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What are some good clean sounding preamps?

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by Salizander, Sep 18, 2006.


  1. Sep 18, 2006 #1
    Salizander

    Salizander

    Oct 28, 2004
    Like the title says, "What are some good clean sounding preamps?" I play a mim jazz with emg's and love tube grit & grind but what I've really always have been gravitating towards & wanting is just a good clean, clean almost completely sterile (without the bad tone connotations commonly associated with that word) sounding preamp. So far probably the closest I've come would be with SWR & what would generally be considered their classic sound. I woulldn't necessarily mind going back to SWR but I was just looking for a few other ideas or thoughts. (I also prefer using an outboard rack compressor as well.)
     
  5. Sep 18, 2006 #2
    jokerjkny

    jokerjkny

    Jan 19, 2002
    NY / NJ / PHL
    epifani quest ii preamp. like i've said with hyperbole extended, "like a semi-parametric eq loaded avalon u5". there are a few floating about here and ebay, so they're not hard to find. also pretty affordable as well.

    if you need a touch of the tube stuff, yet like the hifi, demeter's HBP-1 is a great match. as is aguilar's db680.
     
  9. Sep 18, 2006 #3
    steveb98

    steveb98 [acct disabled - multiple aliases]

    Mar 15, 2006
    Venice, CA
    Alembic F2B is nice clean Fender Dual Showman sound.
     
  13. Sep 18, 2006 #4
    svtb15

    svtb15 Inactive

    Mar 22, 2004
    Austin,TX - McKinney,TX - NY,NY, - Nashville,TN
    I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
    The first that come to mind are Alembic F1X , Alembic F2B, Demeter, Avalon, Yamaha PB1, Presonus Eureka. I love my Alembic F2B.. Clean yet round and very easy to use.. There are no bad sounds in that piece.
     
  18. Sep 18, 2006 #5
    teedub

    teedub

    Jun 18, 2003
    Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
    Totally agree with the Alembic's and the Avalon (because I've tried them), but my money went to a BBE BMax and I haven't looked back. Definitely not as modern as the SWR tone, but tight and clean.
     
  22. Sep 18, 2006 #6
    Tony G

    Tony G Supporting Member

    Jan 20, 2006
    NY

    +1
     
  26. Sep 18, 2006 #7
    bgavin

    bgavin

    May 3, 2001
    Orangevale, CA 95662
    The SWR Interstellar Overdrive or Grand Prix are in this catagory.
     
  30. Sep 18, 2006 #8
    Salizander

    Salizander

    Oct 28, 2004
    Looking at BassCentral.com & BassTasters, I think I like the Alembic, SWR & Demeter the best which seemed to be in the same general price range too. To my ears I always thought active Emg's always worked particularly well with SWR preamps, but I really liked the simplicity of the Demeter, then again I've always heard so much great stuff about the Alembics.... Ah, decisions, decisions... I'm sure all those choices would be great though. Thanks for all your opinions & experience. I really appreciate all your time!
     
  34. Sep 18, 2006 #9
    silky smoove

    silky smoove Supporting Member

    May 19, 2004
    Seattle, WA
    My vote would go towards an Avalon U5.... I absolutely love that preamp.
     
  38. Sep 18, 2006 #10
    Interceptor

    Interceptor

    Mar 29, 2005
    Madison, WI
    Take a listen to the Low End True Voice on Basstasters. I just picked one up in a trade, and like what it does as a clean preamp. Forward sounding mids, tight and controlled low end. It mates really well with an active bass.
     
  42. Sep 18, 2006 #11
    Jim Carr

    Jim Carr Dr. Jim

    Jan 21, 2006
    Denton, TX or Kailua, HI
    fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
    +1
    BBE Max is very very quick and punchy. :D
    I have used an SWR 350 for several years and love it, but the BBE is a
    better pre. It is more flexible and has scads of features. The only thing
    I don't like is the compressor. It is "slow" or lumpy sounding. It has a
    kind of "swell" to it on the attack onset that bugs me. Believe it or not,
    my old tech21 compactor (with the right settings to avoid noise) kicks
    the BBE Max compressor's Kiester but good!!! :bassist:
     
  47. Sep 18, 2006 #12
    arbitrary

    arbitrary Supporting Member

    Oct 24, 2005
    Boston, MA
    I'm really getting a kick out of my Alembic F-1X
     
  51. Sep 18, 2006 #13
    BartmanPDX

    BartmanPDX

    Jan 21, 2005
    Probably my living room

    That's quite the pre. I'll be curious to see if the Bass Buddy I'm getting is even in the same ballpark as the Alembic.
     

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