bass guitar preamp

billr · 6th June 2009, 01:36 AM

Dear All.

I'm in the paper design stage of a bass guitar preamp.

In the middle of the thing I want to put an equaliser. And as I am into valves, I want to build a valve one.

I've found this diagram, http://www.jogis-roehrenbude.de/Vers.../Equalizer.htm

I've modelled the main elements, and they seem to work well.

What I'm after are any insights regarding the frequencies for the equaliser. Having sniffed round various guitar shops, it seems that the options are many and various.

I have seen them with starting frequencies as low as 32hz, then they double, [octave] up to about 10k. Others are 50/100/200 etc., and ones with bigger gaps.

Any thought would be most gratefully received.

Kind regards

Bill

Wavebourn · 6th June 2009, 01:50 AM

Use parametrical EQ, it is more convenient for bass guitar.

billr · 6th June 2009, 02:11 AM

hi.

Thanks for your reply, do you mean a filter that has separate Q, centre frequency and amplitude controls?

If so, how many? three or four? any idea of ranges?

Why would a parametric eq be better?

Look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

Bill

Wavebourn · 6th June 2009, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by billr
hi.

Thanks for your reply, do you mean a filter that has separate Q, centre frequency and amplitude controls?

If so, how many? three or four? any idea of ranges?

Why would a parametric eq be better?

Look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

Borrow ideas from commercial gear, then blend for your taste.

http://www.bassandbeyond.net/products.html

billr · 6th June 2009, 09:40 AM

hi

still interested to hear why you believe parametric eq to be better.

look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

Bill

Miniwatt · 6th June 2009, 01:55 PM

Sort of making plans for a tube bass preamp this interests me too

The equalizer posted by billr seems a bit overkill to me

DaveMcLain · 6th June 2009, 02:12 PM

In my bass rig I use a SansAmp RBI for a preamp(solid state) and it doesn't have parametric EQ but in the past I have used other preamps that did(Peavey Ampeg SVP Pro and a few others). Having it is a nice feature since it allows you to put a notch or hump in the frequency response curve and then move it around to find a "sweet spot" very easily and quickly. I would say however that if the frequency bands are chosen carefully and they happen to work well with your bass that something with standard EQ like the Sansamp would work just fine too.

nigelwright7557 · 7th June 2009, 08:29 PM

The bass guitar has quite a narrow band of frequencies to work with. An equaliser would have to be based around those.

Personally I would skip the equaliser and get into bass guitar effects pedals. Thye can really make a huge difference.
Zoom do a great pedal.

Wavebourn · 7th June 2009, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by billr
hi

still interested to hear why you believe parametric eq to be better.

I don't believe! I like it for the convenience. As well as my friend John Pursel likes it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U3pKSu1BU0

billr · 7th June 2009, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wavebourn

I don't believe! I like it for the convenience. As well as my friend John Pursel likes it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U3pKSu1BU0

did you get out of bed on the wrong side? I'm not a mind reader.

6th June 2009, 01:36 AM	#1
billr diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: new zealand	bass guitar preamp Dear All. I'm in the paper design stage of a bass guitar preamp. In the middle of the thing I want to put an equaliser. And as I am into valves, I want to build a valve one. I've found this diagram, http://www.jogis-roehrenbude.de/Vers.../Equalizer.htm I've modelled the main elements, and they seem to work well. What I'm after are any insights regarding the frequencies for the equaliser. Having sniffed round various guitar shops, it seems that the options are many and various. I have seen them with starting frequencies as low as 32hz, then they double, [octave] up to about 10k. Others are 50/100/200 etc., and ones with bigger gaps. Any thought would be most gratefully received. Kind regards Bill

6th June 2009, 01:50 AM	#2
Wavebourn diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pleasant Hill, CA	Use parametrical EQ, it is more convenient for bass guitar. __________________ The devil is not so terrible as his mathematical model! Wavebourn: We Create Creativity!

7th June 2009, 08:29 PM	#8
nigelwright7557 diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Carlisle, England	The bass guitar has quite a narrow band of frequencies to work with. An equaliser would have to be based around those. Personally I would skip the equaliser and get into bass guitar effects pedals. Thye can really make a huge difference. Zoom do a great pedal. __________________ http://www.murtonpikesystems.co.uk PCBCAD40 pcb design software.

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6th June 2009, 02:11 AM	#3
billr diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: new zealand	hi. Thanks for your reply, do you mean a filter that has separate Q, centre frequency and amplitude controls? If so, how many? three or four? any idea of ranges? Why would a parametric eq be better? Look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards Bill

6th June 2009, 09:40 AM	#5
billr diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: new zealand	hi still interested to hear why you believe parametric eq to be better. look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards Bill

6th June 2009, 01:55 PM	#6
Miniwatt diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Den Haag	Sort of making plans for a tube bass preamp this interests me too The equalizer posted by billr seems a bit overkill to me

6th June 2009, 02:12 PM	#7
DaveMcLain diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2007	In my bass rig I use a SansAmp RBI for a preamp(solid state) and it doesn't have parametric EQ but in the past I have used other preamps that did(Peavey Ampeg SVP Pro and a few others). Having it is a nice feature since it allows you to put a notch or hump in the frequency response curve and then move it around to find a "sweet spot" very easily and quickly. I would say however that if the frequency bands are chosen carefully and they happen to work well with your bass that something with standard EQ like the Sansamp would work just fine too.

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