BBE Bmax T or Tech 21 RPM???

[GUI101]

Hi All,

I'm torn between these two preamps, I play mostly blues, rock and funk.
If anyone could give me some opinions and or experiences as to whether these would suit my needs as I won't be able to try these before I buy.

Thanks in advance
Gui.

[discreet]

For blues, rock and funk I'd definitely go Tech-21 - but the RPM is a multi-instrument preamp. I'd go for the RBI, which is a dedicated bass preamp. Or wait a few weeks for the new Tech-21 VT Bass Rack.

[url="http://www.tech21nyc.com/products/sansamp/vtbassrack.html"]http://www.tech21nyc.com/products/sansamp/vtbassrack.html[/url]

If it's anything like the VT Bass pedal (and I think it is), then it will cover all your bases (no pun intended).

[cetera]

The RPM if anything has a wider selection of tones than the RBI. I have both and often find the RPM preferable.
Sorry I have no experience of the BBE....

[GUI101]

Cheers guys,

I am swaying towards the RPM in all honesty, I heard a clip of the BBE on YouTube and although it did have a lovely deep and warm tone, it really didn't seem able to dirty up a little when the gain was driven even to max.

So I guess my next question would be can the RPM do clean as well as overdriven tones????

[intime-nick]

The RPM will do clean very nicely. I use both - the RBI in the effects loop of the RPM which is a killer setup in my opinion.

If I was to choose one it'd be the RPM because of the sweepable mid frequencies.

[warwickhunt]

The BBE sounds great (I have owned one) but... and this is a very individual thing, I found the background noise level just a smidgen too high. I will confess that I expect almost silence when not in use and I've known other bassists have no problem with levels of noise which I have found unacceptable added to which when in use you do not hear the noise at all.