The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

[scubaduba]

With the EQ set the way I like it, this is unity for me.

 

[kasbrey]

I've read through half of the thread, and I'm wondering if anyone would have a suggestion for a di/preamp that'd sound different from my GK. I was thinking of something with tubes, possibly. I'm not big on distortion, but I'd like something with some overdrive à la Motown. While the SLO, Tube Injection and Nobel sound nice, they're a bit out of my price range. The Le Bass sounds interesting, but a bit too distorted. I tried the non DI version of the Darkglass Vintage and I liked it, but no tubes... Any suggestions?

I have a Le Bass and it does clean, dirty and everything in between.

However, for the sound you describe, I'd suggest the Quilter Interbass in vintage mode. It's not a tube pre but sounds more like one than the LeBass or any of the other tube preamps or tube emulation preamps I've owned or tried.
The cab simulation is the most usable I've come across too as it does not darken the sound significantly and it's very dynamic and breaks up (if required) very organically.
Plus you can use it as an amp (louder than you'd imagine) if you need to.

Becos Stella into Interbass has completed my quest.

 

[FunkyYeti]

I have a Le Bass and it does clean, dirty and everything in between.

However, for the sound you describe, I'd suggest the Quilter Interbass in vintage mode. It's not a tube pre but sounds more like one than the LeBass or any of the other tube preamps or tube emulation preamps I've owned or tried.
The cab simulation is the most usable I've come across too as it does not darken the sound significantly and it's very dynamic and breaks up (if required) very organically.
Plus you can use it as an amp (louder than you'd imagine) if you need to.

Becos Stella into Interbass has completed my quest.

Interesting. Which other tube preamps have you tried?

 

[chadhargis]

you’ve been through so many I’ve lost count

Last I read, you had sold the Nobel for the tube injection. Are you using the SLO now?

Yep!

I put the SLO up against the Shaw and the Tube Injection was better. A little fuller and warmer sounding, perhaps due to the octal tube vs the 9 pin 12ax7. But it did sound ever so slightly better. The reason the SLO is on my board now is for the following reasons:

1. In a mix I could tell no difference
2. The SLO is cheaper and selling the Shaw and buying the SLO (used) put money in my pocket
3. The SLO has an FX loop
4. The SLO has loadable IR cab sims
5. The SLO is able to get actual tube drive where I couldn't from the Shaw
6. The SLO is smaller
7. The SLO runs on 12v so I can run it off my Cioks power supply
8. The SLO runs a 12AX7 tube which is still made. The Shaw uses a 12SL7GT which is only available as NOS (but readily available)

Pure sound...the Shaw was better. But in a mix, I honestly couldn't tell them apart. If I were tracking in a studio, I'd probably go with the Noble or Shaw. But for live performance (which is all I play)....the SLO is lighter, smaller, and sounds freakin' incredible.

 

[kasbrey]

Aside from the LeBass I've owned 2 DHA VT1's and the head I've been using (Markbass TTE801) has 4 tubes in the pre including the compressor one (I have also tried "tubing" my sound up with a Markbass Compressore). As far as non tube pre's I have the Basswitch Classic boost, Fishman Platinum Pro, Basswitch IQ DI and have previously owned a Sansamp RBI, Basswitch Sonic Spark and various Zoom and Line 6 modellers.

 

[jthisdell]

I've read through half of the thread, and I'm wondering if anyone would have a suggestion for a di/preamp that'd sound different from my GK...

Not an expert but I think the Aguilar ToneHamer is tonally opposite of GK, so a TH pedal in front of a GK would give you two very different sounds,

 

[MascisMan]

Not an expert but I think the Aguilar ToneHamer is tonally opposite of GK, so a TH pedal in front of a GK would give you two very different sounds,

Especially if you ran the TH in to an effects return of a GK amp. Then you would essentially have a GK amp that switches to an Aguilar-vibe amp with the click of a button.

Running in to the effects return would mean the two preamps aren't fighting each other.

 

[FunkyYeti]

I have a Le Bass and it does clean, dirty and everything in between.

However, for the sound you describe, I'd suggest the Quilter Interbass in vintage mode. It's not a tube pre but sounds more like one than the LeBass or any of the other tube preamps or tube emulation preamps I've owned or tried.
The cab simulation is the most usable I've come across too as it does not darken the sound significantly and it's very dynamic and breaks up (if required) very organically.
Plus you can use it as an amp (louder than you'd imagine) if you need to.

Becos Stella into Interbass has completed my quest.

you have me intrigued but I'm not sure I understand what the Interbass is exactly? can it be used as a pedal?

 

[tedsalt]

you have me intrigued but I'm not sure I understand what the Interbass is exactly? can it be used as a pedal?

InterBass



Yes

 

[scubaduba]

The power requirements are the challenge for it being pedalboard friendly. 24 volts, and 3Amps.
I'm not aware of any pedalboard power supplies that could power that so you would need to rely on its wall wart.

Otherwise, it looks pretty sweet.

 

[kasbrey]

The power requirements are the challenge for it being pedalboard friendly. 24 volts, and 3Amps.
I'm not aware of any pedalboard power supplies that could power that so you would need to rely on its wall wart.

Otherwise, it looks pretty sweet.

It uses a laptop style power supply (as does the Jule Amps Simone)

It fits under my pedalboard really easily. I might buy a double power lead though when I'm back gigging.

 

[scubaduba]

Exactly. That's what I mean by it is not all that pedalboard friendly. Having to have another power supply in addition to something like a CIOKS.

 

[kasbrey]

Exactly. That's what I mean by it is not all that pedalboard friendly. Having to have another power supply in addition to something like a CIOKS.

I'd prefer if it was 9v I suppose but I wonder if it would sound as good. The 24v probably has something to do with the giggable volume it produces but I'm not going to quibble given the quality of the tone.

 

[scubaduba]

It's more the combination of 24 volts and 3 amps that makes it a challenge for pedalboard power supplies. You can get parallel and serial cables for CIOKS power supplies that let you combine the voltage or amperage or two ports but not both at the same time.

 

[chadhargis]

Exactly. That's what I mean by it is not all that pedalboard friendly. Having to have another power supply in addition to something like a CIOKS.

And since I rarely use a cab anymore, I would have no need for the amp part. My amp and cabs have been sitting under a blanket for about 4 years.

 

[kasbrey]

And since I rarely use a cab anymore, I would have no need for the amp part. My amp and cabs have been sitting under a blanket for about 4 years.

Yeah it's a Swiss army knife. As such, one part of it is always going to be surplus to requirements. Personally I have no use for a fish descaler

It does have the best cab sim I've tried though.

And it's not expensive compared to the quality of the tone that comes out of it.

 

[Nicholas Orick]

This is my bass practice rig. The MXR Bass DI into the MXR Dyna Comp, from there the Line Selector splits the signal going into the two inexpensive Passive DI boxes, and this is fed into the Mackie Mixer. The Output goes via the Aux to a Sub and the CR to the Midfield.

I like the sound I am getting via this rig with my fretless six.

Yes I have various DIs, they all sound good, each in their own way, but for the time being, this is the practice rig I enjoy using.

The problem with all of the wonderful gear coming out is, NOT too many places have music stores packing all this gear, most stores have one or two good Bass DIs at best, as usual the Guitarists get all the gear, the Bass Players are the Red Headed Bastard Children of the Music World, and finding places with all the gear so we can try it, and hear it, is becoming tougher and tougher in the more and more mail order world.

For example, there is a local GC that tends to have on occasion Used Bass Preamp/DIs but almost always No New Bass Preamp/DIs. Most of my New Preamp/DIs I purchased via mail order and the Used Preamp/DIs I purchased locally.

California has some really good music stores capable of packing all the gear, but more and more, these stores are becoming rarer and rarer, and the best we can sometimes get is YouTube, and various files included in reviews.

Even then we don't always get a True Sense of the gear.

I have literally seen videos where it all sounds the same, but when I actually try the gear, only then can I really hear the differences in sound and capabilities, and to a certain degree it means spending some money on trial & error.

Anyway this is my current practice rig.

I am really enjoying it.

.

 

[tedsalt]

Anyone try a Lightning Boy Audio NuVision as a preamp? Or a Frog Pedals FX1? Looks like Frog Pedals is retooling due to vendor issues at the moment though.

 

[scubaduba]

I'm really liking the Mozztronics Bass preamp. It adds the right amount of punch and presence without being over the top. Price is real nice too, even with it coming from Australia.

 

[sifrancis]

This may be of some interest to some of you: Audio Kitchen

I have the regular Small Trees which I have used alongside various DI boxes (EMO passive, Radial, RNDI) which always sounds fantastic. This DI model makes use of a fantastic transformer from Sowter (as used in some wondrous studio EQ and compressor units) for the DI output.
It runs on 12VAC 1000mA, though I'm told it can run on 500mA, though has a mA spike at startup hence the stated 1000mA. Mine plays well with a Strymon Puma R30 on a single output, no issues. Same with a Truteone CS6.

I've AB'd mine alongside a REDDI and preferred the Small Trees (similar feel without the mid hump), and similarly with the SLO MkIII (obviously it lacks the EQ, IR and some of the functionality) , it also compares most favourably against the Noble in my opinion (again when not in need of the EQ).
In general I feel it adds both weight and focus to the tone, whilst adding both warmth and some "sheen"/"gloss" to the high end that to my ears is comparable to the Noble on flat EQ settings.

Basically it's a great option if you need a simple and fantastic sounding tube DI that is a compact and relatively easily powered pedalboard option, and don't require the additional I/O, EQ, and IR features of something like the SLO.