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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

#6,361
4Mal said:
I'm doing a Shaw / Nobellium / Ampeg PF-20 T / BBE B Max T thing at the moment. The Shaw is pretty danged impressive for thick but clear bass. I haven't been able to get there with my HX by itself. The form factor is less important for me but I definately understand where you're coming from.

When I'm in my power trio, up against a cranked EVH 5150 (pre-amp out, we're IEM) the HX is just fine by itself. Mostly the GK model with gain dialed down. In my vocal pop thing the instrumentation and arrangements are much less dense. I'm typically using a Starfire bass and Ampeg PF-20 T. I think the Shaw will really shine there.

And yeah... I've had an Oracle twice and that new form factor is like Yummm :)
Click to expand...
What exactly do you prefer with the new Oracle? Is it the footprint? I dont see how losing that 300v plate can be overcome with a 9v source, although i haven't really looked into it.
 
#6,363
Gorilla Monsoon said:
What exactly do you prefer with the new Oracle? Is it the footprint? I dont see how losing that 300v plate can be overcome with a 9v source, although i haven't really looked into it.
Click to expand...

Foot print, absolutely. Nathan AKA Sushibox FX get's big voltage running in his pedals off 9v. I don't see why that would be different with Arkham.
 
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#6,364
I understand the voltage disparity. As a relative caveman, I still cant get past plugging an amplification device into a step down device rather than the 120v source of that same step down device to be an improvement other than the obvious footprint differences. Does it SOUND any better?
 
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#6,368
Gorilla Monsoon said:
I get that. Honestly, i do. I admit to being in the dark about gain structure, and perhaps I'm holding on to some misconceptions.
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It's important to remember just how small of a signal we're dealing with...even at line level. There isn't much amplification going on. As long as the tube has enough current to run the heater, that's all you need to get electrons flowing between the plates through the grid. More voltage doesn't make better sound from what I understand.
 
#6,369
I get the idea that the step down can either happen within the Oracle1 or within the power supply of choice in the case of the newer Oracles, and I'm by no means knocking the new version. I'm sniffing the cork here.
 
#6,370
Gorilla Monsoon said:
I get the idea that the step down can either happen within the Oracle1 or within the power supply of choice in the case of the newer Oracles, and I'm by no means knocking the new version. I'm sniffing the cork here.
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May I clarify that the new Oracle provides the same 300V to the tube, but it is derived from the 9V input. It sounds the same as the previous version, but has a lower noise floor thanks to a regulated 6V on the filaments. Feel free to DM me any technical questions.
 
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#6,371
Has anyone used both the Trickfish Minnow and the new Ampeg SGT-DI? My DI took a dump and now I'm stuck comparing these two. One has the B-15 thing that's awesome, the other the clean Mike Pope thing…

I've got a hollow AFB200 that gets lost in a mix without a pedal, and I need a good DI. I don't have money to buy both and compare so any input is welcome!
 
#6,374
mrperkolator said:
…yeah I was looking at that one too. I saw it has a line out at line level, wouldn't that be too hot for a normal input? My practice amp doesn't have a fx loop
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I generally run mine into the effects loop, of course, but I've tried it into the instrument jack. It is hot, but you have the option of turning it down and/or reducing the input gain on your amp. Seems to work fine.
 
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#6,375
I have been subscribed to this thread since its inception. I haven't read every post. Has there been any talk about the Bergantino Super Pre?
I recently started using one one. I am very happy with how I can get it to sound. Very very flexible and easy to dial in any amount of dirt you could ever want. If you want it.
 
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#6,376
I have yet to try the Berg. I was waiting for it to come out as it had everything I really use. But I went Stomp before it was released. Sometimes I think the Stomp is more than I need/use. I tend to like either clean DI or an "SVT" tone on the Stomp. The berg still intrigues me.
 
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#6,378
mrperkolator said:
Has anyone used both the Trickfish Minnow and the new Ampeg SGT-DI? My DI took a dump and now I'm stuck comparing these two. One has the B-15 thing that's awesome, the other the clean Mike Pope thing…

I've got a hollow AFB200 that gets lost in a mix without a pedal, and I need a good DI. I don't have money to buy both and compare so any input is welcome!
Click to expand...

I have the Trilobite. It's a very, very clean dual channel pedal with EQ and an effects loop. The Minnow is basically the signal channel version without a switchable effects loop. If you're looking for something with "character" the Trickfish is probably not idea. You could think of the Trickfish as a straight gain/EQ system. You can't even really overdrive the input.

The SGT-DI has WAY more personalty baked in. It's designed to get you to an Ampeg sound with all the distortion and character that implies.

I don't use the Trickfish much anymore. For 95% of my work, the Sansamp Bass Driver DI is my workhorse. Sometimes I also use my EBS Microbass 3 which is kind-of a swiss-army-knife preamp pedal.
 
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#6,379
Doug Bright said:
I have the LR Baggs Stadium bass di. It's ok.
Looking for suggestions for something similar but better.
Should have ...
-EQ
-Comp
-Battery power and phantom

This is not my main rig, just an all in one back up.

Suggestions?
Click to expand...

The Aguilar Tone Hammer pre/DI does not have an on-board compressor circuit as such, but using it in AGS mode (even at low gain) does compress the signal quite effectively. It takes 9V batteries and will run on phantom power.

I have one of the old Fishman bass pre/DIs as well, which has everything on your wishlist. It's designed more for double bass, but works perfectly well as a clean pre for electric bass. Can't speak for the newer models, which are fancier/pricier, but there are other threads about them.
 
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#6,380
Doug Bright said:
I have the LR Baggs Stadium bass di. It's ok.
Looking for suggestions for something similar but better.
Should have ...
-EQ
-Comp
-Battery power and phantom

This is not my main rig, just an all in one back up.

Suggestions?
Click to expand...
What your describing is a preamp, maybe even a channel strip with EQ and compression, not a DI. Not sure I know of one that meets all those specs.
 

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