The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

[Bassworship1]

Less expensive than a Noble.

What am I missing here as it's not a preamp or a DI is it? Not sure why you would compare the 2.

 

[scubaduba]

What am I missing here as it's not a preamp or a DI is it? Not sure why you would compare the 2.

Hmm. It is a fully discrete class A audio path. I see a Mic level balanced xlr output and Hi impedance input. I see defeat-able onboard EQ.

Looks like a pretty good preamp/DI to me.

 

[Bassworship1]

Hmm. It is a fully discrete class A audio path. I see a Mic level balanced xlr output and Hi impedance input. I see defeat-able onboard EQ.

Looks like a pretty good preamp/DI to me.

I thought it was a Tube compressor only. One of the reasons why I had a ? At the end.

 

[Turn Em Loose]

Hmm. It is a fully discrete class A audio path. I see a Mic level balanced xlr output and Hi impedance input. I see defeat-able onboard EQ.

Looks like a pretty good preamp/DI to me.

What does the EQ do? It's a little hard to tell from info on the site.

 

[Rocksolid]

Any more thoughts on the Atomic Amps Bass Box @scubaduba? Especially compared to the NuX MLD Pre which to me is pitching at a similar market. Obviously the NuX is a reasonable amount cheaper though.

I sold my Ampeg PF-20T/112HLF this week as it wasn't being utilized enough, and I have my SVP Pro which just sounds thunderous thru my Bergantino IP310. Maybe I could buy a new toy...

 

[chadhargis]

Alright boys and girls (and those in between)...

A sound clip of the Oracle and Nux. So here's the deal. I used the same sound clip I posted of the Oracle, but I overdubbed a some of the Nux in the clip. The same bass, the same signal path, even the same cables. Obviously I am not running through the Oracle or RNDI for the Nux clip...using the Nux DI out.

The Nux is the first bass part you hear, then if you listen closely you can here where the splice in the track is and that's the Oracle.

Listen and form your own opinion, but I think both sound good, and with a little more EQ tweaking I could probably get the Nux even better...I literally spent maybe 2 minutes messing with the EQ. I found a tone I liked pretty quickly.

In my opinion, the Oracle sounds warmer and rounder, and to be fair, the Nux has the "drive" engaged and slightly blended in to give it some "tube" sound. Remember folks...the Nux is under $200 brand spankin new.

Dropbox - Oracle v Nux Demo - Oh Girl - 5:22:20, 7.51 PM.wav - Simplify your life

 

[ianrossbass]

It is like getting a little extra "tube" character, which I know is a wildly abused marketing term. It's not a 12AX7, so it may be a little different from what similar devices might add. There's probably a bit of compression adding some midrange presence. It's subtle and you won't need to adjust your EQ for the difference between on/off. Otherwise it's reasonably close to the signal going in, with no grit or distortion.

I think some of the character, like many devices, depends where you put it in the signal chain. I've got it as the first thing in my chain, followed by a Volt Thrower and an OCSD and then some delay effects. With it on it makes the VT feel a bit more amp-like.

It's a good, solid traditional foundation for bass guitar tone. It adds a little extra snap and life.

Honestly, it's been part of my signal chain so long it's a little hard for me to explain because I'm not listening for the on/off differences. I went through a phase of trying a few configurations and settling on my current one. I've found a few settings with some basses when I prefer it off. But generally it's on.

I've been MIA here for a few days working on a recording project that had already started and can't incorporate the Edison... le sigh. I have been using it to warm up and down in the morning and evening, however, and my initial happiness isn't diminshed any. I completely agree with this assessment... I had a moment to record it against a dry signal and found that it is functioning to add just a bit of smoothing on the attack and lift on the decay... probably what was common in anything with a tube back in the day and why old school guys (T Lev excluded) never seemed to be so obsessed with compression as we are now (it's making me wonder if I even need to keep thinking about it at all, or at very least if what I've been wanting isn't just a very simple LA2A tube comp, so feel free to make suggestions....)
Tonally you're right on, too; I haven't looked at what it is boosting in the mids, but that's where the fat is. It is definitely either trimming some subterranean stuff or just fooling you into thinking it isn't there by boosting whatever it is boosting. Not a problem for me or probably anyone who uses a HPF. In fact, quite a positive. I DID say mids are extremely important to me.
I agree that there are musical situations you'd maybe think about trying something else. For example, I am really digging Brazilian artist Ed Motta and all his insane bassists right now, so I was playing some of that and really enjoy this thing on the stuff mining old R&B sounds. But I put on a show with the incredible Marcelo Mariano playing a Marcus J through a Hartke, and I was not in the right area code.
If your normal mode of operation leans towards a classic sound without zingy highs, or if you run a P, short scale, semihollow, etc, I think you're gonna love this thing. What I like most... er, what may hurt me greatly financially in the end is that it provides an easy way to incorporate and explore the world of the tube in a meaningful, non-gimmick way in your current setup without a complete rethink.

I have the SLO on the way in case I want that.

 

[monsterthompson]

It is definitely either trimming some subterranean stuff or just fooling you into thinking it isn't there by boosting whatever it is boosting.

I think I mentioned it before, but I definitely hear the super deep lows being cut, but mostly on the P pickup of my short scale Mustang PJ.

short scale,

Oddly, I actually tend to prefer it off when using my Mustang and Ric more often than with my longer scale basses. YMMV

 

[JKos]

Here's a novel idea... Someone should make IRs of the Noble, Oracle, and P-15. Then we load them in the NuX and see what we get.

Obviously, any given IR would be snapshot of the particular settings of the given unit. And, it won't capture the non-linearities.

- John

 

[DirtyDuke]

https://www.sushiboxfx.com/product-page/particle-accelerator-preamp

I have one. This may not be an alembic. But it is an amazing alembic style pedal. With a mini tube. It sounds every bit as good as pedals I've paid $400 and this one is $120.

Seriously. Do yourself a favor. If you are looking for an amazing alembic style pedal and pedal board space is tight and money is even tighter you could do a lot worse than this one.

I am suppppppeeeerrrrr impressed with this pedal. And the builder. Amazing guy. I've picked up 3 pedals from him now.

Disclaimer. I don't know the builder personally and have no stake in this company in any way shape or form.

It's a great pedal everyone should know about.

 

[ianrossbass]

I'm interested to know if anyone has played around with other preamps that utilize the EF86, like the Hagerman boost pedal that Pete Thorn demoed recently. Just curious whether the Edison has a unique character tonally or has a familial resemblance to similar preamps.

 

[Turn Em Loose]

I've said it before and will say it again: Triode Pedals Beelzebub.

Grit to taste and tube warmth. Sounds great and won't break the bank.

And as an added bonus you can tube roll.

 

[jimfist]

Here's a novel idea... Someone should make IRs of the Noble, Oracle, and P-15. Then we load them in the NuX and see what we get.

Obviously, any given IR would be snapshot of the particular settings of the given unit. And, it won't capture the non-linearities.

- John

Correct. The IR captures the "tone footprint", and none of the gain/drive characteristics (non-linearities) as you've mentioned. Few devices are capable of doing both, such as the Kemper Profiling Amp, and supposedly the Neural Quad Cortex (not available until this Fall).

I just did a quick forum search. It does appear that the Kemper is being used to create profiles of popular DI/preamp boxes.

Noble Amps Preamp

That's the attraction of the Kemper: limitless profiles of your favorite amp/preamp/di at your disposal. Then you can put the original pedal in safe keeping if you want to own it, or flip it if you don't and recoup the $$$.

 

[MascisMan]

Here's a novel idea... Someone should make IRs of the Noble, Oracle, and P-15. Then we load them in the NuX and see what we get.

Obviously, any given IR would be snapshot of the particular settings of the given unit. And, it won't capture the non-linearities.

- John

If I'm not mistaken an impulse response is better at capturing a speaker cabinet because the "snapshot" doesn't really change. I have not heard of an "amp" IR but rather, amp "modelers."

NuX has said that they will be adding more preamp modelers to their software in the future though (currently there are two, MLD and Aguilar Tonehammer). I'm sure one will be an SVT (because that is a given I would assume) but not sure about others.

 

[Bassworship1]

I just got this Noble in in time for a practice with the band and 2 services tomorrow. So far I can't quit playing it as it sounds phenomenal through the IEM and FOH. Side by side with the Starlifter there is a pretty noticeable difference in smoothness and roundness of the tones. Excited to see what this thing does once the band gets here.

 

[Rocksolid]

NuX has said that they will be adding more preamp modelers to their software in the future though (currently there are two, MLD and Aguilar Tonehammer).

Sooo it's the same size as my THDI, the drive set up works like the AGS should have, it can sound like my THDI, and many other preamps in time...
Sort of feel like it's a losing argument keeping the THDI...

 

[jacoby75]

I've said it before and will say it again: Triode Pedals Beelzebub.

Grit to taste and tube warmth. Sounds great and won't break the bank.

And as an added bonus you can tube roll.

I've seen this. Certainly an affordable option. I'd love to hear some sound clips of what it sounds like on bass.

 

[MascisMan]

Alright boys and girls (and those in between)...

A sound clip of the Oracle and Nux. So here's the deal. I used the same sound clip I posted of the Oracle, but I overdubbed a some of the Nux in the clip. The same bass, the same signal path, even the same cables. Obviously I am not running through the Oracle or RNDI for the Nux clip...using the Nux DI out.

The Nux is the first bass part you hear, then if you listen closely you can here where the splice in the track is and that's the Oracle.

Listen and form your own opinion, but I think both sound good, and with a little more EQ tweaking I could probably get the Nux even better...I literally spent maybe 2 minutes messing with the EQ. I found a tone I liked pretty quickly.

In my opinion, the Oracle sounds warmer and rounder, and to be fair, the Nux has the "drive" engaged and slightly blended in to give it some "tube" sound. Remember folks...the Nux is under $200 brand spankin new.

Dropbox - Oracle v Nux Demo - Oh Girl - 5:22:20, 7.51 PM.wav - Simplify your life

Is the track 15 seconds long?

 

[DirtyDuke]

I've said it before and will say it again: Triode Pedals Beelzebub.

Grit to taste and tube warmth. Sounds great and won't break the bank.

And as an added bonus you can tube roll.

I agree. Very under rated pedal. And very affordable!!!

 

[jimfist]

If I'm not mistaken an impulse response is better at capturing a speaker cabinet because the "snapshot" doesn't really change. I have not heard of an "amp" IR but rather, amp "modelers."

NuX has said that they will be adding more preamp modelers to their software in the future though (currently there are two, MLD and Aguilar Tonehammer). I'm sure one will be an SVT (because that is a given I would assume) but not sure about others.

Yes. Leaving aside the non-linear/distortion aspects of a preamp, you'd have to take multiple IRs of a range of EQ settings that might appeal to you. It depends on how fine you want to make the increments. If you know from experience that you really only need a small number of variations, you could be happy with only a handful IR captures of settings. Otherwise, correct in that you'd need to digitally model the pedal, much as Line 6 Helix, Fractal Audio et al have done with the preamps, pedals, and amps in their modeling (SansAmp BDDI and Darkglass models, and many bass amps).