In this we will go through a few of the most common questions regarding the LHZ-03 bass preamp: What’s in the box? Will it fit in my bass? How do I take the liner off the 3M VHB tape? One of the joys of this project is talking to players of every experience level. Truly, there is no such thing as a dumb question! I enjoy sharing what I know and helping others on their tone journey, so if you…
In this video we take a look at two of the most common reasons for rapid battery drain in a bass with an LHZ preamp. A 9 volt battery should last 6-8 months of normal use. However, certain wiring issues can cause an active preamp and pickups to always be powered on and reduced battery life to only a few weeks. While this video specifies the LHZ preamp, the same issues and resolutions apply to almost all active preamps that…
In this video we’ll reveal the opamps that were used in the Blind Opamp Comparison video. This is a longish video, but it goes into a lot of the psychoacoustic challenges that make listening tests difficult (if not impossible) when the difference between the samples is small.
LHZ Preamps have transitioned from the vintage LF442CN opamps to new chips. The LF442CN has been out of production for many years, and Hazlabs have moved to modern surface-mount op-amps a few years ago, so it’s our time to turn the page as well! This video is a blind comparison between 3 opamps: the original LF442CN and two of the new opamps that have been selected as being sonically indistinguishable from the original. Although we are calling this a “blind”…
This is a Spector Rebop 5 model with a 40P5 at the neck, 40TW at the bridge (in Single Coil mode), and the LHZ preamp.
This is a Spector Skylar Accord model with a 40P5 at the neck, 40DC at the bridge, and the LHZ preamp. Audio chain is a Mesa Subway DI Preamp into my PreSonus interface. There are no effects or overdrive, just a little bit of compression.
In this video we answer the question “What happens to my active preamp when my battery dies?” This is a common questions from players buying a bass with active electronics for the first time. The good news is this: your preamp will NOT just die in mid performance! Instead, failing batteries just slowly fade out over many months so you have plenty of advance notice.
The LHZ preamp does exactly what the original 80’s HazLabs did: the EQ was specifically tuned for US Spector® basses. The circuit design is unique in that the initial stage greatly boosts the treble before the EQ stage, and then that boost is removed. This causes the preamp to generate high frequency harmonic content that acts somewhat like an exciter to bring out more detail, particularly when the EQ is boosted. The end result depends on your playing dynamics. If…
This is a Bass & Drums only solo section demo of a Spector Euro 4 with LHZ Preamp. Bass is recorded over isolated Vinnie Paul drum track.
I bought the LHZ-02 HazLabs preamp clone for my Spector NS-2A which I purchased in the 1990’s without the original pickups and HazLabs preamp. It had Seymour Duncan Basslines PJ pickups and preamp installed instead.
I’m loving this in my 5 LX and will be getting a second one for the intended NS-2A.
