Demeter VTBP-201S Preamp

Pretty basic setup and not much to fool around with. However, all the features it does have are very logical and useful. See previous reviews for features.

I think that a low-end boost switch would do this preamp wonders. This is also one of the older, black-face 1.5U models. Why would anyone make rackmount gear in half sizes?

Duncan jazz pickups on both my basses (Warmoth Explorer & Fender Jazz) - one active, one passive. This unit runs through a Mackie i1400. Like previous reviewers have said, it's not very versatile at all. You'll only be able to coax subtle variations of the one sound you'll get out of this preamp. And the one sound you get, you'll either love or you'll hate and will only sound as good as the bass you're playing.

Having said that, you will definitely want to have a decent bass. It doesn't matter how much it costs, the biggest deciding factor I've come across is how your bass sounds unplugged. If it's loud and has a good bass response without an amp, it will sound BEAUTIFUL through this amp!

It's a few years old and has barely a scratch on it. I'd say it's reliable.

I haven't had the pleasure yet (and hopefully won't need to) but I've heard a lot of good things.

The only thing I wish it had is a low-end boost switch (like the Ampeg's ultra-low). I think that would multiply the usefulness of this preamp ten-fold. As it is now, it's darn near perfect. Just remember, whatever you put in is almost exactly what you're going to get out. It's not forgiving of mistakes and crappy equipment.

My Demeter 1.5 rack space "black face" VTBP-201 preamp was built in 1997. Features have been described by the other reviewers here. This is a world-class preamp that has been recognized as such for over a decade. As mentioned earlier, the reason this category does not get a 10 is because the EQ is very limited in its tone shaping abilities. It DOES allow you to modify the sound and tone; however, the classic demeter tube-tone remains relatively consistent and "up front" with whatever EQ changes you make. The other "nice to have" would have been a line-level XLR-out jack. The very nice Jensen DI is a mic level DI signal that has issues driving a power amp. The unbalanced 1/4 inch output jacks are very clean, however, and I really have no complaints concerning their function.

I play a G&L L2000/Dean Edge 4 Fretless/1987 Fender Power Jazz Special through a Boss ME-50B multi effects/compression board into this preamp. Post preamp I run the signal through an ART 451 EQ into a QSC PLX 2402 power amp. The Demeter sound is simply fantastic. I have rolled several tube types through this preamp, and I've settled on some NOS JAN GE 7025 tubes (12AX7's). If I had to use a word, the tone just drips with harmonics - nice and even and full. If anything, this preamp's tone is very "modern" in the sense that it sparkles on the higher side of the EQ. If a vintage bassy tone is needed, switch the 60/120Hz switch to 60 and boost the bass EQ et voila'...

I bought it used, but it's going strong after 8 years...enough said. I'm giving it a 9 because I've had to open it up twice now to keep tightening the unbalanced jack housings.

I contacted them for some amplifying information about the amp - James Demeter responded personally. Nice.

Just a great preamp. I run it through a PLX 2402 into two cabs (and use the Jensen DI out into the PA board). Very versatile, clean, and powerful pre with a super "tubey" tone. I would definitely consider another (single-space version) if this were lost/stolen. Overall it's a 9 due to the limited EQ'ing control and lack of a line-level, balanced out way of driving the power amp, but I'm picking nits here. The mic level output is super quiet and clean, so the sound through the PA is just awesome. I've been playing for 20 years, and I've found my sound (and don't plan to change for the foreseeable future).

I have this pre amp for about 12 years. Its the older model which uses the metal pin switches. One for the 60/120 hz and one for the 3khz/6khz. The newer I saw them use the 2khz and 4 khz. Thats a bad Idea as I feel the 6khz starting point is better. The front plate name and other writings ( Treble, Mid. bass, low, high imputs etc) are almost completely faded. I had to use a sticker in the back to tell which was the outs, returns send etc. I wish they had a better quality paint or whatever they used to write on. But the hardware are very good and well made - knobs, inputs etc. Other than the writing I would have given it a 10 as it is built great. But 1 1/2 rack space?

This is a one tone amp. Not alot of tones but its an amp that you buy for its limited tone shaping quality. Either you like the tone you can get or you don't. If you turn the treble or mids or bass it won't give you any drastic changes. In fact it won't change the tone that much at all. But its clean. I do use a tc electronics 1140 parametric with it. But by itself i wish there was alittle bit more tone shaping. Just alittle. But again its a clean tone and when used with a eq you can really dial in a tone you are better satified with.

Well 12 years! Still working. Changed the tubes. Used a 12ax7 mesa boogie. Works well.

Called in 1996 and told them about the fading front and back plate. said they would change it for 85 dollars. I would have done it for nothing and tried to figure out a better material. But i think im the only one with this problem as i know another bassist who has one, and does not look like he has the same problem. But they do answer you when you call so thats good. Some companies think of you as a bother.

I like the pre. If it were stolen i would not get another although its a very good pre. I think i would go to something else. But again i like it and i can see why it is somewhat popular.

I purchased the Demeter preamp about 10 years ago. I was looking for a good preamp or DI box to amp my bass thru the house board. I also needed a good preamp for a the studio work that I did. The Demeter was a top rated preamp by Bass Guitar mag at the time. I like simiplicity in amps or preamps - I do not want complicated eq's, crossover, or comprssion. I can get the different sounds by adjusting tone on the bass guitar. I use the preamp for producing a good signal to the house board. Most amp heads do not have a good clean preamp output. If you get this preamp, get one with balanced outputs (XLR).

The Demeter is the cleanest sound I have heard even when volume is turned up to 10. The Demeter bass preamp can also be used as a mic, acoustic guitar preamp or other with good results. The engineer at a studio liked the clean sound even when using the Demeter as a mic preamp.

The amp fell over in the back of my truck and it still works great.

Never had to deal with customer support.

Started playing in 1980 I believe. I play Stingray MM and Kramer. I have used a DI

The other guy listed all the features the Demeter has. I wish this preamp had more eq flexability. I find mids to be lacking. With the bass eq switch at 60Hz the sound is way to scooped for me, but I'm sure slappers would love it. Setting it at 120Hz gives it more beef but still leaves something lacking in the low mids. All the other features are pretty straight forward.

You can make this pre sound pretty overdriven and vintage with a passive bass by turning the up the volume about three quarters of the way. You can also make it sound very crisp and modern with and active bass by bringing the volume just around half way with the presence centered in the middle. I find I never really need to do any drastic eqing on this pre.

The Demeter is built solid. The knobs will never break! It's very easy to work on due to it's simple layout (not that I've ever had to due anything major on it). All I've ever had to due is change the tubes, that's it.

I've had this pre for three years and I've used it in a huge variety of musical situations (rock, funk, top 40, country). It's been very good to me but I'm ready to move on to something new. It's size is pretty awkward (1 1/2 rack spaces) and once you get a two space power amp and power conditioner in the rack it's not the most portable head around. This is one of the better bass pre's out there, but if you're looking for something with lots of meat and potatoes there are some other amps you should check out (SVT, Mpulse600).

Bought in 2003.
This tube bass preamp is versatile enough for my needs. It has three switches for "bright", "bass" boost point, and "presence" boost point. It has four tone knobs: "treble", "middle", "bass", and "presence". So there are a lot of different combinations to get various tones.
There are more versatile preamps out there and I tried several, but I haven't heard one that matches the tone of this preamp.

The unit sounds pretty fair with stock tubes, but much better with higher quality tubes (I put an older stock GE 12AX7 into the main socket and left the stock Electro-Harmonix 12AX7 in the other). It sounds much smoother and more musical now.

I play a EB MM StingRay 5 into the Dem pre run into a QSC PLX1602 power amp through a Bergantino HT322 speaker cab. There is really very good synergy using these units together. I can always dial in a tone that cuts through and sounds fantastic.

I play everything from DP's "Smoke On The Water" to country and jazz with this rig and it sounds great. I can get a very good, smooth overdriven sound or a very articulate and punchy tone.
I have heard some (including "Bass Player" magazine) say that it is a little shy in the low bass, but I haven't found that to be the case (maybe they didn't have the right speaker cab). Depending on the room I'm playing in, I sometimes cut the bass just a little to keep the acoustics from getting muddy. Usually, I use a very small amount of bass boost at my bass guitar and the low end is extremely powerful and rich.

I have never had any problems with this preamp.
It seems to be very well made.
I don't have a backup unit for it.

Customer support is pretty good. I've talked to them a few times with some questions and they are fairly responsive.

The "Manual" that I got with it was a one page memeographed flyer (not real impressive).

I've been playing for 10 years or a little more. This rig replaced a Nemesis NC-210P combo amp.
If it were lost, I would check out a couple of other preamps that have come out since I bought this, but I am very happy with it for now.
When I bought this preamp, I compared it to an Alembic F-1X, an Aguilar DB659, an Aguilar DB750 head, a Mesa-Boogie M-Pulse 600, and an Ashdown ABM-500 Evo II head.
I liked the Demeter preamp sound better than them all.