Muzz Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 (edited) Following on from the interesting thread by Lozz of the preamp shootout at the Herts Bass Bash, the one about 'heft' from preamps , and in light of my own experience/prejudices... In terms of preamp pedals that are in a signal chain and always on, is it just a case of the amp itself not being the right one for the sound you're after? I used Sansamps (and their ilk - the BDI21, and the B3 and Jamup digital version) for a while with some 'politer' (or 'blander', if you like) amps, but in an effort to simplify my signal chain I went looking for amps which could do the same sound without the need for the pedal. And I found them, in various degrees. Just to reiterate, I'm only talking about the always-on usage, not the ones which give a different tone for different songs, etc - I'd consider them more of an Effects pedal in this context...although multichannel amps can do that. too... Edited June 6, 2016 by Muzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 I would agree, but certain situations require the always on pre-amp. Ideally, I would have a totally flat rig/combo and use that in combination with different pre-amp depending on the gig. Unfortunately I can't afford, so I just DI and rely on the monitors. I suppose if you play in one band, and have one main sound, you'd be better off getting the rig to do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 (edited) I suppose if you get 'your' sound with a pre-amp of some description then presumably you could get a different sound with a different pre-amp... therefore if you wanted to play in several different bands of differing genres then you could have several different pedals OR select several different sounds from the same pedal, thus negating the need for a different amp for each project... I've been in the situation where I've bought different amps and even different rigs for different bands, and it gets bloody expensive. Edit: Overuse of the word 'different'. Too bad. Edited June 6, 2016 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 (edited) - Edited February 22, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 [quote name='Jus Lukin' timestamp='1465218977' post='3066203'] That's OK, grammar only suggests that you should avoid repeating words which are the same... [/quote] OK? Grammar? Suggests? Repeating words which are the same? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 (edited) - Edited February 22, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 (edited) - Edited February 22, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 [quote name='Jus Lukin' timestamp='1465220286' post='3066227'] Monkey hear, Monkey say... [/quote] Overuse of 'Monkey' ...now get back on topic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elephantgrey Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 For me, a big draw of preamp pedals is being able to get 'my tone' no matter what backline i might use, just by bypassing the amps pre/pluging into the effects return/DIing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 My DHA VT1 EQ is an 'always on' preamp. My SWR is really loud, but clean. 'My sound' comes from the VT1 (DI'ed sometimes), and I use the EQ on the SWR head to make corrections for the room/stage sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted June 6, 2016 Author Share Posted June 6, 2016 [quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1465234162' post='3066380'] My DHA VT1 EQ is an 'always on' preamp. My SWR is really loud, but clean. 'My sound' comes from the VT1 (DI'ed sometimes), and I use the EQ on the SWR head to make corrections for the room/stage sound. [/quote] That's the same thing I've done a couple of times with different setups. You don't have any interest in finding an amp that sounds like the VT1? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 For me I never intended on using a preamp pedal to my own amp. I`ve an Aguilar Tonehammer 500, so it made sense to get the Tonehammer DI so I could have the same sound when using provided rigs, but that was it, never looked for anything else from my sound, had it nailed. And then we went into the recording studio to record our 2nd album. The producer - who we`d chosen specifically for his production and recorded instrument sounds - put a Sansamp in the line, then recorded that straight DI`d, plus my rig miked up. I just loved the sound so much I decided I had to have one, plus it`s pretty daft - imo - having a sound on an album that you either can`t or don`t attempt to replicate live. Have to say I don`t know if I`d have been so willing to let anyone else put the Sansamp in the line, but made sense to go with it based on what I`d heard on the bass on other great bands CDs - Last Resort, Booze & Glory to name just a couple. Trust is a fine thing, and I`m really glad I trusted him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 [quote name='Muzz' timestamp='1465235104' post='3066390'] That's the same thing I've done a couple of times with different setups. You don't have any interest in finding an amp that sounds like the VT1? [/quote] Nah. Most of what I play I need the grit for, but it's nice to have a clean amp that I can 'dirty up' as opposed to a dirty amp that I can't make clean. I've tried running the VT1 into a plain old power amp too with good results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 [quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1465237744' post='3066425'] ...it's nice to have a clean amp that I can 'dirty up' as opposed to a dirty amp that I can't make clean. [/quote] +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 I use a B7K Ultra as an always-on preamp, usually with distortion on to create the dirty signal. No amp* could simulate this for me, and actually the Darkglass sound works together really well with valve preamp of my GK head. So, for me, I would disagree with the OP question. I have the right amp and the right pedalboard to compliment it. *When the Darkglass head is released, it may turn my world upside-down a little... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefrash Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 [quote name='elephantgrey' timestamp='1465225194' post='3066279'] For me, a big draw of preamp pedals is being able to get 'my tone' no matter what backline i might use, just by bypassing the amps pre/pluging into the effects return/DIing [/quote] This for me too. I've never had the desire to always play through my own rig at gigs... in fact I try get out of it any opportunity i can, so an always on preamp pedal is essential . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 (edited) [quote name='elephantgrey' timestamp='1465225194' post='3066279'] For me, a big draw of preamp pedals is being able to get 'my tone' no matter what backline i might use, just by bypassing the amps pre/pluging into the effects return/DIing [/quote] Another vote here - easier to turn up and plug in anywhere, even with no backline. Edited June 7, 2016 by ahpook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted June 8, 2016 Share Posted June 8, 2016 90% of the time I'm happy with my bass into a compressor and a very clean amp. But I don't want to buy a new amp just for a, for example, Ampeg driven rock sound. For that type of gig a preamp pedal, left on does the job without too much money being spent. I also do like the DI options as others have mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callumjord Posted June 8, 2016 Share Posted June 8, 2016 I have a sansamp svt pedal that I use as my "always on" pre amp pedal that I use in conjunction with my line 6 lowdown. However, I use the rock amp svt on my lowdown as my main bass tone (although I set the eq flat) and then I use the sansamp as a "Fat compressor" and use the pedals eq to enhance my sound then use the eq on my amp to adjust my sound to get it right in the ball park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cytania Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 You're right, I didn't know much about amps when I bought mine and the preamp/DI compensates for this. Somehow the cheap BDI21 comes up with the 'heft' that my SWR's bass and treble controls can't. I also notice that a lot of new amps are fairly basic in the EQ department and you have to start looking at the more premium brands to get bass/low mids/high mids/treble or sweepable mid 'sweet spot' controls (if I'm wrong, let me know where the bargains are). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 I'm of the opinion you've got it wrong if you have a pre amp patched in 'on' full time. Having said that, my basses have onboard pre amps and I have default settings on all.... plus I hardly ever ever touch the amp apart from volume. I tend to keep it simple and clean and work on hand position for the variations I'm looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefrash Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1465845515' post='3071566'] I'm of the opinion you've got it wrong if you have a pre amp patched in 'on' full [/quote] What brings you to that conclusion? It seems quite reasonable to me to have one on all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Tech 21 VT Bass almost always on. But I could manage without it too. I rarely use much amp EQ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 [quote name='lefrash' timestamp='1465925454' post='3072193'] What brings you to that conclusion? It seems quite reasonable to me to have one on all the time. [/quote] Because you have an amp for that and any decent should be able to outperform a pedal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefrash Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1465931191' post='3072259'] Because you have an amp for that and any decent should be able to outperform a pedal [/quote] But as I've said and others have said, using the same amp every gig and rehearsal isn't possible for every one. If you want the exact same tone hitting foh wherever you play then a preamp pedal is an easy way to do it. Seems logical to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.