Yes.
The real question is, can bass players be satisfied with just one pedal?
Seems like there are several great options out there that get you 99% of what you want, but those of us who like to tinker are always chasing that last 1% of tone.
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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison
- Thread starter chadhargis
- Start date
Yes.
The real question is, can bass players be satisfied with just one pedal?
Seems like there are several great options out there that get you 99% of what you want, but those of us who like to tinker are always chasing that last 1% of tone.
I’ve got a bunch of preamps. From a Helix Floor to several Sushi Box tube preamps to a Tech 21 DI 2112 to a Genzler Magellan to a Berg Super Pre to a few others….
I agree that, yes, it’s possible for there to be an all-in-one. The Berg Super Pre could very, very easily be just that for me. However, I coupled mine with an HX Effects and a Sushi Box More because, why not? They fit perfectly on a Rockboard Tres 3.2 board, powered by an Eventide PowerMax. But I’d honestly very happily gig with just the Super Pre.
My Helix Floor is as well, but I consider that more of a pedalboard than just a pedal.
The shear variety of preamps available is overwhelming. I started with a tried-and-true classic, the Tone Hammer DI. It’s great for what it is. Then a couple weeks ago jumped on something completely different in the classifieds.
I’ve been following the series of signature bass pedals from Tech 21 and this one grabbed me. The Tim Starace demos are fantastic. Of course it nails the Harris sound but it’s good for a lot more. Been messing with it in rehearsals and finding good low gain clean sounds and nasty cranked gain mayhem. Gigs coming up in a month and I’m looking forward to using it. The big contrast with the tone hammer is the cabs sim that Tech 21 developed for the SH-1. Very distinct, particularly in the lows.
I’ve been following the series of signature bass pedals from Tech 21 and this one grabbed me. The Tim Starace demos are fantastic. Of course it nails the Harris sound but it’s good for a lot more. Been messing with it in rehearsals and finding good low gain clean sounds and nasty cranked gain mayhem. Gigs coming up in a month and I’m looking forward to using it. The big contrast with the tone hammer is the cabs sim that Tech 21 developed for the SH-1. Very distinct, particularly in the lows.
How would you describe the lows of the cab sim @pisces_bass ? From memory Steve uses specific EV 12" speakers in a Marshall cab. I've seen the Tim Starace demo of this pedal on a P Bass with flats and DAMN it nails Harry's tone.
With the “bite” switch the lows are super defined and compressed. The lows just pop out the speakers in a way they certainly don’t with the THDI. I play a passive j-bass and use the tone control as a variable LPF. All the way up gives me the full on Harris clank. But I can back it off as needed to deep and warm with super defined lows. I’m still getting to know the pedal but really liking it so far.
The Super Pre is very, very good.
My 2 main boards stripped, items sold, others repurposed into a board for use in front of the SP or SB300. Modulation, wireless and tuner.
It has created major upheaval in my Preamp ranks. My VTBD is gone, Barber Linden is for sale, My THDI is staying because I love it with the LA-1A. My SVP Pro has been my long standing favorite with my IP310. The SP sounds so close it isn't funny, but on top of that I have a tuner, O/D, Comp so it may well go up for sale. My Empress Comp is gone also.
I can see the SP being my primary preamp for a long time to come. I gigged it for the first time on the weekend ampless. Main out into the 2nd input of my wedge, for some stage presence and an IEM mix off the desk. Very happy.
Still experimenting, but I will say this: I like having the VLPF filter set quite low so it doesn't get too fizzy. Think mine is set at 5.0kHz currently. I'm using the O/D setting. not distortion or fuzz.
The other thing I found is that on my B|Amp I have the BFT speaker profile, which by the look of it isn't available on the Bergantino site any more. I must have preferred that profile to the HG410 profile (That's the cab I use) at the time I dialled the amp in.
I plan to use the SP with my IP310 and also my Fender Neo 410 and these cabs have very different mid frequency profiles, so the profile will be important.
Don’t be afraid to download/try a bunch of other cab profiles offered (12 slots available)… Just going by ear, I’ve often used mis-matched profiles…sounds good, it’s good!
[Edit/add:] Been awhile since I had a B|Amp, but I recall the BFT being a drive option, not a cab (.prf) profile??? Jim offers a ‘vintage’ cab profile, which is simply a generic profile that some may find appealing with non-Berg (or Berg) cabs…
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I Concur, the deal for me is not just the esthetics of the thing or vintage vs digital/modern but the real disadvantage of having to tweak submenus or several knobs to access ALL the possible parameter you may want or need to adjust on the fly on a live gig/show. You see, you can program all the sounds you want at home or in your studio and then you go to the sound check and it may as well be that a lot of that does not work at all in that particular venue, or sound system or setting or whatever..and then you have to adjust on the fly. Not for me, I see the only real application of all these many programming: for a very specific show or tour that has a lot of changes where every song needs to be exactly like this or that and when you have time to tweak to perfection during a rehearsal season before the show starts. Looks impressive and I am sure it sounds great!
I think it was available briefly and then done. I can assume you I have your as a .prf file. When I'm home I will confirm it. It is saved in the profile section of both my SP and B Amp.Don’t be afraid to download/try a bunch of other cab profiles offered (12 slots available)… Just going by ear, I’ve often used mis-matched profiles…sounds good, it’s good!
[Edit/add:] Been awhile since I had a B|Amp, but I recall the BFT being a drive option, not a cab (.prf) profile??? Jim offers a ‘vintage’ cab profile, which is simply a generic profile that some may find appealing with non-Berg (or Berg) cabs…
If you need to tweak your tone on the fly because of a Bad PA or room you need to do the same with any other gear too
The preamp is really easy to tweak, just need to press a knob and turn it to the point you want
On any of my other pedals I need to do the same
With the “bite” switch the lows are super defined and compressed. The lows just pop out the speakers in a way they certainly don’t with the THDI. I play a passive j-bass and use the tone control as a variable LPF. All the way up gives me the full on Harris clank. But I can back it off as needed to deep and warm with super defined lows. I’m still getting to know the pedal but really liking it so far.
I love how without the bite it sounds very deep and full with the cab sim. It is my favorite feature of the SH-1. Definitely not strictly a "metal" DI, though many of us will likely buy it for that reason. Alongside my Sheehan Ultimate Drive-which I love for its separate dirty/clean channels-I can find any tone I could imagine. Currently engaging "bite" and cab sim with neutral EQ, letting some mild drive from the Sheehan pedal be turned into amazing, biting bass tone that is never thin, much less muddy (my compressor -> EBS pedal -> Tech 21 SH-1 DI-I play finger style.)
The SH-1 bite is very strong, however, which may make this tool misunderstood by a few bass players who fail to compensate elsewhere. Especially with other pedals, extra-care should be taken-alone, it's not that much of a problem unless the preamp section is somehow also cranked.
One could really have all needs met in the SH-1, because it has a neutral, "your bass", uncolored tone-if you choose-to extreme, rarely needed tonal mayhem. Add a compressor as/if needed. Hope you keep having luck and fun using it.
@thrashingbass I’ve discovered the entirely different territory the SH-1 cab sim covers without the bite engaged. For my mostly acoustic group it’s perfect. No clank, just full and warm. It’s surprisingly versatile. I had planned to use my THDI for this setup but not sure I’ll do that.
But that bite switch is really something playing at volume with a heavy handed drummer. People talk about cutting through….yup, not a problem.
But that bite switch is really something playing at volume with a heavy handed drummer. People talk about cutting through….yup, not a problem.
It’s been so interesting to follow this thread. The killer tube boxes of a few short years ago (Khan, Sonic Farm, Edison, Fatboy, LA-1A, PC-2A) are no longer discussed, yet they are still my faves. To me, they’re timeless. They give me the round tone I crave.
I’ve resisted the urge to acquire these latest solid-state AIO units. What am I missing?
I’ve resisted the urge to acquire these latest solid-state AIO units. What am I missing?
I still see the Khan mentioned regularly in here
It's a great DI. My FOH engineer loves it.
