Let's Design "DIY AUDIO's Versatile BASS PREAMP"

[frickecello]

Hi thomgun_lc,:

Do you want to design an active on-board preamp? Or a preamp as a part of a complete amplifier?

I think that you need to be more specific in what you want:

Do you need an equalizer to enhance the preamp? If so, how many bands do you need?
How much room does you bass have for batteries (if you answered on-board preamp)?
Are you using active or passive pickups?
How many pots does your bass actually have?
What is the musical style that you play most with this bass?

I can help you out, also if you are familiar with LTSpice you can record the cleanest signal possible with your bass and then feed a circuit to record an approximation of how the preamp will sound like. I have designed things in the past that way, even before breadboarding anything, I call it Spiceboard it!

Therefore, if you "spiceboard" a proposed circuit, you can see frequency response curves, and a lot of tweaks can be made prior to building the circuit, you'll save a lot of time and frustration. With some effort, you'll find that tone you hear in your head.

M. Fricke