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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

#6,181
TheArchitect said:
A one man boutique shop will have updates and things. Not something I am worried about. Tubes will have issues. Its just they way tubes are. You should try keeping a few guitar amps going..
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Totally get it. But there have been somewhat regular reports of problems throughout the thread, and my experience with the Westinghouse was more than just a microphonic tube, so that was enough to give me pause on SB pedals as much as I'd love to get a couple.

5sg.
 
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#6,182
Derek Williams said:
I know very little recent news about it, but it should be a pedal form of the B|Amp, with very similar features: Invalid Link Removed
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^^^THIS is what I’m hoping falls out of the proverbial shaken tree when their pedal comes out...Keeping my powder dry, hoping to see more than one here by mid-April, as that would seem to be a good release date because refunds...
 
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#6,183
fivestringgecko said:
Totally get it. But there have been somewhat regular reports of problems throughout the thread, and my experience with the Westinghouse was more than just a microphonic tube, so that was enough to give me pause on SB pedals as much as I'd love to get a couple.

5sg.
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In comparison to the number of SBFX boxes out in the wild, there are relatively few issues. The ones that crop up are generally handled by Nathan quickly... The latest generations that I have had experience with have been rock solid. Fall builds of the Underground Axcellerator. Just did what they were supposed to do.

I've changed directions a bit and am waiting for Venus X... though as a new design, new thingy... I'll let the dust settle before ordering. Dot 0 products... I'm kinda shy of. Dot 0.1 or Dot 0a ... I'm more Ok with.
 
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#6,184
4Mal said:
In comparison to the number of SBFX boxes out in the wild, there are relatively few issues. The ones that crop up are generally handled by Nathan quickly... The latest generations that I have had experience with have been rock solid. Fall builds of the Underground Axcellerator. Just did what they were supposed to do.

I've changed directions a bit and am waiting for Venus X... though as a new design, new thingy... I'll let the dust settle before ordering. Dot 0 products... I'm kinda shy of. Dot 0.1 or Dot 0a ... I'm more Ok with.
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Agreed about the first part as well, but the last part of this sums up my thoughts, I think. I felt like a beta tester with the Westinghouse, which was a definite turn-off. Choosing to spend gear money wisely, I shelved the thought of SB pedals in favor of other interests at the moment, like a new wireless for my new full time gig or a preamp swap for my Bordwell. I've also found myself G.A.S.sing to check out a BTB805 multi-scale as well (also for the new gig).

I just happened to get lucky with the ValveDrive find (to get the thread back on track). I was worried that I'd be disappointed, or even just "meh" with it after years of buildup in my head, but... the EBS has me thinking I need to revamp my board to get it on there and gigging. I like it a lot. Looking forward to doing some tinkering with different tubes in it.

5sg.
 
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#6,185
fivestringgecko said:
Totally get it. But there have been somewhat regular reports of problems throughout the thread, and my experience with the Westinghouse was more than just a microphonic tube, so that was enough to give me pause on SB pedals as much as I'd love to get a couple.

5sg.
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Doesn't that thread go back many years? I am not trying defend anything but Nathan has allowed a running documentation of every issue every TB'er has ever had for all to see. I can only imagine what such a list would like for other brands of similar stature..
 
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#6,186
TheArchitect said:
Doesn't that thread go back many years? I am not trying defend anything but Nathan has allowed a running documentation of every issue every TB'er has ever had for all to see. I can only imagine what such a list would like for other brands of similar stature..
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A fair point indeed, and something I admire about Nathan.

5sg.
 
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#6,187
fivestringgecko said:
I felt like a beta tester with the Westinghouse, which was a definite turn-off. Choosing to spend gear money wisely, I shelved the thought of SB pedals in favor of other interests
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I was an early adopter, as well. I felt that way when I got my WH. I had the PA, Westinghouse and Sunnday Drive. I have none of them anymore. I’m often tempted by a Finally, however. I keep finding other ways to spend my money, though.
 
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#6,188
20230210_180118.jpg

20230210_180045.jpg


Finally completed my new ReVolt Bass upgraded pedalboard. Analog dual band processing through the FEA DB-CL compressor to mantain my low end even when using drastic effects. Plenty of tubey options ready at my foot to select thanks to the 4-cables wiring of the ReVolt (a clever solution and a must for those who wants to keep also their other amps/preamps sounds at hand). In the drawer below, I add to the ReVolt sounds also the versatile EQ of the GRBass DualPre (4-wired), the mid-focused Aguilar Tone Hammer and my LeBass for an handy direct comparison and parallel recordings.

I've just started to A/B compare these preamps tone-wise, but from the practical standpoint the ReVolt is already a winner: it flawlessy integrate with my pedalboard replacing an RC booster (that I don't need anymore) and a HOF reverb (that was not particularly used in live sessions); it provides me with 3 diverse sounds + my original amp sound (the GRBass DualPre) thorugh the 4-cables wiring. Sound-wise: the ReVolt sounds are similar to the LeBass in principle, but with less flexibility in the mid-EQ; on the other hand I found easier to obtain live-usable sounds and to level the output volumes; but in the recording setup at home while targeting always-on tones the Lebass offered more. In particular, the cold fusion mode of the LeBass can be taylored to a really good always-on tone while the Modern Drive in the ReVolt is really difficult to be tuned properly (not only the EQ shared with the Dirt render it difficult, but also the dry blend is not sensible enough IMHO). The GRBass DualPre, where the dry and clean channel can be equalized independently and mixed, permit to obtain a far more balanced result even without tubes.

I'll try to record a video shootout of the preamps I have at disposal when I have some time to spend.
 
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#6,193
Killens84 said:
My current pedalboard has a tuner, compressor, overdrive, and a pre/DI. The fact that this Bergantino pre could cover all that, in one unit, has me intrigued.
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Fair enough, Berg's overall quality and the OD with HPF/LPF may end up making it worth consolidating. Tuner is nice, but not a deal-maker. If the compressor is comparable to the one in the Berg Forte I had, it wouldn't be replacing my pedal comps.
 
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#6,195
I got tired of waiting. I'm sure it's nice. I like my HXS. While the Berg replaces many of the things I use, it can't run my IEM's like the HXS can. I literally replaced my board (tuner, comp, preamp, DI) with the HXS. It's smaller, cheaper and can actually do more. And after some use, I'm convinced that out live at a gig, no one will notice a difference. The Berg pedal is nice though, if you are a Berg fan/user.
 
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#6,196
SteveC said:
I got tired of waiting. I'm sure it's nice. I like my HXS. While the Berg replaces many of the things I use, it can't run my IEM's like the HXS can. I literally replaced my board (tuner, comp, preamp, DI) with the HXS. It's smaller, cheaper and can actually do more. And after some use, I'm convinced that out live at a gig, no one will notice a difference. The Berg pedal is nice though, if you are a Berg fan/user.
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Resistance is futile. :)
 
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#6,200
pisces_bass said:
@SteveC What’s the limitation of the Berg super pre and IEM’s vs a HXS? I’ve never used IEMs but could see that changing.
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Well, the Berg is set up as a bass preamp so there isn’t really an expectation of it to do what the Stomp can with regard to routing. On the HXS, you can set the Effects Return to behave like an Aux In, and by setting up a send/return block, and using the send you can get your IEM feed from the “Aux In” but it won’t route it to the send where you take your bass signal from. You set the volume to control the headphones and you’re good to go. You don’t actually use the main outs. Just the Effects Send and Return. It’s pretty slick. I had one setting wrong last week so I couldn’t try it, but I think I have everything set now to try this weekend. If it works. The HXS will replace my Nano board, tuner, Rolls and CIOKS power supply. I have an adapter for the one spot that makes it a 2.5 mm end for the HXS. Make it the only device I need. Pretty slick.
 
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