The Best Bass Preamps – Your Route to Perfect Tone!

Features of Onboard Bass Preamps

Before you settle on a specific preamp, it’s important to know everything that an onboard unit can do. The features listed below are some of the most important elements of any preamp. While each unit handles these a bit differently, they all contain very similar setups with regard to these factors.

If you’re struggling to decide between two different models, comparing them on their features can be a great way to find some clarity.

If you haven’t figured out which model to buy, on the other hand, pick the features that you like the most and you will be able to narrow down the field of options.

Either way, read on to find out everything you need to know!

Buffer/Limiter

In more specific terms, a buffer insulates your signal against sharp changes in volume or clipping when it reaches your amp. This keeps your bass sounding pristine and just as you intend it!

A limiter is a very similar feature to a buffer – as the name implies, it limits the maximum output of your bass when it goes to your amp. This can prevent the signal from distorting as it passes into the amp. While many players like some distortion in their sound, you don’t want it at this stage of the chain! Instead, a distorted signal can clip and sound horrendous, particularly in a live setting.

Equalization

After all, most players choose to add a preamp to their rig precisely because they want more control over how their bass sounds.

But while every preamp offers EQ features, different models will have different bells and whistles. If you’re looking for the greatest amount of control, one rule of thumb is 'the more knobs, the better'.

This is because the more knobs you have to control different parts of your tonal spectrum, the greater the range of frequencies you’ll be able to isolate, and the more change you’ll be able to make to the tone of your bass.

However, not all EQ settings are created equal! To really know what you’re getting in a preamp, you’ll have to familiarize yourself with some jargon.

One phrase is a sweepable frequency range. This means that you can change which frequencies the knob in question adjusts. In other words, some onboard preamps might use one knob that can control anywhere from the low midrange (near the bass frequencies) all the way up to the high midrange and trebles.

A sweepable frequency range can be very helpful if you want to zero in on a particularly elusive tone. If all of the knobs on your preamp are sweepable, you can also play around with which knobs adjust which frequencies.

For example, if you want a lot of control over the bass but don’t need to change many treble frequencies, it’s easy to sweep your knobs towards the bass and gain greater control there while minimizing your control over the high end.

One other essential term for you to know is ‘parametric EQ’. This is a fancy way of saying that each knob that controls certain frequencies has another switch or dial to control which frequencies you’re boosting or cutting. Many professional players favor parametric EQ setups because they are a quick and easy way to adjust sweepable EQ knobs and gain exceptional control over your tone without any extra hassle.

Maximum Boost and Cut

However, while every preamp you look at will include a boost, certain models will be able to boost and cut your signal by greater amounts than others. This is referred to as the ‘maximum boost/cut’ of the preamp.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you are still struggling to home in on the right preamp for you, check out these frequently asked questions. They might help you decide between different models depending on your priorities.

This is naturally one of the first questions many people ask when they consider whether or not to buy a bass preamp. Considering how many famous bassists have gone their whole careers without ever incorporating a preamp, it’s certainly a fair question to ask!

The answer depends on your specific playing style and where you will be using your bass rig.

Preamps are most useful for their buffering capabilities, boosts, and equalization features. While any bassist can take advantage of the boosts and extra EQ to improve their tone, these features will be most potent in a live setting.

The same goes for a preamp’s buffer, which is designed to optimize the volume of your signal between bass and amp. While it can be valuable for tonal reasons in the practice room, it’s highly unlikely to make a significant impact outside of the live stage.

If you never play gigs (and don’t plan on joining a live group in the future), a preamp might be overkill. Ultimately, you will have a hard time hearing all of the unit’s benefits and won’t be able to harness the power of a preamp to keep your tone pristine in even the most difficult stage environments. On the other hand, if you record in studios, a preamp may be an indispensable tool for your tone.

As we mention above, there are perfectly valid reasons you might want to buy a preamp beyond controlling your live rig. A good preamp can make a noticeable impact on your tone, particularly with the extra control over the equalization of your output.

Most basses (and pretty much all amps) come with sets of tone controls already onboard. So, why would you need to add a third set of equalization controls in a preamp?

The answer lies in the combinations of tones you can achieve with the extra level of control. By adjusting the controls on your bass, preamp, and amp separately, you can unlock a world of new tones that you might not have had access to before.

Preamp EQ controls also tend to be far more complex than the tone knobs you will find on your instrument or amp. With features like sweepable frequency ranges and parametric EQ settings, a preamp will allow you to dial in just the right amount of every frequency you can think of. This can be a major bonus in the practice room and particularly in the recording studio.

Technically, a preamp will just boost or cut certain frequencies from your signal. This means that there is no real reason a preamp wouldn’t work with any set of pickups.

However, certain pickups pair better with different preamp models than others. If you are in the market for a preamp, it’s worth taking some extra time to make sure you get a model that syncs well with the rest of your bass!

The best way to evaluate whether or not a certain preamp will sound good with your current pickups is to take a look at the frequency ranges. Because pickups, like preamps, carry their own unique sonic signatures, models that emphasize the same frequency ranges may sound better together than a preamp that boosts or cuts frequencies that your pickups don’t naturally excel at.