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Yet Another Preamp Thread

86general

86general

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2010
97
15
Central NJ
#1
For a rackmount rig, recommendations on the preamp, please.

Interested in your choice, and why.

I don't have a $$$ cutoff. When possible, I favor simpler gear over more complicated stuff. I absolutely hate complex, menu-driven components and need a really good reason before I try to use something like that. But I still want to hear about it if this sort of thing is what you like, and why, etc.
 
#3
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] is the best tube pre-amp I've heard.

The [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] is my second choice (especially when paired with an [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]).

Third for me is the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed].

These are all very different pres...

The Monique is all tube, hand made, and has a 3-band Baxandall EQ. She also sports an amazing knob labeled "Sensitivity" - that knob is magic. She has switches for +4dB on the input and on the output. This girl can sing.

The F-1X has a single tube in the input stage, and delivers that fat tubey sound, but the tube can not be over-driven for grind; this pre is clean and punchy. It has a modified Fender tone stack EQ, an FX loop, and a variable crossover.

The Eden has everything you might need right on-board: compressor, fully parametric EQ, stereo output meters, tuner out, variable crossover, FX loops, etc. It even has a "Tube Character" knob which emulates a slightly over-driven tube sound.

All three have DI outputs. The Monique DI is post-EQ only; with the Alembic and Eden, you can select pre- or post-EQ.

You had mentioned that you favor simple gear over complicated... I think you would love Monique.

Happy hunting! :)
 
#4
I just recently purchased a Warwick Hellborg pre 2nd hand. Not very cheap though. It's very easy to use and sounds deadquiet in the input stage. It's nothing spectacular soundwise, but it doesn't color the sound of the bass.
Had an SWR Interstellar once. Nice preamp, well made, just not my cup of tea.
 
#5
I hated the Alembic when I had one. I thought it was great in the store but bought it on BP magazine's review strength. I had it for only a month because it had no mojo for me. Like the Demeter, it was just too clean. The Ampeg SVP-CL is pretty awesome but good luck finding one. I've only seen one in real life and didn't buy it because that money was already flagged for something else more necessary in a non-musical way.

Check out tube mic preamps. No joke. They're usually simple and often sound fantastic for bass.
 
#6
Ampeg svt II non pro pre. Ampeg svt II tone with more power than the original (run mine with a 1200w (a/b) power amp) . simple , easy , and heard on tons of albums over the years. gotta find one used though. The Avalon U5 gets high marks also. More of a DI /pre but if you want simple that's about as simple as it gets.
 
#9
It has been said in these pages before, but the discontinued Yamaha PB-1 is simple to use, built exceptionally well, and, in my opinion sounds tremendous. I use one in preference to my SWR Grand Prix, which is also a good preamp, but not as organic sounding as the Yamaha.
 
#10
I use a BBE 383 on my main rig.
Got another one I modded for an XLR,
which I use for my FOH stuff on the kick mic.

For a lotta years, I had an ART SGX nightbass SE
Still in my studio rack for fx processing.

Cool thread BTW,
one of my purchase options is a bass pre and amp combo.
 
#11
The F-1X has a single tube in the input stage, and delivers that fat tubey sound, but the tube can not be over-driven for grind; this pre is clean and punchy. It has a modified Fender tone stack EQ, an FX loop, and a variable crossover.

I totally agree. For more than 10 years now I've used the Alembic F-1x as my "primary" tone because that warm clean punchy goodness can't be beat. Three knobs, two switches, that's pretty much it.

Of course this means it is significantly more limited than some of the other preamps out there with built in compressors, graphic and parametric EQs, and so on. But for a basic "awesome" tone, it gets the job done. I use outboard effects to augment the clean tone of the Alembic when the situation requires it, such as using a Sansamp BDDI to dial up a dirty sound on top of the clean one. More versatility this way to my ears.

Lonnybass
 
#12
Read the JGR preamp threads. I've owned most of the pres mentioned here except the ART and a few that were not ( Aguilar 680, still have one, Furman PQ3) and i would put Jonathan's up against all of them.

Problem is that he's not really making any right now, but if you sweet talk him... Well you never know.
 
#14
esa372 said:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] is the best tube pre-amp I've heard.

The [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] is my second choice (especially when paired with an [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]).

These are all very different pres...
Click to expand...

+1

I would add the Mike Pope outboard pre. It is killer. The Ampeg SVP-CL I also great.

Monique is the best I have ever heard and all I personally use but tone is subjective.
 
#15
I really enjoy the flexibility of the Eden WP-100 Navigator. Little bit of tube, compressor, DI, and several output options...nowadays, it's pretty easy to find a used one in very good condition at a decent price. Next up, I'd love to try an Aguilar or Monique.
 
#17
lo-freq said:
Jule Monique
Mike Pope MPP-1
Demeter HBP-1
Kern IP-777
Yamaha PB-1
Aguilar DB659
...last 3 no longer in production...
Click to expand...

I've presently got the Alembic F1X, Yamaha PB1 and Demeter HBP-1. My choice from that lot is the. Demeter. The Yamaha is the value leader though, you can find often them for under $200, but they're going up as people catch on.
 
#20
SS or tube?

For tube, the Monique is THE preamp to get, especially if you like simple yet effective gear. Some others will give it a run for its money, though, such as JGR's tube pres or the Demeter HBP-1.

For SS, the Yamaha PB1 is good, but I don't know many others personally. I'm a tube tone guy, so maybe someone else can chip in with some SS recommendations.
 

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