You are correct. The TH sounds great in both modes, but, there is an output difference when switching.
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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison
- Thread starter chadhargis
- Start date
You are correct. The TH sounds great in both modes, but, there is an output difference when switching.
jacoby75
Supporting Member
- Mar 11, 2010
- 5,661
- 10,716
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- Endorsing Artist: Mike Lull Custom Guitars, DR Strings
Correct. It is not really the kind of thing you can switch back and forth between like two separate channels. They share all of the same knobs. So switching back-and-forth live does not really work. You kind of have to pick a side and commit to it.
As a relatively new TH pedal user I found this overview of capabilities very helpful.
sansamp para driver vs. aguilar tone hammer
I have band situations and basses that sound great on the clean side and others with AGS. But yeah, it’s not feasible to treat it as a two channel device.
sansamp para driver vs. aguilar tone hammer
I have band situations and basses that sound great on the clean side and others with AGS. But yeah, it’s not feasible to treat it as a two channel device.
Kudos to everyone who has contributed to this thread. Understandably the focus has been primarily the latest and often boutique products. Now that it’s been available for a couple years, can anyone give some impressions of the Trace Elliot Transit B? I have nostalgia for the Trace tone because I played a lot of fun and really loud gigs with that gear in the 90’s.
The TC Electronics Spectradrive and Trace Elliot Transit B both have them.
I'm GASing for both of these units at the moment.
I’ve tried the Spectradrive and was not impressed. It was a good piece, just not my bag.
The Transit B is one I haven’t had much time with, but it sounded good when I did. I didn’t much care for the compressor on it, but the rest of the stuff was fine.
The Transit B is one I haven’t had much time with, but it sounded good when I did. I didn’t much care for the compressor on it, but the rest of the stuff was fine.
I owned the Transit B for a bit. I found the compression and drive useless. I used it in a IEM only direct situation and found it also had a lot of noise. I think it may be the power supply creating the noise but I can't say for sure as I ended up not keeping it long enough to find out. The Trace tone is good though and I ended up buying an ELF and have used it a few times direct as a DI and it was quiet and sounded pretty good. The always on compression can be distracting at times on the ELF.
I also currently own the Spectradrive and am currently using it direct with IEM. I like the tone of the unit and do use the Captain East compression setting on a low level. I have not found a use for any of the drive toneprints as I just can't get anything that sounds good direct to the board. The DI is fairly good though. But having said that, I'm on the hunt for a better sounding preamp / di for direct use....
I think the Spectradrive would be a really unbelievable unit if you could use the editor and create your own toneprints. Being forced to choose from the 10 or so drives and comp TPs was not for me. I gotta tweak. 
You can. I had the SpectraComp and was able to dive right in, even on my iPhone. Spectra drive is the exact same comp inside so should be able to tweak away.I think the Spectradrive would be a really unbelievable unit if you could use the editor and create your own toneprints. Being forced to choose from the 10 or so drives and comp TPs was not for me. I gotta tweak.
I had a TCE SD, and as far as I know, the Spectradrive can use SpectraComp toneprints, but was not compatible with the TonePrint editor.
I'm thinking about getting a Spectradrive but using the drive as a boost with the Clean Boost TonePrint. Apparently it's made to work like the mini Spark. Maybe that'll work for you?
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with both of those units. Out of interest - did you look at the Fender Downtown Express? Will be very interested to hear about what you buy next
I have used the clean boost toneprint a good bit but it added more noise than I would like so it's off now. I currently have the drive toneprint set to the Muff Fuzz (don't remember the name) and at low gain it sounds pretty decent but I just never get to use a fuzz in my playing situation very often.
I looked at the Fender but decided against it based on the videos I watched. Just didn't sound like a great eq section? I am currently considering just adding a Darkglass Vintage Microtubes in front of the Spectradrive. Or maybe in front of a Nordstrand Starflifter. Or maybe a SLO... I love some tubey grind but my only concern about the SLO is it being bright enough?... Also would like to try a Plex simply because of the all-in-one convenience, maybe it would have the high end grind?
The SLO can definitely be bright enough. I have a pretty bright and snappy sound with enough low end, to be able to cut through two guitars in a Heavy Metal band. No problems at all.
I have to admit that I almost always play with a compressor in front, either a Cali76CB which by itself is pretty bright and snappy, or a Becos Stella. And then I have a Damnation Audio MBD1 or 2 in front as well for some extra grind and clank.
But, the SLO is awesome by itself and can absolutely be bright enough.
How would you compare how and when you use either of those two, in terms of warmth and other criteria?
