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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

#2,961
scubaduba said:
The LA-1A is no toy is it @SteveC and @tedsalt.
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I've went through who knows how many pedals. Not as many as some (@scubaduba, @chadhargis ), but enough. I'm glad I did my research and held out for the LA-1A and the Oracle, and that I went with the RNDI.

It did cost a chunk, yet not as much as some, but you know what they say. Buy once, cry once.

I have a feeling this board (my only board) will not change for a long time.

I'm not a pro or anywhere close, pretty much a self taught hack, but to my ears this is a beautiful combination.
 
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#2,963
scubaduba said:
The LA-1A is no toy is it @SteveC and @tedsalt.
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It’s really the only pedal I use. It’s the only pedal that has caused people who know nothing about gear to say “your bass sounds amazing” when I first used it. I never thought I’d spend $460 on a pedal. As long as I have a board I’ll have it.
 
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#2,964
I'll be experimenting with this.

IMG_9256.jpg


Although I'm cheating - the Shure GLX-D is not shown...
 

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#2,967
scubaduba said:
Don't like the on board comps?
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I mostly use(d) the LA2A clone, but it feels more like tone shaping than actual compression. It's hard to explain, but every time I would use my Empress again would confirm the feeling. The other comps felt even worse IMO, but the new "Rochester" that they have added in the latest software release, allegedly developed with Billy Sheehan, is very promising. I unfortunately cannot play at any (in)decent volume these days so I will have to reserve my judgement.

You should review some of those modeled comps one of these days (or did you already?).
 
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#2,969
Bassworship1 said:
It's hard to beat that Union Compressor.
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That is one compressor I have considered purchasing and using along with the LA-1A. I've heard you can never have too many compressors. I do kind of miss my Compressore @Low Down Brown. After having both the v1 and v2 I'd have to have the v2 again.

But yeah, the Lab piques my interest, along with Doc Lloyd's Photon Death Ray. The LA-1A is not going anywhere though.

Shouldn't this be in Testing Compressors: Cali, Smoothie, Empress, Diamond, Keeley, FEA, Darkglass, Doc Lloyd, JHS & more ?
 
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#2,971
chadhargis said:
Received the Hooker's Green Bassmachine and got an email from Max as [sxf] that the microThumpinator is on it's way across the pond.

No word from Becos as to shipping...so it may be a few more weeks before I receive that item and finish the Budget Baby Board.
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You've inspired me to make a Nano board featuring the NuX as well. I'll post it when complete.
 
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#2,977
PeterH said:
How does the Meatsmoke hold up against an Oracle/Noble for tube power? I always assumed they were more gritty/leaning towards OD preamps than clean.
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I have one too and the Meatsmoke sounds great clean! Really, really great! But it’s not the most pedal board friendly pedal... It’s not big. It’s huge!
I have to do some tube rolling to tame it a bit. I need less gain with a wider range.
 
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#2,978
PeterH said:
How does the Meatsmoke hold up against an Oracle/Noble for tube power? I always assumed they were more gritty/leaning towards OD preamps than clean.
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as TheLopp said, the regular channel is very clean and fat sounding. The drive channel is over the top distorted (IMO) with a 12ax7. Replacing position 1 with 12au7 or 12ay7 makes the drive channel very usable (for my purpose); more focused with less bottom and top then the regular channel, and a strong mid presence that stands out. I end up with gain almost full on regular channel / master 3/4, and gain barely up on drive channel with master about 1/2. That gives me approximate unity between the two channels.
I haven't tried the Noble - not having a master volume is a deal breaker for me... but I do have an Oracle which I love almost as much as the Meatsmoke. Sorry I'm not very good at describing the sound difference, and I'm super happy playing through either one. I have a bunch of rack gear from the 90's, including Alembic F2B, Summit, and other stuff but really prefer the sound of these pedals.
 
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#2,980
Qlanq said:
Ordered my Simplifier yesterday. It arrived today.
No time yet to check it out, maybe have an hour with tomorrow. Otherwise Monday.
Cheers guys for some good info.
Scubadubas review really had me interested.
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Cool. It is an interesting device. Quite unlike anything else out there. Take your time getting used to it. While it came seem rather, well, "non-simple" at first, it really becomes intuitive once you understand what it is doing.
 
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