Bass Preamps

LogicalFrank · June 06, 2011, 12:51:05 PM

Started a thread like this on the old forum but I need advice again. Right now, for part of the drum machine rig, I am using a Behringer B1D1 bass pre-amp into a big ole Sunn Power amp. It was kind of flakey out of the box (have to get the jack in there just so...) but it's been awesome for a thirty dollar pedal and sounds awesome for any price. I am looking to upgrade to something w/ a stouter constitution for gigs and whatnot. Any suggestions? By default, I think I am going to go w/ a SansAmp Bass Driver as those things are pretty sweet and basically the same thing as what I've been using but I want to explore my options first. Rack mount is actually preferred since I have extra spaces anyway.

Last thing I tried was an older BBE preamp but it didn't really cut it tone-wise and I ended up using the Behringer again.

justinhedrick · June 06, 2011, 01:05:02 PM

our bass player has one of the sansamp pedals. he likes it. it sounds really good.

i've seen a TON of bands using the rack mount thing (RBI maybe?) from sansamp. some of them sound awesome, some of them sound like crap. i attribute it to the bass player.

LogicalFrank · June 06, 2011, 01:25:34 PM

Yeah, they are really nice pedals. W/ an older project, we recorded w/ Sanford Parker back when his studio was still Volume and he used the SansAmp Bass Driver at least in part and the bass sounded absolutely great.

I am trying to figure out what the RBI does that the Bass Driver does not do. It costs over a hundred dollars more.

justinhedrick · June 06, 2011, 03:05:15 PM

i think the biggest thing are the multiple outputs and stuff on the rackmount.

LogicalFrank · June 06, 2011, 03:12:32 PM

That's what it's looking like. It's one thing I like on the Bass Driver over the Behringer is the Bass Driver has a parallel out which would let me get rid of an ABY. Less shit in the chain is a good thing.

zachoff · June 06, 2011, 03:58:54 PM

My favorite is the old Peavey Max Preamp that has blendable solid state and tube channels & all kinds of EQ options. You can get them wicked cheap now too but they're kind hard to find. The white faced one is the one I've played a few times.

The Yamaha PB-1 is also a pretty awesome bass pre.

LogicalFrank · June 06, 2011, 04:18:27 PM

Quote from: zachoff on June 06, 2011, 03:58:54 PM
My favorite is the old Peavey Max Preamp that has blendable solid state and tube channels & all kinds of EQ options. You can get them wicked cheap now too but they're kind hard to find. The white faced one is the one I've played a few times.

This sounds like it could be a winner... I'll have to keep an eye out.

Also, bonus question: anyone know of a decent single-rack space guitar/bass power amp. Something like 50-100 watts?

justinhedrick · June 06, 2011, 04:27:51 PM

Quote from: LogicalFrank on June 06, 2011, 04:18:27 PM
Quote from: zachoff on June 06, 2011, 03:58:54 PM
My favorite is the old Peavey Max Preamp that has blendable solid state and tube channels & all kinds of EQ options. You can get them wicked cheap now too but they're kind hard to find. The white faced one is the one I've played a few times.

This sounds like it could be a winner... I'll have to keep an eye out.

Also, bonus question: anyone know of a decent single-rack space guitar/bass power amp. Something like 50-100 watts?

ADA made one back in the 80s. rocktron has one as well. both solid. try to find a tubeworks power amp. those are nice.

zachoff · June 06, 2011, 04:34:34 PM

Quote from: LogicalFrank on June 06, 2011, 04:18:27 PM
Quote from: zachoff on June 06, 2011, 03:58:54 PM
My favorite is the old Peavey Max Preamp that has blendable solid state and tube channels & all kinds of EQ options. You can get them wicked cheap now too but they're kind hard to find. The white faced one is the one I've played a few times.

This sounds like it could be a winner... I'll have to keep an eye out.

Here's the pic of the black faced one. I didn't know they had those... I've only seen the white faced ones, but can't find a pic online anywhere.

VOLVO))) · June 06, 2011, 07:08:16 PM

Single rack space? Doesnt exist... tubeworks +1

I,Galactus · June 06, 2011, 09:22:00 PM

Quote from: LogicalFrank on June 06, 2011, 04:18:27 PM
Also, bonus question: anyone know of a decent single-rack space guitar/bass power amp. Something like 50-100 watts?

Mesa 20/20

Crank that shit and I'd bet it sounds like 50-100 watts.

LogicalFrank · June 06, 2011, 10:13:44 PM

40 watts would be plenty, thank you. I'd have to rewire my cab but that would actually work awesome. Probably a bit out of my price range at the moment though.

justinhedrick · June 07, 2011, 09:37:00 AM

Quote from: LogicalFrank on June 06, 2011, 10:13:44 PM
40 watts would be plenty, thank you. I'd have to rewire my cab but that would actually work awesome. Probably a bit out of my price range at the moment though.

why not just get one of those crate powerblocks for $100?

LogicalFrank · June 07, 2011, 10:06:19 AM

That is still another thing to carry... The backup I use right now is a EHX 44 Mag, which is kind of the same thing--small class D amp--but even smaller, albeit not as powerful.

The nicest thing about a rack mount solution is it all stays basically set up except speaker cables and connecting the power conditioner to an outlet which makes setup a lot easier. I have an enormous amount of bullshit to deal w/ setup-wise and every little bit helps keep my stress levels down before shows.

grimniggzy · June 07, 2011, 10:17:51 AM

Yeah, I definitely love those Tube Works guys.
Had one on top of a 2X15 at a practice space I always used to go to. Felt like a god for $15/hr.

As far as pedal form I own the Tech 21 VT Bass. If you like the way Ampegs sounds its worth every bit of $150 and can be had for $125 used. A great pedal that I use whenever I'm unsure of the Amp I'm using. I also use it when I want to run into the back one of my Sunn heads and control it completely with the pedal.

LogicalFrank · June 07, 2011, 10:41:19 AM

It has just occurred to me that a rack mount bass amp w/ some sort of crossover might work too, which could give me lots of options... Basically, I split the signal between two different amps, one getting highs and the other getting lows. From experience, this has just worked better for my purposes than just trying to do one or two amps amplifying all frequency ranges.

giantchris · June 07, 2011, 11:17:46 AM

On an off note Frank I saw you guys live a couple months ago the drums sounded HUGE.

LogicalFrank · June 07, 2011, 11:53:44 AM

Thanks! Where'd you see us? Since I got the big 600 Watt Sunn power amp, we can typically really shake the room even if there's no PA. Normally the lows go through that and the big 2x15 we have and the highs we send to a different amp and some twelves.

giantchris · June 07, 2011, 12:13:21 PM

Quote from: LogicalFrank on June 07, 2011, 11:53:44 AM
Thanks! Where'd you see us? Since I got the big 600 Watt Sunn power amp, we can typically really shake the room even if there's no PA. Normally the lows go through that and the big 2x15 we have and the highs we send to a different amp and some twelves.

Empty Bottle in...April I think? Was a Sunday. You guys have a really unique sound made me wish I still smoked woulda been even better. The guys that opened for you from Wisconsin were pretty good too but their bass player EQed himself out of the mix (I play bass, when people do that it annoys me).

But yeah you guys sound HUGE live. I wouldn't worry about adding volume at all or you might shade on overkill.

LogicalFrank · June 07, 2011, 12:40:01 PM

Empty Bottle always sounds great. I love playing there. I am not adding volume but trying to simplify and make my rig more reliable. I think the band you are referring to is Northless. They always sound awesome to me... Never noticed lack of bass but I'm not a bassist. If you find yourself at a show again, make sure to introduce yourself. I'm the guy in the suit.

giantchris · June 07, 2011, 01:32:17 PM

Quote from: LogicalFrank on June 07, 2011, 12:40:01 PM
Empty Bottle always sounds great. I love playing there. I am not adding volume but trying to simplify and make my rig more reliable. I think the band you are referring to is Northless. They always sound awesome to me... Never noticed lack of bass but I'm not a bassist. If you find yourself at a show again, make sure to introduce yourself. I'm the guy in the suit.

Will do. Stop staring at my sister next time before you go on! And <3 the aluminum neck Kramer. The Empty Bottle is always a fun place to go and a great beer selection.

The bassist from Northless was actually good but he was mixed out unless they are deliberately going for the wall of sound thing. Take a band like Mastodon though two guitarists and the bassist is easily heard. Just kinda seemed like the guy lacked clarity could only make his playing out when the guitars were playing little. I actually rather liked that band good riffs. That being said it could have been where I was standing in the room was slightly off to the side by the bar.

But in all seriousness I bought the CD-R you guys had for sale hasn't left my car been throwing it on a couple times a week. Good stuff.

Corey Y · June 15, 2011, 06:57:23 PM

Sansamp RBI and RPM both work really well. I like the RPM a little better actually, even though the RBI is the "bass" preamp. Pretty much everything Sansamp makes is swappable between bass, guitar and drum machine/general fx use. So anything they have tailored specifically for bass usually means it just has less knobs or gain or some fixed eq curve.

Derelict78 · August 18, 2011, 01:57:16 PM

Rusty box

http://www.tronographic.com/

VOLVO))) · August 18, 2011, 07:16:56 PM

ENGLISH MUFFN

LOVE IT

Hemisaurus · August 18, 2011, 11:52:00 PM

Quote from: SunnO))) on August 18, 2011, 07:16:56 PM
ENGLISH MUFFN

LOVE IT

EHX should pay Marshall royalties for each unit sold, and people say Behringer are copycats

I'm thinking of trying a homemade Hogs Foot as a preamp.