Demeter Amplification HBP-1 Tube Bass Preamp

No sales tax for US customers outside California.

The Demeter HBP-1 is a tube-driven bass preamp that has earned a long-standing reputation among professional bassists for its clean, open, and harmonically rich character. A tube-based signal path delivers a warmth and three-dimensional quality that solid-state preamps don't replicate, while still maintaining the clarity and punch. This unit is in excellent condition.

James Demeter has been building hand-wired, USA-made preamps in small quantities since the early 1980s, and the HBP-1 has been a cornerstone of his line for decades. It has appeared on professional stages and studio sessions precisely because it doesn't impose color — it preserves the natural voice of the bass while adding the body and presence that a tube gain stage provides. The HBP-1 includes a direct output, making it equally at home in a studio rack as on a live rig. Demeter builds in limited numbers, and units in excellent condition represent a straightforward way into a genuinely high-quality tube bass preamp without the compromises of mass-market gear.

Tested in our shop, this unit is ready to go!

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Shipping Policy
By completing your purchase you are agreeing to this shipping policy. Shipments require signature on delivery, no exceptions. Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely. If there is damage, retain all packing materials intact, photograph them immediately, and send the photos to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com.

Amplifiers: We take additional precautions to prevent common shipping damage. Depending on the amp, this may include removing tubes, pulling the chassis from the cabinet if heavy transformers present a drop risk, or removing heavy speakers that could crack baffles in transit. Reassembly is required on delivery — we label everything clearly. These measures add to shipping costs but reflect hard-won experience. Vintage amplifiers (20 years or older) are sold as-is — all amps are tested in our shop upon intake and again before shipping. We cover shipping damage but cannot be responsible for the failure of vintage components in instruments that are 20 to 50-plus years old.