The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

[cosmicevan]

Y'all gotta try the Broughton P15. Be very curious how that would stack up against the shaw.

 

[Ricardo Rodriguez]

So many DI's so little money. Here are a few of mine.

 

[hztjtao]

Is there a consensus on the Basswitch IQ DI?

i am using one now, like my octave, od and compressor effects through its serial loop, the way the boost react with my od is also very musical, the DI might sounds better than the U5's di cos it retains the natural warmth and clarity very well. The low noise level is unheard of to me. The lehle buffer drives long cables very well without sounding hot and stiff. Satisfy live and recording needs without problem. Only nit pick is i would prefer the boost after my effects loop as a volume boost.

 

[Btbp]

Likely quite a different pedigree from Ricardo's stuff but this came past my FB feed tonight, am not familiar with this brand Invalid Link Removed but looks cool

 

[Mushroo]

Likely quite a different pedigree from Ricardo's stuff but this came past my FB feed tonight, am not familiar with this brand Invalid Link Removed but looks cool

It's a clone of the Fender Micro DI. I have the Donner-branded version. If you Amazon search for "micro DI" you'll see the exact same design by a half dozen brands (Mooer, Monoprice, Rowin, etc.).

I bought it as a backup and have only used it once, in a rehearsal, to send my pedalboard to the headphones mixer. I had the pad/gain switch and the cab sim engaged. Sounded fine, to my ears.

 

[cosmicevan]

So many DI's so little money. Here are a few of mine. View attachment 3444315 View attachment 3444316 View attachment 3444317

What are your thoughts of the avalon U5 v the noble? I adore the U5, but let go of mine in favor of transitioning to a pedalboard rig that feeds into a poweramp.

 

[Ricardo Rodriguez]

What are your thoughts of the avalon U5 v the noble? I adore the U5, but let go of mine in favor of transitioning to a pedalboard rig that feeds into a poweramp.

I think the V5 sounds bigger than the U5 and the Noble is warmer and rounder than the U5 most likely due to the tubes. The U5 is no slouch by any means but it is a cleaner sound compared to the Noble.

 

[cosmicevan]

I think the V5 sounds bigger than the U5 and the Noble is warmer and rounder than the U5 most likely due to the tubes. The U5 is no slouch by any means but it is a cleaner sound compared to the Noble.

I felt the same about the U5 vs a Demeter VTBP-201s. Those were my main 2 pres for years. I gotta get plugged into a Noble and a Shaw at some point.

Also from a tube pre perspective, I've become a big broughton fan and aside from the P15, Josh also makes a Fender stack w a tube in a pedal called the Super Stack as well as the Power Stage which just lets you run through a tube booster...he's making a few other tube pedals that will be released soon.

 

[chadhargis]

Y'all gotta try the Broughton P15. Be very curious how that would stack up against the shaw.

I'd love to play with a Broughton. I'd also like to try out the Ampeg PF-20 and PF-50 as a DI.

 

[Btbp]

Also from a tube pre perspective, I've become a big broughton fan and aside from the P15, Josh also makes a Fender stack w a tube in a pedal called the Super Stack as well as the Power Stage which just lets you run through a tube booster...he's making a few other tube pedals that will be released soon.

Power Stage is a new one to me, from what I could find it seems like one made years ago and seems he doesn't continue to make pedals once he finishes a run on them. I wonder if the Power Stage is similar to what I'm looking for, like an Eden GlowPlug. Not even sure if the Super Stack will be made again, although it has more tone controls than I'm looking for in a tube-only devlce.

 

[Bassworship1]

I've owned some very good DI's and Preamp DI's over the last few years like Reddi, Ampeg, Noble. Firefly, RNDI, JDI, Subway Plus, Nordstrand Starlifter and others. The absolute best and easiest I've used is the Nordstrand Starlifter. It is very affordable and ended the search for me and my Preamp DI needs.

 

[MascisMan]

Does the Starlifter impart a signature tone that you can tell? Or is it more like the Messenger which is often described as extremely clean and clear?

 

[chadhargis]

The Starlifter has my interest as I believe anything Carey Nordstrand touches is of the highest quality. He simply doesn't make junk.

I'd love a chance to play with the Starlifter. I'm sure it's amazing. I'm wondering if anything can topple the Shaw from my board.

 

[chadhargis]

Sound guy told me this morning, "Your bass tone is awesome. Round, fat, and compressed".

Big praise to Kevin Shaw (Shaw Audio), Frank Appleton (FEA Labs), Creation Audio Labs, Carey Nordstrand, and John East.

All of those components create a tone tour de force.

 

[Btbp]

Sound guy told me this morning, "Your bass tone is awesome. Round, fat, and compressed".

Big praise to Kevin Shaw (Shaw Audio), Frank Appleton (FEA Labs), Creation Audio Labs, Carey Nordstrand, and John East.

All of those components create a tone tour de force.

What bass were you using at the time? (sorry if you posted this earlier and I missed it)

 

[chadhargis]

What bass were you using at the time? (sorry if you posted this earlier and I missed it)

My J5. It's a frankenbass built from a mish mash of pieces and parts. Those Nordy Big Singles and the John East Preamp are a formidable duo.

 

[Bassworship1]

Does the Starlifter impart a signature tone that you can tell? Or is it more like the Messenger which is often described as extremely clean and clear?

Well it can be clear and transparent or it can be very warm sounding like some tube goodness. The vintage and modern contours and mid sweep really allows you to get about anything you could want all the while being dead quiet. I've used a lot of great DI's and Preamps and I've not found anything that's better. Even if the money was equal I still wouldn't have liked the others I've tried better.

 

[chadhargis]

Even if the money was equal I still wouldn't have liked the others I've tried better.

Damn...I may have to order one and try it.

I am so much in love with my current rig that my GAS has been mainly cured, but the never end quest for tone always continues.

 

[cosmicevan]

Damn...I may have to order one and try it.

I am so much in love with my current rig that my GAS has been mainly cured, but the never end quest for tone always continues.

When core GAS is cured, that's when you need to start looking to weirdo noise makers.

 

[extreme]

I felt the same about the U5 vs a Demeter VTBP-201s. Those were my main 2 pres for years. I gotta get plugged into a Noble and a Shaw at some point.

Also from a tube pre perspective, I've become a big broughton fan and aside from the P15, Josh also makes a Fender stack w a tube in a pedal called the Super Stack as well as the Power Stage which just lets you run through a tube booster...he's making a few other tube pedals that will be released soon.

The Super Stack is amazing for the price, form factor, and quality of tone...doesn't have a DI out though, so gotta run into a DI box yet. Still...awesome simple, solid tube pre!