Mr. Phil Posted October 26, 2005 Share Posted October 26, 2005 So I'm upgrading my rig mainly due to power issues. I just got a Crown XLS-602b power amp which is 600w RMS stereo @ 4 ohms. Butt blasting. But, I need a preamp to go along with this. My ideal preamp would be an Aguilar 680, but that is about $1500. I can buy a car for that much. So, I was looking into other options, like the Sansamp RPM . It seems pretty good, although also more than I would like to spend, although I would spend that much. I would like some more flexibility, like a 5 band fully parametric tube EQ which is significantly cheaper than the Sansamp, and definitely a lot more flexible with sound, which is what I like. No more fixed Q/frequency for me anymore. Only think is that the EQ by itself only gives 20dB of gain with the level (not counting the EQ boost). What is the dB level of an instrument? I've learned this in school, but forgot it at the moment. If +20dB will bring my signal close to -10dBu then I'm set. If not, then I'll have to find a small amplifier that will give me the right level. Or suffer with noise. and hi to everyone with me not being here for like ever. http://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/blue.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/black.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/fuscia.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/grey.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/orange.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/purple.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/red.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/yellow.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moot Posted October 26, 2005 Share Posted October 26, 2005 Howdy Mr. Phil! I went through agony over this very issue and ended up buying this little baby. please click me I am a poor bar-hack still working for $100 a show so it was all I could realistically justify but, I gotta tell ya, after tweaking it for a couple days I was and am more than happy with it. It does tend to be a bit touchy when coupled with major wattage but for the most part it is well worth the $$. Good Luck! "He is to music what Stevie Wonder is to photography." getz76 I have nothing nice to say so . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getz out Posted October 26, 2005 Share Posted October 26, 2005 Sounds like you want lots of knobs. My suggestions wouldn't match your yearnings, then. So $300 is your limit? How about $400? http://www.gigasonic.com/ebay_image/product/podlive.jpg Tweak city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danzilla Posted October 26, 2005 Share Posted October 26, 2005 Run silent, run deep: http://www.philjonesbass.com/IMAGES/NEW%20PRODUCTS%20PAGE/PRE-AMP-&-CABLES.jpg http://www.philjonesbass.com/PRODUCTS/AMP/P-1.htm Ok, the P-1 is probably a bit outside our price range; but very very nice! Parametric & graphic, bells & whistles. For clean simplicity, go with the Bass Buddy. Ignore the cable. Or I'll second Mattulator's choice of the B-max. "Am I enough of a freak to be worth paying to see?"- Separated Out (Marillion) NEW band Old band Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wraub Posted October 26, 2005 Share Posted October 26, 2005 I am quite pleased with my SWR GrandPrix. Quite. I got a pretty good deal, but they are out there, typically at around $250-350ish range. Peace, wraub I'm a lot more like I am now than I was when I got here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooster6550 Posted October 27, 2005 Share Posted October 27, 2005 I'd say consider Ampeg's SVP-CL. I wanted a Read Custom preamp, but I'd still be saving at the rate things were going. All in all, I'm very happy with it. Does everything I need it to do, and probably then some. And it looks like the going rate is $500 or so. I got mine for $425, used-a-bit but practically new. Or smoke out an old-style Alembic F-2-B. Not much for features, but, man, what a sound. "When it comes to havin' a good time, nothing beats 'fun'. . ." -- Stefan Johnson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby LowTones Posted October 27, 2005 Share Posted October 27, 2005 My .02 I like my BBE Max a lot... Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Rimmington Posted October 27, 2005 Share Posted October 27, 2005 I've got a Kern IP 777 that sounds really great. They were about 700.00 when new and I don't know if they still make them. If they do, or you can find one used, they make a great preamp. They are all tubes with really high quality components like Solen caps etc.and are only one rack space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getz out Posted October 27, 2005 Share Posted October 27, 2005 I have a Kern IP-777 as well. SUPER fat preamp. It is out of production. I also have a Demeter VTBP-201s preamp. SUPER clean and great sounding preamp. However, neither of these are for tweakers. wraub's point regarding the SWR Grand Prix is good; parametic delight indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g. Posted October 27, 2005 Share Posted October 27, 2005 Yer a young dude, right? Playing some styles that can use overdrive/distortion? Get something with two channels - or more, e-ven! ...and a footswitch, and leave the distortion stompbox at home ; } . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getz out Posted October 27, 2005 Share Posted October 27, 2005 Partially why I suggested the Bass PODxt Live. Foot + Switch = Footswitch. For something in the sub-$200 range: http://tech21nyc.com/images/bassdriver_prog.jpg Who said the footswitch needed to be attached to something in a rack? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wraub Posted October 27, 2005 Share Posted October 27, 2005 And, speaking of the SWR GrandPrix, here's one now: ebay Peace, wraub I'm a lot more like I am now than I was when I got here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g. Posted October 27, 2005 Share Posted October 27, 2005 getz76: Who said the footswitch needed to be attached to something in a rack?Indeed - you can tell by my main rig that this doesn't matter to me ; } ... I do like to have a real transparent clean tone available, which previous SansAmp DI I tried did not seem to, but I'm hoping they have done a few changes in other models. Then it's just down to delivering output levels that'll drive typical SR power amps well. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getz out Posted October 27, 2005 Share Posted October 27, 2005 Originally posted by greenboy: getz76: Who said the footswitch needed to be attached to something in a rack?Indeed - you can tell by my main rig that this doesn't matter to me ; } ... I do like to have a real transparent clean tone available, which previous SansAmp DI I tried did not seem to, but I'm hoping they have done a few changes in other models. Then it's just down to delivering output levels that'll drive typical SR power amps well. Transparent? I find them transparent when bypassed. Actually, you can get a really nice transparent sound when you decrease the blend control on the BDDI. The programmable model can drive a power amp without a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Phil Posted October 28, 2005 Author Share Posted October 28, 2005 OK, so this is what I'm getting: Tube Works Blue Tube RT904 preamp and for more EQ options: Behringer T1951 fully parametric 4 band tube EQ. super duper. http://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/blue.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/black.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/fuscia.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/grey.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/orange.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/purple.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/red.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/yellow.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davio Posted October 28, 2005 Share Posted October 28, 2005 Holy ish! That's a lot of knobs. Are you using the second channel for anything? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g. Posted October 28, 2005 Share Posted October 28, 2005 I sincerely hope this will help put to rest the question that's been preying on each and every one of our minds for some time now: How can I get shaking lows without clipping? ; } Anyway, good to see you going for it! . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Phil Posted November 1, 2005 Author Share Posted November 1, 2005 I believe that this IS the answer of how to get shaking lows without clipping. more headroom. if the EQ is easily switchable, I may EQ the second channel to something that is more of a solo sound, for all those crazy bass solos I'll be taking :-p. I wish. http://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/blue.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/black.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/fuscia.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/grey.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/orange.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/purple.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/red.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/yellow.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getz out Posted November 1, 2005 Share Posted November 1, 2005 Hopefully you don't just turn all the knobs to "11", Phil... or maybe that would be cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbn Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 What about a SansAmp RBI. You know you want me !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.