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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

#5,801
I just picked up an Effectrode LA-1A. It is easily the best comp I have tried (BBE Opto, Wampler Ego, Earthquaker Warden, Empress V2, and Cali76 Compact Bass). No noise, easy to dial in, and the EQ switch on the back is surprisingly good on bass (a feature I expected to ignore). The boost is a nice addition. I agree that the Empress monitoring would be nice in the Effectrode, but it is so easy to dial in that metering becomes a nice to have more than a must have.

Now I just need to list my Cali 76 CB and Sushibox Slampegg HW in the classifieds. I had to remove them to make board space for the Effectrode. Calling out the board space because size and power requirements are the only downsides I see on the Effectrode. I could add price to the list of downsides. However, the quality seems to warrant the price, so I have a hard time counting that one.
 
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#5,809
Am I the only one on TB that has issues with pedals that have a DI out?
Fantastic idea, although very often the bass DI XLR from the FOH is located where the amp head is.
By that I mean kinda really far from my pedal board.

Lack of time and quick change overs on gigs often require (read always) me to use a J48 next to my amp along with my DI equipped preamp since the tech cant be all about bass when things go nuts on gigs.


my 2 cents
 
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#5,810
ugly_bassplayer said:
Fantastic idea, although very often the bass DI XLR from the FOH is located where the amp head is.
By that I mean kinda really far from my pedal board.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I can't remember ever having an engineer short the XLR for me, even on the largest stages. Even amateur engineers have given extra cable, because they don't know where we're actually going to set up. I almost always end up with 10+ extra feet cabled behind my rig.

If that happens, you should be able to politely ask for more cable, any sound engineer worth their salt will get you squared away. (Pro Tip: ALWAYS be nice to the sound engineer even if they're a total jackwagon, because they're the ones who control sound in the house. ;);))

But the easy answer:
Add an XLR to your kit (or two!), they're not that expensive. :thumbsup: Then if the XLR from house seriously does go strictly to where your amp is, you can add your XLR for extra distance and the sound engineer won't even know the difference. Just remember to grab your cable first thing after the gig, because most sound engineers are serious about tearing down the stage as soon as humanly possible! They're almost as bad as vocalists bolting after the show! ha ha

5sg.
 
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#5,811
fivestringgecko said:
26921456[/URL], member: 90602"]Interesting. I can't remember ever having an engineer short the XLR for me, even on the largest stages. Even amateur engineers have given extra cable, because they don't know where we're actually going to set up. I almost always end up with 10+ extra feet cabled behind my rig.

If that happens, you should be able to politely ask for more cable, any sound engineer worth their salt will get you squared away. (Pro Tip: ALWAYS be nice to the sound engineer, even if they're a total jackwagon, because they're the ones who control sound in the house. ;);))

But the easy answer:
Add an XLR to your kit (or two!), they're not that expensive. :thumbsup: Then if the XLR from house seriously does go strictly to where your amp is, you can add your XLR for extra distance and the sound engineer won't even know the difference. Just remember to grab your cable first thing after the gig, because most sound engineers are serious about tearing down the stage as soon as humanly possible! They're almost as bad as vocalists bolting after the show! ha ha

5sg.
Click to expand...
Way ahead of you, already have a 20ft xlr in my road case for the next stretch of gigs.
thanks for the input my friend.
I did that a few years ago bit got tired of the extra cable (yes, less is more for me live).

Dont worry I was a tech for a few years and have been touring/gigs for the last 20 years. I know the tech/musician good vibe is more than essential.


:)
 
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#5,812
fivestringgecko said:
Interesting. I can't remember ever having an engineer short the XLR for me, even on the largest stages. Even amateur engineers have given extra cable, because they don't know where we're actually going to set up. I almost always end up with 10+ extra feet cabled behind my rig.

If that happens, you should be able to politely ask for more cable, any sound engineer worth their salt will get you squared away. (Pro Tip: ALWAYS be nice to the sound engineer even if they're a total jackwagon, because they're the ones who control sound in the house. ;);))

But the easy answer:
Add an XLR to your kit (or two!), they're not that expensive. :thumbsup: Then if the XLR from house seriously does go strictly to where your amp is, you can add your XLR for extra distance and the sound engineer won't even know the difference. Just remember to grab your cable first thing after the gig, because most sound engineers are serious about tearing down the stage as soon as humanly possible! They're almost as bad as vocalists bolting after the show! ha ha

5sg.
Click to expand...

the other helpful tip if you carry your own xlr cable is to bring one that isn't black. Carry a gray one, red one, whatever. makes it easy for other people to recognize that it isn't theirs. I find it easier than just marking the ends.
 
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#5,813
never-enough said:
the other helpful tip if you carry your own xlr cable is to bring one that isn't black. Carry a gray one, red one, whatever. makes it easy for other people to recognize that it isn't theirs. I find it easier than just marking the ends.
Click to expand...

YES! I do this with my cables. I try not to use black ones.
 
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#5,814
SteveC said:
I've debated buying an LA-1A again. I love my Empress but…
Click to expand...
Why not both......
49B5C434-0947-4BF6-87E0-166AB5DD6A99.jpeg
 
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#5,816
Well, if I decide to go Stomp or some other modeler, I won't be using either. I'm going to try the Stomp as my "all-in-one" at church. If I like it there, I may get one for personal use as well. We'll see how it goes. Our guitar player uses one at church so he doesn't have to bring his stuff. He likes it just fine. I don't think he's going to go that way for all his gigs, but who knows. Always trade off's.
 
#5,817
SteveC said:
Well, if I decide to go Stomp or some other modeler, I won't be using either. I'm going to try the Stomp as my "all-in-one" at church.
Click to expand...

I remain impressed with my POD Go. Same tones as the HX and Helix, just less DSP...so if you run a ton of effects it might not work for you, but you can pick up a POD Go for $350 to $450...substantially cheaper than a HX Stomp and you get a larger screen, a volume/effects pedal, and more buttons to map to.
 
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#5,818
chadhargis said:
I remain impressed with my POD Go. Same tones as the HX and Helix, just less DSP...so if you run a ton of effects it might not work for you, but you can pick up a POD Go for $350 to $450...substantially cheaper than a HX Stomp and you get a larger screen, a volume/effects pedal, and more buttons to map to.
Click to expand...
My concern with a Pod Go is the lack of parallel processing - especially for bass. That seems like a thing a want. I'm used to that with my Empress. I hear th compressors are ok but not a selling point.
 
#5,819
SteveC said:
My concern with a Pod Go is the lack of parallel processing - especially for bass. That seems like a thing a want. I'm used to that with my Empress. I hear th compressors are ok but not a selling point.
Click to expand...

Yeah...the POD Go won't do parallel processing. But all I run is a comp and an amp sim. I use a OD or Octaver every once in a blue moon. So it meets my needs and I still haven't found anything that sounds as good...and I've been through a LOT of preamps.

I ran the SVT amp model on Sunday in church and our pastor is a musician too. He asked, "Are you running some sort of drive? Your bass sounds great today". I told him it was an SVT emulation and he said, "Ah yeah! That's it...that's what I'm hearing".

So people notice. It's not snake oil. It really is that good. Especially since Yamaha owns Ampeg and Line 6...no goofy names for the Ampeg effects....they have the rights to use the real names.
 
#5,820
chadhargis said:
Yeah...the POD Go won't do parallel processing. But all I run is a comp and an amp sim. I use a OD or Octaver every once in a blue moon. So it meets my needs and I still haven't found anything that sounds as good...and I've been through a LOT of preamps.

I ran the SVT amp model on Sunday in church and our pastor is a musician too. He asked, "Are you running some sort of drive? Your bass sounds great today". I told him it was an SVT emulation and he said, "Ah yeah! That's it...that's what I'm hearing".

So people notice. It's not snake oil. It really is that good. Especially since Yamaha owns Ampeg and Line 6...no goofy names for the Ampeg effects....they have the rights to use the real names.
Click to expand...
For church I plan to find one, maybe 2 amp/cab settings I like, a compressor and call it good. Maybe a slight drive for some tunes, and an octave for some "synthy" type tone. A Pod Go may have worked. I guess I went HX so it "matched" what the guitar has.

If I end up liking this (may take it home and try some "cover band patches" and see what I think) I may explore a Pod Go but I don't really need an expression/volume pedal and I like the size of the HX. I know a few people who use and like a Quad Cortex, the "extreme" of modeling. Not sure I need all that though.
 

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