The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

[cosmicevan]

I would love to hear tone samples of the Super Stack Pedal

I can make that happen. I actually was planning to cut some clips of what the silver deluxe sounds like with different voltages, I can slip some super stack clips in there. This weekend is a good time for that since my board is apart.

 

[TonyRo]

I run a microThumpinator for my HPF and a Grizzly Bass for LPF. I can't tell you how much "fuller" my bass sounds when I filtered out all the sub harmonics below 30hz and cut and the high end clink and clank. Even without any other tone shaping...the HPF and LPF makes a HUGE difference.

I just picked up the Grizzly and love it so far, albeit with limited testing. Super sturdy, works as it should, does low gain grit really well. And the mid-cut and high-cut knobs add some nice versatility and tone-shaping. It's a pretty versatile unit! Thinking about running it into my Messenger and calling it a day! Pretty much all you could want imo.

 

[Ricardo Rodriguez]

I just picked up the Grizzly and love it so far, albeit with limited testing. Super sturdy, works as it should, does low gain grit really well. And the mid-cut and high-cut knobs add some nice versatility and tone-shaping. It's a pretty versatile unit! Thinking about running it into my Messenger and calling it a day! Pretty much all you could want imo.

I also just picked one up and loving it. Very nice usable low gain grit which works beautifully with my DI studio setup.

 

[Ricardo Rodriguez]

I can make that happen. I actually was planning to cut some clips of what the silver deluxe sounds like with different voltages, I can slip some super stack clips in there. This weekend is a good time for that since my board is apart.

Looking forward to this!

 

[Ricardo Rodriguez]

I can make that happen. I actually was planning to cut some clips of what the silver deluxe sounds like with different voltages, I can slip some super stack clips in there. This weekend is a good time for that since my board is apart.

Just curious have you compared the Shift Line Olympic MKIII to the Super Stack?

 

[chadhargis]

I also just picked one up and loving it. Very nice usable low gain grit which works beautifully with my DI studio setup.

Yep. I run the “O” knob about the 9 o’clock position. Run the treble shelf EQ at about 2 o’clock. Love the subtitle grit and sweet thump it gives me. Cuts out all the clink and clack. Produced a. I’ve round vintage tone.

I then compress and go into the Shaw Tube Injection where I further tone shape with the excellent EQ on the Shaw. For now, I have the tone I’m looking for. Love it.

 

[Ricardo Rodriguez]

Yep. I run the “O” knob about the 9 o’clock position. Run the treble shelf EQ at about 2 o’clock. Love the subtitle grit and sweet thump it gives me. Cuts out all the clink and clack. Produced a. I’ve round vintage tone.

I then compress and go into the Shaw Tube Injection where I further tone shape with the excellent EQ on the Shaw. For now, I have the tone I’m looking for. Love it.

I run from my Yamaha Nathan East or Sadowsky bass into a (large format discontinued) Cali 76 Compressor then into the Grizzly then into a Noble DI then into the Board. I forget the settings I am using on the Grizzly. Will have to take a look when I'm back home but it sounds great. Really happy with it.

 

[cosmicevan]

Just curious have you compared the Shift Line Olympic MKIII to the Super Stack?

Have not. It was on list to try w the shaw and the noble but I found the superstack and the P15.

 

[Ricardo Rodriguez]

Have not. It was on list to try w the shaw and the noble but I found the superstack and the P15.

What is the P15?

 

[SteveBassJr]

What is the P15?

It's a Broughton audio special tube preamp that is based off the Ampeg B-15. Highly sought after and is a dream crusher. If you find one grab it or let me know. Hard to find.

 

[Mushroo]

What is the P15?

Recently there was one for sale in the classifieds. It sold in 1 minute.
SOLD - Broughton P15

 

[chadhargis]

I have a LOT of money tied up in my board. But since my board had several pedals, and lots of cables, and a power supply, etc....I always carry an "all in one" backup preamp/DI in my gig bag just to be safe. My backup is the Tech21 dUg Pinnick pedal. I loved the Bass Fly Rig, but it was a bit too big. The dUg has a tuner, an EQ, a compressor, and overdrive if I want it.

Here's a mash up between my main pedal board, and the dUg pedal set to sound as close to my board as possible. For $200, you could do a lot worse than the little Tech21 piece.

Here's the details:

Precision Bass w/ flats tone rolled about half way off
Allen & Heath ZEDi10 going into GarageBand

Board:
Grizzly Bass --> FEA DE-CL Comp --> Shaw Tube Injection

Tech21 dUg Pedal:
"Mix" off (no overdrive)
High at 1 o'clock, mid at 12:30, low at 2. Comp barely off zero

You can here where the splices happen in the track. Both sound pretty dang close. Makes me wonder if we're all splitting hairs.

Dropbox - Rosanna - Shaw and dUg.wav

 

[Systolic]

Here's a pretty nice shootout that was just done:

 

[tedsalt]

I can make that happen. I actually was planning to cut some clips of what the silver deluxe sounds like with different voltages, I can slip some super stack clips in there. This weekend is a good time for that since my board is apart.

Clips of the Silver Deluxe and Super Stack at their highest recommended voltages would be great!

 

[misterCRUSH]

I was beginning to get serious GAS reading this. Then I saw the Zoom B3 mentioned briefly, I have one of those! I hooked it up to my laptop and messed around a bit. I came up with a sansamp pre, a flip top Ampeg, and an octave for special occasions. It sounds marvelous. Thanks, I'm rediscovering all the amazing flexibility of this pedal. I highly recommend it.

 

[bassegg]

I was beginning to get serious GAS reading this. Then I saw the Zoom B3 mentioned briefly, I have one of those! I hooked it up to my laptop and messed around a bit. I came up with a sansamp pre, a flip top Ampeg, and an octave for special occasions. It sounds marvelous. Thanks, I'm rediscovering all the amazing flexibility of this pedal. I highly recommend it.

Hah!, I just purchased a Zoom B3 second hand. It's in the post right now. I used to have one as my main gigging 'board' until I decided to go all seperate pedals. After spending way too much money buying and trading pedals, I'm going to see if I can go back to a B3.

I did try a B3n for a while and enjoyed the tones but the lack of XLR, batteries and USB interface were deal-breakers for me.

 

[Systolic]

I see a lot of the preamps on here of OD built in. What would be some recommendations for a nice clean preamp/DI that still has character/depth to it's tone?

I currently have a Yamaha PB1 which sounds great, but it's heavy and the Fender Tone Stack is not my friend.

Needs to be able to drive a power amp of course.

 

[Zbysek]

What would be some recommendations for a nice clean preamp/DI that still has character/depth to it's tone?

• Avalon U5
• Grace Design Felix/Alix/Bix
• Tech 21 Q strip
• MXR M81
• Broughton Messenger
• EWS Trilogic

to name just few...

 

[Systolic]

• Avalon U5
• Grace Design Felix/Alix/Bix
• Tech 21 Q strip
• MXR M81
• Broughton Messenger
• EWS Trilogic

to name just few...

Liking the look of the Broughton Messenger for sure.

 

[TonyRo]

I have the Messenger and really like it. Pretty much does everything you could want in a reasonably sized package - the utility of it is amazing, and my friend that does the mixing and FOH stuff loves me for it as well.