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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

#3,341
MascisMan said:
Aguilar isn't charging for "both channels." They charge for one channel that you can keep clean or make dirty.

If you don't like the pedal's tones with or without added AGS, then sure, you aren't going to like the pedal at all. Makes sense to me. You obviously would not like the Tone Hammer amps either. Nothing wrong with liking the SCR-DI pedal more, different strokes for different folks, only thing wrong is expecting the TH to be a two-channel preamp when it isn't.

And don't get me wrong, sure, it would be nice if the AGS had it's own independent gain/volume controls (as Im sure most would agree), but that isn't how the pedal is designed. To expect a design to be something it isn't, nor does it claim to be, doesn't really constitute a "con" to me.
Click to expand...
We are splitting hairs here, but again, I wasn't so much "attacking" the Tone Hammer, but rather disagreeing with ItzPrime's statements that it was in a whole other league from the SCR-Di.

I will say that the build quality of the Tone Hammer was fantastic. The top jacks are also a nice touch, but admittedly a personal preference. I've owned some of their cabs and currently have one of their pickups in my main bass. I typically love their products... TH just didn't do it for me.
 
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#3,342
I still own my THDI and like the tone and agree the AGS isn't designed to be a second channel, even though it probably should be. My gripe with it is that considering all of that, the AGS should be a switch somewhere more discreet rather than a footswitch next to the on/off where you can accidentally add 15dB to your signal accidentally.
 
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#3,344
fivestringgecko said:
Found it! Them, actually... Found the Insta preview, and Matt Johnson also posted an album teaser on Youtube. I also found Llama Karma and Trioniq in my searchings. Kiiiiiiilllllerrr bass tones all around. Not sure about what the gear Paul's using with Matt Johnson (but I can imagine!), but he's got a B15 with Llama Karma, and a Jule Monique cage with Trioniq.

Some preamp G.A.S. for sure.

5sg.





Click to expand...

I like the sound on the second one, the third one vaguely reminded me of this classic relic
 
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#3,345
Texican said:
I have to disagree with iTzPrime on the SCR-Di not stacking up against the Aguilar Tone Hammer. I was never happy with the tone I got from the Tone Hammer, found the volume issues between the two channels unacceptable, and found the 18v power requirement slightly annoying. The SCR-Di may have a slightly cheesy overdrive channel, but at least it is actually useable as a second channel. Factor in that it has a headphone jack and auxiliary input, and you have a great practice tool as well. It's not my go-to preamp/DI, BUT I still own it and use it quite a bit... the Tone Hammer got sold and I never looked back.
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As others said the Tone Hammer is one channel, not two. It also depends on how you use it. For me a preamp is something that is always on and I use seperate drive pedals to add some more flavour.
Even then the Drive on the Tone Hammer sounds much better than the Ampeg one. At least for my ears. I also like the EQ on the Tone Hammer more. But since we all play through different basses (i mostly play 5 string E-C single cut) and different amps YMMV
 
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#3,350
iTzPrime said:
As others said the Tone Hammer is one channel, not two. It also depends on how you use it. For me a preamp is something that is always on and I use seperate drive pedals to add some more flavour.
Even then the Drive on the Tone Hammer sounds much better than the Ampeg one. At least for my ears. I also like the EQ on the Tone Hammer more. But since we all play through different basses (i mostly play 5 string E-C single cut) and different amps YMMV
Click to expand...
Come to think of it, you just reminded me that I actually did like the Tone Hammer as a drive pedal earlier in the chain... and it sounded good with a telecaster as well... but I rarely need bass overdrive and I didn't like the TH as a preamp.

That being said... and I can't stress this enough, yet again... I understand that the Tone Hammer is incapable of functioning as a 2 channel device. But when comparing it to the SCR-Di (which is 2 channels) it's worth pointing it out. You said the SCR-Di can't be expected to hang with the Tone Hammer. For me the opposite was true. YMMV
 
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#3,351
Hi guys,

I'm looking for a Bass pre-amp pedal, preferably with headphone out & D.I. out (maybe even with a cab sim on board too).
I'd like a small footprint if possible too.
(Currently using a VT bass with a Phil Jones Bass Big Head for silent practice)

I know the Shift Line Olympic does all of this, but are there any others that can cover this much ground in a small footprint?
 
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#3,354
smo said:
Hi guys,

I'm looking for a Bass pre-amp pedal, preferably with headphone out & D.I. out (maybe even with a cab sim on board too).
I'd like a small footprint if possible too.
(Currently using a VT bass with a Phil Jones Bass Big Head for silent practice)

I know the Shift Line Olympic does all of this, but are there any others that can cover this much ground in a small footprint?
Click to expand...
Plug your vt bass into a Shift Line CabZone. Mmmmm. No DI out, though.
 
#3,355
This is the most dangerous thread in Talkbass for me (this and the @scubaduba compressor reviews).

I finally moved on from the Tone Hammer to this:

20200628_163947(1).jpg


Ashdown OriginAL. If you look for it, people here in Talkbass complain about its reliability. The first units might have been deffective. I bought it one made in 2019 and it works great. The EQ is very musical. I set the a little bit of drive and the response in a band mix is just awesome. When I play at home, I just keep it clean. It's nice to have both channels (which I didn't have with the TH) because when I use an effect like Delay or Chorus, I'd rather have it clean than distorted.
The only thing that I don't like is the headphones out, which is very noisy. It's something that I don't use so it doesn't bother me, but I think I should mention it. I will make a proper review of it.
 
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#3,356
smo said:
Hi guys,

I'm looking for a Bass pre-amp pedal, preferably with headphone out & D.I. out (maybe even with a cab sim on board too).
I'd like a small footprint if possible too.
(Currently using a VT bass with a Phil Jones Bass Big Head for silent practice)

I know the Shift Line Olympic does all of this, but are there any others that can cover this much ground in a small footprint?
Click to expand...

Of course, my current fave is the Atomic Amps Bass Box, has all those features and 4.75" x 3.75" footprint...not the smallest, but not big, either. Simple, but uniquely versatile in that it gives you onboard switchable options (3 each) for boost/drive, compression, EQ, amp+cab modeling (via on board IRs or load 3rd party IRs via computer editor).
 
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#3,358
smo said:
Hi guys,

I'm looking for a Bass pre-amp pedal, preferably with headphone out & D.I. out (maybe even with a cab sim on board too).
I'd like a small footprint if possible too.
(Currently using a VT bass with a Phil Jones Bass Big Head for silent practice)

I know the Shift Line Olympic does all of this, but are there any others that can cover this much ground in a small footprint?
Click to expand...

Look at the NUX Melvin Lee Davis or Atomic Bass Box.
 
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