Hi all,
I could use some thoughts about the vast rabbit hole that is DI bass preamps.
I picked up a used Laney Digbeth preamp pedal fairly recently for ~$200 and it's certainly my favorite electric bass preamp I've tried (compared to EHX, MXR, TC, BB, Ampeg, Darkglass, Sansamp, Palmer, Trace Elliot, Joyo, Walrus Badwater, EBS Microbass II, Radial, and Fishman Platinum Pro).
I mainly play roots music and typically go for a vintage scooped sound, cutting the lower mids and boosting the lows and highs. I'll boost the high-mids and/or engage the dirt channel if I want more bite.
One of the features I like about it is the FX loop, as it offers more routing versatility for different pedals for my low-output P bass with vintage pickups. (For example, my compressors and tuner respond better in the FX loop than before or after the pedal.)
While I really like the Digbeth, it's not perfect. I feel a bit limited without a parametric mid, cab sim, and master volume, and the dirt channel, while decent, could be more configurable, and have more gain. So I'm feeling a bit of GAS/FOMO to try out other options, but I'm not sure if it's worth spending extra time, energy, or money to let great get in the way of good.
The thing is, I haven't actually compared it to many other (higher-end) options with FX loops, such as the Jad Freer Capo, GK Plex, Two Notes ReVolt Bass/Le Bass, Markbass Vintage Pre, EBS Microbass III, or DSM Humboldt Simplifier/SubAtomic.
(I also haven't tested several notable options without FX loops, such as Origin, Walrus Mantle, SushiBox, EBS ValveDrive, Source Audio, NUX MLD, Aguilar, Fender Downtown, Genzler, Mesa, Sadowsky, Sansamp VTBass, Arkham, Orange, Noble, or Shift Line.)
I've had trouble getting my hands on the aforementioned options for direct comparison testing, no doubt in part due to their popularity, higher price points, and less ubiquitous distribution. I'm wondering if anyone has directly compared the Digbeth to any of these preamps I haven't tried, or any other preamp with an FX loop, and if so, how do they stack up?
Thanks!