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Sunn beta bass and PB-10 preamp

zartalexander

zartalexander

Guest
Mar 17, 2012
105
9
California
#1
I'm thinking about getting a Sunn beta bass amp. The plan is to use it as a preamp into a Mesa Boogie M-190 power amp. Right now I'm using an older Roland bass preamp, which is ok but it would be nice to have something with a built in drive section. I probably should have just waited for a D-180 to pop up, but I got a good deal on the M-190 so I'm trying to experiment with different things.

My only question is that the Sunn Beta Bass and PB-10 both have line outs, so are there any benefits to getting the PB-10 over the Beta Bass as a preamp? I know the PB-10 is harder to come by, but I feel like I could get a Beta Bass for less and it does the same thing and it comes with it's own power section in case I just wanted to use it that way. It also seems smaller...? Am I missing anything?

It would be cool to hear from anyone who has experience with one of these.
 
#5
A good friend of mine has a pb10 and it rules. Personally I would be happy that I know I'd have access to a solid footswitch with the pb10. On a different note I saw that hilbish is about to come out with a full 700 watt class d rackmount head version.
 
#7
DoomNC said:
A good friend of mine has a pb10 and it rules. Personally I would be happy that I know I'd have access to a solid footswitch with the pb10. On a different note I saw that hilbish is about to come out with a full 700 watt class d rackmount head version.
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The beta bass can also use the same foot switch, right?

The hilbish one sounds cool, too. I just want to make good use of my Mesa power amp so I'm mainly looking for a preamp.
 
#10
zartalexander said:
The beta bass can also use the same foot switch, right?

The hilbish one sounds cool, too. I just want to make good use of my Mesa power amp so I'm mainly looking for a preamp.
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I was sayin I'm pretty sure the pb10 comes with a footswitch which is nice. A lot of the betas I see for sale around here require you go buy one cuz the owner has lost/broke it. On another note buzzo uses a beta pre along side a pb10, which has to say something. :)
 
#11
DoomNC said:
I was sayin I'm pretty sure the pb10 comes with a footswitch which is nice. A lot of the betas I see for sale around here require you go buy one cuz the owner has lost/broke it. On another note buzzo uses a beta pre along side a pb10, which has to say something. :)
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Ah, I see. I think I found a company that sells a compatible switch for a reasonable price...?

And it would be dishonest for me to say that my interest is not influenced by users of this amp...hehe (Melvins, Karp, etc.)
 
#14
zartalexander said:
I feel like I could get a Beta Bass for less and it does the same thing and it comes with it's own power section in case I just wanted to use it that way.
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That's true, but the power section is pretty weak. I can't speak to the PB-10 directly but I'd definitely look for a pedal-sized version of the Beta preamp. I've seen other builders besides Correct Sound (Russia) make them, can't think of any names off the top of my head though.

I'll also add that (as a D-180 owner) the D-180's overdrive is not at all comparable to a Beta Bass. I think it sounds a lot better and more natural at low levels, but gets much more blown out and unruly when you crank it.
 
#15
morgan138 said:
That's true, but the power section is pretty weak. I can't speak to the PB-10 directly but I'd definitely look for a pedal-sized version of the Beta preamp. I've seen other builders besides Correct Sound (Russia) make them, can't think of any names off the top of my head though.

I'll also add that (as a D-180 owner) the D-180's overdrive is not at all comparable to a Beta Bass. I think it sounds a lot better and more natural at low levels, but gets much more blown out and unruly when you crank it.
Click to expand...

I guess I should have said earlier that pedal form would not be ideal for the setup I'm after. Looking mostly for an preamp rack or an amp to use as a preamp.

Still can't seem to find any info regarding the beta bass and pb-10 sounding the same. I would imagine they do, but I have no way of knowing with my current level of understanding.

And I've heard the D-180 has a great overdrive. But again, just trying to see what I can do with my power amp since I got it for a good price and it take a bit of effort to flip it and look for a D-180, etc.
 

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