The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

[SteveC]

Do you guys really use that much EQ ?

That's my thing as well. I really don't EQ that much - on my bass or my amp - so I don't think I need a preamp. I'm starting to think that I will leave my board as is as I really like it and I think it sounds awesome.

I can use the compressor as a DI (it has a balanced 600 ohm output) if I want and it has been working just fine.
I MAY add a tube DI, but it probably won't be on the board. It would probably be a separate thing, like a REDDI or Avalon U5 or something that isn't really "board friendly" that I can take for DI/IEM/FOH supported gigs or I can just use the board without the DI for gigs where I use my amp.

 

[alecvbass]

Please explain what you said about the EQ. I've read similar things about the SLO's EQ, which is not too dramatic, it never sounds bad etc. I agree, but I'm looking for something with a wider range of tones, in terms of EQ. If the Minnow shares this particular aspect with the SLO, maybe I should look for something else. From the demos I've seen the EQ is very powerful and sensitive.

If you're happy with the SLO but need more EQ capabilities, maybe you could try an Empress ParaEQ in the Send Return loop of the SLO?

 

[Hypercaffium]

That's the only negative. The Minnow seems unnecessarily large. I can't take it on my small pedalboard. But the clean tone it generates is great.

I don't think it's too "large", but it's tall and simply doesn't fit. Like I said before, I've done a lot Tetris work to have all the pedals I need in my board and I prefer to keep things like they are, because everything works very good. I just wanted to try something new, it doesn't worth the effort for me at the moment.

If you're happy with the SLO but need more EQ capabilities, maybe you could try an Empress ParaEQ in the Send Return loop of the SLO?

I have a Barber Linden, I can try that. Thanks. Anyway, the EQ on the SLO works really well for my needs and honestly I don't use it that much. Most of the EQ work is done by the IRs in combination with different basses for different needs. I'll see if the addition of the Linden gives me more options.

 

[Benny4P]

I have a Dunlop 10 band graphic eq in front of the SLO. I boost the hi mids slightly around 2K Hz and cut the lows at 30 and 60 Hz. That really tightens up the sound... and not very expensive.

 

[Robal]

I have a Barber Linden, I can try that. . . I'll see if the addition of the Linden gives me more options.

Interested to hear what you think of that combination, SLO+Linden, as I am considering buying a Linden for the same purpose.

 

[PeterH]

There's something about the attack/transient when playing a note on the Arkham that's so satisfying... @scubaduba I've messed with the EQ on the ALiX to try and get that heft, I've gotten close mostly through messing with the mids. Would you have any idea on how to get that punch?


Also... what gave you the idea to use an "acoustic" preamp?

 

[scubaduba]

There's something about the attack/transient when playing a note on the Arkham that's so satisfying... @scubaduba I've messed with the EQ on the ALiX to try and get that heft, I've gotten close mostly through messing with the mids. Would you have any idea on how to get that punch?


Also... what gave you the idea to use an "acoustic" preamp?

Yeah! You've discovered one of the beauties of the Oracle that is lacking in other tube preamps. For the Alix, boost mids a little and sweep the mids somewhere between 250 and 400khz and set the Q all the way clockwise. That should get you there.

 

[PeterH]

Yeah! You've discovered one of the beauties of the Oracle that is lacking in other tube preamps. For the Alix, boost mids a little and sweep the mids somewhere between 250 and 400khz and set the Q all the way clockwise. That should get you there.

W - o - w. I didn't think of boosting 250, I was messing with high mids at 600-800... 250 makes a lot more sense as that's the sweet spot for bass in production. Again, wow. Instant heft; the feel and weight reminds me of the one chance I got to playing through a Sadowsky SA200 (in their showroom!). Took a little bit more dialing with the bridge pup but I got there just the same. I found it really started to punch when mids were boosted high (5-10db) and Q'd at 2.5, to bring it all up a little more, plus your magic 1:30 spot on the bass EQ and about 1:00 on the highs.

 

[Ryno1330]

I would actually try the Oracle myself based on it being a nice tube option but no xlr out? That one really confuses me with a 2020 preamp. So how are guys recording with these? Is a 1/4 cable to an interface from the low z as good of an option?

 

[scubaduba]

I would actually try the Oracle myself based on it being a nice tube option but no xlr out? That one really confuses me with a 2020 preamp. So how are guys recording with these?

Out to DI box. Or any audio interface that can take an unbalanced audio connection really.

 

[Dave Hill]

I would actually try the Oracle myself based on it being a nice tube option but no xlr out? That one really confuses me with a 2020 preamp. So how are guys recording with these? Is a 1/4 cable to an interface from the low z as good of an option?

Couple reasons.
1. I've offered a few basic/budget preamps in the past without DI (Octling, Bullet), this is meant to replace those.
2. Without going full-on PCB there's not enough room to shoehorn an audio transformer and XLR jack in there.
3. Audio transformer this close to a power transformer = relentless 60Hz hum. Trying to mitigate that would make this thing pretty expensive...

 

[chadhargis]

There's something about the attack/transient when playing a note on the Arkham that's so satisfying...

YES! That's it! It's that meaty goodness you get when from the initial attack that you don't get with other preamps. Great way to describe it. You "feel" it.

I would actually try the Oracle myself based on it being a nice tube option but no xlr out? That one really confuses me with a 2020 preamp. So how are guys recording with these? Is a 1/4 cable to an interface from the low z as good of an option?

I was in the same camp as you when I first saw the Oracle. Scratched it right off the list. Thinking, "All that money for a preamp, then I have to buy a DI? Put down the crack pipe!". But I read a post that explained why there is no DI built in. Made sense to me. Soemthing about doing a transformer in such a small enclosure would cause the builder to have to move to a PC board format and may have increased noise. If you look inside the Oracle...it's ALL HAND WIRED. It's very nice hardware and there really isn't much room left inside to put a DI.

Had I not already had a RNDI, I'd have passed on the Oracle, but I was running my SLO through the RNDI, so I figured what the hell...try the Oracle. Glad I did. It seems to be in the same realm sonically as the Noble and Shaw, but with better tone shaping than the Noble, and smaller and lighter than the Shaw. The SLO hangs right in there though. Never underestimate that piece of goodness. In a mix, I dare anyone to tell the SLO from any of the big dollar boutique tube stuff. I'm really still enamored with the SLO (especially after I put the Mullard tube in it). The Oracle and RNDI combo does sound better, but only to those who are actually listening. No one else will notice.

 

[DirtyDuke]

YES! That's it! It's that meaty goodness you get when from the initial attack that you don't get with other preamps. Great way to describe it. You "feel" it.



I was in the same camp as you when I first saw the Oracle. Scratched it right off the list. Thinking, "All that money for a preamp, then I have to buy a DI? Put down the crack pipe!". But I read a post that explained why there is no DI built in. Made sense to me. Soemthing about doing a transformer in such a small enclosure would cause the builder to have to move to a PC board format and may have increased noise. If you look inside the Oracle...it's ALL HAND WIRED. It's very nice hardware and there really isn't much room left inside to put a DI.

Had I not already had a RNDI, I'd have passed on the Oracle, but I was running my SLO through the RNDI, so I figured what the hell...try the Oracle. Glad I did. It seems to be in the same realm sonically as the Noble and Shaw, but with better tone shaping than the Noble, and smaller and lighter than the Shaw. The SLO hangs right in there though. Never underestimate that piece of goodness. In a mix, I dare anyone to tell the SLO from any of the big dollar boutique tube stuff. I'm really still enamored with the SLO (especially after I put the Mullard tube in it). The Oracle and RNDI combo does sound better, but only to those who are actually listening. No one else will notice.

I've been using the Oracle with a SHAW, the SHAW di. It's a great di. I also have a Broughton tube di. But that's on my other board.

Direction Injection DI Pedal – Shaw Audio

 

[jacoby75]

I've been using the Oracle with a SHAW, the SHAW di. It's a great di. I also have a Broughton tube di. But that's on my other board.

Direction Injection DI Pedal – Shaw Audio

The Shaw DI looks intriguing. But I thought half of the magic of a DI was in whatever great transformer it had in it. Perhaps I'm wrong about that. How would you describe the sound? Or better yet, got a clip? I'm not seeing anything on Youtube.

 

[DirtyDuke]

The Shaw DI looks intriguing. But I thought half of the magic of a DI was in whatever great transformer it had in it. Perhaps I'm wrong about that. How would you describe the sound? Or better yet, got a clip? I'm not seeing anything on Youtube.

No clips, but I love that its clean...….the broughton tube di, my other di, adds subtle tube tone at the di stage..the Shaw puts out what u put in.

 

[DirtyDuke]

Anyone ever try these guys?

Fire-Eye Development

Or these guys, I've ordered the lwdi, just to test it out.

LWDI – Little White DI Box

 

[MascisMan]

I've been eyeing that LWDI. Curious your thoughts when you get it

 

[JKos]

Or these guys, I've ordered the lwdi, just to test it out.

Numerous DIs use that same Jensen transformer.

- John

 

[DirtyDuke]

Numerous DIs use that same Jensen transformer.

- John

I want to try it mostly for the size. If it sounds good at the size I'll be very happy

 

[chadhargis]

The Shaw DI looks intriguing. But I thought half of the magic of a DI was in whatever great transformer it had in it. Perhaps I'm wrong about that. How would you describe the sound? Or better yet, got a clip? I'm not seeing anything on Youtube.

The Shaw DI uses Creative Audio Labs transformerless DI. If you aren't familiar with CAL, do some reading. The Grizzly Bass is the bomb!