What bass pres should I consider for a church?

#41
I can't compare to many of the suggestions you have already received, but I am in absolute love with the Tech 21 Q\Strip. I've used a few different versions of Sans Amp and Paradrivers, but what I'm realizing that I really needed was good tone controls and a little bit of knowledge about how to use them. Electric bass, upright bass, electric guitar, electric piano. I feel like I can pick an instrument and most any form of amplification and produce a better sound now.

For double bass, I wish it had a variable hpf, but the fixed one works pretty well and for BG, I don't always even need it. It's a great little box and there is no mystery "pixey dust". I know what's happening and can control it.
 
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#42
My experience is not as extensive as many of you and it's great to learn more from you all.

When I first started and didn't have my own preamp I plugged into either a Sansamp Bass DI or a Whirlwind DI. I could have continued with those for sure.
 
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#43
after reading this thread in full I still stand by what I said earlier: get a sansamp Bass Driver DI with a presence knob. The pedal is super easy to dial in. You can literally just tell people to start with basically everything on noon and it will be fine. And also it will sound good no matter if someone brings an active or passive bass… for worship music, keep the gain knob fairly low. I think that would be the simplest solution since the BDDI is such an industry standard, more bass players and soundguys are likely to know how to use it effectively. Maybe have the parallel out going to a small amp on stage so they can hear themselves and you’re good to go. I think people tend to overthink this stuff.
 
#45
There are lots of options where bass pre amps are concearned. In fact the market is now swamped. Pick a brand and choose a box, that's the way it now is.
personally, I have a love for Source Audio, so I gravitate to their options.
Ideally you need a preamp with some useful controls...a great DI and instruction to each bassist that uses it on how to dial in a nice and consitent tone between your 5 bassists and their respective basses.
In fact I would say this is more important that the choice of Pre amp hardware. If your guys cant dial in a nice tone...then adding a different array of knobs and buttons isn't going to cure that issue.
 
#46
A sushibox fx neptunium would probably be perfect, tube di, great sound, simple eq controls, hpf. Unfortunately I think the last one of the batch has just been sold. There's the finally v2 which is a great sounding tube di, doesn't have eq controls, but has gain and level so you can get the right amount of grit/drive etc.

The Tech 21 Q strip that's been mentioned a few times is a great sounding pedal, my only issue with it is that some people don't find it intuitive to dial in, I've lent it to a couple of people at gigs and they've started pressing various buttons and turning the two mid frequency dials wondering why nothing seems to be happening.
 
#48
Zbysek said:
Check the following thread:


You will find that many church players use Aguilar Tone Hammer. That's what I would recommend.

Check also the following page:

worshiponline.com

5 Worship Bass Pedalboards You Must See

Unleash the full potential of your worship bass guitar sound with our in-depth look at these five pro worship bass pedalboards!
worshiponline.com worshiponline.com
Click to expand...
THDI fed by an Effectrode LA-1A is one of my favorite clean tones ever.
 
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#49
MXR DI is pretty affordable (and the newer one has a small footprint)
New Tech 21 Q-Strip is very flexible with EQ, and is likely built like a tank
Numerous ones where it's the preamp of a famous head(s) in a pedal (GK's Legacy Preamp)
Some lesser known ones like the Walrus Audio Badwater would also work well
Could get a basic active DI Box and just let FOH handle the tone shaping (if they're up to it)

With that many different players, basses, techniques, tone types, etc...I'd go for flexible, rather than character. My $0.02, but I'd steer clear of the BDDI or Sansamp stuff. I love them for what they are, but for your use case that would seem tough to dial out the baked-in tones.
 
#50
Sushi Box FX pedal for sure.
If you can't find the right pedal from Sushi Box then it does not exist yet. (But he is developing it)
Have a good look at his tube pedals and have a read through the forum and I bet you will be convinced.

I think the Sushi Box Finally V2 would be perfect as a DI for what you want.
The Venus Z is also a great option for what you want.
If there are any people who can solder then maybe you can get them to build a Nobelium for you from Nathans (Sushi Box) other company C2CE that sells bare PCB's for people who likes to build their own gear. (Tube Pedals)
c2celectronics.com

Conspiracy to Commit Electronics

Tube-based effects for the DIY community
c2celectronics.com c2celectronics.com

At least show the bass players these links and I would not be surprised if at least one of them ends up with a Sushi Pedal. (If they don't already own one)
Cheers
Mick
 
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#51
Subway DI+ is more or less un-obtanium at the moment. Too bad is it is phenomenal.
Genzler Magellan Pre is a close second.I have one and it's a keeper... Clear clean, flexible EQ Switchable voicing.
I also have and use Sushibox FX Nobeliuum and Underground Accellerator pre's. Love 'em both. Neither would be particularly suitable for your multi bass player application though.

Personally, Other than the original Tech 21 ParaDriver, I find the SansAmp stuff not to my liking. Too noisy, too muffled. Having been an SVT guy I simply don't get those things... For something with an SVT vibe, a Broughton SV Pre into a decent active DI is workable.

The other and probably too complex option is something in thr HX Stomp or Helix family. Advantage is that each bass guy can have a bass specific patch named for them. Simple to train them to dial to their patch. If they screw it up beyond repair, reload it from a backup... Disadvantage is that with all the stuff it can do, there is the temptation to try it all. That approach is generally a good way to discover that less is more...

and if you were thinking a preamp into a DI, Finally would be a real good choice.
 
#52
dbsfgyd1 said:
I used an Eden WTDI for about 10 years at my church where we had Avioms and in ears. I’m sure a sans amp would suit most.

On other point about sounding clanky and distorted, have you tried different earphones/buds, annd or ear pieces? Also, check to make sure contacts points are clean on your jacks and plugs before discarding the VT.
Click to expand...
 
#53
Heath_eld said:
I’m sure this has been asked before but here goes…

I’m music director at a church. Style of music is “we play modern songs but no urge to sound cutting edge”. Think acoustic guitar, keys, bass drums most weeks. No amp - direct to pa with in ears.

We have about 5 bass players with a variety of basses, both active and passive, plus a couple of other groups use our building.

We’ve been using my VT bass deluxe as a preamp for years. I think something is wrong with it - it won’t stay clean, has a bit of distortion even at very low drive levels (and it varies).

Even when it was newer it had a bit of a “clanky” high end which doesn’t hugely suit.

So we need something new.

Today with my bass (stingray) I just plugged into a radial DI that the church owns and it sounded fine. But I suspect this might sound a bit pokey with the guys with passive basses.

I know a lot of church players favour the tone hammer, so that’s one I’m open to. Never really heard it beyond YouTube demos.

We just want what most players would say, fat bottom end with a bit of cut through.

Am I overstating how much difference it even makes if I choose tone hammer vs sansamp vs plain DI?

Otherwise what works well?
Click to expand...
I'm an Eden WTDI fan. It produces clean, clear, and warm sound. Uses a chip to emulate the warmth that my Eden hybrid amp does and it sound just as warm as my big amp. It also records beautifully in a Pro-Studio going direct to the board. Just make sure the mids are toggled to the 500Hz position and boosted just a little bit - I boost it to 1:30 with my passive jazz. I also use it to any backline I'm forced to deal with by plugging it into the backline amp's effects return/in. I can make any backline amp sound like an Eden amp in a snap - beats fussing around with the amps EQ trying to find my sound. It also has a built-in 1-control compressor that works surprisingly well for just one control. I keep my WTDI in my gig bag - weighs all of 1-lb.

Also, plain DI means the sound board is where the bass will have to be EQ'd. Do you want to futz with the EQ on the board or just have the bass players work out the setting for their sound once and let them dial the same thing in every time they plug into your DI with built-in preamp?
 
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#54
Rip Van Dan said:
I'm an Eden WTDI fan. It produces clean, clear, and warm sound. Uses a chip to emulate the warmth that my Eden hybrid amp does and it sound just as warm as my big amp. It also records beautifully in a Pro-Studio going direct to the board. Just make sure the mids are toggled to the 500Hz position and boosted just a little bit - I boost it to 1:30 with my passive jazz. I also use it to any backline I'm forced to deal with by plugging it into the backline amp's effects return/in. I can make any backline amp sound like an Eden amp in a snap - beats fussing around with the amps EQ trying to find my sound. It also has a built-in 1-control compressor that works surprisingly well for just one control. I keep my WTDI in my gig bag - weighs all of 1-lb.

Also, plain DI means the sound board is where the bass will have to be EQ'd. Do you want to futz with the EQ on the board or just have the bass players work out the setting for their sound once and let them dial the same thing in every time they plug into your DI with built-in preamp?
Click to expand...
I love mine as well. Sound, features, and price point makes it an extremely attractive package. BTW, did I mention I used the WTDI for a preamp to feed my WT-1250 power amp before I bought my Navi?

The only thing that is odd is it requires a 14 volt power supply, and the power supply that comes with it is pretty flimsy. Mine lasted about two years before the cord broke down.
 
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#55
#56
Rip Van Dan said:
I'm an Eden WTDI fan. It produces clean, clear, and warm sound. Uses a chip to emulate the warmth that my Eden hybrid amp does and it sound just as warm as my big amp. It also records beautifully in a Pro-Studio going direct to the board. Just make sure the mids are toggled to the 500Hz position and boosted just a little bit - I boost it to 1:30 with my passive jazz. I also use it to any backline I'm forced to deal with by plugging it into the backline amp's effects return/in. I can make any backline amp sound like an Eden amp in a snap - beats fussing around with the amps EQ trying to find my sound. It also has a built-in 1-control compressor that works surprisingly well for just one control. I keep my WTDI in my gig bag - weighs all of 1-lb.

Also, plain DI means the sound board is where the bass will have to be EQ'd. Do you want to futz with the EQ on the board or just have the bass players work out the setting for their sound once and let them dial the same thing in every time they plug into your DI with built-in preamp?
Click to expand...

// off_topic

I bought my first one back in (approx.) 2014. Maybe a year or two earlier. I don't remember exactly. Served me well for many shows. This is before I "went minimalist". I like it so much I bought two spares because I'd started reading stories on the old Marshall forum about units going bad. I didn't know the WTDI used the Golden Ear chip. I think that's what you meant. I had the original unit open once to clean a scratchy pot and I didn't spot it in there. But I wasn't really looking for it at the time.

For dbsfgyd1: I posted some info here on samples from the remaining Gear4Music stock, including power supply info. My old unit and the new ones are happy with 12 or 15 volts, either polarity. I didn't try 18 because I don't like running electronics at the maximum of whatever the recommendation happens to be.

I've got a ton of preamps but there's just something about the WTDI's smoothness and ability to "fill things out" that none of my other preamps can do. Even when everything's set dead flat. (My own tube preamp beats it, but people used to get nervous when I brought it in because it looks a bit steampunk-scary.)

// end_off_topic
 
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#57
dbsfgyd1 said:
I love mine as well. Sound, features, and price point makes it an extremely attractive package. BTW, did I mention I used the WTDI for a preamp to feed my WT-1250 power amp before I bought my Navi?

The only thing that is odd is it requires a 14 volt power supply, and the power supply that comes with it is pretty flimsy. Mine lasted about two years before the cord broke down.
Click to expand...
Don't feel bad. I left mine at the recording studio in Seattle after that 3-hour session back in 2019. Then I went back 2-days later and picked it up only to lose it again about 2-months later...wasn't in my gig bag where I keep it. It's actually a 15-volt power supply but when I ordered a replacement power supply for it, they sent an 18-volt power supply for it and that works great. You do have to be careful when looking at power supplies that the tip and ring polarity is correct as power supplies come with both types. With the WTDI, it's a center-pin positive connection. I recently copied the latest manual for it and that manual says 12 to 18-volt power supply. Mine came with the 15v power supply and that's what it was originally specified as but the 18v has worked just fine with it over the last 4 or 5-years..
 
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#58
eniac said:
// off_topic

I bought my first one back in (approx.) 2014. Maybe a year or two earlier. I don't remember exactly. Served me well for many shows. This is before I "went minimalist". I like it so much I bought two spares because I'd started reading stories on the old Marshall forum about units going bad. I didn't know the WTDI used the Golden Ear chip. I think that's what you meant. I had the original unit open once to clean a scratchy pot and I didn't spot it in there. But I wasn't really looking for it at the time.

For dbsfgyd1: I posted some info here on samples from the remaining Gear4Music stock, including power supply info. My old unit and the new ones are happy with 12 or 15 volts, either polarity. I didn't try 18 because I don't like running electronics at the maximum of whatever the recommendation happens to be.

I've got a ton of preamps but there's just something about the WTDI's smoothness and ability to "fill things out" that none of my other preamps can do. Even when everything's set dead flat. (My own tube preamp beats it, but people used to get nervous when I brought it in because it looks a bit steampunk-scary.)

// end_off_topic
Click to expand...
Yeah that "Golden Ear Chip is a THAT-4301 chip. Evidently it does a number of things besides emulating that tube warmth. I was amazed how warm it sounded because I have both an Eden amp that doesn't have that tube or chip (Nemesis RS400), an Eden amp with the tube in the preamp (WT500/800), and an Eden class D amp (a TN-226) that has the Golden Ear chip. The RS400 without the chip is a great amp but it doesn't have the warmth the hybrid or Golden-Ear chipped amps and WTDI do. Once you get used to that warmth in the sound, you find you really miss it if the amp you're using doesn't have it. And that's why my WTDI is always in my gig bag.
 
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#60
Plucky The Bassist said:
MXR DI is pretty affordable (and the newer one has a small footprint)
New Tech 21 Q-Strip is very flexible with EQ, and is likely built like a tank
Numerous ones where it's the preamp of a famous head(s) in a pedal (GK's Legacy Preamp)
Some lesser known ones like the Walrus Audio Badwater would also work well
Could get a basic active DI Box and just let FOH handle the tone shaping (if they're up to it)

With that many different players, basses, techniques, tone types, etc...I'd go for flexible, rather than character. My $0.02, but I'd steer clear of the BDDI or Sansamp stuff. I love them for what they are, but for your use case that would seem tough to dial out the baked-in tones.
Click to expand...
Agree on the BDDI. I personally like them but don’t think it’s the ideal tool for “something for everyone”
 
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