Using a preamp pedal

[Leonid Nidis]

No wrong answer,depends on what you are trying to achieve.
I used a preamp in a few ways.
If there was an amp I liked I tried to set the preamp so it would have minimal impact on the sound,basically the pedal was used for overdrive.
If I didn't like the amp I would try to bypass its pre by plugging in to the return and using the pedal pre.
Plugging in to the input and mixing to taste also worked,sometimes better than the return.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

So this may be a dumb question, but how are you guys setting your amps when using a preamp pedal? My instinct tells me to set the eq on the actual bass head to flat, and then do all the eq’ing on the preamp pedal… is this right or wrong? I would love everyone’s comments/knowledge on this subject because I’m kind of a noob when it comes to bass gear lol

I use an Eden WTDI (DI pedal with built-in Eden WT preamp) when I'm not using either my DNA or Eden amps. so I'm either going direct to the board with an XLR cord or plugging the unbalanced-out into the effects-return/in of the backline amp that I'm forced to use. That bypasses the preamp and feeds my Eden WT preamp with its EQ and adjustable compressor right into the power section of that amp. So regardless whose amp it is, I can make it sound like an Eden amp.

 

[smeet]

I just got a Monique preamp that sounds wonderful. I’m using a Bergantino forte hp as the power amp. It sounds fuller into the front of the amp, rather than into the fx return. The Monique eq sounds beautiful, but not very flexible. So I plan to get my basic sound from the pre, and adjust to the room using the precise and versatile eq on the forte.

 

[el murdoque]

Awesome, I appreciate the info. So basically when you run the preamp pedal into the fx loop, it is canceling out the preamp built into the amp head, correct? I currently have a Sansamp bass driver V2 with the mids knob, so I’m wondering if plugging it in to the fx loop directly will yield better results… I’ve had an issue where when I turn things up too loud that I guess the amp head overheats or something? And it shuts off. I’m wondering if bypassing the amp’s preamp and just using the Sansamp will fix that issue.

That is correct. The FX loop is (on most amps) located after the preamp and (obviously) before the power amp.
Some amps offer series/parallel and/or blend options, some amps still have the EQ active (my Markbass did that), but in most cases, when you plug into the FX return, the only knob that still does something is the master volume.

When your amp shuts off, you most likely have a heat problem. Heat comes from where the power is. The power is not in the preamp section, but in the (aptly named) power section.

Do your cabinet(s) Impedance match with your head? If you're running two 4 ohm cabinets or one 4 ohm and one 8 ohm, so your load is below 4 ohm and your head has a minimum of 4 ohm, you're lucky when it shuts off and comes back later, because in the long run, you'll bbq the output transformer.

Does your amp have a fan? Is it still working? Is it clogged with filth? Is it placed so the heat has somewhere to go?

How loud where you going when it shut off?
What kind of amp, what kind of cabinet?

 

[wohnjalker]

Samson Technologies

Samson Technologies

That’s the exact cab and head I have… the head sits on top of the cab and there is plenty of airflow as far as I can tell. However, I leave the head and cab at my band’s practice space, which is a warehouse and a lot of the time we don’t practice for weeks at a time and I’ve noticed sometimes when we go there that it’s like visually mildewy in the room because no one ever goes there except us. Maybe that is part of the problem?

That is correct. The FX loop is (on most amps) located after the preamp and (obviously) before the power amp.
Some amps offer series/parallel and/or blend options, some amps still have the EQ active (my Markbass did that), but in most cases, when you plug into the FX return, the only knob that still does something is the master volume.

When your amp shuts off, you most likely have a heat problem. Heat comes from where the power is. The power is not in the preamp section, but in the (aptly named) power section.

Do your cabinet(s) Impedance match with your head? If you're running two 4 ohm cabinets or one 4 ohm and one 8 ohm, so your load is below 4 ohm and your head has a minimum of 4 ohm, you're lucky when it shuts off and comes back later, because in the long run, you'll bbq the output transformer.

Does your amp have a fan? Is it still working? Is it clogged with filth? Is it placed so the heat has somewhere to go?

How loud where you going when it shut off?
What kind of amp, what kind of cabinet?

That is correct. The FX loop is (on most amps) located after the preamp and (obviously) before the power amp.
Some amps offer series/parallel and/or blend options, some amps still have the EQ active (my Markbass did that), but in most cases, when you plug into the FX return, the only knob that still does something is the master volume.

When your amp shuts off, you most likely have a heat problem. Heat comes from where the power is. The power is not in the preamp section, but in the (aptly named) power section.

Do your cabinet(s) Impedance match with your head? If you're running two 4 ohm cabinets or one 4 ohm and one 8 ohm, so your load is below 4 ohm and your head has a minimum of 4 ohm, you're lucky when it shuts off and comes back later, because in the long run, you'll bbq the output transformer.

Does your amp have a fan? Is it still working? Is it clogged with filth? Is it placed so the heat has somewhere to go?

How loud where you going when it shut off?
What kind of amp, what kind of cabinet?

 

[Jackass76]

I have tried many ways of doing this, and what I have found works 'for me' is: because I don't always have 'my rig' for 'things'...I use the SansAmp BDDI as my preamp on my pedalboard and that basically sets 'my tone'. For performance, the FOH gets the DI from the BDDI and the line out goes to the input of my Mesa D800+. The controls of the D800+ are flat, deep switch on, and I use the HPF to roll of any crazy low end if needed. My rig is basically for me on stage (unless you happen to be right in front of it).

For sessions, when who knows what rig is going to be there...line out of the BDDI to what ever they have there...typically an old Hartke or Markbass head with either an 810 or 115 or 410...and I do usually the same thing with the amps eq...flatten them unless it sounds good when I turn it all on.

There is no 'correct way' to do this with one thing to remember...don't clip the amps preamp. If running into the effects return works for you, go for it...but some amps will give straight max volume of the post/power amp in this config and you have to dial it back with the level on your preamp - not the case with my D800+ as the Master controls the output volume...because Andy is the man.

YMMV