The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

[Hypercaffium]

Hey Mingus, have you tried the Ownhammer IR's with the SLO? I agree both IR's that come with the SLO are really good. I have also been using an Ownhammer Ampeg 4x10 and it also sounds great. I keep the 215 on A and 410 on B

No, I didn't. Honestly, I've never messed with the SD card and tried new IRs, but I think that's a shame. As much as I love and use both the default IRs, trying new stuff is always good. I have a collection of free IRs on my PC, I could try some of them.

 

[ThisYouCanTrust]

Simple, straight up DI box without preamp circuit, possibly with cab emulation (that would be a plus). What's around? What do you guys suggest?

Two Notes CAB M.
Does valve power amp, cabinet and microphone simulation.
Plus EQ (including HPF) and DI.

 

[Stevorebob]

Looking for a pedalboard version of an “on-board” pre for my passive basses. I play mostly actives, but my Lull and Fenders are passive. What I want is to switch between my actives and passives without having to futz with my amp settings. Any recommendations?

 

[57pbass]

Looking for a pedalboard version of an “on-board” pre for my passive basses. I play mostly actives, but my Lull and Fenders are passive. What I want is to switch between my actives and passives without having to futz with my amp settings. Any recommendations?

Get a Sadowsky..great sounding without breaking the bank.

 

[TREYontheBASS]

Looking for a pedalboard version of an “on-board” pre for my passive basses. I play mostly actives, but my Lull and Fenders are passive. What I want is to switch between my actives and passives without having to futz with my amp settings. Any recommendations?

Aguilar tone hammer. Can do the Sadowsky thing and much more. Been on my board for four years

 

[TonyP-]

Looking for a pedalboard version of an “on-board” pre for my passive basses. I play mostly actives, but my Lull and Fenders are passive. What I want is to switch between my actives and passives without having to futz with my amp settings. Any recommendations?

The Basswitch does just and is a 2 channel preamp.

You could set one channel with more gain for the passive basses...

 

[Zbysek]

Looking for a pedalboard version of an “on-board” pre for my passive basses. I play mostly actives, but my Lull and Fenders are passive. What I want is to switch between my actives and passives without having to futz with my amp settings. Any recommendations?

Many options out there. You might consider MXR M81 or E.W.S. Tri-logic

 

[Stevorebob]

Thanks for the suggestions. I went with the MXR.

Wanted the Sadowsky — but it’s two-band and gain only. I need mids and boost and cut.

Like the Aguilar — but the size and 18v operation is a challenge. Plus I don’t need the overdrive for this use.

OMG, the Basswitch! — love; maybe I’ll come back to the Basswitch. But $600.

Intrigued with the Tri-Logic — love the v3 tonal features but the tone knobs are just too small for on-the-fly changes (why are the most used knobs the smallest?). Plus, I don’t need the overdrive. The v2 has the right-size knobs, but the 10kHz high-end EQ point wasn’t the most desirable (for me). And they’re 18v.

So, it’s the MXR. If it works so one amp setting will work for both my passive and active basses, I’m good. Or, this may be the beginning of another long perfect-pedal search.

Also, an observation — why XLR outs on the sides or top? This means the pedal has to occupy a top row or left column position to use the DI. Really here’s where GK got it right: XLR on the pedal face. YMMV.

 

[Btbp]

I've never tried one but one of the Radial ToneBone models is made for that kind of use case

 

[Nick Danger]

The Tech 21 Sansamp DP-3X is my current favorite.

 

[Zbysek]

Thanks for the suggestions. I went with the MXR.

Wanted the Sadowsky — but it’s two-band and gain only. I need mids and boost and cut.

Like the Aguilar — but the size and 18v operation is a challenge. Plus I don’t need the overdrive for this use.

OMG, the Basswitch! — love; maybe I’ll come back to the Basswitch. But $600.

Intrigued with the Tri-Logic — love the v3 tonal features but the tone knobs are just too small for on-the-fly changes (why are the most used knobs the smallest?). Plus, I don’t need the overdrive. The v2 has the right-size knobs, but the 10kHz high-end EQ point wasn’t the most desirable (for me). And they’re 18v.

So, it’s the MXR. If it works so I tweet my passive basses so one amp setting will work for both my passive and active basses, I’m good. Or, this may be the beginning of another long perfect-pedal search.

Also, an observation — why XLR outs on the sides or top? This means the pedal has to occupy a top row or left column position to use the DI. Really here’s where GK got it right: XLR on the pedal face. YMMV.

Good choice. Let us know how you like it.

 

[sears]

I use an EP Booster at 18v to adjust between hotter and cooler basses. I like what it does.

 

[Frank_Raider]

Looking for a pedalboard version of an “on-board” pre for my passive basses. I play mostly actives, but my Lull and Fenders are passive. What I want is to switch between my actives and passives without having to futz with my amp settings. Any recommendations?

Xotic RC Booster is what I use for the same purposes and works just great

 

[Kenneth92]

Two Notes Le Bass
The Le Bass has one thing the rest of the contenders don't have...an actual tube.

yeah that’s a good feature.... but the FX loop makes it by far the better than the other 2. I mean I had them all three at one point or another and it took a version 2 for the VU to barely compete with the le bass as far features go. The le bass may loose as far as size to the other pedals but it beats them by far with functionality and thought out design and features specially for a pedalboard I mean the thing has freaking MIDI and a damn through jack besides the headphone and FX loop. Sound is a very relative thing... some people love the sound of tone hammer and VU. I personally think that Darkglass and Aguilar are over rated unlike the tech 21 stuff that does live up to the legend wether people like it or not. but also man, everyone gave me more complements on the sound of the Le bass by far, no other preamp has been more faithful with sound like it. The only draws that I have with it is the le bass is how big it is and maybe the graphics could have been toned down a little to make it a little more cleaner still think that it looks awesome and unique.

The power well, I don’t love it but taking into account that it’s a tube preamp/DI it’s gonna need a lot of power. I guess that’s another draw back.

but I mean it’s not the end of the world I know people have reported to being able to power it just fine with the True Tone CS12.

One last thing! Price... you get so much more for your money than the other units.

 

[chadhargis]

Two Notes Le Bass
The Le Bass has one thing the rest of the contenders don't have...an actual tube.

The Le Bass is a nice unit and the tube makes a difference. It was my gateway into the tube DI world. From there I went Noble, to Shaw Tube Injection, and I have a Shift Line Olympic IIIs on the way to try out. It's going to have to be awfully good to topple the Shaw. Should be here in the next day or two and I'll report back what I find.

 

[Ricardo Rodriguez]

The Le Bass is a nice unit and the tube makes a difference. It was my gateway into the tube DI world. From there I went Noble, to Shaw Tube Injection, and I have a Shift Line Olympic IIIs on the way to try out. It's going to have to be awfully good to topple the Shaw. Should be here in the next day or two and I'll report back what I find.

How does the Noble compare to the Shaw sonically?

 

[chadhargis]

How does the Noble compare to the Shaw sonically?

Set “flat” they are very similar. Where the Shaw shines is in flexibility. Simply more tonal options and output options.

Both are excellent.

 

[jmbjandfam]

Set “flat” they are very similar. Where the Shaw shines is in flexibility. Simply more tonal options and output options.

Both are excellent.

I'm really interested in how the SLO compares once you have it. I like the form factor of the SLO better as it's a little smaller.

 

[chadhargis]

I'm really interested in how the SLO compares once you have it. I like the form factor of the SLO better as it's a little smaller.

I’ll put up some clips when the SLO arrives.

 

[chadhargis]

The Shift Line Olympic IIIs arrived today. I've got it hooked up and have played with it for about 30 minutes. Initial impressions are that it's VERY VERY good. I see why this sucker gets the love it gets. I am going to run out and get a signal splitter box so I can record using both the Shaw and the SLO at the same time into separate mixer channels. Then I can A/B them.

Initial impressions is that the SLO seems to be a little more muddy on the bottom end than the Shaw...but I'm going to write that off as my not spending enough time tweaking it. It does sound VERY good. I mean...not just "good for the money" but really really good. I haven't really done anything with the cab sims other than test them. But they do work well without making the tone sound too dark.

So just out of the box...the SLO is pretty damn good. I'm just going to have to play with it a bit. I'm also comparing preamp to preamp and not running through my board...so I will do that eventually.

Stay tuned!