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Right, I inquired about it last year and there is little to no information. A couple of guys on TB who own New York Bassworks basses stated that they love their Pike preamps.
Per their website...
"The Shapeshifter Red module is a high-performance bass preamp that works well in both vintage and modern instruments. The bass control seems to defy gravity - its 70 Hz fixed frequency center insures it remains tight and punchy even at the limit. The treble control is at 5 kHz for providing a crisp presence boost to fingerstyle playing or adding some zing to your slap tone. The switchable 400/1000 Hz midrange control is perfectly dialed in for shaping the body and attack of your instrument.
Bass +/- 17 dB @ 70 Hz (fixed)
Mid +/- 13 dB @ 400/1000 Hz
Treble +/- 15 dB @ 5 kHz
Size 39 x 32 x 17 mm
Battery Life 500 Hours @ 18v
Input Impedance 1M Ohms
Output Impedance 100 Ohms
The Shapeshifter Blue module is a versatile all-purpose preamp. It has a bit more of a vintage-inspired sound than the Red module. The bass control is big and round without getting woofy - it's a dynamic control, so the frequency center changes as the amount of boost/cut is increased. The treble control provides a broad high frequency boost that works well with tweeterless cabs, and at 4 kHz it is perfect for accentuating your pick sound. The switchable 400/1000 Hz midrange control is perfectly dialed in for shaping the body and attack of your instrument.
Bass +/- 17 dB @ 80 Hz (dynamic)
Mid +/- 13 dB @ 400/1000 Hz
Treble +/- 15 dB @ 4 kHz
Size 39 x 32 x 17 mm
Battery Life 500 Hours @ 18v
Input Impedance 1M Ohms
Output Impedance 100 Ohms"
"The Shapeshifter Red module is a high-performance bass preamp that works well in both vintage and modern instruments. The bass control seems to defy gravity - its 70 Hz fixed frequency center insures it remains tight and punchy even at the limit. The treble control is at 5 kHz for providing a crisp presence boost to fingerstyle playing or adding some zing to your slap tone. The switchable 400/1000 Hz midrange control is perfectly dialed in for shaping the body and attack of your instrument.
Bass +/- 17 dB @ 70 Hz (fixed)
Mid +/- 13 dB @ 400/1000 Hz
Treble +/- 15 dB @ 5 kHz
Size 39 x 32 x 17 mm
Battery Life 500 Hours @ 18v
Input Impedance 1M Ohms
Output Impedance 100 Ohms
The Shapeshifter Blue module is a versatile all-purpose preamp. It has a bit more of a vintage-inspired sound than the Red module. The bass control is big and round without getting woofy - it's a dynamic control, so the frequency center changes as the amount of boost/cut is increased. The treble control provides a broad high frequency boost that works well with tweeterless cabs, and at 4 kHz it is perfect for accentuating your pick sound. The switchable 400/1000 Hz midrange control is perfectly dialed in for shaping the body and attack of your instrument.
Bass +/- 17 dB @ 80 Hz (dynamic)
Mid +/- 13 dB @ 400/1000 Hz
Treble +/- 15 dB @ 4 kHz
Size 39 x 32 x 17 mm
Battery Life 500 Hours @ 18v
Input Impedance 1M Ohms
Output Impedance 100 Ohms"
So I gotta bump this one and see if anyone can shed more light on these, from personal experiences.
The description of both of these preamps is very vague. And despite the spec sheet, it doesn't really tell me much about WHY one would want this preamp.
"You can easily swap out the module."
Yeah, great. So what? It gives you an easier way to have 2 different preamps in one bass setup. You can buy enough to do that with $190 for the full setup and another $130 for the separate module ($320 total). And one is slightly more modern than the other...
Oh, and now I see that 3leaf Audio makes the "Anima" which is the "updated version" for $10 more.
What does this preamp do for the sound of the bass:
- Is it very transparent and allows the natural sound of the pickups and bass to shine through?
- Or does it make the bass sound completely different in a magical way that no other preamp can do?
I'm intrigued because I am a fan of onboard preamps and lots of functions being added. But I know the reasons why I like the preamps I do and don't like the ones I don't. Just wondering what this one has to offer, aside from being modular.
The description of both of these preamps is very vague. And despite the spec sheet, it doesn't really tell me much about WHY one would want this preamp.
"You can easily swap out the module."
Yeah, great. So what? It gives you an easier way to have 2 different preamps in one bass setup. You can buy enough to do that with $190 for the full setup and another $130 for the separate module ($320 total). And one is slightly more modern than the other...
Oh, and now I see that 3leaf Audio makes the "Anima" which is the "updated version" for $10 more.
What does this preamp do for the sound of the bass:
- Is it very transparent and allows the natural sound of the pickups and bass to shine through?
- Or does it make the bass sound completely different in a magical way that no other preamp can do?
I'm intrigued because I am a fan of onboard preamps and lots of functions being added. But I know the reasons why I like the preamps I do and don't like the ones I don't. Just wondering what this one has to offer, aside from being modular.
Subbed because I'm curious about the anima as well, particularly the blue with the dynamic bass control
So far, all I can tell is, the preamp is SO good, users are left speechless. 
Bump.
I am interested in learning more about these (now "Anima") preamps -- the concept of a three band preamp isn't groundbreaking (though the sliding of the bass center frequency upward, on the Blue version, as the control is rolled up, is intriguing), but then neither is the basic EQ setup on most amps. As with a lot of things, I suspect how useful and musical it is will depend on the details of its implementation.
I haven't played these (or even heard a demo) but, in talking with luthier Andrew Drake (@Drake Custom), it seems he's installed at least one of these and found it to be clean (low noise) and well voiced.
I am interested in learning more about these (now "Anima") preamps -- the concept of a three band preamp isn't groundbreaking (though the sliding of the bass center frequency upward, on the Blue version, as the control is rolled up, is intriguing), but then neither is the basic EQ setup on most amps. As with a lot of things, I suspect how useful and musical it is will depend on the details of its implementation.
I haven't played these (or even heard a demo) but, in talking with luthier Andrew Drake (@Drake Custom), it seems he's installed at least one of these and found it to be clean (low noise) and well voiced.