What were the best vintage solid state preamps?

[Jeff Scott]

I used both Standell and Yamaha solid state amps. The Standell had 4 15s in two powered cabs, the Yamaha had 1 15. I replaced them with a Boogie D180 and a 1 18 cab.

What does this have to do with which vintage solidstate preamps were the best?

 

[Bassmec]

oh yes...and Neve...no doubt...

I was going to say Ruperts little 1073 and 1081 mic pre amps have probably been responsible for more beautifully recorded bass guitar than any pre amp purpose designed for bass guitar.
But then I would get in trouble for being elitist and out of left field.

 

[spiltcoil]

Everyone mentioning Sunn knows that Entwistle played a tuber, right? Good lord, the mic-pre's should be excluded...no fair!

 

[Korladis]

He also played solid state sunns, later, IIRC.

 

[JimmyM]

Ya, I thought his Sunn rig was tubes too, but it was all solid state Sunn Coliseums.

 

[jnewmark]

I have had and still use an Ashly SC-40 preamp, that was sold as an " instrument " preamp, but really caught on as a bass preamp. It later got revised as an Ashly BP-41, with a crossover and variable " Q ". Very sweet sounding bass pre ( either one ) and my workhorse.

 

[MAMMOTHvolume]

Vintage...
Solid State...

Oh my. Oh my.

guess everythings gotta become worth something at some point

 

[AlexanderB]

You really ought to try an EBS 1 or 1V2 preamp. Dedicated bass pre with good compressor, low noise floor, quirky but nice sounding equalizer, cross over, effects loop etc.
Very low noise floor, too. 1 RU high. Swedish quality.

I believe it was introduced around -89.

/Alexander

 

[Alex1984]

Acoustic and GK probably, but not quite sure whether or not GK can be considered vintage yet. Oh, and how can I forget - Kustom!

 

[zachoff]

While technically a hybrid, the Peavey Max Bass Preamp is pretty rad. One of my favorites. Probably not "vintage" though... Early 90s, I think.

 

[Fab Superlative]

Also there was the Roland SIP-301

 

[countrybass007]

The Karma king of bass- The standell was a preamp only, working with powered cabs or sending the signal to a power amp. I think all amps operate off a preamp sending a signal to a power amp. You know, tube preamp with a solid state amp concept. I am older than dirt, so sorry if my answer confused you. The Yamaha PB-1 was a great preamp only.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

I find it interesting that Yamaha PB-1's get so much loving'. Reliable for sure, but tone? Meh. Used to be, you couldn't give 'em away. I think I paid $75 for mine. After using it for six months, I felt like I paid too much for it.

Also had a solid-state Sunn Coliseum. Didn't like it, either.

My vote would definitely be for a racked channel strip, Neve or the like. Those used to be the standard studio setup for a lot of Nashville pro's...

 

[jnewmark]

Acoustic and GK probably, but not quite sure whether or not GK can be considered vintage yet. Oh, and how can I forget - Kustom!

Kustom made a preamp ?

 

[jnewmark]

Also there was the Roland SIP-301

Always wanted to try one of these. How were they ?

 

[countrybass007]

I paid around $300 for my PB-1, and sold it for the same amount about a year later. It was a great preamp, but too clean for me. It was impossible to get any dirt from it, and sounded very studio like. I placed an ad for sale and got three responses as soon as the ad hit the local paper. The first caller got it.

 

[Fab Superlative]

Always wanted to try one of these. How were they ?

I personally never owned one, but I had a good friend that used one back in the day.
When I played through it at a couple of sound checks.
I vaguely recall (hey it was like umptysquat years ago, cut me some slack ) that I was really impressed at the time.
The onboard compressor feature being the "gee whiz" factor.

There are some decent vids about the Roland, that I linked to above.
Last one I'd seen for sale went for around $200, but that was awhile ago.

Also, since (I'm surprised) no one has mentioned it yet...

There was the Amplified Music Products, A.M.P. SL-1
Jaco, who?

Also, There was the Gibson 800-B

Even though the newer flavors of gear can be viewed as being superior in many ways compared to their vintage predecessors.
If some one desires that "vintage vibe" using the real deal vintage gear, is the way to go.
Listen to the Dap Kings, pure analog heaven there, and to me...
Still the best.

 

[fourteenstrings]

The Ashly SC-40 is an excellent, well-built unit. Sounds great through a power amp and cabinets, or direct. I still use mine regularly.

 

[Jeff Scott]

The standell was a preamp only, working with powered cabs or sending the signal to a power amp. I think all amps operate off a preamp sending a signal to a power amp. You know, tube preamp with a solid state amp concept. I am older than dirt, so sorry if my answer confused you. The Yamaha PB-1 was a great preamp only.

Ahh! I had a friend with a Standell bass combo amp (you know, the tall one with the 2-15s) and have seen many, but never used (for some reason ) Yamaha bass amps; I didn't realize you were referring to their Stan(ell)one® preamps,that makes sense, now that it has been mentioned.

 

[Munjibunga]

Raven Labs Universal Stereo Instrument Preamp. Built by Steve Rabe, founder of SWR.