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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

#5,841
4Mal said:
Volume balancing HX patches - the sleazy way...
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chadhargis said:
You can always go to the output block and turn the level up or down for each patch.
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+1 to @chadhargis - Adjusting the output block is the easiest way to volume balance. Super easy, and no trickery going on.

chadhargis said:
I still have a tube DI as I love the nostalgia of it. I have a 1945 JAN NOS tube in it. It's just cool. I also have a tube amp...an Ampeg PF-50T. It's awesome too. But for a live gig, nothing is better than the Line6 gear.
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I'm certainly not saying I don't want/need some kind of cool tube powered DI box. I've got a couple tube overdrives and a '74 V4B, so I'm on board with the idea stated in this thread many times that there's something special about the FEEL of tube gear. It's just that in addition to being quite happy with my HXS, option paralysis is also a thing for me. So many cool options, not sure which way to go. And I don't have the $$$$$ to try them all. Unfortunately, other things that need $$ priority always seem to keep popping up. :meh:

The Ampeg PF50T has been lingering at the top of my list for a long time and might be the direction I'd go first, since I also have a pair of PF115HE cabs as a backup rig. Using that amp as a "fancy tube powered DI something or other" in addition to being a poor man's B15 would be icing on the cake. lol

5sg.
 
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#5,842
I gotta say...this is an awfully fun rig. I'm doing some testing on DI vs LI, so that's why you see the JDI hooked up to the HXS. I just got the Baby Sumo in. A 3lb amp with a 16lb cab and it KILLS. OMG we're so lucky to have these small, light, powerful options. Now if only I could get someone to play my bass for me I could just sit back and enjoy. :)

IMG_0592.jpeg
 
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#5,844
chadhargis said:
I gotta say...this is an awfully fun rig. I'm doing some testing on DI vs LI, so that's why you see the JDI hooked up to the HXS. I just got the Baby Sumo in. A 3lb amp with a 16lb cab and it KILLS. OMG we're so lucky to have these small, light, powerful options. Now if only I could get someone to play my bass for me I could just sit back and enjoy. :)

View attachment 4882086
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Great little rig! How are you powering the board?
 
#5,845
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#5,846
chadhargis said:
I gotta say...this is an awfully fun rig. I'm doing some testing on DI vs LI, so that's why you see the JDI hooked up to the HXS. I just got the Baby Sumo in. A 3lb amp with a 16lb cab and it KILLS. OMG we're so lucky to have these small, light, powerful options. Now if only I could get someone to play my bass for me I could just sit back and enjoy. :)

View attachment 4882086
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I don't know. So many people seem to be on the Stomp bandwagon lately, it is tempting. I may need to have a little black Friday experiment of my own. But I find it hard to believe it will replace my board of Brotones.
 
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#5,847
Chace90 said:
Great little rig! How are you powering the board?
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A Eventide PowerMax (aka Cioks DC-7) with a parallel Flex adapter that sums the amperage from two outputs to drive the HX Stomp. It's a great power supply and the Eventide version is typically cheaper but it's the same as the Cioks DC-7.

Pedalnetics said:
Looks like a Tripplite Isobar Surge Protector, I have a few around my house; available in black or white:

https://a.co/d/63hMySY
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You are correct sir!

jacoby75 said:
I don't know. So many people seem to be on the Stomp bandwagon lately, it is tempting. I may need to have a little black Friday experiment of my own. But I find it hard to believe it will replace my board of Brotones.
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You never know until you try it. I was a die hard tube preamp guy before I tried the Pod Go and later the HX Stomp (I still have the Pod Go and use it mostly for IEM gigs). I've owned a Noble, an Oracle, a JT Amps Alpha, and many other tube preamps and I loved many of them...but none have the flexibility of the Line6 stuff. I still own a Shaw Tube Injection, an Ampeg PF-50T, an SVT-7 Pro, and a TC BH250. Never hurts to have different tools in the tool box. I still use the Shaw at times. Just because it sounds good, Kevin Shaw is a local guy and all around good dude, and it's cool.
 
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#5,848
chadhargis said:
You never know until you try it. I was a die hard tube preamp guy before I tried the Pod Go and later the HX Stomp (I still have the Pod Go and use it mostly for IEM gigs). I've owned a Noble, an Oracle, a JT Amps Alpha, and many other tube preamps and I loved many of them...but none have the flexibility of the Line6 stuff. I still own a Shaw Tube Injection, an Ampeg PF-50T, an SVT-7 Pro, and a TC BH250. Never hurts to have different tools in the tool box. I still use the Shaw at times. Just because it sounds good, Kevin Shaw is a local guy and all around good dude, and it's cool.
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I'm just not entirely sure I want to open that Pandora's box. I'll spend hours and hours knob-twiddling. Of course, I do that anyway, but it would be with new knobs. I'm sure I'd have to start with some of the ready-made patches that people offer online to try to get me into the ballpark, rather than trying to figure it all out from scratch on my own. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I haven't seen a great Black Friday deal on one yet.
 
#5,849
jacoby75 said:
I'm just not entirely sure I want to open that Pandora's box. I'll spend hours and hours knob-twiddling. Of course, I do that anyway, but it would be with new knobs. I'm sure I'd have to start with some of the ready-made patches that people offer online to try to get me into the ballpark, rather than trying to figure it all out from scratch on my own. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I haven't seen a great Black Friday deal on one yet.
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I've spent some hours knob twiddling. And here's why I haven't gone this route for myself even though I have one to use at church. I'm using one patch. I found a sound I like and that's why I'm using. Seems overkill to have a box that does so much and only use a little. Of course there's the convenience, the fact that settings won't get changed, a tuner, comp, pre and DI would cost as much, etc. idk. Maybe in the end after the shiny wears off, I'd be just as happy with what I have.
 
#5,850
jacoby75 said:
I'm just not entirely sure I want to open that Pandora's box. I'll spend hours and hours knob-twiddling. Of course, I do that anyway, but it would be with new knobs. I'm sure I'd have to start with some of the ready-made patches that people offer online to try to get me into the ballpark, rather than trying to figure it all out from scratch on my own. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I haven't seen a great Black Friday deal on one yet.
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Looking for a good BF deal (or trade) on one as well!
 
#5,851
jacoby75 said:
I'm sure I'd have to start with some of the ready-made patches that people offer online to try to get me into the ballpark
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I'm happy to send you my patches or even a complete backup. That's another great thing about the Helix (or any digital) stuff. If you hear something you like, just ask them for the file and BOOM...you have the EXACT tone.
 
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#5,858
BlueRock said:
No kidding, wow. Because of the wait for a new one I guess? I just checked the price of a new one, didn't look at anything used.

Anyway it was a totally stupid question and I just transferred the money.
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It's a seriously good preamp....but it's not the magical device many make it out to be. There are a number of tube preamps that are as good or better. But the Noble is VERY good and the build quality is impeccable.
 
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#5,860
scubaduba said:
I prefer the JT Amps Alpha to the Noble too. And if size doesn't matter the KAOS DI is killer.
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When I bought my Shaw Tube Injection, I took my Noble over to Kevin Shaw's shop. I spent about an hour ABing them back to back. I was able to get every tone the Noble has from the Shaw, but the opposite wasn't true. The Tube Injection remains one of my favorite tube preamps due to it's tonal options, two fantastic Creation Audio Labs DIs, 9v power outlet, and separate level controls for the XLR and the 1/4" outputs. Putting a Becos comp and a MicroThumpinator in front of it is just bliss. I'm a huge fan of high pass filters as they really do tighten up the super low end of your tone. Of course, in my Pod Go and HX Stomp I just set a HPF & LPF in the global settings so there is no need for an external device.

This is a mighty fine hand wired, 1945 WWII JAN NOS tube tip of the hat to the old school.

IMG_0452.jpeg
 
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