[TheBrainP0lice]

Hey all, I was wondering what the difference is between a preamp and an equalizer. I am currently working on completing my bass rig which now includes: Line 6 Bass Pod, Carvin HD900 power amp, and a DBX 15 channel EQ. For now, I am using my POD as a pre-amp but would like to get something that is more specifically made for a pre-amp use. Now, my question is, is there a difference between a pre-amp and an EQ? Thanks for the help, also, if anyone could recommend a good pre-amp that would help out a lot too. Thanks again for the help in advance!

[fly135]

EQs have amps in them but preamps are designed to handle signal levels that come out of guitars and mics. Not all EQs have preamps, but they do have amplifiers. A mixer generally has multiple preamps, and often have 2 or 3 bands of EQ.

I recently bought one of these EQs off eBay....

Behringer GEQ3102 Ultra-Musical Dual 31 Band Stereo Graphic Equalizer - Onlinestagegear.com

I'll feed my mixer into it for recording, but not a mic directly as it doesn't have a preamp.

[Stratrat]

You might want to check out TalkBass.com - there are a lot of bass gearheads over there that will give you more advice than you might even want about preamps for your bass rig.

[Tekker]

Originally Posted by TheBrainP0lice

Now, my question is, is there a difference between a pre-amp and an EQ?

A preamp is used to take a weak signal (from a mic or a guitar) and bring it up to a level (called "line level") that can be used by the rest of your equipment/processors.

An EQ (equalizer) is a device that alters the frequency response of your signal by allowing you to adjust the volume of a range of frequencies separate from the other frequencies. For example, if you want to add more bass you can increase the volume on the low frequencies without affecting the other frequencies.

So these two devices server very different purposes.

-tkr

[solidwalnut]

Originally Posted by TheBrainP0lice

Hey all, I was wondering what the difference is between a preamp and an equalizer. I am currently working on completing my bass rig which now includes: Line 6 Bass Pod, Carvin HD900 power amp, and a DBX 15 channel EQ. For now, I am using my POD as a pre-amp but would like to get something that is more specifically made for a pre-amp use. Now, my question is, is there a difference between a pre-amp and an EQ? Thanks for the help, also, if anyone could recommend a good pre-amp that would help out a lot too. Thanks again for the help in advance!

The Line 6 is a tone, cabinet and speaker modeller. Modellers are not a substitute for amplifying (read: pre-amplifying) the natural sound from your axe. They are substitute tone renderers which then pass on a signal to your power amp, in this case the Carvin. So, the Line 6 is acting as your pre-amp, but it's coloring over the natural tones you have. The Carvin you have, btw, is really designed to be a power amp for a PA system. Nothing wrong with using it as you are, but if you're ready to get into guitar/bass pre-amping, then you might consider just getting a good bass amp (which will contain a pre-amp and power amp).

Basically, the pre-amp takes the really low signals that come from your pickups and amplifies them to a level (line level) that can then be taken and amplified by the power amp before being sent to the speaker(s).

One great bass preamp out there is the Galien-Krueger great input by bass players at the talkbass forum, and here's a link to one of the models at MF.

This is made to tailor bass guitar tones. The reason this is a good one (my bass player has one of these) is that you can take the pre-amp direct out and then go on to another power amp or send the signal to the house if you want, or just stick with this and go through the power amp on board and then to your speaker cab's.

I'm not sure if you want to buy just a separate pre-amp (maybe, what do I know, but I've never seen one specifically for use with a bass. But hey, you could buy a single channel mic pre-amp and experiment if you wanted). It might be better if you just got a all-in-one solution that's tailored for the bass.

What is the goal for your set-up? Live, recording....???

Steve