I bought the CabZone that uses the bass pack. I'm pretty happy with it.
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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison
- Thread starter chadhargis
- Start date
I bought the CabZone that uses the bass pack. I'm pretty happy with it.
Happy to hear that. Do you have some preferences?
With the SLO, I use the default SUNN 200s cab most of the time. I like the sound a lot but it's a little bit too dark in some situations. I'd like to try a brighter IR with better definition, maybe more on the modern side. I guess the Mesa RR215 or EBS PL410 should fit my needs.
With the SLO, I use the default SUNN 200s cab most of the time. I like the sound a lot but it's a little bit too dark in some situations. I'd like to try a brighter IR with better definition, maybe more on the modern side. I guess the Mesa RR215 or EBS PL410 should fit my needs.
I like the B15, Ampeg 810, and RR215 a lot. The EBS surprised me, in a good way. The first DI with guitar cab is pretty cool, forget the name, I think #8.
It would be awesome to switch from an IR to another and get different sounds without touching the pedal's knobs. I don't know if that's possible but I'll try a bunch of different IRs and see what I discover.
Yep...I downloaded (after donating a few bucks via Paypal) the IRs from Shift-Line. They are pretty good. I have a ton of OwnHammer ones too. I'm not a huge user of a cab sim unless I'm trying to cop a specific tone recording direct. In a live setting I turn off the cab sims and let the FOH engineer do what he does.
One of the things I love about the SLO is that it has a little bit of everything...and sounds fantastic. So far, I've not found a preamp that has what the SLO has:
- Small & light
- Powered by DC current from my power supply
- Great three band EQ that is very flexible
- FX loop
- Silent DI out
- Loadable cab sims
- Tube goodness!
jacoby75
Supporting Member
- Mar 11, 2010
- 5,661
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- Endorsing Artist: Mike Lull Custom Guitars, DR Strings
Wow, @scubaduba ! After all that you decided to sell the Marleaux, Meridian aaaand the Suncoast? What does that say for what you decided to keep? (Which was what, again? A SLO?) You've been through so many amazing sounding preamps. It speaks volumes for whatever you decided to keep.
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I've been down a similar path. I've owned a Noble and a Shaw and ended up with a SLO on my board.
The cool thing about preamps is that everyone isn't looking for the same tone. I prefer a round, fat, vintage tone. I'm not a slapper or a metal guy. I just like to sit in the pocket and thump along...so tube preamps always seem to deliver that warm fat tone with a little bit of grit in it. So far, nothing solid state has given me that tone, but I hear the Nordstrand Starlifter is very good. I really want to pick one up used if anyone ever sells one.
I always use a cab sim at our rehearsals room because it brings my DI/monitor tone to life. Plus, I use the "out" or "thru" output into an actual amp, depending on the situation. I prefer amps with a Line in or FX return so I can completely bypass their preamp section.
Do you prefer some particular cab sim from the ShiftLine collection?
Over time I realized I prefer a more modern, bright, articulated tone for most of the stuff I play. That said, I still use a SLO every single time because it sounds great and it's bright enough for my needs.
I also use a Phil Jones Bighead Pro which doesn't have cab sims (and many other things the SLO have) and it's basically an hi-fi portable amp. I love that kind of tone but it's definitely different.
I actually like the Sunn cab sim that comes from the factory.
The cool thing about the SLO is that you can get a pretty bright modern tone out of it too. If you dial back the gain and run it nice and clean, then flip the high boost switch....you'll get plenty of top end.
Talk about something that makes your tone smooth, fat and warm and you have the Khan Tube DI. Been playing around with this some and to me it sounds better than the RNDI, REddi, Firefly and even the Noble I had for a bit. The hey will be live testing with a full band mix. It's definitely warmer and smoother than anything I've played through so far. Very impressive piece of gear. I'm anxious to see if this knocks the Nordstrand Starlifter off my board.
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Man, would love to hear how it compares to the Edison pre.
That's the same cab I'm using most of the time. I usually run my SLO pretty clean with gain around 9 o'clock, bass and mids at 2 o'clock, treble full and sometimes high boost switch engaged. Without a cab sim that tone isn't very balanced and usable but it works great with both default cab sims.
That Khan DI could possibly make my wallet cry very soon.
Yes these are made in the USA by the guy who designed the old Ampeg SVTDI that's no longer made. He has taken the same design and improved it and used higher-end parts. He sales them for $599 plus shipping. He won't budge on the price either as he makes them handmade. I tried for over a year to get one discounted and finally found a guy who bought one new for a project tour he used it on for 1 month.
The SLO works great for metal, no worries there.
Sorry, couldn't resist....
I'm also very interested in your take on this one...I've been eyeing it off for a while now.
Hey guys I'm going to sale the Khan as I just love everything about the Starlifter and have it zeroed in exactly how I want it. If anyone wants a great Tube Di that never comes up for sale and is a Improved version of the Ampeg SVTDI then jump on my Khan Tube DI. It is 5 months old and has 2 1/2 years warranty left. Will do $399 Shipped.
Damn, I need to find someone with a Starlifter. Maybe I can try it at Summer NAMM if Nordstrand has a booth.
