i owned the aphex.. if do you need a comp with a di..it worths to spend money..but if you need a preamp who gives your sound,(as recording bass-mixer), but with a touch of beef....i suggest other.
i had your same matter...
for recording i used to sound only bass(jazz)-mixer, and i loved absolutly that sound;but since the sound wass very very flat and articulated, it was not easy to play,and i needed a lot of concentracion on my touch to play perfect as a rec needs.
I solved this little problem thanks to this:
[attachment=17831:IMGP2120.JPG]
it give the same perfect sound of a super natural jazz bass.BUT with the little beef to allow you to esecute your bass lines easier, and allowing you to give more dinamic to your sound(for example play a note stronger without get harshy and annoing sounds).
today i had a rec, and the sound engineer doens't stop to congratulate with me for my execution. he saved the FIRST rec of the bass. yes the hands are important, but this great pre-amp was helpful to me, and it costs as a pedal.
listen to this song: [url="http://www.gospel.bo.it/albums/userpics/10137/L_Una_-_un_po__di_me.mp3"]http://www.gospel.bo.it/albums/userpics/10...n_po__di_me.mp3[/url]
the sound engineer doesn't touch the bass rec,is it absolutely as I played. (both pups open, tone closed)