Amplifying an upright bass is challenging. Acoustic instruments are alive and sound very different depending on the environment and the physics of the room. The new Stanley Clarke Signature Acoustic Preamp by EBS is a device designed to meet all these challenges.

This analog 2-channel preamp is built exclusively with premium components. It is engineered and designed by EBS together with the legendary bass player and composer Stanley Clarke. It is created for use with upright bass, but very well equipped to handle other acoustic instruments as well. It can be used with electric bass as well.

Designed by EBS and Stanley Clarke

The Stanley Clarke Signature Acoustic Preamp is a 2-channel preamp, built exclusively with premium components. It is engineered and designed by EBS together with the legendary bass player and composer Stanley Clarke.

Professional grade signal level

Since the preamp operates at a signal level equal to professional mixing consoles it provides a huge amount of headroom. The superior signal quality makes it suitable to use as a preamp in combination with any power amp. The headroom and specific features make it ideal for handling the complex sonic characteristics of an upright bass.

Two channels - with a secret weapon

The A and B channels both feature an input GAIN control and an EQ strip with BASS, MIDS (pick the frequency range with one knob and cut or boost in that range with another) and TREBLE. They both also have a secret weapon, a control knob that can be used either as a HIGH PASS or NOTCH filter. A switch decides the function, while the control knob picks the frequency range. The notch and high pass filters are excellent tools to prevent unwanted feedback and adjust the sound to the characteristics of the room and your instrument.

Individual input options

With 10 Mohms input impedance for both the A and B channels, it handles any instrument with passive, active, or high impedance piezo pickups. The A channel also provides support for Electret pickups when activating a dedicated switch. The B channel allows you to use a 48V Phantom powered (or passive) dynamic or condenser microphone as the source via an XLR-input. Choose whether to use the XLR or 1/4"-input for the B channel with a switch.

The preamp lets you jump between the A and B channels to allow for different settings when you play with a bow or pizzicato or mix the two if you use two different input sources.

Blending two different sound input sources can sometimes cause a phase issue. If that occurs, a Phase Inverter switch, attached to the A channel, will solve the problem.

Outputs and additional features

Hook up additional effects in serial or parallel through the EFFECTS LOOP (requires a Y-split insert cable). A TUNER OUT lets you plug in an external tuner. A BALANCED XLR-OUTPUT sends a studio-quality line signal to front-of-house or a recording device. Use it in conjunction with a Speaker Simulator and use the Ground Lift to prevent hum. The Aux Input and professional-grade Headphones output makes practicing and learning new songs easy.

“I have been using this new preamp on every show and in the studio since November 2019, when I got the final sample in my hands. It has become a mainstay to my upright bass sound. I think it is absolutely essential for every acoustic bass player to own one of these. The 2-channel preamp allows you to have a completely different setting for bowing and pizzicato at the push of a button.

The effects loop, EQ, ¼”, and XLR input and outputs make it extremely versatile for stage or studio. It even sounds great on the electric bass.”, comments Stanley Clarke.

Key features:

2-channel preamp (A/B or A+B)
Operates with Studio-grade signal quality for maximum headroom.
10 Mohm Impedance inputs (both channels) to handle piezo pickups.
Individual High Pass/Notch Filter for each channel to handle unwanted feedback.
XLR microphone input with Phantom Power (channel B).
Electret pickup support (channel A)
Phase Inverter to handle any phase issues that may occur when mixing input sources.
Tuner output
Effects Loop (serial/parallel)
Balanced Output (with Speaker Simulator and Ground Lift)
Aux Input and professional-grade headphones output.
Power Supply included.