The 10 Best Bass Preamp Pedals (2023)
Preamps are vital gear for bass players to convert the bass signal to line level, crafting your fundamental bass tone. They add color to your tone, bringing it to life and allowing you to add grit, warmth, detail, and power to your sound. You can use them with bass amps or with PA systems.
If you are not familiar with bass preamp pedals and how they work, you might get confused when choosing the ideal one for you. Bass preamps act as the middle ground between your bass and mixing desk or audio interface, allowing you to plug your instrument directly into the PA system or computer while giving you the option to sculpt your tone as you like. You can also use them with bass amps to add more color to your sound.
My top pick is the Tech 21 SansAmp, a highly versatile multi-function bass preamp that covers all tones, from bright modern sounds to vintage tube tones.
My budget pick is the Behringer V-TONE BDI21, a simple bass preamp pedal with decent vintage tube amplification tones.
Contents
- The Best Bass Preamp Pedals (2023) – At A Glance
- 1. Tech 21 SansAmp v2
- 2. Behringer V-TONE BDI21
- 3. Darkglass Electronics Alpha Omega
- 4. MXR M81
- 5. Ampeg SCR-DI Scrambler Overdrive
- 6. Xotic BB V 1.5
- 7. Darkglass Harmonic Booster
- 8. EBS MicroBass 3
- 9. MXR M80
- 10. Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI Programmable
- What is a Bass Preamp Pedal and how does it work?
- Do bass players need a Bass Preamp Pedal?
- Is there a difference between a Bass Preamp Pedal and an Onboard Preamp?
- Do Preamp Bass Pedals improve sound quality?
- What to look for in a Bass Preamp Pedal when buying?
- Summary
The Best Bass Preamp Pedals (2023) – At A Glance
And now onto the full list:
1. Tech 21 SansAmp v2
The Tech 21 SansAmp is one of the most popular and best bass preamp pedals thanks to its high sonic versatility and top-quality analog tube bass amp emulation. The DI/preamp pedal offers almost everything bass players need, with a great EQ section, overdrive, parallel output, balanced XLR out, and more.
Pros
- Highly versatile preamp
- Great 3-band EQ with drive, presence, and blend
- Different frequency boost options
- Parallel outs
- Compact and rugged design
Cons
- A bit pricey
- Jammed knob design
The Tech 21 SansAmp v2 features 3-band EQ with +/-12 dB cut/boost along with different frequency boost options, including 500 HZ or 1000 Hz for the mids and 40 Hz or 80 Hz for bass frequencies, making the device ideal for extended bass ranges.
The pedal works with a 9V DC power adapter or phantom power, or 9V batteries. The footswitch allows you to turn on and off the SansAmp Tube Amplifier Emulation circuitry. So it should not be confused with bypass. The pedal has a simple design, so there is nothing complicated when it comes to tone shaping.
The pedal is ideal for emulating vintage tube amps and playing heavier genres. It provides a great range of high-quality ones for bass players giving them sonic versatility on their hands.
| Inputs/Outputs | 1 x 1/4″ input, 1 x 1/4″, 1 x XLR, 1 x 1/4″ (thru) outputs |
| Power Source | 9V DC power adapter or phantom power or 9V battery |
| EQ | 3-band |
| Bypass | Buffered |
| Bonus Features | Phantom Power, DI |
In short, if you like vintage tube amps and do not care about preserving the natural tone of your bass, the Tech 21 SansAmp v2 pedal might be right for you.
2. Behringer V-TONE BDI21
The Behringer V-TONE BDI21 is a cost-effective bass preamp pedal with a simple design and decent tones for beginners and bassists with a tight budget. It is based on the legendary 1 SansAmp Bass Driver DI, offering a good range of vintage and modern sounds.
Pros
- Great value for the price
- Simple and sturdy design
- Great low to mid-gain tones
- Ideal for use as a clean boost with a bit of grit added
Cons
- Little tricky to get the tones right
- Little fluttery high-gain tones
- No mid-range control
The pedal has a simple and sturdy design with a 6-knob control layout, including a 2-band EQ with a +/-12dB boost, presence, level, drive and blend controls.
It works best as a clean boost with a bit of grit added, as its tonal range is ideal for low to mid-gain tones for creating warm and crunchy tube-like tones. Its dual DI mode increases the versatility and it prevents grounding issues with the balanced XLR out with a ground lift switch.
| Inputs/Outputs | 1 x 1/4″ input, 1 x 1/4″, 1 x XLR outputs |
| Power Source | 9V DC power adapter or 9V battery |
| EQ | 2-band |
| Bypass | True |
| Bonus Features | Dual DI mode |
Overall, the Behringer V-TONE BDI21 is a simple yet good bass preamp pedal for beginners to experiment with and create some vintage tube-like low to mid-gain tones.
3. Darkglass Electronics Alpha Omega
The Darkglass Electronics Alpha Omega is a versatile workhorse designed with Karnivool bassist Jon Stockman which offers great tones from low-gain breakup to aggressive distortion ranges. It features a 3-band EQ and balanced line driver along with a dynamic saturation circuit to sculpt your sound.
Pros
- Highly versatile preamp pedal
- Two distortion circuits with the option to blend them
- Switches for low and high-frequency saturation
- Parallel outs
Cons
- A bit pricey
The control panel consists of Level, Drive, Mod, and Blend knobs beside the 3-band EQ and Growl and Bite switches, which are used to saturate low-end and high-end frequencies. While the pedal is impressive when it comes to overdriven bass tones, it also succeeds brilliantly in low-gain clean tones and everything in between, thanks to the many controls.
The pedal also features XLR output, which makes it a great DI box, along with onboard parallel output to send the affected signal to one source and the unaffected one to another.
| Inputs/Outputs | 1 x 1/4″ input, 2 x 1/4″ (out, parallel-out), 1 x XLR (direct out) outputs |
| Power Source | 9V DC power adapter |
| EQ | 3-band |
| Bypass | Buffered |
| Bonus Features | DI |
Let’s say you’re looking for a versatile pedal with high-quality sounds for the stage or studio. In that case, the Darkglass Alpha Omega is a highly professional gear you can use.
4. MXR M81
The MXR M81 is one of the best-sounding clean bass preamp pedals thanks to its simplistic no-frills design that is focused on sound quality. It features advanced Constant Headroom Technology for sound clarity, a great 3-band EQ section with sweepable midranges, and Switchable pre/post-EQ direct out.
Pros
- Great value for the price
- Impressive sound quality with advanced Constant Headroom Technology
- Great EQ section
- Separate volume knobs for input and output
- Buffered/true bypass selector
Cons
- Does not have overdrive
- Mids and highs are a bit over the top
The pedals succeed in squeezing great clean tone-shaping options into a compact stompbox for a quite affordable price. It has a switchable Buffered bypass/True bypass option along with a studio-quality balanced XLR DI output with a ground lift switch.
There are also separate volume knobs for input and output signals, giving you more control and quality over your tone with the innovative Headroom Technology, even in higher volumes.
| Inputs/Outputs | 1 x 1/4″ input, 1 x 1/4″, 1 x XLR (DI out) outputs |
| Power Source | 9V DC power adapter or 9V battery or pedalboard power |
| EQ | 3-band with sweepable midrange |
| Bypass | True Hardwire, Switchable to Buffered |
| Bonus Features | Phantom Power, balanced XLR DI |
In short, the MXR M81 would serve you well, if you are after a no-frills bass preamp pedal to shape your clean tone.
5. Ampeg SCR-DI Scrambler Overdrive
The Ampeg SCR-DI Scrambler Overdrive is a great pedal if you want the full Ampeg stack in a simple stompbox. The pedal has two sections, the preamp, and the overdrive. Both sections combine the pedal brings you iconic Ampeg tones from smooth, lightly overdriven tones to heavy distortion sounds.
Pros
- Highly versatile bass preamp and overdrive pedal
- Can be used as a standalone amp
- Iconic Ampeg bass tones
- Great connectivity features
Cons
- Not the best overdrive section
The preamp section consists of 3-band EQ and separate volume knobs for output and AUX, along with an UltraLo switch for mid-scoop and UltraHi switch for high-end boost. The overdrive section called the Scrambler has Blend and Drive knobs to adjust your overdriven tones. It also has separate on-off switches for both sections.
Another great feature of this pedal is its wide range of connectivity options, allowing you to use it as a standalone amp with headphones and aux inputs. The only drawback might be that the high-gain tones could be better, but they are still pretty decent.
| Inputs/Outputs | 2 x 1/4″, 1 x 1/8″ inputs, 1 x XLR, 1 x 1/4″ (Line), 1 x 1/4″ (Thru), 1 x 1/8″ (Headphones) outputs |
| Power Source | 9-12V DC power adapter, 9V battery |
| EQ | 3-band |
| Bypass | True |
| Bonus Features | DI |
If you want a highly versatile pedal for the stage or studio or your practice sessions, the Ampeg SCR-DI Scrambler Overdrive is a great pedal both for beginners and pros to experiment with.
6. Xotic BB V 1.5
The Xotic BB V 1.5 is a simple yet powerful bass preamp pedal that offers 2-band EQ, up to 30dB boost, and gain in a compact stompbox. There are only four knobs making everything easier for bass players and offering killer tones despite its simplicity.
Pros
- Simplistic and compact design
- Instant killer tones
- True bypass switch
- Easy to use
Cons
- Does not have a mid knob
You have bass and treble knobs on the control panel and the gain and volume knobs. Plus, there is a true bypass switch with which the pedal covers all the essentials a bass player would need. The bass and treble adjustment knobs overlap, giving you plenty of options to shape your sound, but the lack of a mid knob might be a drawback for some players.
The pedal works either with a 9V DC power adapter or a 9V battery, which are sold separately. On the connectivity side, it is a simple pedal with a standard 1 x 1/4″ input and output.
| Inputs/Outputs | 1 x 1/4″ input, 1 x 1/4″ output |
| Power Source | 9V DC power adapter or 9V battery |
| EQ | 2-band |
| Bypass | True |
| Bonus Features | None |
In short, this is a great pedal for bass players who do not want to get things complicated and are happy with the essentials and some pretty great tones without complicated layouts.
7. Darkglass Harmonic Booster
The Darkglass Harmonic Booster is a great clean, low-gain bass preamp pedal, providing beautiful harmonic richness and highly transparent sound. The pedal makes your tone come alive without coloring it or making it lose its definition.
Pros
- Solid build
- Character knob for adding harmonic richness
- 3-band EQ with a parametric mid band
- Highly transparent and clean preamp
Cons
- A bit pricey
- Not for high-gain tones
The Darkglass Harmonic Booster comes with a 3-band EQ and a parametric mid-band with mid-gain and mid-frequency knobs. The character knob is a great touch for adjusting the harmonic richness as you like it. Plus, there is also the boost knob for boosting your tone.
The digital preamp pedal also has a buffered bypass function along with standard 1/4″ input and output ports.
| Inputs/Outputs | 1 x 1/4″ input, 1 x 1/4″ output |
| Power Source | 9-18V DC center negative power supply |
| EQ | 3-band |
| Bypass | Buffered |
| Bonus Features | None |
Although it is a bit pricey pedal, it is great for creating harmonically rich clean bass tones to help your amp. The character knob, along with the parametric mid-frequency equalizer, makes this one stand out from the rest.
8. EBS MicroBass 3
The EBS MicroBass 3 is a high-end, professional, dual-channel bass preamp with a plethora of controls. This fully-analog bass preamp has both Clean and Drive channels and a great number of inputs and outputs and onboard features.
Pros
- Highly versatile pedal
- Dual-channel design (clean & drive)
- Onboard compressor, tuner, and FX loop
- Premium-quality sounds
Cons
- Pricey
- A bit complicated to use at first
The EBS MicroBass 3 is feature-packed with a multitude of effects and onboard controls. Aside from the dual-channel design, this pedal has a blend control knob for controlling the drive, Thin/Deep drive channels, Lo/Hi gain channels, and Character/Bright clean filter channels.
As far as onboard effects go, it comes with an FX loop, an onboard compressor, and a built-in tuner. The 3-band EQ comes with dual-balanced XLR outputs, meaning that you can switch between pre and post-EQ simultaneously, or run stereo outputs.
| Inputs/Outputs | 1 x 1/4″ instrument input, 1 x 1/4″ drive input, 1 x 1/8″ AUX input, 1 x 1/4″ return input, 1 x 1/4″ instrument output, 2 x XLR (pre/post balanced), 1 x 1/4″ send out, 1 x 1/8″ headphones out |
| Power Source | 9V DC power supply |
| EQ | 3-band |
| Bypass | True |
| Bonus Features | Semi-parametric Mids, Built-in tuner |
Overall, the EBS MicroBass 3 is a professional bass preamp with a high price tag but with high value. The versatility is unmatched, along with quality components and onboard features.
9. MXR M80
The MXR M80 is a bass preamp pedal for modern rock and metal players looking to get great distorted tones as well as clean tones from two separate channels. The pedal also features a noise gate to keep things silent between the notes.
Pros
- Two separate channels, clean and distortion
- Adjustable noise gate
- Harmonically rich and dynamic distortion sounds
- Great value for the price
Cons
- Not the best overdrive
The distortion tones of the pedal are truly great, while the overdrive tones are not the best. The clean channel works great, and the Color switch gives a nice mid-range boost to your tone.
But, the emphasis is on the distorted channel as it offers plenty of great distortion tones. The distorted tones are harmonically rich, dynamic, and punchy, which is great for modern rock and metal players.
| Inputs/Outputs | 1 x 1/4″ input, 2 x 1/4″ (Parallel), 1 x XLR outputs |
| Power Source | 9V DC power adapter, 9V battery |
| EQ | 3-band |
| Bypass | Buffered |
| Bonus Features | DI |
With double channels and great tones, the MXR M80 is a great preamp pedal for playing modern rock and metal songs. Even though the overdrive section is not as good as other pedals, the rest of the tones compensate for it quite brilliantly.
10. Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI Programmable
The Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI Programmable is a quite flexible DI box for the stage, providing three hot tones just under your foot. The all-analog pedal features good adjustment options and features to get you enough versatility to shape your tone with its Drive, Bass, Treble, Presence, Blend, and Level controls.
Pros
- 3-channels DI Box for flexibility on the stage
- All-metal construction
- Phantom powerable
- Good tones with all analog circuitry
Cons
- Lacks the mid adjustment knob
- Large stompbox
The pedal can be plugged directly into the PA to go live or into the board with the programmable bass driver DI for the studio. With the 3-channels, it is quite easy to switch between tones, giving you flexibility anywhere.
The pedal is quite sturdy with all-metal construction but is quite large, which can be a problem for small pedalboards. Also, the lack of a mid-knob can be a letdown for some bassists. However, the rest of the adjustment options provide decent versatility to your hands.
| Inputs/Outputs | 1 x 1/4″ input, 1 x 1/4″, 1 x XLR outputs |
| Power Source | 9V DC 100mA power adapter, Phantom Power, 9V battery |
| EQ | 2-band |
| Bypass | True |
| Bonus Features | Phantom Power |
Overall, the Tech 21 SansAmp 3-Channel is a good Bass DI Box with some great tones that can give you good tones, especially for live occasions and the studio. If you are a gigging musician, it is one of the best choices for you.
What is a Bass Preamp Pedal and how does it work?
A bass preamp pedal takes the role of your preamp for shaping your tone and preparing it for the amp. It has a DI connection and versatile tone-sculpting options to plug into a PA system or an amp to get your prepared tone. In short, it is a bass amp in a pedal without speakers and a power amp.
Do bass players need a Bass Preamp Pedal?
Bass preamp pedals are vital tools for bass guitarists to shape and-or finetune their tones. Although some amps already have built-in preamps, they might not offer everything you need, or the quality maybe not be as you like. In this case, having your preamp in a pedal gives you the tone you need.
Is there a difference between a Bass Preamp Pedal and an Onboard Preamp?
The onboard preamps limit the space and power, while preamp pedals give you more versatility and tone-shaping options. Also, pedals are more portable, but a top-quality amp might give you better tones. But pedals have passive EQ, which rolls frequencies, while an onboard EQ is active.
Do Preamp Bass Pedals improve sound quality?
Each amp has a sound character that slightly alters your bass guitar’s sound. To get some consistency in the quality and clarity of your sound, a pedal is necessary to shape your tone with the right balance of EQ.
What to look for in a Bass Preamp Pedal when buying?
The most important thing to consider when buying a bass preamp pedal is the EQ section, bypass type, DI, quality, and price. A 3-band EQ, true bypass, a powerful DI, and solid build quality are desirable, but these qualities depend on your needs and budget.
Summary
There are many great bass preamp pedals to help you finetune your sound, adding power and detail to your tone. Any pedals on the list would serve you well, and you can choose the most suitable one depending on your needs, playing style, and budget.
My top recommendation is the Tech 21 SansAmp, one of the most popular bass preamp pedals with its high versatility and industry-standard tones.
My second recommendation is the Behringer V-TONE BDI21, a highly cost-effective bass preamp pedal with a simple design and good clean, low-gain bass tones.
