Eminence + Preamp??

davidbassman · #1 11-04-2007, 05:37 AM

Hey Guys,

I'm an Electric Bass Guitarist @ uni about to go into my final year, and I'm a very recent convert to the Double Bass! (Yes, I've seen the light!)

I was saving up to buy an Eden WT 550 + 210XST rig in a months time to go with my Fender American Jazz V, but I'm affraid that i just MUST learn & have a double bass...

anyhoo, I don't want no big fretless sounding plank of wood, but an acoustic double bass doen't fit in my car, so i think the Eminence is the one for me - i want an Electric Upright that can replicate as close as possible! (which also is around the same price for the Eden rig - i think that's US$2500 -> I'm from Australia)

Long story short, do i also need to buy a preamp to go with the eminence (or any other electric uprights you guys might suggest), if i plan to be using my Eden WT 550?

Thanks heaps...
Dave

Basseroni · #2 11-04-2007, 08:45 PM

From what I'm hearing you will probably need a preamp with the Eden due to the impedance differences between the EB and the DB (including the Eminence). Acoustic Image and Euphonic Audio supports the impedances of both EB and DB.

The talk around here is that EA is better suited for both EB and DB whereas AI makes the EB sound too sterile but I'm sure someone that is more experienced in this area will chime in.

Kam · #3 11-04-2007, 11:19 PM

Gary uses a slightly altered version of the David Gage Realist pickup which tends to work pretty well without a preamp...I don't use one with my Eminence but as always, results may vary.

daHammer · #4 11-06-2007, 08:42 AM

It may be that the necessity for a preamp is determined by the amp you use. I have an PJB Briefcase amp and an GK MB150 Series III. While either work well with the Eminence without a preamp, the PJB also sounds a bit "sterile" without one. The GK has enough tone shaping controls that you can get good sound without a preamp, but even it sounds a bit fuller and deeper with a preamp - I use a K&K Pure Preamp (see www.gollihurmusic.com)

Rob Hunter · #5 11-06-2007, 10:05 AM

I plug my Eminence into a K&K preamp as well - the results have been good. Recently, I started experimenting with a Fishman preamp, which may be even better (but I'm not totally convinced yet). I'd love to know the impedance of the Eminence pickup, if anyone has it....

**Francois Blais** · #6 11-06-2007, 12:26 PM

This page doesn't give that info, but I think that emailing them would provide the answer.
It's a modified Realist.

Bob Gollihur · #7 11-06-2007, 04:22 PM

I have tended to use no preamp, a K&K Pure Preamp, or a Fishman ProEQ Platinum Bass preamp with my Eminence. The Realist on the Eminence is a piezo based pickup that likes to see a 1 megohm or higher input impedance. All three of those options meet that need.

When volumes are low and I'll be able to have my Acoustic Image Contra at my feet, I generally plug directly in.

If I expect to have more on-stage competition and will likely need to move the amp further away to avoid feedback issues, I'll use my K&K Pure Preamp. It had an interest effect from the first time I used it-- even with the tone controls flat, the preamp seems to add clarity to the sound, or removing some of the muddiness -- in any case, it not only gives me a convenient volume control on my belt, but helps my presence in the mix.

If LOUD will be the order of the day, I usually grab a Fishman ProEQ Platinum Bass unit, its phase reversal seems to help me squeeze a little more volume before feedback, and its finer EQ is quite useful.

Disclaimer: Yes, I sell the stuff, but I also gig it.

Rob Hunter · #8 11-06-2007, 07:40 PM

Thanks Francois - now I know where to get Eminence parts, if I need 'em.

And thank you Bob - you're always a valuable source of info.

(Disclaimer: I bought the Eminence and both preamps from Bob!)

cavemusic · #9 11-06-2007, 10:13 PM

I have a Fishman preamp, and an LR Baggs ParaAcoustic DI. Both work really well with my Eminence. I think they are very necessary when I plug into my amps (GK MB150, Ampeg SVT3 Pro, SWR SS180) - they don't have high enough impedance for the piezo pickup. Without a preamp, the bottom end is weak. I can eq it a bit, but it sounds way better with a preamp. I believe most amps have about a 1 Megohm input impedance (the Acoustic Image is one exception - it's made for u/r basses) which is probably not quite high enough for a piezo, while the preamps are about 10 Megohm.

Nohandles · #10 11-07-2007, 06:50 AM

I do use a preamp with my Eminence sometimes. I went through a number of them and then pulled out the Teck 21 Para Driver. With this one I can taylor the sound to my liking and the room I'm playing in. In small rooms I don't preamp, the Acoustic Image amp produces incredibly clear and clean sound and very acoustic.