tube preamps

[batman1]

what are your favorite, or the best in your opinion, tube preamps avaible for bass. not a preamp within a head, just a preamp, that you can run with a power amp.

ampeg no longer makes their tube preamps... and i am looking around for one. its either a new tube preamp, a new monitoring cab, or new pickups and on-board preamp for my warwick!

thanks!

 

[Blankmann44]

Eden Navigator for me.

I use a Eden WT800 - a Navigator preamp (minus a couple compressor controls) with a stereo power amp.

 

[r379]

I own both an Ampeg SVP Pro and an Alembic F-1X. Between the two of them I"ve got the vintage tone thing covered. The Alembic is stil available new and the Ampeg on the used market.

You didn't say what kind of music you play or what kind of tone you're after.

 

[groovaholic]

This is all VERY "FWIW, YMMV" etc. Tone is right up there with genre in terms of COMPLETELY subjective matters. There IS NO "right" answer.

So, my treasure might be your trash.

With that said, I've owned LOTS of bass preamps and they all have something cool to bring to the table. They also missed the mark in some way that led to their departure...

Here's a chronological listing:

• Groove Tubes STBP
• Alembic F1X
• Ampeg SVP
• Yamaha PB1
• Demeter VTBP-201
• Alembic F1X
• Tech 21 RBI
• Demeter VTBP-201S
• Tech 21 RBI
• BBE B-Max
• Demeter HBP-1
• Tech 21 RBI (this is getting embarassing)
• Trace Elliot V-Type
• Fender TBP-1
• Sans Amp PSA 1.1
• Peavey MAX

Suprisingly, the MAX really delivers the sound I wanted. Which is aggravating, since it cost me HALF what the next least expensive one on the list cost me.

What's funny to me is how well it illustrates the point I made at the beginning of this post--the MAX was reviewed in Bass Player mag's shootout 10 or 12 years ago and got a very lukewarm rating.

They raved about the Demeter and Alembic--and with good reason, they are WELL built, great sounding preamps--but I like a lot of mids in my signal and all of the "boutique" preamps sucked out too much midrange for me.

The Trace Elliot V-Type came VERY close to my ideal, and I (obviously) really like the Sans Amp RBI--but only on 4-string.

I can only tell you what I liked and disliked about each, and that's only relevant if I have an idea of the tone you're looking for.

Feel free to PM me for specifics....

John