Bass Preamp / DI
JFET-based bass preamp/DI featuring the iconic circuit Roger Sadowsky has built into his basses since 1979, with 2-band boost EQ and professional DI output, made famous by Marcus Miller and countless professional bassists.
The Sadowsky SBP-1 Bass Preamp/DI contains the same legendary JFET circuitry that Roger Sadowsky has installed in his custom basses for over 40 years. The circuit's history began in 1979 when Sadowsky experimented with circuits from Stars Guitars in San Francisco, later switching to Bartolini designs. In 1990, working with his friend Alex Aguilar, they finalized the distinctive Sadowsky circuit that would become the gold standard for active bass tone. Marcus Miller was one of the first bassists to receive this circuit modification on his 1977 Fender Jazz Bass, helping establish its reputation for warmth, clarity, and punch.
The uniqueness of the Sadowsky design lies in its JFET-based topology, which is the solid-state equivalent of vacuum tubes. Unlike op-amp circuits that can cut and boost with variable mid controls, the FET circuit provides a specific musical character that cannot be duplicated by other designs. The two-band EQ is boost-only by design: bass control provides +13dB boost at 40Hz, while treble control offers +13dB boost at 4kHz. This limitation is intentional, as it's not possible to do cut and boost with a FET circuit without affecting the other frequency curves.
The pedal features intuitive controls for Volume, Bass, and Treble, plus two footswitches for preamp bypass and mute with live tuner output. Additional features include a ground lift switch for the DI and a low battery indicator LED. The frequency response spans 5Hz-20.9kHz with remarkably low total harmonic distortion of just 0.18% at 1kHz. The output impedance of 1K Ohm ensures compatibility with any bass amplifier or recording interface.
Built in a steel chassis measuring 4.5 inches x 4.5 inches x 2.25 inches and weighing only 1.5 pounds, the SBP-1 makes the legendary Sadowsky tone accessible in a compact, pedalboard-friendly format. With an extraordinarily efficient 11mA current draw providing 870 hours of battery life, this is an essential tool for bassists seeking professional tone shaping and direct recording capabilities.
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