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The $20 Amazon Preamp - It Sounds Good To Me:)

CoffeeLove

CoffeeLove

Supporting Member
Aug 4, 2013
1,507
1,715
California, Central Coast
#1
Ha! Hated the Tonepump Junior preamp in my Secter Legend 5. Purchased a $20 two-band preamp and it sounds/works great, definitely more tone shaping ability, better than the Tonepump.

It's always nice finding something you like that's cheap, hope it will go the distance. Don't hassle my chord/cable management, I'm just glad it works, haha.
InShot_20231123_220821002.jpg
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#5
CoffeeLove said:
I cannot speak to individual component quality, just that it works for me.
Click to expand...
It's a re-branded Ming.

They're one of those outfits quietly supplying the guitar/bass industry for years but relatively unheard of by the GP.

Personally I think those are great wee units, very affordable/easy to install and perfect should you fancy hearing how a passive bass performs as active :thumbsup:
 
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#8
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#9
CoffeeLove said:
Here you go. I cannot speak to individual component quality, just that it works for me.
https://a.co/d/c1Rdx42
Click to expand...

An onboard preamp is a simple circuit that shouldn’t require expensive tightly specced components to sound good.

Bottom line: if it’s reliable and sounds good then it is good. :thumbsup:
 
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#10
superheavyfunk said:
30hz bass & 6k treble? That sounds crazy to me. I’d love to hear this thing in person… maybe I’ll try out the 3 band version in my Charvel. That one is 80hz, 900hz, and 3-7khz?? How does that work? Lol
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Those are very useful EQ points for bass in a mix. Possibly it works exceptionally well.

30Hz will probably sound huge but that’s a very poor choice.
 
#11
StayLow said:
Those are very useful EQ points for bass in a mix. Possibly it works exceptionally well.

30Hz will probably sound huge but that’s a very poor choice.
Click to expand...
The 2 band really seems like it should be “cut only” …on paper, at least.

The thing that confuses me about the 3-band is the treble being 3-7khz but no way to choose…? But hey, for $20 plus shipping its about the same as a McDonalds meal these days and likely far more fun to play with.
 
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#13
superheavyfunk said:
30hz bass & 6k treble? That sounds crazy to me. I’d love to hear this thing in person… maybe I’ll try out the 3 band version in my Charvel. That one is 80hz, 900hz, and 3-7khz?? How does that work? Lol
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Yeah, go figure. Not sure I believe the 30Hz and 6K treble specs, but it sounds good to me, especially compared to the Tonepump Jr that was in it before, that thing was not awesome.
 
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#15
@CoffeeLove - I know next to nothing about pickup and onboard pre electronics, but am tempted to pick this up to start the learning curve (see this thread I started... Peavey Grind5 BXP upgrade/repair - many questions ) .

I see that the three band version has five pots, and I assume four of them are them vol, treble, bass, and mid based upon the visible labels in one photo. Can you confirm that the fifth pot is a blend control between two pickups? In the two-band version... vol, treble, bass, and blend?

Thanks...

Oh... and I got a kick out of the spec listed that this pre has a 250W output!!! Cooooolll.... we don't need no steenkin' power amps!!! Now if we could just mount an onboard speaker that would handle 250W and go down to 40hz... ;)
 
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#17
MuseChaser said:
@CoffeeLove - I know next to nothing about pickup and onboard pre electronics, but am tempted to pick this up to start the learning curve (see this thread I started... Peavey Grind5 BXP upgrade/repair - many questions ) .

I see that the three band version has five pots, and I assume four of them are them vol, treble, bass, and mid based upon the visible labels in one photo. Can you confirm that the fifth pot is a blend control between two pickups? In the two-band version... vol, treble, bass, and blend?

Thanks...

Oh... and I got a kick out of the spec listed that this pre has a 250W output!!! Cooooolll.... we don't need no steenkin' power amps!!! Now if we could just mount an onboard speaker that would handle 250W and go down to 40hz... ;)
Click to expand...
Hey. Yes, the 2-band is volume, treble, bass, and blend. Unfortunately, I know nothing about the 3-band version other than the details on Amazon.

It was a fairly easy install, just 3 wires needing a soldered connection. A little double-sided tape worked wonders for adhering the Preamp to the body.
 
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#18
thisSNsucks said:
I put one in a peavey bass for a customer. It didn’t have any electronics when I got it so nothing to compare to in this bass but it sounds pretty good to me. Very easy install too.
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Glad to hear it. I am optimistic the preamp will last a while. I only mention that because the Preamp survived my clunky/semi-abusive install skills:D, so hopefully it can/will go the distance.
 
#19
Another data point... I followed through and installed the three band version in my Peavey Grind5. The only teensy issue was that one of the nuts they included for the 1/4" jack was just a tad too small or the wrong threads.. it wouldn't thread on. No worries.. I had spares on hand.

Other than that, an easy installation, drilling the extra hole (my bass only had 4 holes, the three band version of this pre needs 5) went fine, and ... amazingly.. it sounds GREAT. Quiet, flexible... it's like I have whole new, MUCH better bass. Thrilled....
(inner row is bass/mid/treble, outer pair is blend w/ gold volume knob)
Gring5Upgrade.jpg
 
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