So, you'll be using this as a mic pre, too ... not just a bass DI right? I've heard differing opinions on the UA stuff. Some people think it's "mushy" or too colored. Maybe a lot of tube color is what you're after. I guess if I were dropping that kind of cash I'd be looking at Focusrite isa and red stuff, and certainly Neve, api, brent averill too.

WRX07 wrote: around $2300...any suggestions?

I have an Avalon U5 that is a Bass DI. It is really full and has some great sub-sonic frequencies that make it sound rich and full of great tone. It is much cheaper than the $2300 you propose. Only about $539. Then you can spend all that other money on cocaine and whores :lol:
Just joking. Only the President gets to do that stuff :roll:
I also use my Great River MP2NV as a bass DI and it sounds great as well. Of course the Great River is more what you were talking about spending in the 1st place. And then you could use it for all sorts of other instruments as well. I have other ideas, but this is just my opinions based on the gear I own.

The Sebatron Thorax would be fantastic for this..... and you'll have money left over!

Markd102 wrote: Thorax would be fantastic for this..... and you'll have money left over!

And it would be good for other things as well. Just another +

Is the Great River River MP2NV dual mono or stereo? I've heard great reviews about them. I'd love to get a really nice mono pre and an LA-2A but I don't think it would fit into my budget.

pendulum

I use my pendulum quartet for bass a lot and its amazing.

In your price range - maybe a little more.

I've heard a lot of good things about the Avalon U5. Those I have worked with swear by 'em.

Good luck!

the MP2NV is a dual mono pre. The MP1NV is a single mono pre. The single channel should come in a little over $1k. I use my MP2NV and my EL8x distressor all the time for my main channel, it always rocks. Pendulum is always nice, how about a Manley VOXBOX? Lots of times I use my MP2NV then use my UAD 1176 or LA2A's and get decent results.

Have fun.

I've become real fond of my ViPre for bass duty. That is when it is available for use just on the bass. Other wise the default is my trusty Evil Twin tube DI through one or more compressors.

Use the search function, it has been discussed many, many times before.

Hamptone JFET for pre/di.. can't comment on what compressor. If the tapeop board were running you'd find SCADS of glowing reviews of this thing as a bass pre and di, especially.

WRX07 wrote: Is the Great River River MP2NV dual mono or stereo? I've heard great reviews about them. I'd love to get a really nice mono pre and an LA-2A but I don't think it would fit into my budget.

Well if that is what you are looking for, the obvious choice would be the LA-610. Under 2 grand I believe. Maybe under $1500.

Reggie wrote: [quote=WRX07]Is the Great River River MP2NV dual mono or stereo? I've heard great reviews about them. I'd love to get a really nice mono pre and an LA-2A but I don't think it would fit into my budget.

Well if that is what you are looking for, the obvious choice would be the LA-610. Under 2 grand I believe. Maybe under $1500.

I forgot about this one.. I haven't used the la610, but I've used the 2-610 into a reissue la2a and it sounded great - the 610 is great as a DI for keys as well, though I guess the 2-610 would be better for that as you'd have stereo.

Ampeg just released a DI for bass player called the SVT. Maybe you should have a look at it... then you could add the comp of your choice !

hey dynomike, what were your thoughts on the 610 pre overall? I'm considering getting one of these at some point. (mostly b/c of the old van halen records that sound so awesome thru these pres) Any comments would be great. Think its in the same class as an API of MP2NV?

another approach

I was thinking all this bravado about "which brand" may be the wrong way to make this decision. Ask the question differently and you get a different answer. Question: What attributes would an ideal Bass DI have - and where can it be compromized?

You'd want extreme headroom, and a limiter before the pre stage.
You would not care about extreme high end perfection because in a Bass that's all attack - which is noise.
You would care about very high quality transformers because cheaper transformers can not handle huge bass transients without distortion.
You might want high gain linearity because of the huge transients involved.
... and maybe more.

So what reasonable quality Pre/DI has a limiter before the pre-stage, has very high quality transformers (or no transformers) and minimal signal path and (maybe) tubes to facilitate high headroom and gain linearity.

One outcome: The Millennia Origin. You can put the compressor before the main gain stage I think - and you can use a transformerless path , and you can use a tube or transistor path, and its very well built. All the stages can be reordered. This is critical with Bass because of the way that compressors respond. Maybe a bit too much - but classical music people love Millennia stuff as I understand it, and in Classical music, headroom is absolutely critical.

They make another box just for guitar DI (I forget what its called) but its got all sorts of gadgets which accomodate the needs of guitar players and pickup impedance etc.

In rsponse, the 610 is in the same "class" as api stuff, for sure. It doesn't sound the same, certainly. It has a slightly wooly and always "big" sound to it which works great on some things, and not on others. I worked at a studio for a while that used one for practically everything... or at least, the m149 was almost always patched into it. I really dug a rock acoustic sound through it.. and electric piano, and drum room. Its versatile, but not clean.

I have just recieved a THORAX from ~Sebatron~ and after a little messing around, it's going to be my "go to" box for bass.

In addition, after the bass is recorded, the mic pre and comp can be used for other duties.

The compressor on the THORAX is unlike any other I have ever come across. With some careful tweaking in it's "cool mode", it can be very effective but subtel ... but switch it up to "hot mode" and it will make anything sound warped and distressed.

Another quality piece from Sebatron! The THORAX has my vote!

Don't be fooled with the marketing crap. The LA610 has a comp SIMILAR to the LA2A. While it is good, it is still a long way off from the classic LA2A from what I heard when I used one recently.