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What preamp?

I

iamlowsound

Nov 30, 2005
8,152
259
Southern Ontario
#1
First, I did a search, didn't come up with much.

I am in the process of putting together a rack set up, nothing huge, but good enough to get the job done. I only play a smallish church gig and I have a SWR 2x10 cab on my way. I play either a Fbass BN4 or a peavey foundation 5, both are passive. I really like a nice mid punchy tone that is still warm and can still cut through on highs, only without getting to "trebley" sounding. So what preamp should I be looking for? BTW, I am not really a big fan of a tube tone, I am a modern guy.

lowsound
 
#7
I had a recommendation for you until I saw the part about $400 or less.

I've owned a Demeter 201S and it was a bit too much on the bright/hi fi side for me. I now own an Alembic F-1X and that was what I was going to recommend but I'm afraid you won't find one for $400.

I also own an Ampeg SVP Pro and with the right gain/drive/EQ settings that might work. A used SVP Pro would be in your price range. You'd just have to try one out to see if it would work for you.

Edit: I just happened to notice that there is a Fender TBP-1 preamp in the Amp Classifieds for sale for $425. That's a bit out of your price range but who knows? I've not used one but it is my understanding that the TBP-1 is quite similar to the Alembic F-1X in tone and design. if that's the case it wouldn't be surprising since the Alembic is based on the old Fender Showman.
 
#9
If you watch eBay, the TB classifieds, and bassgear.com you will probably run across a few Yam PB-1 over the course of a few months.

The Tech 21 RPM is another good candidate and for certain tonal tastes the BBE BMax will work.

To r379, the OP was looking for something modern and non-tubey sounding.
IMO, the only one you mentioned that might fit that would be the Demeter 201S (with the right tubes and speaker cab).
The Alembic F-1X is the most tubey preamp I've ever played through (gorgeous sounding, but tubey).
[Both the 201S and the HBP-1 are tube preamps, but they both have a very quick, tight response with the 201S sounding a bit more tubey and closer to the vintage category.]

Just my $0.02 and YMMV... :)
 
#17
Son of Bovril said:
IME The Fender TBP-1 mentioned earlier is a very tubey/vintage type sound, not the modern tone you are looking for at all...
Click to expand...

Yeah. I'm the one who posted about the TBP-1. I misread the OP and got off on a tangent when I saw the Demeter 201S mentioned. That's when I brought up the F-1X and the TBP-1 pretty much in the same breath. If the F-1X won't work for the OP's purposes the TBP-1 sure ain't going to either.
 
#19
A long time ago I bought a Peavey Max on Ebay for $150 or so as a backup for my Alembic F1-X. When I discovered it could do the Alembic sound but was more flexible (footswitchable tube and SS channels with separate EQs, and a user-selectable blend of the two), I sold the Alembic for more than twice that.

Later I mod'd the Max to do more overdrive. Only took one component to do that.
 

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