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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

#1,201
So I have been a little OCD lately. lol

Along with the J48 on its way, I just ordered a RNDI as well ;)

I'm going to do a 'live DI' shoot out soon with the following DIs (Maybe I should record this)

Radial JDI
Radial J48
Radial JDV
BSS AR-133
RNDI
Q-Strip (Not a DI per say, but its what I'm using live right now)

Cheers
-Tony
 
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#1,203
Zbysek said:
Will you post it here?
Click to expand...
Wether I shoot it or not I will at the very least post my results up here.
I don't know if I want to go though that much, but if I get some help with the video I will.

Cheers
-Tony
 
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#1,204
I just got a Q Strip for a nice price from Prymaxe. DI seems to be dead quiet and I dig the Bass/Treble controls.

I guess both Bass/Treble use 1k as the cutoff/pivot point. Kind of like a two knob tilt EQ? Different than what I’m used to. Have not gigged it yet but will quite a bit over the next few weeks doing church gigs, upright gigs, 70’s pop and 90’s pop.

Anybody pair a VT Deluxe with the Q Strip? Inquiring minds.
 
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#1,208
Zbysek said:
Actually, this is exactly the way how bass and highs controls work on my Markbass LM III amp....
Click to expand...
hmmm.... I have a Markbass (not LMIII) and the bass eq point is set very low on that one. Website lists following for LMIII:
  • LOW: center frequency: 40 Hz; level: ±16 dB
  • LOW MID: center frequency: 360 Hz, level: ±16 dB
  • HIGH MID: center frequency: 800 Hz, level: ±16 dB
  • HIGH: center frequency: 10 kHz, level: ±16 dB
  • VPF (Variable Pre-shape Filter): center frequency 380 Hz
  • VLE (Vintage Loudspeaker Emulator): frequency range 250 Hz-20 kHz
I've not seen an amp with "pivot" eq, although Fender tone stack with H M L does cover the entire frequency spectrum (i.e. turning all eq to 0 results in no sound).
 
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#1,209
a few notes regarding Verellen preamp pedal:
Huge footprint, has 2 12ax7 tubes. Uses IEC detachable cable. For my purpose, I prefer either 9v or straight up 110v. The pedals I have with 12v / 15v / 18v - some AC some DC - just seem to be a PITA IMO.
This pedal has two complete channels with gain / 3 band Fender style EQ / master volume for true channel switching. I added an option for switchable low / hi eq points on each channel which adds a bit more sound options. Lot of difference in tone between the two channels. The "boost" channel has WAY more gain; was not usable for me until I swapped in a 12au7 in position 1. Still has tons of gain but I can get a great sound from each channel, at the relative levels that I want.
This is by far my favorite preamp - though I have not tried Olympic or some of the other high end pedals. I do however have an Alembic F2B and I find the Verellen 'regular' channel to be a bigger / fatter sound; might have something to do with EQ points... I also find that a master volume is essential to dial in just the right amount of grit. Verellen 'boost' channel has a very focused sound that works well for certain songs; not just for featured parts / leads although it does that really well.
There is a filtered "recording out", and a hi / low output switch (for use into a power amp). I had Ben add a -10db input pad switch on mine. I don't use any of these features. I think he also has an option for transformer DI on 1/4" TRS which I did not include. For the price of the upgrade I could almost get a Jensen based passive DI, and I prefer to have the DI separate anyway; not like saving space on a board is a big consideration when you're into mega size pedal like Verellen.
 
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#1,210
cavemanbass said:
hmmm.... I have a Markbass (not LMIII) and the bass eq point is set very low on that one. Website lists following for LMIII:
  • LOW: center frequency: 40 Hz; level: ±16 dB
  • HIGH: center frequency: 10 kHz, level: ±16 dB
Click to expand...
I have seen graphs for the above two filters (somebody posted them here on TB). From those graphs, it was clear then when you boost “Low” on LM 3, the boost starts right below 1khz, and when you boost “High”, the boost starts just above 1khz. The same applies for cutting.

So yes, those controls are centered at 40hz and 10khz, but when adjusted, they affect very broad frequency range starting at 1khz.

As a result, If one would cut with both filters, it would result in a shape with peak at 1khz. That’s what I meant in my previous post.
 
#1,211
Zbysek said:
I have seen graphs for the above two filters (somebody posted them here on TB). From those graphs, it was clear then when you boost “Low” on LM 3, the boost starts right below 1khz, and when you boost “High”, the boost starts just above 1khz. The same applies for cutting.

So yes, those controls are centered at 40hz and 10khz, but when adjusted, they affect very broad frequency range starting at 1khz.

As a result, If one would cut with both filters, it would result in a shape with peak at 1khz. That’s what I meant in my previous post.
Click to expand...
I'll have to give it another listen! Have not been using that amp much and rarely use EQ...
 
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#1,214
cavemanbass said:
I was just reading some info about Arkham's new preamp, the Oracle. It has a two band tone stack that works exactly as @Zbysek describes, and also has ability to sweep the midpoint of the EQ (sort of pivot point...)
Click to expand...

The “Arkham Circuit” is fairly simple; Bass/Treble/Range.. yet surprisingly versatile, especially with the switches.
If the Oracle had a DI, I’d have to rethink my entire rig.
 
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#1,217
cavemanbass said:
a few notes regarding Verellen preamp pedal:
Huge footprint, has 2 12ax7 tubes. Uses IEC detachable cable. For my purpose, I prefer either 9v or straight up 110v. The pedals I have with 12v / 15v / 18v - some AC some DC - just seem to be a PITA IMO.
This pedal has two complete channels with gain / 3 band Fender style EQ / master volume for true channel switching. I added an option for switchable low / hi eq points on each channel which adds a bit more sound options. Lot of difference in tone between the two channels. The "boost" channel has WAY more gain; was not usable for me until I swapped in a 12au7 in position 1. Still has tons of gain but I can get a great sound from each channel, at the relative levels that I want.
This is by far my favorite preamp - though I have not tried Olympic or some of the other high end pedals. I do however have an Alembic F2B and I find the Verellen 'regular' channel to be a bigger / fatter sound; might have something to do with EQ points... I also find that a master volume is essential to dial in just the right amount of grit. Verellen 'boost' channel has a very focused sound that works well for certain songs; not just for featured parts / leads although it does that really well.
There is a filtered "recording out", and a hi / low output switch (for use into a power amp). I had Ben add a -10db input pad switch on mine. I don't use any of these features. I think he also has an option for transformer DI on 1/4" TRS which I did not include. For the price of the upgrade I could almost get a Jensen based passive DI, and I prefer to have the DI separate anyway; not like saving space on a board is a big consideration when you're into mega size pedal like Verellen.
Click to expand...
Im gonna have to try that tube swap in mine now
 
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#1,220
So, the title of this thread refers to both Preamp and DI... and I've seen several comments from folks indicating that DI is essential to them in a preamp. For me it's the opposite; I often have a H/LPF after my preamp and prefer to keep a separate DI either on my board or in a gig bag to have flexibility in where I place it. The Stagebug from Radial is very small and fairly low cost, sounds really good and provides transformer isolation. But I have so many boxes that either are dedicated DI's or include a DI along with other features, that I could probably use a different one every day of the week. Anyone else?
 
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