I tried the BEST bass preamp pedals so you don't have to! Tech 21, Darkglass, Aguilar and more!

Back in 2013 I purchased 7 of the most popular "dirty" bass preamp pedals and did a personal shootout - recording the results of each pedal reamped through various gain stages (light/medium/heavy). In this video you'll be able to hear them all!
Join the Talkbass conversation here: www.talkbass.com/threads/the-o...
Bass part used in this sample is from Hidden Hospitals - Picture Perfect ( • Picture Perfect )
Links to the products in this video:
Tech 21 VT Bass - amzn.to/3u8Idw3
Tech 21 Sansamp BDDI - www.amazon.com/Tech-21-SansAm...
Darkglass B7K - amzn.to/3K9ZeeK
Darkglass Vintage Microtubes - amzn.to/3u9ltMs
Aguilar Tone Hammer - amzn.to/3LLhVWF
Catalinbread SFT - amzn.to/3x3GvxO
Tronographic Rusty Box - www.tronographic.com/rustybox....
00:00 - Intro
02:34 - Clean tone
03:08 - Tech 21 VT Bass
04:46 - Tech 21 Sansamp BDDI
06:24 - Darkglass B7K
08:01 - Darkglass Vintage Microtubes
09:40 - Aguilar Tone Hammer
11:18 - Catalinbread SFT
12:56 - Tronographic Rusty Box
14:33 - Wrap up

[@paulbeharrell]

Just discovered this superb demo and the TalkBass thread. Thank you, John, for the effort you’ve put into this! 🎸😎🤘🏻

[@geekguitars]

The tech 21s and the Aguilar would be my top picks.

[@maksymkhokhlov899]

Omg i remember listening to these tracks on soundcloud before buying my first proper bass preamp pedal like 4-5 years ago.. One of the reasons i bought tone hammer and i still dig the character of this preamp the most from this bunch. Now i also have tech21 sh-1 and vintage microtubes for light od/fatness.. but TH for the win! Thanks for your the demos, it really helped me at the time.

[@JohnScottB]

That's awesome that you remember the clips! So glad they were helpful for you!

[@TheMoodKings]

The Sans Amp really holds up and I still use it to this day for live performances. No effects, but a good travel bass tone that I can easily pack up and go and matches nicely to my Stingray. However, in the recording studio, I run thru a Tube pedal from Speakeasy Vintage Music, acting as a preamp and LOVE LOVE LOVE it ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤. It adds a lot of warmth to my Stingray. Used that pedal for the first time on our latest song and pulled it out again in the studio recently for work on our next record.

[@JohnScottB]

Nice, yeah those Speakeasy pedals are very cool. Thanks for the comment!

[@davearonow65]

Doesn't hold up that well. My second one just took a dump. I seem to get about 4 years and about 800 gigs out of them. I'm going to give the Trace Elliot Transit B a shot.

[@idolbass]

I really like the tonal variation of the VT Bass, not too far removed from the clean tone, and adds nice thickness and grit when needed.

[@Myfirespraygunship]

I've tried them all and the VT is my go to, but I use a Darkglass Alpha Omega for a gritty second channel tone

[@michaeljames921]

sansamp was my go to for years but my 9 volt tRUSTY box is definately my fav now. more usable mids and cleans up real nice too. for full on distortion with great overtones my geddy pedal is my go to.

[@chrispchrist8074]

Great job on this vid! For me, I just love that Darkglass trebly crisp fuzz on top. But as a bass player it all sounds great to me!

[@JohnScottB]

Nice! Thanks for the comment!

[@jjburritt]

I have several preamps and the Sansamp programmable is my favourite however the rusty box sounded fantastic!

[@gregorypruitt5068]

Great... great video. So glad you processed the same well played tune through the various boxes. I felt that the Sands Amp and Rusty Box had the warmest tones. The other sounded too digital and harsh.

[@JohnScottB]

Thanks for your comment. I agree with you, I'm also a big Tone Hammer fan.

[@1thess523]

I miss my VT pedal 😢, so for me it's the 1) Sansamp Bass DI , it handles the bass the best and it just has a really nice thick tone but isn't muddy. 2) Sansamp VT, it gives that Ampeg SVT mid and highs and still has a nice low end. As I was typing this I was about to put tge Aguilar at #3 then the Tronographic Rusty Box started playing and I was like 🤔🤔🤔🤔😀😀😀. I've never heard of them but i like it and it takes the 3rd spot 👍

[@Vivi-sama]

The Tech 21 Sansamp wins when it comes to light gain tone and ampeg faithful recreation. Darkglass B7K is a strong contender if you're into heavier genres, sounds a bit too much for me but it's still pleasant. Aguilar and the VT Tech 21 sounds close and are good to nail those vintage tones.

[@tayinrivera886]

Aguilar has a very melodic sound to it like it has a chorus or reverb effect on it that makes me think it’s great for fretless bass

[@midnightmix2692]

the darkglass vintage ultra is such an underrated pedal

[@grapejuice2589]

Ya it's overshadowed by it's brothers but it's lovely

[@skafanatic19]

I've owned close to all of these pedals/pre amps, the Rusty Box has been my favorite.

[@JohnScottB]

Yeah listening to these clips after 8+ years, I am really digging the Rusty Box. I remember that I really wanted to keep it but it didn't pair as well with my other pedals at the time in comparison to the VT Bass. But I was coming from the VT previously so my ears were definitely biased. Great pedal though.

[@skafanatic19]

​@@JohnScottB I agree, you have to really put in the effort for proper pedal arrangement when using a rusty box and you have to be careful about too much gain staging to bring out the potential in the rusty box; the saturation and warmth is unparalleled in my opinion. I was biased towards the Darkglass stuff for years, and it's still amazing equipment but I have greatly reduced my collection to the Darkglass essentials (which is still like 5 pedals, lol).

[@mackymaca]

To my ears, the Sansamp VT & Aguilar Tone Hammer sounded the most musical and seem almost identical. One drawback of the Aggie for me is the 18-volt power. Nice video!

[@JohnScottB]

Yeah those two and the Rusty Box are my favorite.

[@aharris9464]

I completely agree.

[@bluesmanshoes]

Not sure if my power supply is weird but the Tone Hammer runs perfectly well on the 9V port

[@JoshuaLTRyan]

I used to be on talkbass all the time. I'll have to check that place out again.

[@jackshittle]

I use the SansAmp BASS VT v2 (with the speaker sim). Totally makes the tone coming out of my speakers way better then without one at all. My rig is simplistic; Modulus VJ4 going into the SansAmp Bass VT then going into a MXR Bass Chorus Deluxe (I've had the SansAmp since it came out in around 2009 maybe?) but I just got the MXR at Christmas. From there it goes into a SWR SM400S amp & then an SWR 2x12. I bought a Darkglass B3K and despite hearing awesome reviews on KZbin - it sounded pretty trashy in my signal chain so I sold it. The only issue I have with the SansAmp is that I can get my E & A string to have a nice grind to it but I don't want that same grind on the D & G strings. So depending on what I'm playing I have to adjust the knobs. More rocking/drop D songs I want that grind. But when I go up the higher strings they fizzle & are not clean. I wish I could set it up where the E & A stay grinder but D & G are pretty much clean. Maybe a different type of pedal can do this? I almost bought the SansAmp DP-3 (Dug Pinnick) pedal because I love what I hear during the demo's but I'm not sure if I'd have the same issues as with the Bass VT. Great video by the way, cheers!

[@alemilkthem]

thumbs up for Sansamp and Rustybox, I also had the SFT but I finally got the ultimate "bass" preamp: Jad&Freer CAPO. The most organic, versatile, complete preamp box I've ever tried or owned. I suggest to take a look at that

[@JoeDinsdale]

Interesting, I have the Capo but been intrigued for a while by the Rusty Box for a more grungy noisy rock tone. Interested to know if you’re managing to get similar tones, it’d save me a lot of money and pedalboard space 🤣

[@alemilkthem]

Yes, using A side , max saturation, J and F more on the left side (more bottom end and highs , less mids) and if you wish extra bite using the switch on top If you want more gain add dome B side I compared it with rustybox first version and also the 9v version they did

[@JoeDinsdale]

@@alemilkthem super useful, the clanky Shallac-like tone would suit the band perfectly. Will have a proper play with the Capo today, I’ve been getting a great tone with the EAE Halberd into the Capo but it’s a lot of preamp and pedalboard space for a single always on sound!

[@bassistdeath502]

Love the Sansamp Bass Driver. The newest v2 version is killer!

[@JohnScottB]

Haven't tried that one yet!

[@majicogarcia8417]

The Aguilar on Medium setting sounds great.

[@1thess523]

That clean tone is 👌👌👌👌👌

[@williamchristopher5793]

Well shit man. This is just one hell of a great demo. Thank you so much. Think I need to listen to it again while taking notes. Thanks again.

[@JohnScottB]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the comment.

[@lobotomy007]

to me for heavy sound the rusty box is the best. I suggest you to try the new jad&freer CAPO preamp

[@ALtheDoctorWho]

believe it or not I think I like the Aguilar. thanks for sharing. 👍

[@CEKISBACKmetalTV]

I really enjoyed the video but I have been using the BK7 for years and the settings in the video are very approximate (to be kind)...

[@craigdamage]

Darkglass sounds like the distortion is on top of the note. SFT and Tonehammer sounds like more authentic overdrive from a tube amp. Each note seems like it is pushing through the distortion. Sansamp/Tech 21 and Rusty Box are somewhere in between that. SFT and Tonhammer are by a wide margin the warmest and most vintage sounding but the others are very good for modern sounds.

[@JohnScottB]

I agree with your assessment of thr Darkglass pedals. I know a lot of people get great results but this has always been my experience. Other than the Alpha Omega which I have now which I think is great.

[@MKPAK93]

This was very helpful! The tune sounds like something from Tool's Aenima.

[@JohnScottB]

Glad you found the video helpful. I'll take the Tool comparison as a compliment! The song is Picture Perfect by Hidden Hospitals.

[@ianperesmusic]

Great video! Have you by any chance tried out the new Bassrig pedals from Origin Effects? The Super Vintage (SVT) and '64 Black Panel (Showman/Bassman)

[@JohnScottB]

Thanks for the comment! I haven't tried either of those. To be honest, I more recently moved to digital with the Line 6 HX Stomp and have been really happy with the tones I'm getting there.

[@turdusmerula_]

The Aguilar sounds great

[@__tay__6074]

Thought the VT was the best. Clearest tone with grunt. Tonehammer very close sound to the VT too

[@xmac6519]

In the order played for me. 1. Tech Vt 2. Tech SA 3. Darkglass. But those are jst my preferences.

[@bazZzment]

Great comparison, thanks for your work mate! Honestly, I really like the sound of the P-Bass as is, haha. Would you please tell me the strings you are using? SansAmp is a classic for a reason. I also really liked the MicroTubes.

[@JohnScottB]

Thanks so much. I recorded those clips so long ago but the strings are either DR Hi-Beams or DR Dragon Skins. 45-105. These were probably the hi beams.

[@DavidHab]

Hi. I have a Tech 21 Steve Harris preamp and Fender rumble combo and I want to ask you, if it need to go to input or return. I tried both version and it sounds different. Thank you !

[@JohnScottB]

Going to the effects return on your amp will bypass the built in preamp in the Fender. That allows your Steve Harris preamp to do all your tone shaping. There's no right or wrong way though, whatever you think sounds best. Stacking preamps (i.e. going into the input of the amp) is something I would say most people do with the Sansamp. Also, that Steve Harris pedal has the ability to kill the speaker sim (little speaker button) so try turning that on and off and see what you like best. You should have a little more low end with the speaker sim off. Good luck, have fun!

[@codyhansonbass]

Im sorry I may have missed this in the video, but was there anything in the signal chain after the pedals? Were they recorded direct? Any speaker sim or IRs?

[@JohnScottB]

Good question - all of these were recorded direct. Some (like the two Tech 21 options) have speaker sims built in but other than that no speaker sims were added after the fact. The chain was my interface out to a re-amp box, into a single pedal, then back into my interface which was a Focusrite Scarlett 6i6. I hope that helps!

[@nichreynolds7712]

Never felt like the VT bass sounded good direct. What it does do good imo, is in front of a solid state bass amp. It adds that svt tube character to a decent clean bass tone or distorted tone. What it does not do good is a full svt stack emulation on its own. The sft is pretty much the same. They do not sound like an svt amp direct. But whjen added to an amp, they do.

[@9999plato]

Today I would jump on the Origin Effects Ampeg pedal. Outstanding. I would not have to lug my 50 lb rack unit with the ampeg SVP and QSC 850 watt amp.

[@kevmac1230]

I have both the SV and 64' and they're expensive but work a dream.

[@TUCSGDV]

For me GK Plex is the best, preamp, voice filters, amp simulations, drive, compressor, DI, Tuner, Audio Interface, FX loop, Aux e Phones out!

[@boomerbutler7569]

Have you tried the Noble preamp?

[@thaile4417]

Tech21 is still the king for DI. Also if anyone researching them, consider NOT buying the behringer knockoff, the real deal is way better.

[@cowboydestroy]

Yes i made this mistake

[@antoniopizarro7670]

I've looked everywhere. Arrived at this video. I've concluded that nobody can clearly articulate or demonstrate what a preamp does different from overdrive, EQ, gain and volume. It's all nonsense. Wow. Sounds totally worth the money. Srsly all that stuff is either on your bass, on the amp, or on other more versatile pedals bought separately.

[@JohnScottB]

A preamp is all of those things. It's everything that comes before the actual power section of an amp. So gain and EQ are standard parts of a preamp. These are just outboard preamps. Many of which are intended to be used without an amp at all. Hope that helps👍

[@nichreynolds7712]

A distortion circuit is a preamp.

[@nichreynolds7712]

An overdrive pedal is a dirty preampwith no headroom

[@rafsnchz]

How did you record this signal? It sound like this is not just direct XLR out recording into interface. B7K sounds like you applied cab sim or some sort of EQ.

[@JohnScottB]

Definitely recorded everything direct through a Focusrite Scarlett interface. No additional EQ or cab sims.

[@rafsnchz]

@@JohnScottBThx for the answer. Very good sound on all pedals even going direct, i’m surprised. 😮

[@ushnicyuvnikof2748]

The Tone Hammer!!

[@CorbenEdward]

Sans AMPPPPPP!!!!!!!! it's what I swear by and it sounds just like me so I like it lol. Darkglass is not my thing at all but that rusty box is right up my alley. Better not be there on a dark night, I might buy it! HAHA.

[@pingfunk]

I'm on the hunt for best CLEAN pre-amp and boost pedals that won't colour the bass tone. This vid was still helpful though. Cool demos

[@JohnScottB]

Check out the TC Spark for a clean boost. Fantastic little pedal. For clean pre's I've heard lots of good things about the Noble and Sadowsky SBP-2 - I don't have personal experience with either though! Thanks for the comment.

[@pingfunk]

@@JohnScottB thank you man. Respect.

[@dudeatx]

Could you tell us what bass/pickups/amp/cab you are using?

[@JohnScottB]

Yep, I cover it in the video but the bass is a Fender 50s Classic Precision with Lindy Fralin pickups. That was recorded direct then revamped through each pedal individually. No amp or cab.

[@bmrmel]

Hmm it's strange that I'm not part of talk bass? LOL Good video regardless.

[@lukealberti5094]

You said you don’t own any of these anymore. What do you use now? Thanks.

[@JohnScottB]

I went all digital a year a couple of years after recording these originally. First I went with an Axe-FX II but I missed having pedals so I flipped that and got a Line 6 HX Stomp which I use on a pedalboard with a bunch of analog pedals. Best of both worlds, but the HX handles my amp/cab sim duties now!

[@6minus3minus2]

Darkglass hands down for me. The most clarity through all the gain stages and it emphasizes the brightness of the bass in such a musical way. The others either killed any high-mid and highs or got super muddy at high gain settings.

[@M.Holland]

Using the Sansamp v2 since a few years now. for me, thers no better pre amp pedal. Even if I like the Darkglass stuff alot!

[@JohnScottB]

Talking about the VT Bass v2? If so, I definitely agree. I've owned the V1, Deluxe, V2 and finally the rack VT. The only reason I'm not using them now is I got a Line 6 HX Stomp which I use for my amp sim duties now (was able to dial in a great SVT tone that I actually prefer over the VT).

[@Wido08GP]

Darklass Vintage and Catalinbread SFT win for me. Favorite tones right there.

[@duncanrobjohns422]

I've only actually played one of these pedals which is the darkglass vintage microtubes. I use it as an overdrive rather than a preamp. I think it's an absolute fantastic overdrive for cutting through the mix on some stabby bass parts and is great for a building run too!

[@JohnScottB]

You're right the VMT is more of an overdrive. I never tried the Deluxe version which is more of a full preamp.

[@kevmac1230]

@@JohnScottB I supplement the VMT with the Harmonic Booster.Very nice.

[@TKASailo]

so... whats your fav?

[@taylorhilyard8661]

The bk7 or tone hammer may be the new standard depending on your genre. Darkglass completely changed the game when it comes to bass.

[@JohnScottB]

Both great options unless you want that SVT sound - that's where the Tech 21 pedals really shine!

[@aldemarorodriguezbass]

TECH 21 VT BASS & DARKGLASS VINTAGE M.

[@charliearavena3030]

Sadowsky SBP 2 V2.....The best !!!

[@theultimateblack]

SansAmp!🤟🏽

[@RH-xs8gz]

Were you de-tuned for this demo?

[@JohnScottB]

Good question. Yes, drop D flat basically.

[@fernandoroza6061]

SansAmp. Period.

[@bpxo.creations]

Try the d7k knockoff

[@grandvianna8551]

Just bought the Tech21 VT almost a week ago. This thing is fucking magic. Found out about it via Geoff Kraly of Paris Monster. If you dont know, now you do. Go listen to this dude and the Ultimate Supreme High Chancellor Pendragon of Percussion that is Josh Dion

[@Cluless02]

The one glaring omission is the Ampeg classic, which out classes any other on the market. Dark glass is really fine but you can't beat the stellar tone of Ampeg!

[@joellomusic]

what are you, an ampeg salesman?

[@JohnScottB]

That pedal didn't exist back then (2013) or I would have absolutely had it in this comparison!

[@kevmac1230]

For Ampeg tone I find the SFT and the Teddy 2112 superior.

[@Cluless02]

@@joellomusic do I have to be?

[@Cluless02]

@@JohnScottB Understood -

[@hulkslayer626]

Tech 21 VT Bass is my favorite... but not from this demo. As far as I remember, the more you turn the character knob up, the more it sounds like a SVT. That knob should be dimed at all times 👍

[@JohnScottB]

It's actually the opposite. According to Tech 21 under 12 o clock is SVT territory 12-1 is the Flip Top, which was my preferred setting. Above that goes into their solid state SVT4 Pro style and then if you dime it, it's a heavier gain unlike any of their amps.

[@hulkslayer626]

@@JohnScottB well that explains it lol 😆

[@nategin9009]

No mxr di? No scrambler di?

[@JohnScottB]

Next time!

[@nichreynolds7712]

The SA BDDI is actually better at svt.

[@nichreynolds7712]

The sft was good enough for Troy van leewan.

[@DolemiteSammich]

These are far from the best preamp pedals but thanks for the demo

[@rajeshhkkapoor8549]

DARKGLASS VINTAGE and AGUILAR TONE HAMMER wins hands down

[@manlyscents]

Why didn't he keep *any* of the pedals?

[@JohnScottB]

I used the VT Bass for years and years, and have since swapped over to digital. I use an HX Stomp for preamp duties now.

[@tobbebergman7583]

Sadowsky FTW !

[@timmikhailouski8961]

SFT and Vintage Microtubes are not preamps, just overdrive pedals

[@JohnScottB]

Fair point! Though the SFT has an extremely hot output and can be run at 18V giving it enough headroom to go straight to a power amp should you desire that tone. But you are correct by definition. Anyway, these are the clips I recorded back in 2013 so I figured I would share them all.

[@antoniopizarro7670]

Proves my point that nobody can justify what a preamp does or why one should buy a preamp.

[@nichreynolds7712]

What really is the difference? Nothing. They are both doing the same job. Boosting is signal. An overdrive pedal with tone controls is a dirty preamp.

[@luisperezafonso6732]

Catalinbread

[@ernestomendoza4225]

The huapango style playing not helpping tho

[@JohnScottB]

That's some progressive rock. Verse two of kzbin.info/www/bejne/jausgn-ChbStma8

[@WilDBeestMF]

Meh. If you're a bass player and you ain't on talkbass? You're well informed.

[@shamrock3639]

Just plec-play? 🤔

[@MrGul]

That slightly out of tune low string really messes with my ears and makes it hard to focus on the actual sound differencies of the preamps. Other than that, quite a good video/comparison!

[@zachluntsford]

Sans Amp always wins

[@ironpescatore918]

sounds like TOOL!

[@rvs79jack]

Microrubes!!!!!!!!

[@AaronMCook]

Ok. Good to see millennials plugging gear in….. making some noise. But if I am not on TalkBass.. it is a choice also.

[@obidibidou6933]

Why NO finger play . I can't listen to Pick bass ..???

[@JohnScottB]

I've got all of these samples with fingers if you want to hit up my email on my channels contact page. If I put them all in a video it would have been an hour long so I just chose the one sample for this time around!

[@justsomedude5727]

So you cant listen to the beatles, or like 50% of music then?

[@grandwazoo1696]

@@justsomedude5727 Nope, can't do it....🤷‍♂️

[@kevinbate4255]

Way too much talking before hand

[@keetakitten]

Oh wow... clips from 2013 will certainly help in 2022

[@JohnScottB]

Did they not help?