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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

#5,781
Jesuguru said:
I have an HXS and I almost want to dislike it, I think to justify keeping my dozen or so analog pedals. But every time I mess with it I'm undeniably impressed with the overall tone and versatility - with just a few exceptions (can't jibe with the comps as much as my Empress or Apex, no XLR DI out, etc). I think I need to keep everything, in true TB style.
Click to expand...

I'm worried about the compression as my Empress is so amazing, and the lack of XLR out is annoying, but I have a cable that will address that. I think the convenience of tuner, comp, amp, cab etc all in one will be worth it. Our guitar player just moved to an HXStomp XL and is liking it - and not hauling his own gear to church every week. I'm sure it'll be fine for me as well. Then we'll both have similar "rigs" at church. He still uses his analog board for our cover band.

I won't be in a hurry to sell off my REDDI/Empress for a while. It's still my cover band rig, until the Berg pedal comes out and I like that, or maybe I'll
love the HX and get one for myself?
 
#5,782
SteveC said:
I'm worried about the compression as my Empress is so amazing, and the lack of XLR out is annoying, but I have a cable that will address that. I think the convenience of tuner, comp, amp, cab etc all in one will be worth it. Our guitar player just moved to an HXStomp XL and is liking it - and not hauling his own gear to church every week. I'm sure it'll be fine for me as well. Then we'll both have similar "rigs" at church. He still uses his analog board for our cover band.

I won't be in a hurry to sell off my REDDI/Empress for a while. It's still my cover band rig, until the Berg pedal comes out and I like that, or maybe I'll
love the HX and get one for myself?
Click to expand...
If you really don't want to give up the empress or can't gel with the HXS compressors then just throw it into the pocket of your gig bag. Run your bass to comp then HXS. Best of all worlds. I have found the onboard compressors to be just fine.
 
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#5,784
I just need to change my thinking. Modeling is getting pretty good. It's probably the future. If it gets even 90% of the sound it's going after, in a club or ballroom or arena, it'll sound fine. Accept that for the trade off in convenience, never worrying about a knob/setting getting changed, etc.
 
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#5,785
Jesuguru said:
I have an HXS and I almost want to dislike it, I think to justify keeping my dozen or so analog pedals. But every time I mess with it I'm undeniably impressed with the overall tone and versatility - with just a few exceptions (can't jibe with the comps as much as my Empress or Apex, no XLR DI out, etc). I think I need to keep everything, in true TB style.
Click to expand...

SteveC said:
I'm worried about the compression as my Empress is so amazing, and the lack of XLR out is annoying, but I have a cable that will address that.
Click to expand...

Like @SteveC mentioned... Switch the output to Line level and get a handy 1/4" to XLR cable, good to go. I've run many a gig with that setup.

SteveC said:
I won't be in a hurry to sell off my REDDI/Empress for a while. It's still my cover band rig, until the Berg pedal comes out and I like that, or maybe I'll
love the HX and get one for myself?
Click to expand...

Nah. With everything I've seen you say about the REDDI and how you've kept coming back to it after comparing with other gear... I'm thinking that's your sound. ;);)

SteveC said:
I just need to change my thinking. Modeling is getting pretty good. It's probably the future. If it gets even 90% of the sound it's going after, in a club or ballroom or arena, it'll sound fine. Accept that for the trade off in convenience, never worrying about a knob/setting getting changed, etc.
Click to expand...

I love my full board (with an Empress at the front of the chain, I might add), but rolling into a gig with just my bass(es) bag with Stomp and IEMs in the front pocket makes it awful hard to argue with any of this. I was skeptical at first and kept a couple single pedals on the board that I thought I needed, but the Helix is great in a mix. Comps in the Stomp are definitely up to the task, and there are SO many tricks it can do. I just run the Empress at the front for some preamp flavor, to go into the synths nicer, and level match between basses.

Since your church bought you one, you might check out the HX Stomp thread. Lots of in-depth info there. And you could hit up Youtube for HX Stomp worship bass vids, too.

5sg.
 
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#5,786
fivestringgecko said:
Nah. With everything I've seen you say about the REDDI and how you've kept coming back to it after comparing with other gear... I'm thinking that's your sound. ;);)

I love my full board (with an Empress at the front of the chain, I might add), but rolling into a gig with just my bass(es) bag with Stomp and IEMs in the front pocket makes it awful hard to argue with any of this. I was skeptical at first and kept a couple single pedals on the board that I thought I needed, but the Helix is great in a mix. Comps in the Stomp are definitely up to the task, and there are SO many tricks it can do. I just run the Empress at the front for some preamp flavor, to go into the synths nicer, and level match between basses.

Since your church bought you one, you might check out the HX Stomp thread. Lots of in-depth info there. And you could hit up Youtube for HX Stomp worship bass vids, too.

5sg.
Click to expand...
We'll see I guess. I do love the REDDI.
2nd paragraph is the logic behind trying this.
Have looked/listened a lot - my analysis paralysis.
 
#5,787
Jesuguru said:
I have an HXS and I almost want to dislike it, I think to justify keeping my dozen or so analog pedals. But every time I mess with it I'm undeniably impressed with the overall tone and versatility - with just a few exceptions (can't jibe with the comps as much as my Empress or Apex, no XLR DI out, etc). I think I need to keep everything, in true TB style.
Click to expand...

I'm right there with you. There is something nostalgic about the old school gear.

The lack of an XLR doesn't bother me as I bought a TRS to XLR cable and plug right into the supplied XLR cable at church or to the console at other gigs. Quite, strong output, no issues.

I also understand about the compressor. I have different basses with different outputs and I typically run the comp early in my signal chain. I often need to adjust the threshold based on what bass I'm running. But on the virtual comps, you have no indicator of when compression is taking place. Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know...use your ears...but I like the little blinking lights. :)

On the flip side....I could set up a patch for each of my basses with the correct settings or I could use snapshots. So there is a work around, I've just been too lazy to do it.
 
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#5,789
chadhargis said:
I'm right there with you. There is something nostalgic about the old school gear.

The lack of an XLR doesn't bother me as I bought a TRS to XLR cable and plug right into the supplied XLR cable at church or to the console at other gigs. Quite, strong output, no issues.

I also understand about the compressor. I have different basses with different outputs and I typically run the comp early in my signal chain. I often need to adjust the threshold based on what bass I'm running. But on the virtual comps, you have no indicator of when compression is taking place. Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know...use your ears...but I like the little blinking lights. :)

On the flip side....I could set up a patch for each of my basses with the correct settings or I could use snapshots. So there is a work around, I've just been too lazy to do it.
Click to expand...

Jesuguru said:
Adding some kind of metering indicator (optional sequential footswitch lighting/strobing?) would be a killer update. I imagine easier said than done, so one can only hope, meanwhile the HXS is already an overachiever.
Click to expand...

As a person that struggles with the concept of setting a compressor, little blinky lights would be just peachy.
 
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#5,795
06AA4E3E-77ED-4699-9F41-4E14A1A945DE.jpeg
 
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#5,797
Ethereal Thorn said:
That is exactly why I got a sushi box deep dish compressor over the la1a the added led metering sealed the deal
Click to expand...

The metering is a nice feature but the Effectrode LA-1A is a much better sounding and performing compressor. However, the Effectrode does cost a lot more.
 
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#5,798
The RNDI and the Zod are pretty similar; nice and balanced with the Zod having a little tighter bottom end and a touch of grind. The P-15, with my preferred settings, is more articulate, not as fat, but sits more forward in a mix…Kinda like an ash/maple vs an alder/rosewood bass.
 

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