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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

#761
emjazz said:
My Tone Hammer DI showed up today. TH straight into my Straight Ahead power amp is more than I could have hoped for. Night Owl Industries Edison shows up tomorrow. I'm hoping that that into the TH gets me something similar to what I imagine your Super Stack into the TH got you.
Click to expand...

Also, if you’re new to the tone hammer - talkbass member Eublet (I think that is correct) did the most extensive and spot on write up of it a while back that I recommend you look up. It changed my relationship with that pedal and that was my staple piece of gear for a good three years before my pedal board recently got stolen. Desert island pedal for sure. Only reason I’m not buying another now is just out of curiosity to try some new stuff out.
 
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#762
scubaduba said:
Anybody do a 180 and just go more simple? Like bass into something like a Spaceman Atlas, or original Submarine into DI? When using a bass with an onboard preamp, sometimes I think things get complicated in our signal paths and I often find bass into compressor into a simple signal booster into DI sounds just fine. Then use the onboard preamp to tweak tone.

Anybody into simple preamps these days? I.E. not a tone of dials and EQ manipulation. I realize pedals like the Atlas and Submarine aren't exactly "cheap" pedals, but they are more simple.
Click to expand...
I'm into simple these days, but I play passive basses, so I need some control. This is as stripped down as I would ever go. I've got a local community theater gig coming up, and just need a solid clean tone. Bingo bango:

173A39E0-F580-4D33-9433-1B64CEBB7CB8.jpeg


(The chorus is just sitting next to my board at the moment). In theory, I could do without the LPF/HPF in a pinch, but I love how it tightens up my tone and takes the clank out of my maple-boarded jazz bass. The Bug Drive is a recent addition from the auction, and I love the added warmth and 3D quality it gives my tone, and if I want a little hair, I can dial up the gain a bit. But I could also do without that if need be, and just have the comp into the Ictineo and still be quite happy.

I'm a firm believer in having things out of my chain if I'm not actively using them, which is why I got a loop switcher for my big board. But in this case, if I were to play at my old church again, I'd move the Radial to underneath the board, and put the chorus there. If I needed a bit more hair for something, I'd move the tuner to the other end and put my DSM Sub-Atomic up front. Anything else (octave, fuzz, Geddy), I'd need to pull out the big board, which for most things is total overkill, and a bear to carry. If I really wanted Geddy drive for a gig, I'd probably pull the Bug and put it there. The YYZ was a Christmas present that I've been having a blast playing with, but don't have any practical gig usage for it yet.
 
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#764
emjazz said:
Got the Night Owl Industries Edison tube pre. Running it into a Tone Hammer DI. If anyone wants to tube up their solidstate amp, check into the Edison. Great piece o' kit. A total gem. It can do both tube clean or a beautiful low gain breakup.
View attachment 3649651
Click to expand...

Are you experiencing the same level of noise evident in the demo video previously posted?
 
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#769
I'm also interested in the JHS Colour Box V2 or similar. I see Broughton Studio One gets recommended, but it's hard to acquire one.
I'm looking for a solid state preamp pedal that would go into a tiny pedaboard and would add some warmth to my tone. JHS Colour Box V2 seems good on paper but...

In my regular pedalboard I have Noble DI. (most of my gigs are done with IEM) I'm super happy with it. So are the sound guys I'm working with.
 
#770
toores said:
I'm also interested in the JHS Colour Box V2 or similar. I see Broughton Studio One gets recommended, but it's hard to acquire one.
I'm looking for a solid state preamp pedal that would go into a tiny pedaboard and would add some warmth to my tone. JHS Colour Box V2 seems good on paper but...

In my regular pedalboard I have Noble DI. (most of my gigs are done with IEM) I'm super happy with it. So are the sound guys I'm working with.
Click to expand...

What about the Shift Line Olympic instead? Just a thought since you’re happy with the Noble but want something smaller. I have both and I’m super happy. Actually 2 Olympic.
 
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#771
toores said:
I'm also interested in the JHS Colour Box V2 or similar. I see Broughton Studio One gets recommended, but it's hard to acquire one.
I'm looking for a solid state preamp pedal that would go into a tiny pedaboard and would add some warmth to my tone. JHS Colour Box V2 seems good on paper but...

In my regular pedalboard I have Noble DI. (most of my gigs are done with IEM) I'm super happy with it. So are the sound guys I'm working with.
Click to expand...
I've heard enough negative things about JHS to stay away from the CBox unfortunately.
 
#772
toores said:
I'm also interested in the JHS Colour Box V2 or similar. I see Broughton Studio One gets recommended, but it's hard to acquire one.
I'm looking for a solid state preamp pedal that would go into a tiny pedaboard and would add some warmth to my tone. JHS Colour Box V2 seems good on paper but...

In my regular pedalboard I have Noble DI. (most of my gigs are done with IEM) I'm super happy with it. So are the sound guys I'm working with.
Click to expand...
I recently acquired a Southampton Ictineo which has been a revelation. I'd highly recommend it. It's not tubey-sounding. Just pure power.

At least one person who recommend some of the Broughton stuff has said the Tech21 Q-strip is similar-ish to the Studio One (if I remember correctly). I have no experience with either to confirm or deny that.
 
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#775
chadhargis said:
Damn...that Lightstone has some killer tone and I love that it's two channel. It could replace my fuzz pedal!

But I'm most impressed with the Dusenberg hollow body bass. I never know that existed. It sounded freaking awesome...even without the preamp. Great fat tone! I must find one and play it!!

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View attachment 3615927
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Yeah, really nice instrument. I bought it as an impulse buy... I guess I'd had a good holiday season that year :)
 
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#776
So I worked through (skimmed mostly) this thread and found some other interesting items to check out.

@TheLopp - SLO IIIs seems a pretty good option, but, as you said, I already have the Noble. I'd rather try something different. That's why I'm thinking solid state. Preferably something that runs on 9v so my pedalboard can remain small.

@jacoby75 - Southampton Ictineo has no DI out. I'd definitely want one.

StarLifter Bass Preamp seems interesting (although still needs extra power). Hard to find good reviews on it though. The "Engage" button just turns on the EQ but the preamp is always-on. So there is no A/B to what the preamp does to the clean tone of the bass.

EDIT:
I like the idea of BAE 1073 dmp (neve style pre) but it's huge and expensive.
 
#778
toores said:
So I worked through (skimmed mostly) this thread and found some other interesting items to check out.

@TheLopp - SLO IIIs seems a pretty good option, but, as you said, I already have the Noble. I'd rather try something different. That's why I'm thinking solid state. Preferably something that runs on 9v so my pedalboard can remain small.

@jacoby75 - Southampton Ictineo has no DI out. I'd definitely want one.

StarLifter Bass Preamp seems interesting (although still needs extra power). Hard to find good reviews on it though. The "Engage" button just turns on the EQ but the preamp is always-on. So there is no A/B to what the preamp does to the clean tone of the bass.
Click to expand...
I recently went through the search for a solid state pre/di pedal. I'm still waiting to find a Broughton Studio One, and had considered the Tech 21 Q Strip, but went with an Aguilar Tone Hammer pedal. It does require 18volts, but man does it sound great. Now I'm running my basses passive and using the TH. So good.
 
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#779
toores said:
So I worked through (skimmed mostly) this thread and found some other interesting items to check out.

@TheLopp - SLO IIIs seems a pretty good option, but, as you said, I already have the Noble. I'd rather try something different. That's why I'm thinking solid state. Preferably something that runs on 9v so my pedalboard can remain small.

@jacoby75 - Southampton Ictineo has no DI out. I'd definitely want one.

StarLifter Bass Preamp seems interesting (although still needs extra power). Hard to find good reviews on it though. The "Engage" button just turns on the EQ but the preamp is always-on. So there is no A/B to what the preamp does to the clean tone of the bass.

EDIT:
I like the idea of BAE 1073 dmp (neve style pre) but it's huge and expensive.
Click to expand...

Tone Hammer?
 
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#780
I have never liked any Sansamp stuff and although I haven't played with TH, I generally haven't liked the Aguilar amp tone also. Both of these manufacturers have their own voicing/tone/taste so to speak, which I'm not too keen on.
If you guys think the Q Strip is so different, I could see if local dealers have it in store. Otherwise, I'm not too interested to deal with ordering and returning it.

@jacoby75 - I remember checking Ictineo out before I found Noble and talked myself into buying it. For some reason, it didn't impress me too much.
 
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