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Which preamp pedal should I buy?

Which preamp should I buy?

  • Aguilar Tone Hammer

    Votes: 24 14.0%

  • Ampeg Classic Analog

    Votes: 8 4.7%

  • Sansamp BDDI / Bass Driver

    Votes: 38 22.2%

  • Sansamp Steve Harris Signature

    Votes: 4 2.3%

  • Sansamp Frank Bello Signature

    Votes: 2 1.2%

  • Something Else

    Votes: 85 49.7%

  • Carrots / Don't Buy a Preamp

    Votes: 10 5.8%
  • Total voters
    171
  • Poll closed .
#41
Based on your Pros/Cons list...I'd have to go with the Aguilar TH pedal.

You mention in several ones that you don't really want a baked-in sound and it sounds like you value a clean, flexible EQ section. There are other flexible preamp pedals that may do the job well too (Walrus Audio Badwater comes to mind), but it sounds like you click well with the Aguilar gear, so I'd keep it "in the family" ;)
 
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#43
I've use SansAmps for many years and find the Para-Driver to be the most versatile, though I do like the Bass Driver Ver. 2 as well. However, I recently got a Genzler Magellan preamp pedal and love it. Similar in layout to the Para-Driver, with its semi-parametric Midrange control, but has two "Contour" filters that I like more than the "Drive" function of the SansAmps.
 
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#46
RGerhart said:
If you don't like the "Ampeg" sound, I would probably exclude the BDDI, then, too.

If you're looking for strictly a good pre with DI for recording, then go big, or go home. Noble pre/DI.
Click to expand...
Some thoughts:
1) This is really good to know. The Ampeg and BBDI are lower on my list, so I might not go with either of them. I now remember hearing that the BDDI is great at emulating a plethora of Ampeg amp tones.
2) I've heard nothing but great things about Nobles. But they're VERY expensive, which is why I didn't include them as an option.
 
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#48
Sub-Frequency said:
I voted "something else".

I've owned everything on your list and finally settled on the Trace Elliot Transit B, because it has everything I need (compression, dirt, blend, EQ, scoop switch, DI, and tuner) in one compact unit. It sounds fantastic and costs less than $300 new.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the suggestion! I've never heard of that pedal before, so I'm going to look into it.
 
#49
rizzo9247 said:
Do you exclusively use pedals? Is your amp’s preamp not to your liking? Are you running this through an fx loop, FOH or in front of your amp ? All that to say we don’t know what you play, get a Rusty Box
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I use my two pedals that go straight to my DI and into my computer exclusively for recording. I don't use an amp because I'm not gigging. I also don't currently own a preamp pedal so I have no way of altering my tone outside of my compressor and distortion pedals.
 
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#50
bassbrad said:
Your choices are all fine but I voted other as there a lot of fish in the sea these days. Sushi Box FX and Master Effects are both well worth a look.
Click to expand...

Tassieviking said:
Sushi Box is/was building some Bassdude (Bassman) and Nobelium (Noble) pedals to sell ready made, the Nobelium has a XLR output so no need for a DI.
There might not be many left as he only built a small batch of each to sell, I have the PCB's for both so I can build my own.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your suggestions!

Looking into both brands, I like the Sushi Box Elementary at first glance. It has a simple layout and it's less expensive than the Sansamp options I've been looking into.
Elementary – Sushi Box FX
 
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#51
TJH3113 said:
I've use SansAmps for many years and find the Para-Driver to be the most versatile, though I do like the Bass Driver Ver. 2 as well. However, I recently got a Genzler Magellan preamp pedal and love it. Similar in layout to the Para-Driver, with its semi-parametric Midrange control, but has two "Contour" filters that I like more than the "Drive" function of the SansAmps.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your suggestion! The midrange control and contour filters seem interesting. I'm looking into it.
 
#52
KevInDaBassment said:
Based on your Pros/Cons list...I'd have to go with the Aguilar TH pedal.

You mention in several ones that you don't really want a baked-in sound and it sounds like you value a clean, flexible EQ section. There are other flexible preamp pedals that may do the job well too (Walrus Audio Badwater comes to mind), but it sounds like you click well with the Aguilar gear, so I'd keep it "in the family" ;)
Click to expand...
These were my initial thoughts before thinking about other brands. I love my Agro and TLC Compressor to pieces as they've given me my signature sound since I started recording my sophomore album in late 2022 (click on the link in my signature to hear them in action). Plus, I do like a clean and flexible EQ because I already have the Agro pedal to take care of my distortion.
 
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#54
I have a great collection of bass preamps from several different companies as I run a clean power amp with a cab or two exclusively. In my experience, the Tech-21 Sansamp offerings send the strongest signals with the most useful EQ bands. I’d recommend Sansamp all day; every day. Love ‘em!
 
#55
From your comments it looks like options 1 and 3 are your best options. An amp sim will most likely have some sort of distortion. Just don't use it if you don't want it. I use the BDDI. But they are all good choices IMHO.
 
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#56
MrAB4003 said:
I use my two pedals that go straight to my DI and into my computer exclusively for recording. I don't use an amp because I'm not gigging. I also don't currently own a preamp pedal so I have no way of altering my tone outside of my compressor and distortion pedals.
Click to expand...
What about once you've tracked into your DAW? What are you using? That's where most of the tone shaping happens typically in a pro recording situation: you track as high-quality a clean DI bass track as you can achieve (that means a good dedicated DI, and/or a good mic pre--usually both), and then the compression, EQ, yadda yadda dialed in afterwards to fit the mix. Something to consider, especially since you're not playing live - I'd spend my $ on a good all-around front end for tracking that isn't just bass-specific, you'll get a lot more out of it in the long run, plus if you ever want to do remote sessions for other people, you absolutely do not want to only send them a bass track with all that stuff "printed" to the track. See my previous post about thinking about your front end from that perspective.
 
#58
Having had most of those pedals at one time or another, I believe the Aguilar Tone Hammer is superior in most respects to the other ones. This is my opinion and this stuff is subjective, but the TH’s are built like a tank, the EQ on them is second to none, and going direct your sound guy is going to love working with it.
 
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#59
MrAB4003 said:
So I'm thinking about adding a preamp to my small, but growing pedal collection. I currently have an Aguilar Agro and an Aguilar TLC Compressor, but I feel like a preamp pedal is necessary to further sculpt my tone and to take on the role of a traditional amp when I'm recording with my DI.

After doing some research and listening to sound samples, I'm leaning towards the five options in the poll. I'm also open to further suggestions from you all. Here are my pros and cons about the five options:

1) Aguilar Tone Hammer:
Pros: Excellent build quality, sweepable mids, same brand as my other pedals, runs on batteries
Cons: AGS / Distortion features are redundant

2) Ampeg Classic Analog
Pros: Very simple layout, inexpensive, runs on batteries
Cons: I'm not a fan of the baked in Ampeg sound

3) Sansamp BDDI / Bass Driver
Pros: Excellent build quality, excellent sound, runs on batteries
Cons: Distortion features are redundant, very complex layout

4) Sansamp Steve Harris Signature
Pros: Built in tuner, intuitive layout, high and low mid controls, excellent build quality, I'm an Iron Maiden / Steve Harris fan
Cons: Large in size, does not run on batteries (but a 9V power supply is included)

5) Sansamp Frank Bello Signature
Pros: Simple layout (thank you Frank for designing it that way! :D), excellent build quality, cool design, I'm an Anthrax / Frank Bello fan
Cons: No mid controls, distortion features are redundant, does not run on batteries (but a 9V power supply is included)

Please let me know your thoughts.
Click to expand...
I like the mesa subway preamp personally.
 
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#60
Jimmy Howe said:
I have a great collection of bass preamps from several different companies as I run a clean power amp with a cab or two exclusively. In my experience, the Tech-21 Sansamp offerings send the strongest signals with the most useful EQ bands. I’d recommend Sansamp all day; every day. Love ‘em!
Click to expand...
What do you use for a clean power amp? I was considering switching over to a setup like this.
 
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