Art Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp

Most Liked Positive Review

You won't go wrong on this $40 investment...just change the tube.

I bought this when I was looking for a Tube DI for my bass effects chain, to use when I'm playing a small venue where I go from my bass-effects-DI-board, as my combo/practice amp doesn't have a balanced XLR out, and if I brought just one of my cab's (1- 4X10 Ampeg, & 1- 1X15 Ampeg) with my rack head (SWR SM-500), it would bleed through the drum mics, (Tried it) and running the head with no cabs into the board, even with SWR's tube-pre, really seems to mess with the head's day. Our PA monitors punch my bass back at me without distorting, even on the low B, and we have powered subs with crossovers to split the high register off to the mains. SOLID sound, but a bit to "mechanical" or tin-bright...no tube stank on it. Thought I'd give this a try as it says makes a great tube DI. First time I plugged it in, I cranked her up & let her get nice and burnt in before I started playing through it. Dialed down the knobs to blend with everyone else for sound check with the board tech, it didn't sound like an OLD Ampeg tube-pre/tube-power SVT head, but it took the face peeling bite off my bass and gave it a slightly warmer, softer smack in the face. We tried different configurations and settings, worked well in some, some not so much. I did notice the tube didn't really have the clarity, after a set, that it did when it wasn't being "worked". So, I dug into "Cannibal" (the bag I keep all spare parts, and parts I've cannibalized from gear over the years) and found 3 12AX7 tubes, one used, 2 new. Tried the Stovek, ehh, put in the new Groove Tubes, much better, but a little thuddy on the low end, finally JJ Gold Pin. BINGO!!! Nice even rounded tone. Each application is different, the Stovek might be rockin for what you're doing, just didn't ring my bell, I play only passive basses as I go through a 10 band EQ and tube-pre driver pedal, if you use onboard preamp, roll off the low boost and the Groove Tube might be your thing. Anyway, took their tube and put it in the JJ box and marked what it was in case of tube breakdown mid show (has happened in my Messa and SWR heads, neither of them cost $40.00...), and away we went. From the first night we used that set-up, I started getting compliments on how it cut through, but was more "rounded", not as sharp and piercing. Play everything from Collective Soul to Dave Matthews, P-Funk to James Taylor, Stevie to originals. Durability, I can't speak on, as I haven't had it long, but a quick, simple, cheap way to enhance your sound for the better? You won't go wrong.