The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

[TonyP-]

For those who have some experience with one or both of these, I'm looking for some opinions on the Nordstrand Starlifter, and the Southampton Ictineo, and if having both would be redundant tone wise.

I have been using a SLO 3 for the last 6 months, and while it is a really nice peice of gear, I'm not really excited about it until I get the gain up to around 11 o'clock for the really nice wool it has.... But when I try to bring down the gain to get a clean smooth fat sound with the eq, I'm just not happy with the results...
So my possible solution is to go the route of using a good clean pre (di not necessary), and my first choice is probably the Ictineo... just based on the descriptions and examples... the Starlifter is also intriguing, but it seems ultra transparent, whereas the Ictineo while clean, seems capable of a clean tubey flavor given the right settings. I plan on finding some drive elsewhere (TC spark booster?). I also have a tech21 Leeds which I use for dirt which I dig alot.
I do love the wooliness that lives in the SLO, but there is no footswitch to go clean, so I might flip it...
Ictineo, or Starlifter.... or both?

The Starlifter is nice but I would not call it clinicial clean it’s Careys take which I find every so slightly vintage like in even the non-vintage setting. It’s not wholly but rather a solid lower mid foundation if that makes sense.

 

[sears]

I keep up on this thread but am satisfied with the Ictineo. It sounds clean but since it makes me sound better, it's obviously adding some sort of clean-sounding distortion or enhancement. Its controls are weird. You have to commit to living with it for a while, though it will sound great as you learn to adjust it.

 

[scubaduba]

This arrived.

 

[TwototheValley]

For those who have some experience with one or both of these, I'm looking for some opinions on the Nordstrand Starlifter, and the Southampton Ictineo, and if having both would be redundant tone wise.

I have been using a SLO 3 for the last 6 months, and while it is a really nice peice of gear, I'm not really excited about it until I get the gain up to around 11 o'clock for the really nice wool it has.... But when I try to bring down the gain to get a clean smooth fat sound with the eq, I'm just not happy with the results...
So my possible solution is to go the route of using a good clean pre (di not necessary), and my first choice is probably the Ictineo... just based on the descriptions and examples... the Starlifter is also intriguing, but it seems ultra transparent, whereas the Ictineo while clean, seems capable of a clean tubey flavor given the right settings. I plan on finding some drive elsewhere (TC spark booster?). I also have a tech21 Leeds which I use for dirt which I dig alot.
I do love the wooliness that lives in the SLO, but there is no footswitch to go clean, so I might flip it...
Ictineo, or Starlifter.... or both?

Not really a pre, but I run a Barber Linden EQ into a SLO3s and it sounds great. Stays very clean, lots of headroom. It'll give you fat, but you'll need to look elsewhere for tubey breakup.

 

[shaggy45]

This arrived.

View attachment 3731714

go on

 

[jacoby75]

This arrived.

View attachment 3731714

I like where this headed. Please tell us more so I can live vicariously through you.

 

[Lowendtech]

This arrived.

View attachment 3731714

Bu bu bu wha the H E double hockey sticks?.?..?.

 

[shaggy45]

For those who have some experience with one or both of these, I'm looking for some opinions on the Nordstrand Starlifter, and the Southampton Ictineo, and if having both would be redundant tone wise.

I have been using a SLO 3 for the last 6 months, and while it is a really nice peice of gear, I'm not really excited about it until I get the gain up to around 11 o'clock for the really nice wool it has.... But when I try to bring down the gain to get a clean smooth fat sound with the eq, I'm just not happy with the results...
So my possible solution is to go the route of using a good clean pre (di not necessary), and my first choice is probably the Ictineo... just based on the descriptions and examples... the Starlifter is also intriguing, but it seems ultra transparent, whereas the Ictineo while clean, seems capable of a clean tubey flavor given the right settings. I plan on finding some drive elsewhere (TC spark booster?). I also have a tech21 Leeds which I use for dirt which I dig alot.
I do love the wooliness that lives in the SLO, but there is no footswitch to go clean, so I might flip it...
Ictineo, or Starlifter.... or both?

I’ve been using the slo in one of my loops on the boss es8 for tube overdrive. That way I can turn it off and on. I have it going into other preamps.

You could get a cheap true bypass loop pedal and use that to turn it off and on.

 

[Bassworship1]

I played my Trickfish Minnow again with my Union Tube and Transistor Compressor pedalboard and it would be hard for me to imagine a better tone that what I;m getting with this setup. Listening with my wireless out in the audience as our band had a practice today I was blown away. So tight and punchy with heft to every note. I'm satisfied with my rig as is.

 

[jacoby75]

I'm satisfied with my rig as is.

Famous last words.

 

[scubaduba]

I played my Trickfish Minnow again with my Union Tube and Transistor Compressor pedalboard and it would be hard for me to imagine a better tone that what I;m getting with this setup. Listening with my wireless out in the audience as our band had a practice today I was blown away. So tight and punchy with heft to every note. I'm satisfied with my rig as is.

HaHa. For real? Congrats if so.

 

[Bassworship1]

HaHa. For real? Congrats if so.

Yes I'm serious. I was thinking about sinking another $1000 or so in my pedalboard but after tonight I'm not doing anything to it. Couldn't ask for a better bass tone IMO.

 

[TwototheValley]

I played my Trickfish Minnow again with my Union Tube and Transistor Compressor pedalboard and it would be hard for me to imagine a better tone that what I;m getting with this setup. Listening with my wireless out in the audience as our band had a practice today I was blown away. So tight and punchy with heft to every note. I'm satisfied with my rig as is.

So....the ultimate GAS-killer?

Worth creating a hybrid pedal.....the Minnowtube?

 

[Bassworship1]

So....the ultimate GAS-killer?

Worth creating a hybrid pedal.....the Minnowtube?

now that would be a nice pedal lol

 

[TwototheValley]

I'm satisfied with my rig as is.

Hmmmm....

...if only it weren't for that fact that I've spent too much on compressors already....thanks Scuba....

 

[emjazz]

So....the ultimate GAS-killer?

Worth creating a hybrid pedal.....the Minnowtube?

Just put an Edison tube pre in front of it!

 

[uwrossl]

This arrived.

View attachment 3731714

Look forward to your thoughts on it. I'm most likely just going to pick one up and return if I'm not wowed but I have a feeling I'll end up keeping it.

 

[jacoby75]

Not exactly in the same league cost-wise as some of the others regularly mentioned on this thread, but the MXR Thump is finally available. Somebody please buy one and post sound clips so I can live vicariously through you.

 

[uwrossl]

Not exactly in the same league cost-wise as some of the others regularly mentioned on this thread, but the MXR Thump is finally available. Somebody please buy one and post sound clips so I can live vicariously through you.

Mine is on it's way! Hoping it's here before rehearsal on Saturday but should definitely have it by our gig next Thursday.

 

[zombywoof5050]

For those who have some experience with one or both of these, I'm looking for some opinions on the Nordstrand Starlifter, and the Southampton Ictineo, and if having both would be redundant tone wise.

I have been using a SLO 3 for the last 6 months, and while it is a really nice peice of gear, I'm not really excited about it until I get the gain up to around 11 o'clock for the really nice wool it has.... But when I try to bring down the gain to get a clean smooth fat sound with the eq, I'm just not happy with the results...
So my possible solution is to go the route of using a good clean pre (di not necessary), and my first choice is probably the Ictineo... just based on the descriptions and examples... the Starlifter is also intriguing, but it seems ultra transparent, whereas the Ictineo while clean, seems capable of a clean tubey flavor given the right settings. I plan on finding some drive elsewhere (TC spark booster?). I also have a tech21 Leeds which I use for dirt which I dig alot.
I do love the wooliness that lives in the SLO, but there is no footswitch to go clean, so I might flip it...
Ictineo, or Starlifter.... or both?

I can't answer your question, but I noticed that you play in Us And Them in Houston, and just wanted to say Hi. I played in a PF tribute band in Houston called Echoes, but we disbanded a few years back when one of our guitarists got Parkinson's Disease and eventually got to where he couldn't play 4 hour gigs. I never did get a chance to see you guys play a show, but it seems that you are back at it again, so I hope to see y'all play sometime soon.