Because I'll be performing more often in the future, I'm currently rethinking my setup and want to follow a no-nonsense approach. I own several tube preamps/DIs, but they're too sensitive for my liking for touring. I've recently heard stories of tubes failing mid-set, and I'd rather not experience that. So, I'd be interested to know what your favorite tube-sounding DI/preamp is, one that doesn't actually use tubes. Price isn't the primary concern right now. I'm looking forward to your replies!
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"Tubey" preamp/DI without actual tubes
- Thread starter ra0ulduke
- Start date
It is not out yet, but the video demos I have seen are nice.
www.walrusaudio.com
Mantle Analog Bass Preamp // D.I.
The Mantle is a premium preamp and DI for electric bass, created in close collaboration with Ian Martin Allison. Designed to give your instrument an impeccable sonic foundation, the Mantle brings studio-grade refinement to any environment - whether you're stepping onstage, tracking in the...
www.walrusaudio.com
How are you defining "tubey" in terms of sonic characteristics? You'll find that everyone uses that term differently and you're more likely to get useful suggestions if everyone clearly understands your goal.
Although it's not a preamp if you want the best tube sound out of pedals try the spaceman Saturn VI and Redstone together, so good.
Could you define a "tubey sound" according to you?
That will help since I have been millions way of defining that.
That will help since I have been millions way of defining that.
If price isn't the primary concern (but on the other side of the range), even the ultracheap Behringer BDI 21 is sold as tubey: Behringer | Product | BDI21
Tech 21's SansAmp VT Bass DI emulates a tube amplifier. Ampeg SGT DI is another obvious choice if you like that sound.
VT Bass DI SansAmp Preamp
VT Bass DI SansAmp Preamp with speaker emulation, Character control, Drive, Blend, 3-band active EQ, XLR output
www.tech21nyc.com
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This one is out of left field but have you played through a EBS Multicomp? Technically it is a compressor pedal, but there is a MODE knob that allows you to pick between "Modern/Normal/Tubeism". I've been using one of these for about 20 years. I keep it set to "tubeism" and it is always on. This setting adds pleasing harmonics and grit like a tube preamp. The pedal also allows you to drive the front end of your amp a little with the Gain knob. Basically two effects in one pedal. If you want an actual D.I platform, I love my Aguilar Tone Hammer. Nice tube-ish gain and 3-band tone controls.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EBSBLMC--ebs-multicomp-blue-label-bass-compressor-pedal
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EBSBLMC--ebs-multicomp-blue-label-bass-compressor-pedal
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Audio Kitchen Fake Plastic Trees but no DI attached. It looks simple but the knobs interact in a manner that gives you tons of tonal variation, including near synthlike tones. Push/pull feel that I haven’t come across anywhere else. It’s the last man standing in the preamp war I waged.
Jad Freer Capo would be my choice. But here comes Ian with another pedal by Walrus….
For what I want out of a tube amp, Sansamp BDDI vii works great!
My favourite is a Sansamp GT2. Is it "tubey"? Does it count as such? Not authentically, no. But I gave up on "authentic" years ago and decided to settle for "good" instead. Which it undoubtedly is. It's not a DI, but you can stick one on if you want. It's really a guitar pedal but works for bass on the "tweed" setting. I've never been tempted to get anything else.
Vintage Microtubes is excellent. I personally narrowed my choice down to that. Also loved the VT Bass, Pork Loin, and Bearfoot Blueberry. I remember the Fairfield Barbershop was great too. I'd recommend either or all of them.
Combine a compressor and a sansamp of choice (personally I'm using an Empress bass compressor into a paradriver). Is it just like a tube amp? No. It will get you in the ballpark and is more often than not close enough for government work.
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You want bomb proof for the road, get a JDI for your DI and then have whatever pre pedal you want in front of it. The JDI will never fail, it is quiet, passive, you can't go wrong. Even if your pre craps out, you still have an industry standard DI ready to go.
I do this with an Xotic BB when I want a little "tubey" grit. That's often all I use for straight-ahead gigs where I just need that one sound the whole show. Other times I swap in my Xotic RC Booster or Sadowsky pre pedal for a different flavor.
I do this with an Xotic BB when I want a little "tubey" grit. That's often all I use for straight-ahead gigs where I just need that one sound the whole show. Other times I swap in my Xotic RC Booster or Sadowsky pre pedal for a different flavor.
I have the Tech 21's SansAmp VT Bass DI on my board. I don't know how tubey it is but It will definitely get you heard. To me it kind of puts a point on my J or P bass when I need it. maybe its how I set it but with everything at 12 o'clock and the level at 1 o'clock, I blend the Character and Drive to taste between about 9 and 11 o'clock. Much higher and I get lots of string noise.
I dig Sean Hurleys tone with the Nobel DI thats the kind of tubey I like, of course it probably has tubes. So this is off topic..
I dig Sean Hurleys tone with the Nobel DI thats the kind of tubey I like, of course it probably has tubes. So this is off topic..
I was thinking a compressor like the cali76, a preamp like the DCX bass and a neve rndi or radial JDI at the end. It’s about as bomb proof as you can get!
