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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison
- Thread starter chadhargis
- Start date
Interesting comment. I have a Monique 700 and do agree about the highs however it suits me. Night Owl seems like it maybe good with my Quilter BB800 though.
Who here has experience with an Avalon 737? I might have access to an original Purple knob monster (which I personally love the look of) if I play my cards right. I'd have to sell some gear to fund/justify getting it. I just don't know if it will be a night and day difference between what I am using now. My main rack pre is an SVP Pro - that would have to go.
I have done searches of this thread and also of the forum in general and there are numerous threads on it, but they are quite dated so no one is comparing it to some of the stuff we have access to these days, and those comparisions really count obviously.
As a cost comparison I would probably pay the same amount for an Arkham Zephyr new - but there is certainly more going on with a 737 with Compressor, routing options etc
I have done searches of this thread and also of the forum in general and there are numerous threads on it, but they are quite dated so no one is comparing it to some of the stuff we have access to these days, and those comparisions really count obviously.
As a cost comparison I would probably pay the same amount for an Arkham Zephyr new - but there is certainly more going on with a 737 with Compressor, routing options etc
THe BB800 takes Preamps so well. my VTBD, THDI, M81, SVP Pro all sound great either thru the front, but the SVP to me is the only Pre I own that properly drives it thru the line in.
I'm stalkign fed ex now, Khan is out for delivery
Now to play the what stays and goes game. Cant keep them all.
Will likely be listing the SLO and PDR up this weekend. I ordered the vactrol version and regular and will be keeping the vactrol version likely or sell one of my cali 76's. decisions. With the Oracle and Shaw DI too much overlap with the SLO imo
Now to play the what stays and goes game. Cant keep them all.
Will likely be listing the SLO and PDR up this weekend. I ordered the vactrol version and regular and will be keeping the vactrol version likely or sell one of my cali 76's. decisions. With the Oracle and Shaw DI too much overlap with the SLO imo
jacoby75
Supporting Member
- Mar 11, 2010
- 5,661
- 10,716
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Mike Lull Custom Guitars, DR Strings
Its been awhile since I have used it. A buddy had one a few years back and we made a couple of Kemper profiles using it. Never used it for bass in our typical application here but it was a quality piece the little amount of time I spent with it.
sounds like a good deal though
I wish I could keep them all. Ordered a new bass yesterday so.....yeah. My couch is comfy, im sleeping there by my own choice. Just making that clear HAHAHAHAHAHA
Out of everything so far I basically knew I was going to like the Oracle, Shaw. I love my reddi but wish it had an effected thru, but I love it so its getting kept.
The surprise to me is the Alix. Per @scubaduba prior posts I am in complete agreement. There is an airyness to it that I love. EQ options are also endless. I put an LA-1A in front of it and I get some of that tubey goodness. Considering putting the Khan after it....
jacoby75
Supporting Member
- Mar 11, 2010
- 5,661
- 10,716
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Mike Lull Custom Guitars, DR Strings
Question for the tube experts among us in this thread: I took a quick look and I do indeed have a couple tubes I can try in the Pure/Blue Tubes. Besides the no name 12AX7 in the Pure Tube and a EHX 12AU7 in the Blue Tube, I've got a JJ ECC83 S, a Groove Tubes 12AU7, and the two in this photo that I don't even remember when/where I came into possession of. Anyone ever try either of these? The little information I was able to find tells me that the Ruby is probably a rebranded Chinese tube that seems to have decent specs on paper, and the one on the right appears to be an RCA variant of some sort (I've seen RCA tubes with different logos) that I can't find much on other than "it sounds good."
Obviously the short answer is "well, just try them, duh!" but I'm curious if you tube rollers here have any experience with them and/or could compare them to other tubes I should/shouldn't spend money on!
5sg.
Obviously the short answer is "well, just try them, duh!" but I'm curious if you tube rollers here have any experience with them and/or could compare them to other tubes I should/shouldn't spend money on!
5sg.
My Khan came on Wednesday. I tried it last night at practice. I had it last in line and the NuX was feeding it. I decided that I probably do not need an 8x10 IR in the NuX with the Khan. Too much of a good thing. Will start listening to some other IR's.
I got one of these a few weeks ago, it made a huge difference to my tone.
Running into Quilter 802 "line in" bypassing 802 eq.
Big, fat, warm and punchy as hell, the way I have it set its got everything I'm after.
Never had any Mesa gear before so I was on the fence about it too but it has replaced a NuX and Ictineo and the Quilter eq.
I don't record and have found I really have no interest in using IR's, speaker sims and menu's etc so I was looking for something with parametric mids and HPF too. Since the other options I was looking at are unobtainium and I found one of these in Aus and at a good price I grabbed it.
I have read about the Mesa gear having a "dark tone" but have found the EQ functions well enough to get pretty much what ever you want, yes, it still has a bit of that dark voicing if you want but I like it (a lot).
Running it all into Golight 410 and 210 (610 stack) the sound is huge even at low volume, like night and day difference from the other EQ's mentioned above, IDK if it has anything to do with bypassing the quilters pre or having variable HPF as I havn't had those option before.
Having the HPF on the D800+ has allowed me to move a 30hz passive HPF to the very front of my signal, that too has made a difference to compressor triggering etc and my overall tone control.
I'm not in a position to try a lot of the other gear on this thread, I'm sure it's every bit as good as you all say but it is simply out of reach for me.
Good news is, I started down this road in 79 and I have never had a better overall sounding rig than I do now, damn fine time to be a bass player
I added audio samples of the Tonecraft 363 here: Tube Preamp/DI Sound Samples — Noble, Oracle, P-15, Super Stack, Particle Accelerator, Fatboy...
You need to listen to them.
You need to listen to them.
@Chris Y I'd be curious, if you're willing to test it, to see what role the Quilter's preamp stage plays one way or the other.
I run a BB800 and couldn't imagine bypassing its input gain control or EQ shaping, but I seem to be less particular than some. If going line in is really netting a benefit, though, I'm interested in exploring it further.
I run a BB800 and couldn't imagine bypassing its input gain control or EQ shaping, but I seem to be less particular than some. If going line in is really netting a benefit, though, I'm interested in exploring it further.
The tube on the left is definitely a Chinese tube. The other looks like an RCA grey plate.
@Real Soon OK, just went from D800+ 1/4 preamp output to 802 input.
Same EQ settings on 800+, 802 EQ and gain all at noon, same volume level.
Not a great deal of difference but the Mesa influence is in control.
I've gone back to "line in", Just so I don't start stacking eq's and overcomplicating things, the heft factor alone is worth it for me. Be really interesting to see the difference at stage volumes. I get the feeling the big fat tone I'm getting could take down walls
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