The Aguilar AG Preamp is a preamp pedal and direct box for bass, released by Aguilar Amplification on July 17, 20231. It puts the company's AG preamp sound into a compact pedal format: an ultra clean preamp with a highly flexible four-band EQ, footswitchable Deep and Bright boosts, a headphone output with an aux input for silent practice, and a balanced XLR DI output for feeding a PA or recording setup2. Aguilar announced it as "an exceptional tool for precise and clear tone shaping" for bassists1.
The pedal inherits what Aguilar describes as the AG preamp's "tight, fast response and extensive tonal flexibility"1. Operating at 18 volts, it is built for generous headroom and pristine signal integrity1, and the maker describes its character as clean and transparent2.
What the AG Preamp does for a bass tone
The AG Preamp is a tone-shaping tool rather than a drive pedal: it sets the gain structure of your signal and lets you sculpt the frequency balance with a four-band EQ21. Aguilar says the four-band EQ "empowers bassists to sculpt their tone with finesse"1. Because it also carries a DI output with pre/post and ground lift controls, the same pedal that shapes your tone on stage can feed the front of house or an interface, which Aguilar calls "an ideal solution for live performances"1.
The circuit takes its cues from Aguilar's AG series of amplifiers, the company's long-running preamp voicing3. The maker describes the result as revered for its "tight, fast response and wide tonal flexibility"2.
The controls: gain, master and a four-band EQ
The front panel follows the layout of a studio-style preamp. Gain sets the input sensitivity, Master sets the output level, and the four EQ bands each cut or boost at a fixed frequency2. Bass Magazine's announcement described the controls simply: "Gain, Treble, High Mid, Low Mid, Bass, and Volume controls dial in that perfect tone time after time"3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Controls input sensitivity level2 |
| Bass | +/- 17 dB at 40 Hz2 |
| Low Mid | +/- 15 dB at 300 Hz2 |
| High Mid | +/- 14 dB at 800 Hz2 |
| Treble | +/- 14 dB at 4 kHz2 |
| Master | Controls output level2 |
The two mid bands at 300 Hz and 800 Hz are where most of a bass's body and growl live, so having separate cut and boost over each, rather than a single mid sweep, gives fine control over how the instrument sits in a mix2.
Alongside the EQ are the footswitchable Deep and Bright controls. These are broadband boosts rather than narrow EQ moves: Aguilar says they "further enhance the bass sound, providing added depth and presence"1. The maker's page for the limited edition describes them as footswitchable "Deep" and "Bright" broadband boost4. Because they switch underfoot, they work as an on-the-fly second voice: Deep for a fuller low end, Bright for more cut, both without touching the knobs. An Engage footswitch bypasses the pedal's effect3.
Power and connections: 18V, XLR DI and headphone out
The AG Preamp runs on an 18V power supply2. Aguilar says the 18-volt operation "allows for clean and transparent tone"3, and the launch announcement ties the higher voltage to generous headroom and pristine signal integrity1. Note that the DC power source is not included with the pedal5.
Connections cover stage, studio and silent practice23:
- Input: one 1/4" jack2
- Aux in: for playing along with a backing track through the pedal2
- Output: one 1/4" jack2
- DI output: one XLR, nominal output 14 dBu balanced, with pre/post and ground lift controls21
- Headphone out: built-in headphone amplifier for practice23
The DI's pre/post switch decides whether the XLR signal is taken before or after the EQ section, and the ground lift breaks ground loops between the pedal and a PA or interface1. The design is lightweight and compact4.
History and versions, including the Breast Cancer Awareness Edition
Aguilar Amplification announced the AG Preamp pedal on July 17, 2023, available at MAP $299.99 through authorized dealers1.
"This year we introduce the AG Preamp BCAM Limited Edition pedal."
Bass Magazine, October 20243
Aguilar's products, including the AG Preamp, are covered by a three year limited warranty2.
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Questions
Does the Aguilar AG Preamp have a ground lift?
Yes. The pedal's XLR DI output includes ground lift controls alongside a pre/post switch, so you can break a ground loop with a PA or recording interface and choose whether the DI signal is taken before or after the EQ. Aguilar positions this combination as an ideal solution for live performances.
What do the deep and bright switches on the AG Preamp do?
They are footswitchable broadband boosts. Deep adds low-end depth across the bass range and Bright adds presence across the treble range, and both can be toggled while playing. They sit alongside the four-band EQ as a quick way to reshape the overall character of the tone.
Is the AG Preamp DI pre or post EQ?
It can be either. The XLR balanced DI output has a pre/post control, so the signal sent to the desk can be taken before the EQ section or after it. Use pre EQ when you want the engineer to shape the house sound themselves, and post EQ when you want your dialed-in tone sent out directly.
How much does the Aguilar AG Preamp cost?
The AG Preamp pedal launched at MAP $299.99 when it became available on July 17, 2023 through authorized Aguilar Amplification dealers. The limited edition Breast Cancer Awareness version was also announced at $299.99 in October 2024.
Sources (5)
- Gear News: Aguilar Amplification Unveils the AG Preamp Pedal, Bass Musician Magazine, 2023-07-17
- AG Preamp Pedal, Aguilar Shop (aguilaramp.com)
- Aguilar Amplification Announces Limited Edition Breast Cancer Awareness AG Preamp/DI Pedal, Bass Magazine, 2024-10-01
- AG Preamp Pedal, Aguilar Shop (aguilaramp.com)
- AG Preamp Pedal, Aguilar Shop (aguilaramp.com)
