The Aguilar AG Preamp/DI Pedal - Breast Cancer Awareness Edition is a limited rose gold version of Aguilar's AG Preamp, a preamp and direct box pedal for bass. Aguilar describes the AG preamp as "revered for its tight, fast response and wide tonal flexibility," and this edition places that sound in a compact pedal/DI format with a 4-band EQ, footswitchable Deep and Bright boosts, a headphone output and a balanced XLR DI out12. It is a preamp in the sense covered on the Preamp Pedals type page: it shapes and buffers your bass signal rather than adding drive the way overdrive pedals or distortion pedals do.
The AG preamp and DI in a compact pedal
The pedal takes its cues from Aguilar's AG series, according to Bass Magazine's announcement of the awareness edition3. Aguilar positions it as an "incredibly flexible tool for shaping tone both on stage and" in the studio, in Bass Magazine's words, combining a preamp for shaping your core bass tone with a direct box for sending a balanced signal to a mixing console3. The DI section is a balanced DI with pre/post and ground lift controls, so you can take the DI feed before or after the preamp's tone shaping and lift the ground connection if a venue's power causes hum4.
The controls
The AG Preamp carries a 4-band EQ with Bass, Treble, Low Mid and Hi Mid bands2. Bass Magazine's write-up of the awareness edition lists the front-panel controls as "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 level5 |
| Treble, Hi Mid, Low Mid, Bass | 4-band EQ for shaping tone2 |
| Master | Controls output level5 |
| Headphone Mix | Controls mix of bass signal and aux-in in headphones5 |
| Deep and Bright footswitches | Footswitchable broadband "Deep" and "Bright" boosts1 |
The Deep and Bright switches are footswitchable broadband boosts, so you can kick in low-end weight or top-end cut from the floor mid-song1.
Power and connections: 18V
The pedal runs on 18 volts. Aguilar's product page lists the power requirement as an "18v power supply" with "18 volt operation. DC power source not included," meaning no adapter ships in the box1. Bass Magazine noted that "its 18-volt operation allows for clean and transparent tone" in their coverage of the release3.
The AG Preamp/DI runs on 18 volts, and a DC power source is not included1. It is not a pedal you can run from a battery, so plan for an 18V outlet on your power supply before adding it to a board. Aguilar says the 18-volt operation allows for clean and transparent tone3.
Connections are straightforward: one 1/4-inch instrument input and one Aux In on the input side, and one 1/4-inch output jack, one XLR with a nominal output of 14 dBu balanced, and a Headphone Out on the output side1. The headphone output and aux input make the pedal usable for silent practice: the Headphone Mix control blends your bass with an aux source in the phones5.
A limited edition with a charity donation
The Breast Cancer Awareness Edition is the third in Aguilar's series of limited-edition pedals created specifically for breast cancer awareness, announced by Bass Magazine on October 1, 2024, when it became available for Breast Cancer Awareness Month "only while supplies last"3. Aguilar reintroduced the rose gold edition in October 20261. With every sale, a part of the proceeds is donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to prevention and finding a cure for breast cancer32.
Visually it stands apart from the standard AG Preamp: Aguilar calls it a "stunning rose gold pedal with unique ribbon and rose graphic"1. Aguilar's own page puts it plainly: "Available in limited quantities, this pedal is a collector's dream and a way to show your support for a great cause!"1
"With every sale of the Aguilar Breast Cancer Awareness AG Preamp/DI Pedal, a part of the proceeds will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation."
Functionally, the awareness edition carries the same preamp and DI feature set as the standard AG Preamp pedal: the same 4-band EQ, Deep and Bright boosts, headphone output, aux input and balanced DI with pre/post and ground lift24. The differences are the rose gold finish with the ribbon and rose graphic, the limited availability, and the donation tied to each sale.
Videos
The Bass Channel
Questions
Does the Aguilar AG Preamp/DI pedal come with a power supply?
No. Aguilar's product page lists 18 volt operation with a DC power source not included, so you supply your own 18v power supply. Because the pedal runs on 18 volts rather than 9, a standard 9V daisy-chain output will not run it, so plan your board's power accordingly.
Does the Aguilar AG Preamp/DI pedal have an XLR output?
Yes. The pedal has one XLR output with a nominal output of 14 dBu balanced, alongside a 1/4-inch output jack and a headphone output. The balanced DI includes pre/post and ground lift controls, which let you choose whether the DI signal is taken before or after the EQ and deal with ground hum on stage.
Is the Breast Cancer Awareness edition different from the standard AG Preamp?
The circuitry is the same AG Preamp/DI design; the difference is the finish and the cause. The awareness edition is a rose gold pedal with a unique ribbon and rose graphic, sold in limited quantities, with part of the proceeds donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The standard AG Preamp pedal carries the same preamp and DI feature set in Aguilar's regular finish.
Does the Aguilar AG Preamp/DI pedal have a headphone output?
Yes. The pedal includes a built-in headphone output and an auxiliary input, with a Headphone Mix control that sets the blend of your bass signal and the aux-in source in the headphones. That makes it usable for quiet practice along with a track as well as for stage and studio duty.
What warranty does the Aguilar AG Preamp/DI pedal have?
Aguilar Amplification's products, including this pedal, are covered by a three year limited warranty to the original owner against defects in materials and workmanship, according to the maker's product page.
Sources (5)
- AG Preamp Pedal, Aguilar Shop
- 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 (aguilaramp.com)
- AG Preamp Pedal, Aguilar Shop (aguilaramp.com)
