The Sadowsky SBP-1 is a bass preamp/DI pedal from Sadowsky that puts the company's instrument preamp into a stompbox. Bass Musician Magazine describes the SBP-1 and its sibling the SBP-2 as pedals that "put the exact FET-based circuit used in Sadowsky basses into a standalone pedal," giving players the Sadowsky tone-shaping approach without owning a Sadowsky instrument1. Roger Sadowsky put it plainly in the magazine's 2017 review: "Our preamp pedals are a way for people to get the Sadowsky sound with basically any other passive or active bass"2.
The circuit and where it came from
The SBP-1 is built around the preamp Sadowsky uses in its basses. Roger Sadowsky told Bass Musician Magazine, "It's the same circuit that we use in all Sadowsky basses"2. Bass Player's review, published on Sadowsky's own site, notes two defining traits: the pedal "uses discrete JFETs for buffering and amplification," and it has a "boost-only EQ circuit," meaning the bass and treble controls add gain at their chosen frequencies rather than cutting3.
The pedal has a family history. The SBP-1 and SBP-2 are preamp/DI pedals made by Sadowsky, and both are built on the same circuit used in all Sadowsky basses2.
"Chasing a specific classic tone? Joyo Tidal Wave (SansAmp-style) or Sadowsky SBP-1/SBP-2"
Controls
The SBP-1's EQ is deliberately simple: two boost-only bands in the Sadowsky style3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Bass | Boost-only EQ, +18dB @ 40Hz |
| Treble | Boost-only EQ, +18dB @ 4kHz |
Because the bands boost rather than cut, players shape the tone by setting the boosts and pulling back overall level where needed, the classic approach to this kind of preamp.
Power and connections
The SBP-1 runs on 18 volts at 250mA, and an adapter is included in the box3. Its input is a single 1/4" jack, with a 1 megohm input impedance that suits passive bass pickups3. Bass Player's review also lists a balanced DI output, a footswitchable mute and a tuner out for silent tuning among the SBP-1's features3.
The 18-volt requirement rules out a standard pedalboard supply or daisy chain. Use the included adapter or an 18V output rated for at least 250mA3.
For comparison, the SBP-1's street price at the time of the 2017 review was $190, against $290 for the SBP-23. For more gear in this category, see Bass Pedals and Preamp Pedals.
Videos
Sadowsky
Charles Bautista Music
Dave On Bass
Questions
Is the Sadowsky SBP-1 the same circuit as the SBP-2?
Yes. According to Bass Player's review, the SBP-1 and SBP-2 are largely the same circuit, based on Sadowsky's onboard preamp design. Roger Sadowsky told Bass Musician Magazine that it is the same circuit used in all Sadowsky basses. The SBP-2 carries a higher street price, $290 against the SBP-1's $190 as of the 2017 review.
Does the Sadowsky SBP-1 have a DI output?
Yes. Bass Player's review lists a balanced DI output among the SBP-1's features, alongside a footswitchable mute and a tuner out for silent tuning. The SBP-2's outputs are listed as an unbalanced 1/4" out, an unbalanced 1/4" tuner out and a balanced XLR.
Does the Sadowsky SBP-1 run on a battery?
The published specifications give the SBP-1's power as 18 volts at 250mA with an adapter included, so it runs off the supplied adapter rather than a low-voltage pedal supply. That 18-volt requirement is worth keeping in mind if you power a board from a standard 9V daisy chain.
Can the SBP-1 mute the signal for tuning?
Yes. Bass Player's review lists a footswitchable mute and a tuner out for silent tuning among the SBP-1's features, so you can tune without your signal reaching the front of house or your amp.
Is the Sadowsky SBP-1 made in the USA?
Yes. Bass Player's review of the SBP-1 and SBP-2 lists the pedals as Made in USA.
Does the SBP-1 work with passive basses?
Yes. Roger Sadowsky told Bass Musician Magazine that the preamp pedals are a way for people to get the Sadowsky sound with basically any other passive or active bass. The pedal's 1 megohm input impedance is also suited to passive pickups.
Sources (3)
- Best Bass Preamps and DI Pedals We've Reviewed (So Far), Bass Musician Magazine, 2026-08-24
- Review - Sadowsky Preamp/DI Pedals SBP 1 and SBP 2 - Bass Musician Magazine, The Face of Bass, Bass Musician Magazine, 2017-05-29
- 8_2017_BP_preamp_pedal_reviews.pdf, Bass Player (bassplayer.com), hosted on sadowsky.com, 2017-08
