Preamp Pedals

[dirtystatic]

I used to use the Sansamp Bass DI but I never got on with the sounds I got from it. Maybe it had something to so with the scooped mids. I sold it when I received a good offer for it and bought a Behringer BDI21 as a temporary solution, I actually found this more usable and it served me well for a while. I've been through two now (due to the crappy plastic housing and controls) so I'm in the market for a classier and more permanent solution.

I'm looking for something to add a valve type warmth with a hint of grit to my sound, it'll more than likely be placed at the end of my chain and be an 'always on' type of pedal. Ideally, it has to have a small footprint and run off 9V - I play a passive bass so hopefully that won't be an issue.

Top of my list are the Catalinbread SFT, [sfx] Mini Red Dragon and the Xotic BB Preamp. Are there any other pedals I should consider?

It's worth mentioning that there are no decent music stores where I live. Most carry the standard Boss, Line6, Digitech lines, so I'm relying on Internet sound clips and the good word of you fine people!

[krysh]

the DHA VT1 Bassoverdrive will do very well what you expect, only is is not very small and needs an own PSA (which all real tube pedals will need anyway). the aguilar tonehammer will work well, too, but also needs 18V or PSA or phantom power through the DI.
the SFT is only an overdrive and doesn't work too well as a preamp. havent tried the dragon and the bb though.

[dirtystatic]

Thanks krysh. I should of mentioned, I've been avoiding genuine valve pedals because of the power requirements, plus they're usually quite large. I have a small pedal setup and was hoping to keep it that way.

I'd heard that the SFT does the job at lower levels of gain? Maybe I'm getting it confused with another pedal!

[BassBus]

I'm waiting for the Providence Dual Bass Station to come out next month. Looks quite useful for what I need. Don't know about dirt on it though and it is 24v. I like the idea of being able to control the mid frequencies.

[url="http://www.providence-ltd.com/products/effector/dbs1.html"]http://www.providence-ltd.com/products/effector/dbs1.html[/url]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJJJ-RFOp-I"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJJJ-RFOp-I[/url]

[Hultberg]

If you're only after something that will add warmth and a little bit of hair to your tone, the Wren & Cuff Phat Phuk B might be an option.

[Sibob]

It depends how much control you want from a 'preamp pedal', the term seems to get banded about, usually either clean pedals with EQ, or dirt pedals that can go low-gain.....with EQ lol
Anyway, the Fuzzrocious BDPG is great, lots of cool sounds from it, dirt to dub. The Xotic BB pre is obviously a great shout. The Darkglass B7K should get a mention, although mainly a dirt pedal.
Lots out there

Si

[dirtystatic]

Cheers for the replies. The W&C Phat Phuk looks like it could be the pedal for me.

[Jus Lukin]

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Edited February 19, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[Prime_BASS]

Xotix BB bass preamp, so good I have two.

[GazWills]

yeah, I really like the BB - the EQ on it is very good. I don't like the high gain settings on it, but that's not what I use it for!

phat phuk is good at what it does, but won't allow you much control over anything other than 'hair' or volume... but both these 2 pedals together? winning.

[xgsjx]

What about... Wait for it....

Another BDI21...

But this time, replace the case, switch & pots with better quality ones.

I might just do that myself.

[Dood]

[quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1376986652' post='2181721']
I'm waiting for the Providence Dual Bass Station to come out next month. Looks quite useful for what I need. Don't know about dirt on it though and it is 24v. I like the idea of being able to control the mid frequencies.

[url="http://www.providence-ltd.com/products/effector/dbs1.html"]http://www.providenc...ector/dbs1.html[/url]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJJJ-RFOp-I[/media]
[/quote]

ive just reviewed this pedal! It's actually rather good. No, it doesn't do dirt at all. It has tons of clean headroom. The pedal comes with a 12v adaptor and creates it's 24v internally. I liked the way you can channel change or feed two different basses in to it. Originally i thought the pedal should come with a D.I too, but actually looking back, it was great as it was. It was also very happy driving a Matrix GT power amp alone up to gig volume.

[paul_5]

Nah,

[URL=http://s1221.photobucket.com/user/paul_510/media/wpa1b6dffc_0f_zpsdb8bd222.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd471/paul_510/wpa1b6dffc_0f_zpsdb8bd222.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

http://www.davehallamps.co.uk/page37.html

THAT'S a preamp pedal...

[paulo m]

Hi guy's.. my vote goes to the ebs microbass II' amazing build quality & functionality.

[thodrik]

EBS Valvedrive is good as well.

Pros: can do vintage or modern sounds and sounds good used clean or with a fair amount of dirt. It is also a lot more transparent than the Sansamp Bass Driver (I own both).

Cons: Massive footprint on the pedal board, annoying 12v power supply which comes with a two prong Euro lead as standard. 'Glowing' valve via red LED is a bit of a pointless gimmick. Good build quality but the fact that it is a valve pedal means that it lacks the natural sturdiness of the Sansamp, Microbass II or other non-valve pedals.

[skidder652003]

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1377209938' post='2184959']
Nah,

[url="http://s1221.photobucket.com/user/paul_510/media/wpa1b6dffc_0f_zpsdb8bd222.jpg.html"][/url]

[url="http://www.davehallamps.co.uk/page37.html"]http://www.davehalla....uk/page37.html[/url]

THAT'S a preamp pedal...
[/quote]

THIS!!!!

[fretmeister]

The Tech 21 VTBass-DI is very good. Got mine last week and its firmly bolted to my board now.

[NJE]

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1377207333' post='2184918']


ive just reviewed this pedal! It's actually rather good. No, it doesn't do dirt at all. It has tons of clean headroom. The pedal comes with a 12v adaptor and creates it's 24v internally. I liked the way you can channel change or feed two different basses in to it. Originally i thought the pedal should come with a D.I too, but actually looking back, it was great as it was. It was also very happy driving a Matrix GT power amp alone up to gig volume.
[/quote]

I am really interested in this pedal and saw your review Dood, any ideas where to get them, release date etc? Did you get the review pedal from the uk distributor?

[Dood]

[quote name='NJE' timestamp='1393966934' post='2386461']
I am really interested in this pedal and saw your review Dood, any ideas where to get them, release date etc? Did you get the review pedal from the uk distributor?
[/quote]

Wow, I must admit I've had a brain freeze! I can't remember who the distributor was! Yes is the answer, we did get it through from them and as far as I was aware they had been released already.

I understand that you can import directly too.

[sifi2112]

I've a 3Leaf Enabler incoming ....