General preamp/EBS Microbass 3 question….

[Skinnyman]

I’m looking for a DI/preamp box for home practice and recording.

 

It needs to have aux in, a headphone socket, XLR switchable between pre- and post-EQ and a decent EQ section. 
 

I’m not too bothered about IRs or cab sims - nice if they’re there but their absence wouldn’t put me off a specific pedal. 
 

I’m also not too bothered about insane levels of drive. I’d like to be able to dial in a little tube breakup and some light distortion but I’m not playing any sort of metal so it needs a bit of drive but nothing over the top.

 

Tone-wise I’m after smooth, fat vintage tones (amongst others but smooth and fat are essential) - Ampeg B15 style

 

I’ve narrowed the field down to the Ampeg SGT-DI and the EBS microbass 3. I am leaning towards the functionality of the EBS (and a possible bargain on a used one that a friend of a friend’s friend knows of a bloke whose uncle has) but all the demos I’ve heard have shown off the drive capabilities or clean, modern tones so before I start calling in favours I’m wondering if it’s versatile enough to do the “vintage” thing or whether I should just do the obvious thing and buy the Ampeg?

 

Insight from anyone who’s used the EBS would be very much appreciated 😎