The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

[Yamarc]

Aww bummer.

 

[gigetto]

Is Yamaha onboard pre of TRBX 504 good for you?

 

[mostvaliant]

If you are considering the REDDI, add the Zod to your list.

ZOD or Noble. Highly leaning noble, but I’ve been curious about Zod as well.

 

[scubaduba]

ZOD or Noble. Highly leaning noble, but I’ve been curious about Zod as well.

If only comparing tone, my choice would be Zod because it sounds wider and inherently deeper and more “tubey”. The Noble is great but it doesn’t demonstrate enough of the “spacial” feel I look for in a tube device. I also prefer how the mids come across in the Zod.

 

[emjazz]

If only comparing tone, my choice would be Zod because it sounds wider and inherently deeper and more “tubey”. The Noble is great but it doesn’t demonstrate enough of the “spacial” feel I look for in a tube device. I also prefer how the mids come across in the Zod.

Does the Zod have an effected 1/4" out?

 

[emjazz]

Quarter inch jack output is "through", not post processor.

Oh sorry...just saw this. What a drag.

 

[emjazz]

Aw man, I was trying to pull together the funds for that Kahn!

Looks like that Khan is back for sale.

 

[chadhargis]

I've been using my light weight baby board more and more in a live situation. I have to say, the NuX MLD with the Night Owl Edison tube in front of it really does sound very good. Best part is, that rig weighs less than 5lbs. It's super small and light and I can easily carry it.

The reason I've been using it more is because I have a short in a patch cable somwhere in my big board that is causing some issues and I've been too busy starting a new job to tear it apart and rewire it. So I've been rocking my "backup" baby board and I am liking it more and more.

 

[emjazz]

I'm really curious about The Small Trees. I may have to give it a go. I'm a big fan of the Edison, but it sounds like The Small Trees has less breakup, which is what I prefer.

 

[sifrancis]

I'm really curious about The Small Trees. I may have to give it a go. I'm a big fan of the Edison, but it sounds like The Small Trees has less breakup, which is what I prefer.

I have both, and can confirm that The Small Trees has less breakup - though I'd still consider the Edison relatively clean.
Can't go wrong with either. If you can, I'd highly recommend going for the DI version of The Small Trees - It is fantastic... Pair with a Barber Linden EQ and you have a real Noble-killer (IMO / YMMV...etc).

 

[emjazz]

I have both, and can confirm that The Small Trees has less breakup - though I'd still consider the Edison relatively clean.
Can't go wrong with either. If you can, I'd highly recommend going for the DI version of The Small Trees - It is fantastic... Pair with a Barber Linden EQ and you have a real Noble-killer (IMO / YMMV...etc).

Do you feel the Small Trees is more dynamic than the Edison? For what I do I felt in the end that the Edison stole a bit too much of my dynamic range.

Again, for what I do I think I'd get the non DI version...I have an old Demeter pre for a tube DI.

 

[sifrancis]

Do you feel the Small Trees is more dynamic than the Edison? For what I do I felt in the end that the Edison stole a bit too much of my dynamic range.

Again, for what I do I think I'd get the non DI version...I have an old Demeter pre for a tube DI.

It definitely has a less compressed sound to the Edison.

In general I feel The Small Trees excels at offering the 3-Dimensional qualities of "the tube sound", with a sheen/sparkle/presence to the sound, as well as a focused and tight punch to the low end (not a loss of lows, but it could feel like that in some settings, as it clarifies and reduces mudiness/'smearing' in the low end), whilst being respectful of the inherent character of what it is fed (some may call this transparent).

This is all incredibly nuanced and subjective, but it certainly sounds like The Small Trees would be suited to your goals than the Edison, which to my ears offers more grit/hair, "big-ness"/bloom in the lows, and that light compression associated with tubes.

As such I use the two fairly differently; the Edison working better for me near-beginning of signal chain device (after octaves & 'synth' voices, before drives/modulation/time-based fx), and The Small Trees (non-DI or DI version) is very much an end-of-chain vibe for me. I could imagine it pairing incredibly well with a Demeter DI.

I hope that all helps.

 

[emjazz]

It definitely has a less compressed sound to the Edison.

In general I feel The Small Trees excels at offering the 3-Dimensional qualities of "the tube sound", with a sheen/sparkle/presence to the sound, as well as a focused and tight punch to the low end (not a loss of lows, but it could feel like that in some settings, as it clarifies and reduces mudiness/'smearing' in the low end), whilst being respectful of the inherent character of what it is fed (some may call this transparent).

This is all incredibly nuanced and subjective, but it certainly sounds like The Small Trees would be suited to your goals than the Edison, which to my ears offers more grit/hair, "big-ness"/bloom in the lows, and that light compression associated with tubes.

As such I use the two fairly differently; the Edison working better for me near-beginning of signal chain device (after octaves & 'synth' voices, before drives/modulation/time-based fx), and The Small Trees (non-DI or DI version) is very much an end-of-chain vibe for me. I could imagine it pairing incredibly well with a Demeter DI.

I hope that all helps.

That's a huge help! I love the Demeter preamps because they have that 3D tube quality without compromising dynamics. Sounds like The Small Trees would be a great way of getting something similar in a smaller, travel/gig version. Thanks! That way I can have my solid state amp and choose to add The Small Trees when I want a slight tube sound.

 

[s0c9]

Not sure if this is the right place for it.. but..
I play bass (duh!), run sound for local bands/festivals. I run an SVT Pro rig, but have seen a number of local/touring bassists with pedalboards who have tube DI's at the end of their effect chain.
They hand me the XLR from the tube DI to go into the FOH snake/console!
It DI might be a REDDI, SVT-DI, Noble or similar, but MANY are fronted by Darkglass, Ampeg, Mesa or Tech21 pre-amp (or equivalent) pedals.

My question:
When all of those "preamp" pedals have XLR DI outputs, what's the benefit of putting their already "tweaked tone" into a tube-driven DI (like the Noble) and going to FOH from there vs direct from the preamp pedal?
Tube warmth or ??

Thanks .. asking for a friend!

 

[Jesuguru]

Not sure if this is the right place for it.. but..
I play bass (duh!), run sound for local bands/festivals. I run an SVT Pro rig, but have seen a number of local/touring bassists with pedalboards who have tube DI's at the end of their effect chain.
They hand me the XLR from the tube DI to go into the FOH snake/console!
It DI might be a REDDI, SVT-DI, Noble or similar, but MANY are fronted by Darkglass, Ampeg, Mesa or Tech21 pre-amp (or equivalent) pedals.

My question:
When all of those "preamp" pedals have XLR DI outputs, what's the benefit of putting their already "tweaked tone" into a tube-driven DI (like the Noble) and going to FOH from there vs direct from the preamp pedal?
Tube warmth or ??

Thanks .. asking for a friend!

The purpose of going from tube DI to FOH isn't just the DI itself, as much as it's the quality of the tube tone of the (Noble/Reddi/SLO/P15/Khan etc). They go from those to FOH for the tube warmth/harmonics/breakup; the built-in DI is more just an added benefit (not to minimize the importance of a quality DI with decent low-noise transformer). IMO/IME etc.

So the tube isn't merely after their "tweaked tone", the tube(s) themselves add some additional tonal tweaking. Of course, that tube-tone can also come before a tube-free DI, in the form of standalone pedals like the Super Stack (I own and love), Particle Accelerator, Edison, non-DI Oracle, LA-1A compressor, etc.

 

[s0c9]

The purpose of going from tube DI to FOH isn't just the DI itself, as much as it's the quality of the tube tone of the (Noble/Reddi/SLO/P15/Khan etc). They go from those to FOH for the tube warmth/harmonics/breakup; the built-in DI is more just an added benefit (not to minimize the importance of a quality DI with decent low-noise transformer). IMO/IME etc.

So the tube isn't merely after their "tweaked tone", the tube(s) themselves add some additional tonal tweaking. Of course, that tube-tone can also come before a tube-free DI, in the form of standalone pedals like the Super Stack (I own and love), Particle Accelerator, Edison, non-DI Oracle, LA-1A compressor, etc.

Thx for the info... I figured that was the case and was wondering about venturing into that space myself... have a nbr of preamp pedals, but currently run DI out of my SVT7Pro...not using an6 of those preamps!

 

[arepa_funk]

Does anyone here use a separate non-DI preamp they run front of chain? I currently use the Ampeg classic and it's fine though pretty dark in tone and has a notable hiss with the Ultra-Hi engaged. I'm trying to get a clean preamp tone that I can EQ. Have looked at the MXR Thump but haven't liked the demos I saw. Xotic RC Booster and TC Spark have been on my radar.

I prefer to run preamp first so that the other effects receive that preamped tone, instead of the preamp processing the effects. Haven't gigged in a while, but I'd use a clean DI like a Radial Pro48 at end of chain.

Current chain is:
Tuner
Preamp
Octave
OD
Fuzz
Envelope filter
Compressor
Phaser
Delay

Thanks for your help!

 

[fivestringgecko]

Does anyone here use a separate non-DI preamp they run front of chain? I'm trying to get a clean preamp tone that I can EQ.

I prefer to run preamp first so that the other effects receive that preamped tone, instead of the preamp processing the effects. Haven't gigged in a while...

I hear you on the gigs. I'm tinkering with a preamp at the front of my chain. Just got my hands on a Sushi Box Slampegg that I'll be trying for that. Most of Darkglass' stuff isn't really my thing, but I never got a chance to try out their original Harmonic Booster, but I've wanted to test out the V2 ever since I it released, and Gregor suggests running it at the beginning of your chain in his BassTheWorld's demo. I also really dig Amos Heller's demo of this pedal as well, and he also suggests it early in your chain. (and lol @ 5:20 in that vid, too.)

5sg.

 

[Rocksolid]

I'm a big fan of the TC spark at the front. Great for slap tone or boosting low output basses, or EQing for synth sounds etc.
Ironically, I've tried the TC spark after the VT (VT is eqed for FOH, GEB7 for IEM or powered speaker) and I don't like it at all. It sounds quite congested.

 

[arepa_funk]

I hear you on the gigs. I'm tinkering with a preamp at the front of my chain. Just got my hands on a Sushi Box Slampegg that I'll be trying for that. Most of Darkglass' stuff isn't really my thing, but I never got a chance to try out their original Harmonic Booster, but I've wanted to test out the V2 ever since I it released, and Gregor suggests running it at the beginning of your chain in his BassTheWorld's demo. I also really dig Amos Heller's demo of this pedal as well, and he also suggests it early in your chain. (and lol @ 5:20 in that vid, too.)

5sg.

I'm a big fan of the TC spark at the front. Great for slap tone or boosting low output basses, or EQing for synth sounds etc.
Ironically, I've tried the TC spark after the VT (VT is eqed for FOH, GEB7 for IEM or powered speaker) and I don't like it at all. It sounds quite congested.
View attachment 4105114

Thanks for your notes!

Great to hear @Rocksolid that you run the Spark front of chain. I use passive basses with flats and read that the Spark can make that setup brighter and more alive.

@fivestringgecko haven't seen demos of the DG Harmonic Booster yet! Will check out Gregor's, his channel is fantastic. Same btw re DG tone, most of what I've heard is "too metal" for my needs.