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bass guitar preamp ? [message #63600] Sun, 22 January 2006 16:12 Go to next message
John [1] is currently offline  John [1]   UNITED STATES
Messages: 2229
Registered: September 2005
Senior Member
Can anyone recommend a killer preamp for bass guitar. I want something
cheap that sounds fantastic. Shouldn't be a problem right? Ideally it
would do Chris Squire distorted, drop octave stuff but hey, I'll be
thrilled just to get a good bass sound.

I currently have a sans amp for bass but I think it sounds like crap, no
round bottom, weak output, what could be worse? My hero Scott Ambush
plays an Eden Navigator preamp, fed into a QSC 3500 power amp, driving
an Eden 4x10 cabinet but I won't be able to afford that any time soon.

Anything cheap and good?

John
Re: bass guitar preamp ? [message #63601 is a reply to message #63600] Sun, 22 January 2006 16:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
TC is currently offline  TC   CANADA
Messages: 327
Registered: September 2005
Senior Member
John wrote:
> Can anyone recommend a killer preamp for bass guitar. I want something
> cheap that sounds fantastic. Shouldn't be a problem right? Ideally it
> would do Chris Squire distorted, drop octave stuff but hey, I'll be
> thrilled just to get a good bass sound.
>
> I currently have a sans amp for bass but I think it sounds like crap, no
> round bottom, weak output, what could be worse? My hero Scott Ambush
> plays an Eden Navigator preamp, fed into a QSC 3500 power amp, driving
> an Eden 4x10 cabinet but I won't be able to afford that any time soon.
>
> Anything cheap and good?
>
> John


What bass are you using? That's hands down the biggest factor.

I've tracked my Warwick Thumb 5 through a Sans Amp Bass Driver DI direct into Paris and it sounded amazing, big fat round and aggressive..

Cheers,

TC
Re: bass guitar preamp ? [message #63603 is a reply to message #63601] Sun, 22 January 2006 17:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
John [1] is currently offline  John [1]   UNITED STATES
Messages: 2229
Registered: September 2005
Senior Member
The bass is fine. It's a 5 string Ibanez attack bass and I've played it
through many other amps and it sounds great. Maybe this sansamp I have
is a dud because I notice many people are very happy with theirs. How
much clean output can you get (meaning without pushing drive to
distort). I can barely get -10db out of this one.

TC wrote:
> John wrote:
>
>> Can anyone recommend a killer preamp for bass guitar. I want
>> something cheap that sounds fantastic. Shouldn't be a problem right?
>> Ideally it would do Chris Squire distorted, drop octave stuff but hey,
>> I'll be thrilled just to get a good bass sound.
>>
>> I currently have a sans amp for bass but I think it sounds like crap,
>> no round bottom, weak output, what could be worse? My hero Scott
>> Ambush plays an Eden Navigator preamp, fed into a QSC 3500 power amp,
>> driving an Eden 4x10 cabinet but I won't be able to afford that any
>> time soon.
>>
>> Anything cheap and good?
>>
>> John
>
>
>
> What bass are you using? That's hands down the biggest factor.
>
> I've tracked my Warwick Thumb 5 through a Sans Amp Bass Driver DI direct
> into Paris and it sounded amazing, big fat round and aggressive..
>
> Cheers,
>
> TC
Re: bass guitar preamp ? [message #63606 is a reply to message #63603] Sun, 22 January 2006 18:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
TC is currently offline  TC   CANADA
Messages: 327
Registered: September 2005
Senior Member
Hi John,

Could be a dud, I never had gain problems with mine.. Is it an active bass? Maybe that's part of why my Warwick sounds good with it. I also play with fingers but fairly agressively, so that adds some extra signal. I've also tracked with a SVT Pro 3, but these days I find myself just tracking DI for most stuff through my UA LA-610 and using plugins to tweak the sound.

I noticed they are coming out with an Ampeg bass plugin from IK Multimedia. I'm interested in hearing how that sounds..

You may also want to try the Avalon U5 for bass. Haven't used it but have heard good things.

Cheers,

TC


John wrote:
> The bass is fine. It's a 5 string Ibanez attack bass and I've played it
> through many other amps and it sounds great. Maybe this sansamp I have
> is a dud because I notice many people are very happy with theirs. How
> much clean output can you get (meaning without pushing drive to
> distort). I can barely get -10db out of this one.
>
> TC wrote:
>
>> John wrote:
>>
>>> Can anyone recommend a killer preamp for bass guitar. I want
>>> something cheap that sounds fantastic. Shouldn't be a problem
>>> right? Ideally it would do Chris Squire distorted, drop octave stuff
>>> but hey, I'll be thrilled just to get a good bass sound.
>>>
>>> I currently have a sans amp for bass but I think it sounds like crap,
>>> no round bottom, weak output, what could be worse? My hero Scott
>>> Ambush plays an Eden Navigator preamp, fed into a QSC 3500 power amp,
>>> driving an Eden 4x10 cabinet but I won't be able to afford that any
>>> time soon.
>>>
>>> Anything cheap and good?
>>>
>>> John
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> What bass are you using? That's hands down the biggest factor.
>>
>> I've tracked my Warwick Thumb 5 through a Sans Amp Bass Driver DI
>> direct into Paris and it sounded amazing, big fat round and aggressive..
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> TC
Re: bass guitar preamp ? [message #63607 is a reply to message #63600] Sun, 22 January 2006 20:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
TCB is currently offline  TCB
Messages: 1261
Registered: July 2007
Senior Member
I actually use a SansAmp Bass DI with decent results, but for something more
versatile I'd look at ebay and try to find an SWR SM-400 bass head. Tube
preamp stage and a parametric EQ that will give you a pretty wide range of
sounds. A bassist in a band I played in used one and we had very good luck
with it as a direct amp as well.

TCB

John <no@no.com> wrote:
>Can anyone recommend a killer preamp for bass guitar. I want something

>cheap that sounds fantastic. Shouldn't be a problem right? Ideally it

>would do Chris Squire distorted, drop octave stuff but hey, I'll be
>thrilled just to get a good bass sound.
>
>I currently have a sans amp for bass but I think it sounds like crap, no

>round bottom, weak output, what could be worse? My hero Scott Ambush
>plays an Eden Navigator preamp, fed into a QSC 3500 power amp, driving
>an Eden 4x10 cabinet but I won't be able to afford that any time soon.
>
>Anything cheap and good?
>
>John
Re: bass guitar preamp ? [message #63612 is a reply to message #63600] Sun, 22 January 2006 21:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Deej [1] is currently offline  Deej [1]   UNITED STATES
Messages: 2149
Registered: January 2006
Senior Member
Find a cheap Avalon 737.
;o)

"John" <no@no.com> wrote in message news:43d420ae@linux...
> Can anyone recommend a killer preamp for bass guitar. I want something
> cheap that sounds fantastic. Shouldn't be a problem right? Ideally it
> would do Chris Squire distorted, drop octave stuff but hey, I'll be
> thrilled just to get a good bass sound.
>
> I currently have a sans amp for bass but I think it sounds like crap, no
> round bottom, weak output, what could be worse? My hero Scott Ambush
> plays an Eden Navigator preamp, fed into a QSC 3500 power amp, driving
> an Eden 4x10 cabinet but I won't be able to afford that any time soon.
>
> Anything cheap and good?
>
> John
Re: bass guitar preamp ? [message #63633 is a reply to message #63600] Mon, 23 January 2006 06:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Edna Sloan is currently offline  Edna Sloan   UNITED STATES
Messages: 304
Registered: October 2005
Senior Member
If you're just using it for recording, you might try the free plugin
"Baxxpander" - it did wonders for a thin thumpy bass track I had on one
tune.
Edna
"John" <no@no.com> wrote in message news:43d420ae@linux...
> Can anyone recommend a killer preamp for bass guitar. I want something
> cheap that sounds fantastic. Shouldn't be a problem right? Ideally it
> would do Chris Squire distorted, drop octave stuff but hey, I'll be
> thrilled just to get a good bass sound.
>
> I currently have a sans amp for bass but I think it sounds like crap, no
> round bottom, weak output, what could be worse? My hero Scott Ambush
> plays an Eden Navigator preamp, fed into a QSC 3500 power amp, driving
> an Eden 4x10 cabinet but I won't be able to afford that any time soon.
>
> Anything cheap and good?
>
> John
Re: bass guitar preamp ? [message #63634 is a reply to message #63612] Mon, 23 January 2006 07:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ed is currently offline  Ed
Messages: 199
Registered: February 2006
Senior Member
There is no such thing. Perhaps if you are lucky, you can find one under a
grand on ebay. Although I have no good suggestions except you might try the
cheapie Behringer.

"DJ" <animix_spam-this-ahole_@animas.net> wrote:
>Find a cheap Avalon 737.
>;o)
>
>"John" <no@no.com> wrote in message news:43d420ae@linux...
>> Can anyone recommend a killer preamp for bass guitar. I want something
>> cheap that sounds fantastic. Shouldn't be a problem right? Ideally it
>> would do Chris Squire distorted, drop octave stuff but hey, I'll be
>> thrilled just to get a good bass sound.
>>
>> I currently have a sans amp for bass but I think it sounds like crap,
no
>> round bottom, weak output, what could be worse? My hero Scott Ambush
>> plays an Eden Navigator preamp, fed into a QSC 3500 power amp, driving
>> an Eden 4x10 cabinet but I won't be able to afford that any time soon.
>>
>> Anything cheap and good?
>>
>> John
>
>
Re: bass guitar preamp ? [message #63637 is a reply to message #63633] Mon, 23 January 2006 07:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
John [1] is currently offline  John [1]   UNITED STATES
Messages: 2229
Registered: September 2005
Senior Member
thanks, i can get the bass sounding good once it's recorded but without
a good sound to start i can't get the feel right so i'll have to get
this box fixed. tech21 is at namm so i'll wait till they get back on
the 25th.
Thanks,
John

Edna wrote:
> If you're just using it for recording, you might try the free plugin
> "Baxxpander" - it did wonders for a thin thumpy bass track I had on one
> tune.
> Edna
> "John" <no@no.com> wrote in message news:43d420ae@linux...
>
>>Can anyone recommend a killer preamp for bass guitar. I want something
>>cheap that sounds fantastic. Shouldn't be a problem right? Ideally it
>>would do Chris Squire distorted, drop octave stuff but hey, I'll be
>>thrilled just to get a good bass sound.
>>
>>I currently have a sans amp for bass but I think it sounds like crap, no
>>round bottom, weak output, what could be worse? My hero Scott Ambush
>>plays an Eden Navigator preamp, fed into a QSC 3500 power amp, driving
>>an Eden 4x10 cabinet but I won't be able to afford that any time soon.
>>
>>Anything cheap and good?
>>
>>John
>
>
>
Re: bass guitar preamp ? [message #63647 is a reply to message #63637] Mon, 23 January 2006 09:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Deej [1] is currently offline  Deej [1]   UNITED STATES
Messages: 2149
Registered: January 2006
Senior Member
Demeter makes some nice bass preamps.


"John" <no@no.com> wrote in message news:43d4fa65$1@linux...
> thanks, i can get the bass sounding good once it's recorded but without
> a good sound to start i can't get the feel right so i'll have to get
> this box fixed. tech21 is at namm so i'll wait till they get back on
> the 25th.
> Thanks,
> John
>
> Edna wrote:
> > If you're just using it for recording, you might try the free plugin
> > "Baxxpander" - it did wonders for a thin thumpy bass track I had on one
> > tune.
> > Edna
> > "John" <no@no.com> wrote in message news:43d420ae@linux...
> >
> >>Can anyone recommend a killer preamp for bass guitar. I want something
> >>cheap that sounds fantastic. Shouldn't be a problem right? Ideally it
> >>would do Chris Squire distorted, drop octave stuff but hey, I'll be
> >>thrilled just to get a good bass sound.
> >>
> >>I currently have a sans amp for bass but I think it sounds like crap, no
> >>round bottom, weak output, what could be worse? My hero Scott Ambush
> >>plays an Eden Navigator preamp, fed into a QSC 3500 power amp, driving
> >>an Eden 4x10 cabinet but I won't be able to afford that any time soon.
> >>
> >>Anything cheap and good?
> >>
> >>John
> >
> >
> >
Re: bass guitar preamp ? [message #63651 is a reply to message #63612] Mon, 23 January 2006 10:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Gary Flanigan is currently offline  Gary Flanigan
Messages: 181
Registered: June 2006
Senior Member
"DJ" <animix_spam-this-ahole_@animas.net> wrote:
>Find a cheap Avalon 737.

I hear that the Manley VoxBox is a great front end for bass :)
Re: bass guitar preamp ? [message #63702 is a reply to message #63651] Tue, 24 January 2006 00:49 Go to previous messageGo to next message
John [1] is currently offline  John [1]   UNITED STATES
Messages: 2229
Registered: September 2005
Senior Member
you guys sure have expensive taste. wow

Gary Flanigan wrote:
> "DJ" <animix_spam-this-ahole_@animas.net> wrote:
>
>>Find a cheap Avalon 737.
>
>
> I hear that the Manley VoxBox is a great front end for bass :)
Re: bass guitar preamp ? [message #63715 is a reply to message #63702] Tue, 24 January 2006 11:49 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Gary Flanigan is currently offline  Gary Flanigan
Messages: 181
Registered: June 2006
Senior Member
John <no@no.com> wrote:
>you guys sure have expensive taste. wow
>
>Gary Flanigan wrote:
>> "DJ" <animix_spam-this-ahole_@animas.net> wrote:
>>
>>>Find a cheap Avalon 737.
>>
>>
>> I hear that the Manley VoxBox is a great front end for bass :)
Re: bass guitar preamp ? [message #63716 is a reply to message #63702] Tue, 24 January 2006 11:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Gary Flanigan is currently offline  Gary Flanigan
Messages: 181
Registered: June 2006
Senior Member
John <no@no.com> wrote:
>you guys sure have expensive taste. wow
What I actually use is combination of a Radial DI and a Baby Blue head.
Not that expensive.
Re: bass guitar preamp ? [message #63717 is a reply to message #63715] Tue, 24 January 2006 10:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
EK Sound is currently offline  EK Sound   CANADA
Messages: 939
Registered: June 2005
Senior Member
Call this guy...

Walter Woods
82054 Solano Ave. Indio, California 92201 USA

David.

Gary Flanigan wrote:
> John <no@no.com> wrote:
>
>>you guys sure have expensive taste. wow
>>
>>Gary Flanigan wrote:
>>
>>>"DJ" <animix_spam-this-ahole_@animas.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Find a cheap Avalon 737.
>>>
>>>
>>>I hear that the Manley VoxBox is a great front end for bass :)
>
>
Re: bass guitar preamp ? [message #63729 is a reply to message #63717] Tue, 24 January 2006 16:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
John [1] is currently offline  John [1]   UNITED STATES
Messages: 2229
Registered: September 2005
Senior Member
Is this the same as saying mail him and giving me a phone number? Why
should I call him, is he going to donate a nice bass preamp to me?
Sweet !!! Hope it's not like a justcron gift. hehe

John

EK Sound wrote:
> Call this guy...
>
> Walter Woods
> 82054 Solano Ave. Indio, California 92201 USA
>
> David.
>
> Gary Flanigan wrote:
>
>> John <no@no.com> wrote:
>>
>>> you guys sure have expensive taste. wow
>>>
>>> Gary Flanigan wrote:
>>>
>>>> "DJ" <animix_spam-this-ahole_@animas.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Find a cheap Avalon 737.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I hear that the Manley VoxBox is a great front end for bass :)
>>
>>
>>
Re: bass guitar preamp ? [message #63797 is a reply to message #63637] Wed, 25 January 2006 18:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bill Lorentzen is currently offline  Bill Lorentzen   UNITED STATES
Messages: 140
Registered: June 2005
Senior Member
Check the Radial DIs for direct recording. I compared one recently to my
Countryman, and the Radial is slightly better for bass.

"John" <no@no.com> wrote in message news:43d4fa65$1@linux...
> thanks, i can get the bass sounding good once it's recorded but without a
> good sound to start i can't get the feel right so i'll have to get this
> box fixed. tech21 is at namm so i'll wait till they get back on the 25th.
> Thanks,
> John
>
> Edna wrote:
>> If you're just using it for recording, you might try the free plugin
>> "Baxxpander" - it did wonders for a thin thumpy bass track I had on one
>> tune.
>> Edna
>> "John" <no@no.com> wrote in message news:43d420ae@linux...
>>
>>>Can anyone recommend a killer preamp for bass guitar. I want something
>>>cheap that sounds fantastic. Shouldn't be a problem right? Ideally it
>>>would do Chris Squire distorted, drop octave stuff but hey, I'll be
>>>thrilled just to get a good bass sound.
>>>
>>>I currently have a sans amp for bass but I think it sounds like crap, no
>>>round bottom, weak output, what could be worse? My hero Scott Ambush
>>>plays an Eden Navigator preamp, fed into a QSC 3500 power amp, driving
>>>an Eden 4x10 cabinet but I won't be able to afford that any time soon.
>>>
>>>Anything cheap and good?
>>>
>>>John
>>
>>
Re: bass guitar preamp ? [message #63817 is a reply to message #63797] Thu, 26 January 2006 06:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
John [1] is currently offline  John [1]   UNITED STATES
Messages: 2229
Registered: September 2005
Senior Member
How about this ampeg box?

http://www.zzounds.com/item--AMPSVTDI

Bill Lorentzen wrote:
> Check the Radial DIs for direct recording. I compared one recently to my
> Countryman, and the Radial is slightly better for bass.
>
> "John" <no@no.com> wrote in message news:43d4fa65$1@linux...
>
>>thanks, i can get the bass sounding good once it's recorded but without a
>>good sound to start i can't get the feel right so i'll have to get this
>>box fixed. tech21 is at namm so i'll wait till they get back on the 25th.
>>Thanks,
>>John
>>
>>Edna wrote:
>>
>>>If you're just using it for recording, you might try the free plugin
>>>"Baxxpander" - it did wonders for a thin thumpy bass track I had on one
>>>tune.
>>>Edna
>>>"John" <no@no.com> wrote in message news:43d420ae@linux...
>>>
>>>
>>>>Can anyone recommend a killer preamp for bass guitar. I want something
>>>>cheap that sounds fantastic. Shouldn't be a problem right? Ideally it
>>>>would do Chris Squire distorted, drop octave stuff but hey, I'll be
>>>>thrilled just to get a good bass sound.
>>>>
>>>>I currently have a sans amp for bass but I think it sounds like crap, no
>>>>round bottom, weak output, what could be worse? My hero Scott Ambush
>>>>plays an Eden Navigator preamp, fed into a QSC 3500 power amp, driving
>>>>an Eden 4x10 cabinet but I won't be able to afford that any time soon.
>>>>
>>>>Anything cheap and good?
>>>>
>>>>John
>>>
>>>
>
Re: bass guitar preamp ? [message #63857 is a reply to message #63797] Fri, 27 January 2006 09:53 Go to previous message
Dominic is currently offline  Dominic
Messages: 12
Registered: March 2006
Junior Member
Ive been recording direct bass tracks with a UA 610 for a couple years on
numerous sessions. Ive A to B it with a bunch of mic pre's even a 1272 and
the UA does a great job. I was compressing with a Tube Tech and that was
the wip but dumped it because thats all I used it for. You should be able
to find a used 610 for around $800.00

"Bill Lorentzen" <bill@lorentzen.ws> wrote:
>Check the Radial DIs for direct recording. I compared one recently to my

>Countryman, and the Radial is slightly better for bass.
>
>"John" <no@no.com> wrote in message news:43d4fa65$1@linux...
>> thanks, i can get the bass sounding good once it's recorded but without
a
>> good sound to start i can't get the feel right so i'll have to get this

>> box fixed. tech21 is at namm so i'll wait till they get back on the 25th.
>> Thanks,
>> John
>>
>> Edna wrote:
>>> If you're just using it for recording, you might try the free plugin
>>> "Baxxpander" - it did wonders for a thin thumpy bass track I had on one
>>> tune.
>>> Edna
>>> "John" <no@no.com> wrote in message news:43d420ae@linux...
>>>
>>>>Can anyone recommend a killer preamp for bass guitar. I want something
>>>>cheap that sounds fantastic. Shouldn't be a problem right? Ideally
it
>>>>would do Chris Squire distorted, drop octave stuff but hey, I'll be
>>>>thrilled just to get a good bass sound.
>>>>
>>>>I currently have a sans amp for bass but I think it sounds like crap,
no
>>>>round bottom, weak output, what could be worse? My hero Scott Ambush
>>>>plays an Eden Navigator preamp, fed into a QSC 3500 power amp, driving
>>>>an Eden 4x10 cabinet but I won't be able to afford that any time soon.
>>>>
>>>>Anything cheap and good?
>>>>
>>>>John
>>>
>>>
>
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