The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

[monsterthompson]

Catching up after being away the past couple weeks, moving halfway across the country - saw this today, not sure if it's been covered yet:
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There's a thread on it that started recently. I think it is still new enough that there isn't much real-world feedback available.

 

[Lowendtech]

There's a thread on it that started recently. I think it is still new enough that there isn't much real-world feedback available.

Release is slated for Sept ‘22.

 

[monsterthompson]

Release is slated for Sept ‘22.

That would certainly explain the limited feedback available

 

[Mayo Fan]

I bought a Broughton P15 and it arrived over the weekend, just in time for a gig Sunday afternoon. I hadn't used the D800 in a while, so I'm not sure what effect it had. Sound guy said FOH was great. Do most folks run thought the preamp or bypass?
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That looks like a very nice rig! I also run the line out of my SSDI into the FX return of my head. Sounds delightful.

 

[Mayo Fan]

I looked up the Mesa D800. It has no FX send/return, but from the block diagram it looks like you could use the aux input to go directly to the master volume and power amp.

 

[SteveC]

I bought a Broughton P15 and it arrived over the weekend, just in time for a gig Sunday afternoon. I hadn't used the D800 in a while, so I'm not sure what effect it had. Sound guy said FOH was great. Do most folks run thought the preamp or bypass?
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Use the DI from the P15 to the house.
Use the "thru" on the P15 to your amp input.

 

[Drucifer]

Use the DI from the P15 to the house.
Use the "thru" on the P15 to your amp input.

Yes, that's what I did, but do you bypass your amp's preamp?

 

[wjl]

Guys, just a quick question:

if you play both electric and upright, would you rather have a RNDI (2.2MOhm input IIRC) or a Radial PZ-DI (switchable input with up to 10MOhm)? Which sounds better, in case anyone compared them already?

Thanks.

 

[Eadger]

Guys, just a quick question:

if you play both electric and upright, would you rather have a RNDI (2.2MOhm input IIRC) or a Radial PZ-DI (switchable input with up to 10MOhm)? Which sounds better, in case anyone compared them already?

Thanks.

I think that depends if you're running anything else in front. I use the RNDI for both, but I'm running my upright through a Grace Design ALiX first....which has it's own switchable input impedance (and I know it has its own DI.....but I love the RNDI so much that I've never bothered to try the DI in the ALiX).

 

[SteveC]

Yes, that's what I did, but do you bypass your amp's preamp?

I wouldn’t. Send the p15 to house and use your amp for stage. Actually, I wonder why you need the P15 with that amp. I bet the DI is pretty good.

 

[Mayo Fan]

I wouldn’t. Send the p15 to house and use your amp for stage. Actually, I wonder why you need the P15 with that amp. I bet the DI is pretty good.

To me that would be a waste of the P15. You let everybody else enjoy it through the FOH but you don't get to hear it yourself. Besides that, I don't know the D800, but I cannot imagine it's preamp sounding on par with the P15. No, just bypass the Mesa's preamp and enjoy that P15 as much you can. IMHO, just my 2c.

 

[jthisdell]

Yes, that's what I did, but do you bypass your amp's preamp?

IMHO the P-15 is better if you bypass your amp's front and go into the fx return.

 

[jthisdell]

Guys, just a quick question:

if you play both electric and upright, would you rather have a RNDI (2.2MOhm input IIRC) or a Radial PZ-DI (switchable input with up to 10MOhm)? Which sounds better, in case anyone compared them already?

Thanks.

I use the Radial Bassbone OD with the high z input. I think when using a opiezo you need the high impedance pre.

 

[Zbysek]

Guys, just a quick question:

if you play both electric and upright, would you rather have a RNDI (2.2MOhm input IIRC) or a Radial PZ-DI (switchable input with up to 10MOhm)? Which sounds better, in case anyone compared them already?

Thanks.

It might depend on the particular pick-up you use for your upright. Some pick-ups might need 10MOhm, some might not need impedance that high and sound great at 2.2MOhm...

Edit: the "THRU" output on RN DI seems to be not buffered...so there might be an issue with loading down pasive pick-ups if you connect something to this output...

 

[Naack]

So I was chatting with the maker of Science Amplification, and I believe he is coming out with a Bass Preamp pedal in future which will be based off his Mother Amplifier. I'm pretty stoked for it.

 

[Giff]

I just picked up the PJB PE5, and I really like it. It is very clear and clean, and it has no perceptible noise-unless you crank the knobs. I ran it with a Slampegg Bee Pre X in front, but that got a little mushy on the low end. The PJB by itself has a nice solid low end! I want to try the Trickfish Minnow at some point, but I am not quite as highly motivated now.

 

[Naack]

I just picked up the PJB PE5, and I really like it. It is very clear and clean, and it has no perceptible noise-unless you crank the knobs. I ran it with a Slampegg Bee Pre X in front, but that got a little mushy on the low end. The PJB by itself has a nice solid low end! I want to try the Trickfish Minnow at some point, but I am not quite as highly motivated now.

So I was literally just googling Trickfish as I am curious in one of their preamps and low and behold here you are posting about it. What luck!

 

[Giff]

So I was literally just googling Trickfish as I am curious in one of their preamps and low and behold here you are posting about it. What luck!

They seem like fairly similar offerings. The Trickfish has selectable frequency centers on two bands - which is a nice option. I will definitely try one at some point!

 

[jacoby75]

The Trickfish Minnow is a fantastic clean preamp with just a touch of flavor baked in.

 

[Giff]

The Trickfish Minnow is a fantastic clean preamp with just a touch of flavor baked in.

Mmmm baked fiiish