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Which preamp stombox you like?

Which preamp stomp box you prefer?

  • Total voters
    186
#42
I use the VT as my pre into either a power amp or the effect return of whatever head is laying around and I love the sound I dialed in with it. Plus I have the DI, mid sweep, and cab sim defeat mod so that makes it a ton more versatile
 
#48
Willem said:
Can you explain more about those mods?
Click to expand...
Sure! All mods were done by Mike at http://putnamguitars.com/

He installed the XLR out and speaker sim bypass switch which really opens up the sound. I saw someone saying they thought the center of the mid control was too much in the upper mid range so I asked if he could make a mid sweep control and sure enough he can! He does great work with super fast turn around times. HIGHLY recommended. Lots of others have gotten work done by him too.
 
#49
I actually own 3 of the listed pedals - BBE, Aguilar and Sansamp Bass DI. They sound vey different to me, and therefore, I find them useable for different applications. Overall, I prefer the Aggie.

I also have one that is not listed - a simple Mørch pedal with 2-band EQ: Bass and Treble. However, it is amazing for cutting through the mix! In itself, it doesn't sound good and nice in a 'polite' way, but it does a super job when it comes to cutting through a dense mix.

Invalid Link Removed
 
#50
I absolutely love the VT Bass. I owned every version of the SABDDI but found the VT Bass to trump them all. I found the inherent tone of the VT Bass to be much less in your face or coloured than the SABBDI. I agree that the sabddi will not do good things to an already good rig. Currently I am using my VT Bass to drive my peavey dpc 1000 poweramp and it does it well. The 125hz works well to help cut the mix. I also use a Boss PQ-3B Bass Parametric Equalizer to help fill in the frequencies the VT Bass doesnt cover.

The VT Bass is the only effect pedal I use and its permanently "on". I find it makes any amp sound great. I use to fill out the lows and low-mids and subdue the highs and it does this VERY well. I do wish it had a DI and I may send it in to that guy to have it done.

Another excellent preamp that is not on that list is the Phil Jones Bass Buddy. It will also drive a poweramp very well. It sounds very clean yet warm, has a 5 band eq, di, great compressor. It also can be used as a 10w amp to drive a cab for a living room level jam, and it can be run for 3 hours on battery power. I currently use mine for a headphone practice amp and it works very well for that.
 
#51
The Empress ParaEq is very interested for me, It's the most flexible pedal EQ on the market. I asked Empress the Input inpedance, and it's 333kohm. It seems too low for me especially for upright. But maybe worth the insert a quet, transparet impedance buffer before the unit, for example the MI Audio Boost n' Buff Boost Pedal, In bypass mode it's an ultra high input impedance buffer (5Meg!), or the Radial BigShot PB1 A class buffer. What do you think?
 
#52
::::BASSIST:::: said:
I absolutely love the VT Bass. I owned every version of the SABDDI but found the VT Bass to trump them all. I found the inherent tone of the VT Bass to be much less in your face or coloured than the SABBDI. I agree that the sabddi will not do good things to an already good rig. Currently I am using my VT Bass to drive my peavey dpc 1000 poweramp and it does it well. The 125hz works well to help cut the mix. I also use a Boss PQ-3B Bass Parametric Equalizer to help fill in the frequencies the VT Bass doesnt cover.

The VT Bass is the only effect pedal I use and its permanently "on". I find it makes any amp sound great. I use to fill out the lows and low-mids and subdue the highs and it does this VERY well. I do wish it had a DI and I may send it in to that guy to have it done.

Another excellent preamp that is not on that list is the Phil Jones Bass Buddy. It will also drive a poweramp very well. It sounds very clean yet warm, has a 5 band eq, di, great compressor. It also can be used as a 10w amp to drive a cab for a living room level jam, and it can be run for 3 hours on battery power. I currently use mine for a headphone practice amp and it works very well for that.
Click to expand...

I've got a DPC 1000 too. What other pre's have you used with it? I've been thinking about getting some type of pedal sized pre to use with it.

Maybe lookin at the Tonehammer just for something different.
 
#53
greenbass5 said:
I've got a DPC 1000 too. What other pre's have you used with it? I've been thinking about getting some type of pedal sized pre to use with it.

Maybe lookin at the Tonehammer just for something different.
Click to expand...
For the DPC 1000 the only two pres I've tried are the VT Bass and the Bass Buddy. I liked what the VT Bass did for my tone better than the BB as the BB is very clean and not as warm as the VT Bass (with its coloured tone). If you check my profile you'll see that in the past I used a ton of preamps to drive an Acoustic Image Focus SA. None of them really satisfied me, but then the VT Bass wasn't available then.

I'd love to try the Tonehammer, but I am not curious enough to fork out the dough for it. Plus, as far pedals go its on the large side. It also requires a special 18v powercord adapter which I find to be a bit of a pain...
 
#57
Now the poll result is:
1st - VT Bass
2nd - Tech 21 Bass Driver DI
3rd - Aguilar Tone Hammer

4th - Sadowsky Preamp/DI
5th - EBS MicroBass II
6th - MXR Bass DI
7th - Tech 21 Para Driver DI
8th - Xotic Bass RC Booster
9th - Fodera Model 2010
10th - John East STMP 01
Last position with 0 votes - Ken Smith P.A.P.A and Demeter BEQ-PB Bass EQ
 

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