Bartolini AGDB/918-2 Adjustable Gain Buffer Preamp for Magnetic Pickups

The AGB/918-2 is a buffer preamp that features adjustable gain which allows you to boost the input signal up to 12dB while maintaining flat frequency response. It is less than 1/2 the size of a 9-volt battery making it ideal for instruments with limited cavity space. The AGB/918-2 provides a strong output signal and isolation from external equipment that may otherwise adversely affect pickup tone. It is often used to make a passive instrument active with very little effort. With only four wires to connect — power, ground, input and output — it is a simple way to add flexibility and power to your guitar or bass with active or passive pickups.

The AGDB/918-2 provides two independent buffers in the same space as the AGB/918-2. This is great for separately boosting two pickups into either a simple dual-volume setup or even into an EQ preamp. When you have two passive pickups with low output, you can easily boost and isolate them with the AGDB/918-2 — effectively making them active pickups.

Like all of Bartolini preamps, the AGB and AGDB are internally shielded to reject electromagnetic noise and include internal filters to block AM and FM radio on the inputs. Bartolini set the standard of fully sealing the sensitive electronics. They use professional double tin-plated pure copper wire with durable semi-rigid insulation. This ensures the 4” pre-stripped wires don’t flop around in the cavity and the wires don’t cut through the insulation over time.

Either preamp can be used with either a single 9-volt battery (9-volt operation) or two 9-volt batteries wired in series (18-volt operation) for 6dB extra headroom with no tonal change. Both versions delivery clear and transparent sound with extremely low distortion.