Laney DIGBETH Series DB-PRE - Bass Guitar Pre Amplifier Pedal

Oh, you want to talk about the Laney DB-PRE? Buckle up — this thing’s not an amp, it’s a weaponized tone machine for bass players who want to sound like they mean it.

What It Is

The DB-PRE is the preamp pedal from Laney’s Digbeth line — the same family that gave us those classy, punchy amps. It’s basically the front end of a Digbeth amp, shrunk down into a stompbox that you can throw in your gig bag. Think of it as a Swiss Army knife for bass tone: part vintage warmth, part modern clarity, and all attitude.

What It Does

Here’s where the magic happens:

• Dual Signal Paths: You’ve got Tube and FET channels — and you can blend them. The Tube side gives you that gooey, vintage growl; the FET side keeps things clean, tight, and articulate. Want your tone to sound like butter and razor blades at the same time? This is how.

• 3-Band EQ: Bass, Mid, Treble — each one actually does something (looking at you, useless EQ knobs on cheap pedals).

• Tilt Control: A clever single knob that shifts your tone from dark and thick to bright and snappy, without fiddling endlessly.

• Switchable Overdrive: Kick it in for a bit of dirt or full-on grind. It reacts beautifully to your playing dynamics, so you can go from smooth to snarling just by digging in.

• DI and Line Outputs: Because Laney knows you’re not always dragging a full rig. Plug straight into a mixing desk, recording interface, or PA and still sound like a boss.

• Headphone Out & AUX In: Perfect for practicing quietly or warming up backstage.

Why It’s Cool

• It’s ridiculously versatile. Want clean studio tone? Done. Want vintage Ampeg-ish wool? Easy. Need modern punch with a hint of grit? Twist a couple of knobs and you’re there.

• Built like a tank. Metal chassis, solid switches, and a layout that says, “Yeah, I’m road-ready.”

• Looks sharp. That Digbeth design aesthetic — a little retro, a little industrial — makes it look like it came from the future and the 1970s at the same time.

• Great for recording. Plug it into your interface and you’ve got a polished, mix-ready bass tone without needing an amp mic’d up in a closet.