Pre-amps

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jack Real
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Jack Real

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Hi

I use an Art Tube MP as pre-amplifier for vocals, guitar and bass. It does a good job with for guitar, an o.k. job for the vocals and almost nothing for the bass. I'm wondering if I should look for a specific pre-amp for the bass and another one for the vocals of if I should get a more expensive pre-amp (around 500$) that will work well for all the applications (guitar, bass and vocals). The microphone that I use for the vocals is a Sure KSM27.

Thanks,

Jack Real.
 
Jack Real said:
Hi

I use an Art Tube MP as pre-amplifier for vocals, guitar and bass. It does a good job with for guitar, an o.k. job for the vocals and almost nothing for the bass. I'm wondering if I should look for a specific pre-amp for the bass and another one for the vocals of if I should get a more expensive pre-amp (around 500$) that will work well for all the applications (guitar, bass and vocals). The microphone that I use for the vocals is a Sure KSM27.
Click to expand...

What's the rest of your bass signal chain? What kind of bass? Are you recording direct through the MP, or sending it out to a cabinet? Which model MP? What are you recording to (computer, tape, daw, etc.)? If computer, what soundcard and how are you going in?

The reason I ask is, although I don't own the ART, it supposedly is very good as a bass DI box, especially considering the $50 pricetag.

To move up in the DI arena, you should look into the Bass SansAmp, Countryman, Radial, GT Ditto, or Avalon U5 (high-end).
 
I think that most of the guys here will agree: get the best preamp you can - it will breathe life into tracks and make your mixes 'fall into place' more (when mixed well).
I would spend the money on a more expensive pre-amp that will perform well all-around. It will be a welcome addition to your aresenal of gear.
 
Jack Real said:
I use an Art Tube MP as pre-amplifier for vocals, guitar and bass. It does a good job with for guitar, an o.k. job for the vocals and almost nothing for the bass.
Click to expand...
I have an ART MP for use solely as a bass DI -- that's about the only thing it's good for! (It's certainly useless as a mic pre!!!)

Depending on what else is in your rig, you might consider a high-end pre such as the Great River ME1-NV.....
 
Hi

Thanks for the answers. I remember from other discussions that some people were using the Art as bass DI with good success so the problem must be elsewhere. My bass is a Vantage and the quality is average. Yesterday, I was looking at buying a new bass and the guy told me the problem was my pre-amp so it's a good thing I've checked with this DB first. My recording system is a Yamaha MD8 and the bass comming from the keyboard is well recorded so I don't think the mini-disk recording is the problem.

For the vocals, I will look into getting a better pre-amp, maybe the Great River.

Thanks,

Jack Real.
 
If the bass only sounds "average", I doubt any preamp will give you the sound that you want. To me, it seems like a good idea to get a new, above-average sounding bass before spending an insane amount on a top-of-the-line preamp.

Cheers
 
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