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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

#661
sifrancis said:
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.
Click to expand...

same output with 1/4 out? Have you run Small Trees into RNDI to FOH?
 
#662
scubaduba said:
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.
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Yep. Really liking mine too. Just adds that bit of punch and clarity in the right spots. The price is silly hah. But in saying that, I think that is what gave me the push to grab it. I didn't have to add any cash to the sale of my second hand vt bass DI. Speaking of, The lows on the mozz sit alot nicer than the vt bass. Just clean and punchy.
 
#663
tedsalt said:
same output with 1/4 out? Have you run Small Trees into RNDI to FOH?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what output is fed to the 1/4 out - it's definitely post the valve circuit, but I imagine it's pre the transformer output (essentially identical to the non DI version - which I am using).

As for running The Small Tress > RNDI > FOH - I have done this and it sounds great.
There is a recording here from a recent TV performance which is COG 66 overdrive (very light gain)>TST > EMO Passive DI to the board.


Not sure if there was much post treatment to the signal, but the recording sounds true to what I heard in my ears through IEMs.
 
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#666
I would love to have an electronics engineer take apart some of the best of the best preamps and tell us about what’s actually going on inside.

The Noble and Shaw I had did not have any sort of gain control to push the tube to breakup. The SLO does and it’s fabulous. The Noble has two tubes where the Shaw and SLO only have one. Why??

At the end of the day it comes down to what it sounds like in a mix. The SLO sounds as good in a mix as anything I’ve ever tried. But I’ve heard others playing through other preamps and they sound great too.

I think much of the sound comes from playing style. How hard you attack the strings. What part of the finger you use. If you use a pick. Etc.

Buy quality gear, then practice a lot. That might be the lesson I’ve learned from this thread.
 
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#667
chadhargis said:
I would love to have an electronics engineer take apart some of the best of the best preamps and tell us about what’s actually going on inside.

The Noble and Shaw I had did not have any sort of gain control to push the tube to breakup. The SLO does and it’s fabulous. The Noble has two tubes where the Shaw and SLO only have one. Why??

At the end of the day it comes down to what it sounds like in a mix. The SLO sounds as good in a mix as anything I’ve ever tried. But I’ve heard others playing through other preamps and they sound great too.

I think much of the sound comes from playing style. How hard you attack the strings. What part of the finger you use. If you use a pick. Etc.

Buy quality gear, then practice a lot. That might be the lesson I’ve learned from this thread.
Click to expand...

The thing about preamps...and gear in general

...is that if you are a great player, none of it matters....and if you arent a great player, none of it matters.
 
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#668
chadhargis said:
At the end of the day it comes down to what it sounds like in a mix. The SLO sounds as good in a mix as anything I’ve ever tried. But I’ve heard others playing through other preamps and they sound great too.
Click to expand...

This is one of the reasons why I sold my SLO (and Subway DI) actually. Sounded great, but not "the price difference" better than my Tone Hammer in the mix. Decided to pocket the extra dough.
 
#671
cosmicevan said:
The thing about preamps...and gear in general

...is that if you are a great player, none of it matters....and if you arent a great player, none of it matters.
Click to expand...

I disagree completely. Sure a good or great player can make cheap gear sound better. Good quality basses, amps, DI's and Preamps can make a huge difference in the ability to make your tone really stand out.
 
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#672
Totally disagree too.

With bad gear if you just play it without putting extra effort into it (or maybe because you don't know how) it will sound bad, and you'll have to focus all your efforts in the direction of controlling damage basically.

With good gear whatever you do it sounds good, if you focus a bit it sounds great and if you are extra careful it can sound absolutely fantastic.
 
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#673
Bassworship1 said:
I disagree completely. Sure a good or great player can make cheap gear sound better. Good quality basses, amps, DI's and Preamps can make a huge difference in the ability to make your tone really stand out.
Click to expand...

I understand what you are saying, but you can't buy talent. You could put me in a F1 race car, and I promise...I won't be setting any track records...if I even make it back to the pits without crashing.

Now, same goes for putting me on a F1 track in a Yugo. Probably not going to make it around the track successfully in that pile of junk either.

But there have been several times I've had the pleasure of playing some pro players basses. I've played Victor Wooten's Fodera. I've played Bryan Bellar's Mike Lull. And when I played their instruments through their rigs...it sounded like....ME. It sounded exactly the same as it did when I played my FAR less expensive basses and gear.

So while I was playing a $10,000 bass into a $3000 bass rig....it still sounded like $2000.
 
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#674
mangoes said:
The SLO requires 12V 650mA... I was hoping to use mine with the Pedal Power ISO-5's 12V 400mA. I guess it won't work?

Are tube preamps more power hungry than tubeless preamps or is it just the SLO?
Click to expand...

If a tube is actually being used then yes, more current will be demanded.

I would not try the SLO with 400ma.
 
#675
This arrived.

C997D0A9-608D-4AF3-BB14-CF7A5ACB0197.jpeg
 
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#679
scubaduba said:
This arrived.

View attachment 3613585
Click to expand...
And on a side note, Mr. Duba, have you ever considered starting a dedicated preamp review thread/page, akin to you compressor one? I mean, I know there’s some of that vibe in this thread, but it’s not quite the same. I know I’d subscribe.
 
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#680
cosmicevan said:
The thing about preamps...and gear in general

...is that if you are a great player, none of it matters....and if you arent a great player, none of it matters.
Click to expand...
I totally agree.

@cosmicevan I'm not sure of you're consciously paraphrasing, but there's a wonderful Rumi love poem that goes something like
"Come to the garden in springtime.
There is wine and light, and sweethearts in the pomegranate flowers.
If you do not come, these do not matter.
If you do come, these do not matter."
~Rumi
 
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