The thing that would get me to consider a stand-alone preamp again would be a robust switchmode plate amp that I can bolt onto the back of my speaker.
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Why are standalone preamplifiers a dying breed?
- Thread starter pablomigraine
- Start date
I would love to see more manufacturers building single space rack preamps.
The price of used pre's has gone up so much it wasn't worth it so I ended up diving into the integrated head world. I'd love to go back to separates again though.
Used to run:
Ampeg SVP Pre (bass preamp)
Mesa V-Twin Pre (guitar preamp)
Ampeg SVP 1500
Ran the Mesa into a swr212 cab off one side of the power amp and the Ampeg into an swr8x8 cab off the other side.
Man, that sounded sooo good!! I miss that set up.
The price of used pre's has gone up so much it wasn't worth it so I ended up diving into the integrated head world. I'd love to go back to separates again though.
Used to run:
Ampeg SVP Pre (bass preamp)
Mesa V-Twin Pre (guitar preamp)
Ampeg SVP 1500
Ran the Mesa into a swr212 cab off one side of the power amp and the Ampeg into an swr8x8 cab off the other side.
Man, that sounded sooo good!! I miss that set up.
Like these?
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No switch mode but practical format. Brystons are the best money can get for bass reproduction IMHO and IME
Talking about Bryston ,one of the best sound I ever had was with a Alembic pre and a 4B. Both got stolen.... ;(
Now I use Studio channels (I'm one of the 3 votes! ) with an active speaker. ( RCF )
I have a couple of option at home so depending on the gig , the security at the gig , and transportation mode , I'll choose accordingly.
Yes. Something like that. A bit smaller and cheaper, and we're in business. 
I noticed that Hypex has a plate amp that would probably do what I need, but their literature suggests they don't have a US power version.
http://www.hypex.nl/
I noticed that Hypex has a plate amp that would probably do what I need, but their literature suggests they don't have a US power version.http://www.hypex.nl/
I have to confess that I don't use a separate preamp/power amp but I'll
be one of the first to defend it. Clean, linear, low-distortion, low-noise
power amplification is no longer an art. It's a well-known science and,
because of this, it's now cheap. You could keep your costs down by
forgoing the brand name and using an inexpensive power amplifier.
Also, there is something to be said for keeping the tone-generating
part of your setup independent of your power amplification. Power
amplifiers by their nature are more likely to encounter a failure.
Being able to switch out your power amp and replace it with a cheap
spare without any loss of tonality is a plus. And, because they are
cheap(er), it's easier to carry a spare.
Fender seems to have embraced the separate preamp/power amp
idea with their Invalid Link Removed and Invalid Link Removed (although if you followed my advice,
you would skip this expensive amp for an inexpensive replacement).
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
be one of the first to defend it. Clean, linear, low-distortion, low-noise
power amplification is no longer an art. It's a well-known science and,
because of this, it's now cheap. You could keep your costs down by
forgoing the brand name and using an inexpensive power amplifier.
Also, there is something to be said for keeping the tone-generating
part of your setup independent of your power amplification. Power
amplifiers by their nature are more likely to encounter a failure.
Being able to switch out your power amp and replace it with a cheap
spare without any loss of tonality is a plus. And, because they are
cheap(er), it's easier to carry a spare.
Fender seems to have embraced the separate preamp/power amp
idea with their Invalid Link Removed and Invalid Link Removed (although if you followed my advice,
you would skip this expensive amp for an inexpensive replacement).
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I don't think the stand-alone preamp user base was ever that big. I've been playing around 8 years and been running a separate power/pre setup for around 6 of them. I am never surprised to see people looking at my rig in confusion. I get questions like "what is that for"? or "what does that do"? and "why do you need both of those" all the time.
I also thing a small number of power/pre users are moving toward non-bass preamps ei channel strips, tube DI's, Mic pre's, etc I've dibbled and dabbled around with most of these and now use a PJ bass buddy.
I'll probably never get rid of my pre/power amp setup because its helpful If I ever need to run all three of my cabs but If I could find a head that puts around 1200-1400 at 2 ohms or 600-700 at 4 ohms per channel thats suited my liking I'd probably switch over.
I also thing a small number of power/pre users are moving toward non-bass preamps ei channel strips, tube DI's, Mic pre's, etc I've dibbled and dabbled around with most of these and now use a PJ bass buddy.
I'll probably never get rid of my pre/power amp setup because its helpful If I ever need to run all three of my cabs but If I could find a head that puts around 1200-1400 at 2 ohms or 600-700 at 4 ohms per channel thats suited my liking I'd probably switch over.
After the last few years of playing on traditional bass heads, I'm going back to this type of channel strip/poweramp setup. Over this weekend, I pulled out my PLX-1602 & 5-band parametric EQ with an ART Tube Pre to warm things up and WOW! I feel like kicking myself in the pants for ever getting away from this type of setup. I would like to consolidate things into a single channel strip though, and while I had the Presonus Eureka a few years back, this looks even more promising due to the real tube in the preamp section.
Make the power amp the same form factor as a net-book, with Bluetooth. Dang, a net-book is cheaper than most preamps. You've almost made me a believer.
I'm pretty lucky.
Although there aren't as many bass rack preamps as there used to be I can get my tone with an RBI and a good poweramp. It's pretty cheap,less than $400 new, but it has a great DI out and the tone is perfect for what I want to hear. I used one for about 6 years with a Carvin and a couple of Crown power amps with about 1000 watts and I also don't think 1000 watts is overkill. I switched to an LMII last year and I love it but I have to agree that there is just something about having a bunch of power that seems to make everything cleaner and tighter in the low end.
I used my LMII on a couple of big outdoor gigs this summer and with two 8 ohm cabs at 500 watts and have to say it did the volume thing as well as my old rack rig with the 1000 watts of power but for a single 8 ohm cab the LMII might be a little lacking. Both my current cabs are 8 ohms so I am at some point going back to the pre/poweramp rig, just because its cheaper than trying to get a head with that kind of power and tone.
I have an fEarful 12/6/1 that sounds great but with the LMII but I have to max out the volume on the LMII to keep up with my band if I ever want to use it at a gig. It puts out 300 watts at 8 ohms cleanly and it powers the fEarful to decent volume but the cab can handle a couple hundred watts more with ease so I'm thinking the pre/poweramp rig might be the way to go if I want to gig that cab and I do.
Although there aren't as many bass rack preamps as there used to be I can get my tone with an RBI and a good poweramp. It's pretty cheap,less than $400 new, but it has a great DI out and the tone is perfect for what I want to hear. I used one for about 6 years with a Carvin and a couple of Crown power amps with about 1000 watts and I also don't think 1000 watts is overkill. I switched to an LMII last year and I love it but I have to agree that there is just something about having a bunch of power that seems to make everything cleaner and tighter in the low end.
I used my LMII on a couple of big outdoor gigs this summer and with two 8 ohm cabs at 500 watts and have to say it did the volume thing as well as my old rack rig with the 1000 watts of power but for a single 8 ohm cab the LMII might be a little lacking. Both my current cabs are 8 ohms so I am at some point going back to the pre/poweramp rig, just because its cheaper than trying to get a head with that kind of power and tone.
I have an fEarful 12/6/1 that sounds great but with the LMII but I have to max out the volume on the LMII to keep up with my band if I ever want to use it at a gig. It puts out 300 watts at 8 ohms cleanly and it powers the fEarful to decent volume but the cab can handle a couple hundred watts more with ease so I'm thinking the pre/poweramp rig might be the way to go if I want to gig that cab and I do.
You might want a bigger screen. Half my gigs I need the fake books, so I have them all scanned in. Just offsetting weight of the fake/real books and the ability to instantly search is worth it.
If you want a netbook, now's the time while they still have XP. Soon they'll all get a crippled Windows 7 version. (Purposely crippled by M$)
You don't need the latest technology, I have a 5 year old PC. Works fine. Music is all it does so there's no extra gunk on it to clog it up.
Good luck getting plugins to work with a net book
Well, one can always dream. I'd also be worried about getting the blue screen of death in the middle of a gig.
I'm a fan of separates, but the cost has become prohibitive. So many all in one options you can get for less than $1000. With the micro heads pushing crazy wattage and traditional heads that have their following, there are few people looking for a preamp only option.
To me having the flexibility to change based on need is great. I have 3 pres that sound great, but very different, an Epifani Quest, Demeter and a Aguilar DB680. For example, for small/medium gigs, the demeter with an accugroove 112l is an ideal combination. The epifani with an epifani cab and 800 watts sounds great. It depends on what you are trying to do.
With the quality and wattage available, you can get most of what you need with one amp. I'm personally looking forward to the Genz Benz Shuttle 900 to add to my arsenal. On the other extreme. I still have a Super Redhead that is in regular rotation
To me having the flexibility to change based on need is great. I have 3 pres that sound great, but very different, an Epifani Quest, Demeter and a Aguilar DB680. For example, for small/medium gigs, the demeter with an accugroove 112l is an ideal combination. The epifani with an epifani cab and 800 watts sounds great. It depends on what you are trying to do.
With the quality and wattage available, you can get most of what you need with one amp. I'm personally looking forward to the Genz Benz Shuttle 900 to add to my arsenal. On the other extreme. I still have a Super Redhead that is in regular rotation
Well, one can always dream. I'd also be worried about getting the blue screen of death in the middle of a gig.
Unfounded fear - I can't remember the last BSOD on any computer.
If you're concerned run Max or even Linux
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Indamixx-Indamixx-Laptop-MKII?sku=582390
Ya, I haven't seen a BSOD in a long time, either. My computers just lock up and freeze on the screen they're on. Not a good idea without a pretty hefty computer with lots of RAM.
Funny story about computers on gigs...in 92-93, I was playing with a 3-pc guitar bass drums band, except the guitarist had MIDI tracks he would play on a Mac built into a rack, and we would play to a click. One night we're playing "Money," and as the guitar solo starts, the computer freezes. He looks at me with panic in his eyes and says, "What are we gonna do now?" I said, "Just keep on playing...it'll be great." And it was.
Funny story about computers on gigs...in 92-93, I was playing with a 3-pc guitar bass drums band, except the guitarist had MIDI tracks he would play on a Mac built into a rack, and we would play to a click. One night we're playing "Money," and as the guitar solo starts, the computer freezes. He looks at me with panic in his eyes and says, "What are we gonna do now?" I said, "Just keep on playing...it'll be great." And it was.
This thread has taken so many different turn at this point.I have listened to Basstasters.com before and have liked the groove and slap that he does so I just sounded out the groove pretty quickly but what is he doing for the slap?
Please Pm me.
As security grabs me!
Please Pm me.
As security grabs me!
Only for other peoples' sake. There being more options available also means that less people will sound similar to me.
I use an integrated tube head. It's not that powerful as far as tube heads go, though it still is deafeningly loud when turned all the way up. It's not clean sounding at all, but I don't get my sound until the clean headroom's gone anyway.
I also like things to be fairly simple. I don't have a very complex setup. I built a head case for my amp because I would have felt silly buying a rack with just one thing to put in it.
So, in short, yes I do wish there were more separate pres/powers available, because having more options is a good thing. Will the lack of availability really affect me much? Probably not.
