp set?

What voltage are you by operating it at?

We have a LOT of players using it with a wide variety of pedals and this is the first problem I have heard.

Running at 18V, using a Walrus Audio Canvas HP+. (Single power output)

All pedals set at or near unity. Running Dingwall SP1 > Cali76 > MicroSynth > DCX Bass > Backburner Big Booty Judy > SoloDallas Bass-X.

I’ll play around with it some more but I also use a Tone Hammer, Science Amps Mother, Darkglass B7K, Quad Cortex, Darkglass Infinity, SGT-DI (which that does clip a bit). They don’t really clip that bad.

 

[Al Kraft]

Running at 18V, using a Walrus Audio Canvas HP+. (Single power output)

All pedals set at or near unity. Running Dingwall SP1 > Cali76 > MicroSynth > DCX Bass > Backburner Big Booty Judy > SoloDallas Bass-X.

I’ll play around with it some more but I also use a Tone Hammer, Science Amps Mother, Darkglass B7K, Quad Cortex, Darkglass Infinity, SGT-DI (which that does clip a bit). They don’t really clip that bad.

This sounds odd to me based on having played it a lot and frequently comparing notes (no pun inetended) with Gus on his use with some pretty hot inputs...and Gus was often running at 9 volts.

Just for the troiubleshooting/fault isolation fun of it, how does it sound with just your bass going into the box, nothing additional in the signal path? I would then add one effect at a time and see if there is a bad cable/connection, or specific effect that is causing the problem. I would also try that power supply with another box/pedal to be sure it is actually working properly.

Just reading what you posted the problem strikes me as a gain staging issue, especially when you added that last sentence about your other preamps (They don’t really clip that bad.). Something is being overdriven or you're getting unwanted distortion from a bad connection.

I hope that's helpful.