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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

#6,001
jacoby75 said:
For sure. It's definitely not something you can just pick up and start turning knobs on and have any idea what you're doing, lol. Ask me how I know. I can't wait to get your preset on there and see how it goes. Part of the struggle with the Stomp is that I'm not by a computer with my gear, so I have to bring the Stomp downstairs to update everything and tweak stuff on the app. So that makes things more challenging. But so far, even without doing any updates or anything, the tone is great. It takes other pedals and preamps really great too. Even just the "Woody" amp into the SVT cab (not even the most recent updated one) is a tone I could more than live with. And I still have no idea how to program the switches to do anything, lol. We'll get there.
Click to expand...

As you probably already know, but, the Dr. Tonelab amp/eq settings are a great baseline to start at on your journey!
 
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#6,002
MascisMan said:
As you probably already know, but, the Dr. Tonelab amp/eq settings are a great baseline to start at on your journey!
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I did come across his site and downloaded some of his presets to try. Can't wait to give them a shot. Thank you. Especially some of the bi-amped Sheehan-esque distortion sounds. One reason I was hesitant to delve into the world of digital stuff was I just don't have the time these days to sit and try to figure that stuff out for myself. So I am grateful for those who have come before me and offered their services free of charge to us less technologically advanced folks. It's a great place to start, I'm sure.
 
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#6,003
jacoby75 said:
I did come across his site and downloaded some of his presets to try. Can't wait to give them a shot. Thank you. Especially some of the bi-amped Sheehan-esque distortion sounds. One reason I was hesitant to delve into the world of digital stuff was I just don't have the time these days to sit and try to figure that stuff out for myself. So I am grateful for those who have come before me and offered their services free of charge to us less technologically advanced folks. It's a great place to start, I'm sure.
Click to expand...

Just be aware that most of Dr. Tone's amp settings are mid forward overdriven flavors of Billy Sheehan. Or at least every preset he uploads sounds like it to me.

If that's not your thing just stick to his other Full Range Flat Mid presets to use as a starting point.
 
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#6,004
I've gone through so many setups mixing analog and digital, hx stomp with outboard preamps and compressors.
I have been using source audio gear as preamp and drive(eq2 and ultrawave). That combo sounded great but I found it impossible to easily tweak in a live setting.
I then sat down to really see if I could match my analog setup.
This simply sounds great and is so easy to edit without apps or computer.
I think I'll try and just be done with it now lol
A580065A-203C-478D-B07A-5ABAAF1594FE.jpeg
 
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#6,005
So far the Stomp has been quite a learning process. Chad was kind enough to share his presets, which were a pretty good starting point for me. I also downloaded a bunch of Dr. Tone's, and Erik Arko's. But most of the presets from others that I loaded just sounded terrible. I think because I use a couple of boosts and a preamp with my already hot G&L 2500, (though I would try to keep my signal fairly close to unity) my signal would melt most every preset, with a few exceptions. So after a lot . . . a LOT . . . of tweaking and experimentation, I was finally able to dial in a great basic tone built off of one of Chad's presets with the addition of a cab sim and some tweaking of the eq and significant tweaking of the gain structure. It sounds really, really good. I also uploaded a bunch of my own Cab IR's, which added a tremendous amount of flexibility to patch creation.

Now for my next trick, trying to figure out how the heck to add some drive to my tone for those times when I want it. Any Billy Sheehan-esque patch I tried that sounded great on Youtube sounded absolutely terrible in my setup. Way too gainy and thin. So I'll probably have to start from scratch. But at least now I have an idea how to go about it.

Also, on a side note, as far as built-in effects are concerned, I'm a huge fan of the octave effect. Very smooth and great tracking. Even on open strings.
 
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#6,007
jacoby75 said:
I think because I use a couple of boosts and a preamp with my already hot G&L 2500, (though I would try to keep my signal fairly close to unity) my signal would melt most every preset, with a few exceptions.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah...if you're running an L-2500...you will need to activate the input pad. This is why I have a button dedicated to the input pad....my L-2500 is a beast! It used to belong to our pal Scubaduba...why he let it go I'll never know...it's one of the rare "Monkeypod" basses G&L put out a bit over a decade ago.

IMG_0386.jpeg


SteveC said:
2 Stomps?
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Required to go quadraphonic!
 
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#6,012
SteveC said:
I've never seen a G&L like that - and I've had 3 or 4 of them.
Click to expand...

It's a very limited production item for G&L...and even fewer were made with black hardware. Not only does it play and sound great...it's weights in at 8lbs...for a 4 string bass that's insanely light, but for a 5 string that's unheard of.

Here's a blurb G&L put out back in the day:

"We have a new body wood that is being offered in somewhat limited quantities that's called Monkey Pod (English: saman, rain tree, monkey pod, giant thibet, inga saman[6], cow tamarind[7], East Indian walnut[8] ... info from Wikipedia). This is a wonderful, dark colored wood that is similar in appearance to koa or walnut, but consistently nice and light. We have opened up ordering for Monkey Pod instruments to just about every model. We are offering the Monkey Pod basses w/black hardware as an option. The first ones are going out this week.

Each piece has a nice personality of its own. For the finish we are using 2 coats of Teak Oil followed by 2 coats of clear, satin urethane. The bodies have a great; "natural" feel to them... you can actually feel the grain in the wood.

Monkey Pod gives a tone similar to an ash body primarily due to it's light weight and resonance. The guitars and basses in the first run of Monkey Pod are going out now."


On another note....I picked up a Khan used off Reverb today. When it arrives, I'll put it through its paces.
 
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#6,013
chadhargis said:
It's a very limited production item for G&L...and even fewer were made with black hardware. Not only does it play and sound great...it's weights in at 8lbs...for a 4 string bass that's insanely light, but for a 5 string that's unheard of.

Here's a blurb G&L put out back in the day:

"We have a new body wood that is being offered in somewhat limited quantities that's called Monkey Pod (English: saman, rain tree, monkey pod, giant thibet, inga saman[6], cow tamarind[7], East Indian walnut[8] ... info from Wikipedia). This is a wonderful, dark colored wood that is similar in appearance to koa or walnut, but consistently nice and light. We have opened up ordering for Monkey Pod instruments to just about every model. We are offering the Monkey Pod basses w/black hardware as an option. The first ones are going out this week.

Each piece has a nice personality of its own. For the finish we are using 2 coats of Teak Oil followed by 2 coats of clear, satin urethane. The bodies have a great; "natural" feel to them... you can actually feel the grain in the wood.

Monkey Pod gives a tone similar to an ash body primarily due to it's light weight and resonance. The guitars and basses in the first run of Monkey Pod are going out now."


On another note....I picked up a Khan used off Reverb today. When it arrives, I'll put it through its paces.
Click to expand...
Does it neck dive? The one G&L I used to have had a chunky neck
 
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#6,014
BunchyMutt said:
Does it neck dive? The one G&L I used to have had a chunky neck
Click to expand...

Nope. It's amazing. When I get a bass, new or used, the first thing I do is take of the strings, put on fresh ones, and do a complete set up including checking for any high frets I might need to level and re-crown. This particular bass is the ONLY bass I've ever had that required no fret filing....including basses Plekd from the factory. Frets tend to sprout from weather changes...but for some reason...this one is spot on. Maybe Scuba had it set up by someone...I don't know the history. But it plays great.
 
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#6,015
chadhargis said:
Nope. It's amazing. When I get a bass, new or used, the first thing I do is take of the strings, put on fresh ones, and do a complete set up including checking for any high frets I might need to level and re-crown. This particular bass is the ONLY bass I've ever had that required no fret filing....including basses Plekd from the factory. Frets tend to sprout from weather changes...but for some reason...this one is spot on. Maybe Scuba had it set up by someone...I don't know the history. But it plays great.
Click to expand...

I set it up.
 
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#6,017
morrisonhendrix said:
Did you have to tell us about the Khan? I've been watching for a used one and apparently didn't search Reverb enough today. I'm jealous.
Click to expand...

Just bought it today from a fellow up in Kentucky. My Reverb "feed" alerted me that one was posted for sale and I jumped on it. If it ships out tomorrow, I should get it in a couple of days.
 
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#6,020
As promised...here are some sound clips of the Khan.

Here's the signal path:

HX Stomp (SVT emulation) -> Becos Stella Comp -> HX Stomp outputs (one is connected to the Walrus Canvas LI and the other is connected to the Khan) -> A&H Zed 10i mixer (Channel 2 - Khan and Channel 3 - Canvas) - GarageBand

So the clips are recorded simultaneously with the only difference being the Khan and the Canvas. Both are level matched.

I'm not doing blind samples as the difference is pretty noticeable. The Canvas is more focused and has more mid presence where the Khan has a bigger low end and does seem to add some harmonics.

Samples

Canvas - Bass Only

Khan - Bass Only

Canvas - In the mix

Khan - In the mix
 
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