Switching to acoustic bass guitar need differnt amp

root fifth · #1 02-05-2011, 04:22 PM

Ok so i have put way to much time and energy into the sound i hear in my head and not the sound the fits the music i like to play.I have had this constant search for deep lows that shake everything around me but find my sound does not suit the music.So i am changing my direction i play alot of old time,folk,roots music and have found my AEB to fit the looks and sound alot more than my electric did.The music is just better with the AEB than my electric.So i am in search of a small amp something just to boost my sound among the acoustic band there is no drummer so that is not a problem.I have been dragging my peavey max 112 around but at over 40 pounds its just not working out.I love the micro mark but just out of my price range!So i have sold my head and cab and only have the max 112 now.The money from the head and cab didnt last long enough to fund my new amp so i may sell a bass or two to fund this amp!So i want light,good sounding amp,small footprint,maybe a DI!Also one more ? i have heard some AEB player play through guitar amps alot of them fit what i am looking for so i thought this might be a option?

JimmyM · #2 02-05-2011, 10:03 PM

even with an acoustic, i'd recommend against a guitar cab. the heads usually work great, but the cabs won't take much low end volume without blowing.

even though it's nice to have an ultra small rig for rehearsals, if you go too small, even with an acoustic bass it can end up bumming you out. so i'd get the largest cab you can stand to move, and don't necessarily go for a lot of wattage because the cabs don't usually let you use what you've got anyway.

root fifth · #3 02-05-2011, 10:36 PM

I have been paying more attention to the scene and it seems those who use bass guitars vs uprights are all running 20 watts or less at these jam sessions and all DI out of there bass or mic the cabs at shows and festivals (Using there pre amp to shape tone).So i am realy the only one lugging around a larger setup.I meet one guy who plays out of a powered PA cab it might even be a powered moniter.He had a good sound it was just a kustom 50 watt 10 inch cab think it wieghed about 25 pounds or so.Dont think it would much matter if he DI it would come out a PA anyway!Now that i think about it that would be kind of cool small powered cab maybe hookup my digitech bp90 and eq out of that have a 50 watt modiling cab wieghing less than 30 pounds and cost alot less than a line 6 110.But anyway just a thought!

GrowlerBox · #4 02-05-2011, 10:40 PM

If you're happy practicing "unplugged", you may not need an amp at all if you gig at venues with PA support and foldback monitors -- just get a DI box (there are all sorts of options and threads on them here on TB) and plug straight in.

root fifth · #5 02-06-2011, 08:11 AM

I am glad you 2 have posted you have been full of good info in th past on other ?sThe only thing is there alot of jam sessions around the city you can find 2 or 3 a week open to any one to.Picture 50 musicians showing up at a spot and then small groups start to form where evry one starts to form small bands and play then people move from group to group freely.So for things like this i still need to boost my sound to be heard.

root fifth · #6 02-06-2011, 10:10 AM

That was also the ideal behind the powered moniter they are small enough and lite enough to take to jams but still use on stage as a monitor.I mean i only need to boost my acoustic sound i wont need the deep bass tones i love so much!And even then i will keep the peavey max112 to fullfill my electric playing at home or another project:-)

prd004 · #7 02-06-2011, 11:51 AM

I play with my band acoustic style all the time, when I do my Ampeg B100-R is an excellent amp choice!!!!!!!! Small, portable, sounds great, although a B50-R would probably be plenty

root fifth · #8 02-06-2011, 12:02 PM

What kind of weight and size is it?

root fifth · #9 02-07-2011, 03:15 PM

BUMP!

johnbee · #10 02-07-2011, 03:33 PM

I really like my GK MB150. It's popular with double-bass players, but I'm using it with an electric, and it sounds good.

The one thing it's lacking, IMO, is the ability to get deep boomey lows at high volume; you need something bigger for that. But it's great for mid-range at reasonable volumes. Really nice tone. It's 26 lbs, which is great; and it's so small the acoustic players don't look at you like you're a big a jerk when you show up with it.

Pricey new, but they're old school so you see them used pretty often. Here's used one that sold a while back:

*SOLD* GK MB150S - Series III - NYC

Pilgrim · #11 02-07-2011, 03:56 PM

If you're playing with acoustic folks, the Ibanez SW35 will work fine. You won't get anything boomy - you'll need to run the bass fairly high. But I use mine the same way you intend to use yours - with an ABG.

35W into a 10-inch speaker is plenty. If you can find one used, you can get under $80. They're a bit heavy but not bad.

pgolliher · #12 02-07-2011, 04:07 PM

I really like the sound of my acoustic bass guitar through a sansamp bass driver DI to the PA. It fits in the gig bag and I don't have to worry about a small amp that isn't loud enough. If your budget is tight, I think you will be much happier with your tone for the price.

root fifth · #13 02-07-2011, 06:11 PM

The budget is not tight i just dont have the almost 600 dollars to go get a micro mark.And even with the di box i would still need somthing for jams.The big thing for me is being more active in the local jams its tough enough fitting in that scene with an amp let alone Somthing really big.I went and looked at the micro cube today but it wasent even loud enough to hear in the store let alone over a banjo or two.

prd004 · #14 02-07-2011, 06:16 PM

Sorry, the B100-R currently in the back of my truck! I have a gig tonight. Wait, found the manual

19"w 21.25"h 14.25"d 65lbs.

root fifth · #15 02-07-2011, 06:23 PM

Thanks but that is bigger than what i have now.I may be asking for to much but i would love less than 20 pounds and not much more than a foot in any direction.But only thing i see in that range is the micro mark.That is also why i started looking at powered pa cabs.They fit in the weight range but are alittle bigger than i wanted but just not sold on that being a good method!

anonymous122511 · #16 02-07-2011, 08:53 PM

*SOLD* Raven Labs PMB II

A great preamp is the amplified acoustic musician's best friend. I've used one of the above for many years with a small Stewart power amp (recently replaced with an SWR Amplite) and a used Bag End 10. The beauty of a modular system is that the preamp allows you to plug into any PA when and where you can leaving the amp and cab at home.

Pilgrim · #17 02-07-2011, 09:00 PM

A note - be aware that the output impedence of many ABGs with piezo pickups is quite different than that of your standard electric bass. If the ABG sounds really tinny or thin, try running it through a preamp like an ART Tube MP before going into the amp - it can make a big difference by converting the impedence of the signal to something that works better with the amp.

lazyone2 · #18 02-07-2011, 09:15 PM

I play both EB and AEB through my Euphonic Audio MIcro550 and a Wizzy 1x12 M-Line cab.

**lowendfriend** · #19 02-07-2011, 09:50 PM

Check out Acoustic Image smaller combos....

GrowlerBox · #20 02-07-2011, 10:42 PM

I'll go again with the pre/DI option -- you can then try this with a few powered PA speakers and see what's good, then again you can pair it with a power amp and cab(s) later, either as your own PA or instrument amplifier. And, when feasible, just use it to go straight into the house. If you also get back into slab, you can pair the power amp with a more suitable pre/DI for the other instrument -- virtually infinite flexibility.