Recommendations for bass preamp/DI?

[Heartbreaker_Esq]

I'm pretty new with bass. I haven't acquired any gear other than the bass itself, and I'd like to keep it at a minimum. I have seen a lot of those stomp box products that can act as a preamp and DI for recording/FOH, along with other functions. But the choices are a bit overwhelming, so I was hoping to get some recs here. I currently own the Behringer SansAmp clone thing, and it's cool, but there are things about it I don't like.

Ultimately, the wishlist is to have one device that can sound good going direct either live or in the studio. The other thing I'd really like to have is a built-in compressor. I guess drive is cool too, but not crucial. The other things that would be great are a headphone out and an aux in. I'm still learning bass right now, so most of my playing when not recording is with lessons/tracks. And obviously keeping the budget in check would be nice too.

Here are some of the ones I have been looking at which tick some of those boxes:

 

[maxvintage]

If it's for recording you probably have a compressor and EQ in the DAW. No real need to have them in a pedal

Best bass DI I ever used is an Avalon U5--just a fantastic sound. I've also used it live for FOH, and controlled my tone with pickup switching, tone knob and fingers.

You could also look at the API pedal although it doesn't have an XLR out:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/APILLX--api-tranzformer-llx-bass-eq-boost-pedal-with-overdrive

 

[fidopunk]

I used to be super anti DI box. Until I bought one. I have that Tech-21 and the sound I was getting through the PA was glorious. I use it for recording or to push a power amp and it's great. I'm not selling my tube amps, but boy that box is a lot easier to haul to a gig.

 

[Preacher]

What? No love for this one? ;-)

 

[Audiowonderland]

I'm pretty new with bass. I haven't acquired any gear other than the bass itself, and I'd like to keep it at a minimum. I have seen a lot of those stomp box products that can act as a preamp and DI for recording/FOH, along with other functions. But the choices are a bit overwhelming, so I was hoping to get some recs here. I currently own the Behringer SansAmp clone thing, and it's cool, but there are things about it I don't like.

Ultimately, the wishlist is to have one device that can sound good going direct either live or in the studio. The other thing I'd really like to have is a built-in compressor. I guess drive is cool too, but not crucial. The other things that would be great are a headphone out and an aux in. I'm still learning bass right now, so most of my playing when not recording is with lessons/tracks. And obviously keeping the budget in check would be nice too.

Here are some of the ones I have been looking at which tick some of those boxes:

View attachment 1258064 View attachment 1258065View attachment 1258066View attachment 1258068 View attachment 1258069

 

[Audiowonderland]

I would have a look at the EH Battalion. It has multiple functions that would work well for you

 

[brown2bob]

This works for me quite well with a separate compressor.

 

[Heartbreaker_Esq]

I would have a look at the EH Battalion. It has multiple functions that would work well for you

Nice - this hadn't been on my radar, but it hits a lot of the high points. No aux in/headphone out, but you can't always get what you want...

 

[Dostradamas]

Yes the sans amp is great as are all the tech 21 options
Radial is similar in my book, top quality and sound with lots of options

 

[Audiowonderland]

Nice - this hadn't been on my radar, but it hits a lot of the high points. No aux in/headphone out, but you can't always get what you want...

This may be more to your liking then. I use this on my board

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DigbethPre--laney-digbeth-db-pre-bass-preamp-pedal

 

[VintageSG]

The Tech 21 gear is always good.
The Laney that @Audiowonderland linked to is one that has been popping into my Youtube recommendations a lot recently. It's Laney, therefore it'll perform as claimed. Rather like Tech 21 stuff.

A decent active DI on its own -may- be all you need. Many famous bass lines were recorded direct to desk.

 

[Heartbreaker_Esq]

This may be more to your liking then. I use this on my board

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DigbethPre--laney-digbeth-db-pre-bass-preamp-pedal

The Tech 21 gear is always good.
The Laney that @Audiowonderland linked to is one that has been popping into my Youtube recommendations a lot recently. It's Laney, therefore it'll perform as claimed. Rather like Tech 21 stuff.

A decent active DI on its own -may- be all you need. Many famous bass lines were recorded direct to desk.

The Laney unit looked good (minus the compressor - again, can't have everything), but I was concerned there's only one review on Sweetwater. But your comment and @Audiowonderland 's edited post above give me some confidence. I'm going to go check out reviews/demos elsewhere.

 

[Audiowonderland]

You can add a comp if needed. The aux in and headphones not so much. The other features may be useful as you get more advanced.

 

[Audiowonderland]

The Laney unit looked good (minus the compressor - again, can't have everything), but I was concerned there's only one review on Sweetwater. But your comment and @Audiowonderland 's edited post above give me some confidence. I'm going to go check out reviews/demos elsewhere.

There is a bunch of stuff on YouTube.

 

[Martinp]

Ditto on the Radial BassBone, awesome pedal has two channels for a passive/active or electric/acoustic kinda setup.
Compressors can be an emotional subject, I have on old optical compressor that works great, but failing that, I like the Dynacomps.

 

[mandoloony]

I had the SCR-DI for a while. Nice, does the job, and the Scrambler actually works much like a limiter before it goes into audible clipping. I looked into the SGT-DI when I bought it, but the demos I heard were offputting.

 

[mexicanyella]

What’s your budget range?

 

[Jakedog]

The only unit in the OP that I have experience with is the Ampeg. And it’s flippin’ fantastic. Sounds like an Ampeg rig. 100%. I didn’t care for the Scrambler distortion circuit, but that’s just me. The rest of it is gold.

Disregard if you’re not into the Ampeg sound. Because that’s definitely what it does.

I used one on a whole tour. It was my direct signal to FOH, and every engineer I worked with loved it. They all said it sounded pretty much like an SVT. I don’t have it anymore, but if I needed something like that again, I’d get another one.

 

[CCK1]

This works for me quite well with a separate compressor.

View attachment 1258143

This one has served me well. In lots of situations, as a sound guy, when the bassists amp dies, this comes to the rescue. One of my bass playing friends got a gig with a band playing at a beach club, easy gig they told him, only 10 dates they told him. What they didn't tell him is that from the closest place to park, you'd need to hump your equipment about 200 feet through sand on the beach. After the first gig, he borrowed this from me, went direct into the PA, and got compliments about that "SVT Sound" for the rest of the gigs. This is all you need.

 

[Heartbreaker_Esq]

What’s your budget range?

$100-$300? I actually just ordered a Rumble 40, which is obviously not a stomp box, but will do most of the things I’m looking for. So I may be okay for now, but long term I will still probably need something like this.