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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

#1,445
I've put the Blackbird in the classifieds NOT because I don't like it. To the contrary, I'm very impressed. But I'd like to clear some funds to get a Noble. Why? Because I've never tried a Noble. I figure I can buy another Blackbird in the future and I'm sure I will. I want to try a 12ay7 in position 2 and 12av7 in position 3.

Hit me up with a message if you want the Blackbird.
 
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#1,446
scubaduba said:
Oh man. That's tough. They both sound very, very good. The Oracle is probably the more wooly of the two. The clean channel on the Blackbird is tasty. I've been comparing the two all weekend and I keep going back and forth on which I prefer.

Having two channels is +1 for the Blackbird.

Being able to easily tube roll is +1 for the Blackbird.

Both have great EQ control. Both can sound deep and full.

Neither are the most pedalboard friendly but an edge to the Blackbird.

The Range control on the Oracle is nice.

Both have plenty of volume.

Both have tubes and transistors.

The Blackbird is capable of plenty of OD — way more than the Oracle.

The Oracle is maybe a little more...lush sounding?

Hmm....
Click to expand...

One other advantage to the Blackbird. $80 cheaper.
 
#1,448
scubaduba said:
I need to get a SLO again. The SLO beats the others on size and cab sims. Oracle and Blackbird have no cab someone option. The SLO wins for having a DI out if that is important to you.
Click to expand...

IMHO for an all-in-one tube package there's nothing beating the SLO on the market currently.
But yes, if you have (much) more space and (much) more money of course there is better :)
 
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#1,449
Not exactly a preamp, but this parametric EQ pretty much could be.
Pretty cool!

C3D8A255-3ADB-4616-B6AD-988CCF10D63E.jpeg
 
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#1,452
For those of you stuck at home...Like everybody

My friends Steve Araujo from G&L and Jon Moody from GHS started a little bass related podcast.

We get into some of the DI and Pres that have been mentioned on here.

I started a link on it...Hope you dig it.
The Big Bottom Podcast Ep1
 
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#1,453
fast slapper said:
Does anyone have experience with the stuff from Grace Designs?

I was leaning hard towards the BiX/ALiX for a very low noise high quality pedal board front end with a Lehle Parallel mixer driving the effects loop. The Starlifter is very tempting as well. Thanks for any information.
Click to expand...

I'll answer my own question. BiX on the way.
 
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#1,454
fast slapper said:
I'll answer my own question. BiX on the way.
Click to expand...

I’ve had the Felix in the past. IMO it is unmatched in pristine clean tone. On both electric and upright. It’s kinda freaky, really. I don’t own it now as it was overkill for my in-the-trenches kind of gigs.

I’ll be curious to hear your thoughts on the Bix.
 
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#1,457
Chace90 said:
What!? Is that similar to the GigRig HumDinger or Suhr Buffer, in that it's an isolating transformer?
Click to expand...
Its actually very different. Those other units have active electronics in them and require a power supply to operate. They are also designed to eliminate ground loops. The 2020 will not eliminate ground loops that already exist and it also requires no power supply to operate. It will provide some isolation from low current high voltage DC of up to 600V (if that's a thing you worry about). The Gig Rig seems to have a buffer stage on both outputs with the goal of maintaining a steady and clean output impedance. The Suhr looks to have a transformer output impedance of a very low 150 ohms. That's mic-level impedance, so that implies it is a DI Box. What the 2020 aims to do, which is not something the other boxes appear to be aiming for is added harmonic coloration. The 2020 will reflect the input impedance on the output and it will perform radically different depending on the impedance of the source. With the 2020, both input and output jacks are swappable with no change in performance. I hope that helps to answer your question! Stay safe and healthy!
-Mike
 
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#1,460
scubaduba said:
This has some interesting applications I think. Not really a DI or preamp.... but seems to be a nice ancillary to both. :)

The Lightning Boy 2020.

Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong. I'm always looking for reasons to spend money I don't have. But I don't get it. What's it doing, exactly? I'm not hearing a significant difference (though my computer speakers with a sub or my IEM's). I'm thinking maybe it sounds a little warmer with the 2020? The most discernible difference is going from 2 2020's back to the 0 mark of the video. But it still seems subtle. It's difficult to tell with the fingernail-style playing. But color me intrigued. I definitely want to hear more.
 

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