What do you think I need?

Diegombass · #1 09-28-2012, 04:19 AM

Hello!
First of all my english is not very good. I wish you understand me.
I have a semi hollowed fretless bass and it has 3 pickups, 1 magnetic (bartolini) and 2 piezoelectric, one in the bridge and the other in the harmonic plate.

If you equalize the harmonic plate piezo, you can get an upright sound, but maybe in need of the sound of the bridge piezo.

I have two output jacks (one stereo), I could output the three of them. But I think mixing two is enough.

I wish to mix the piezos to get an acoustic sound, and the magnetic plus bridge piezo to get an electric sound (I use pedal fx). So what kind of mixer I need, or better, what kind of amp or preamp I need?

What would you do? Maybe I can record each pickup separately for you.

Have you understood me?
Thank you!!!

**CL400Peavey** · #2 09-28-2012, 05:30 AM

If you want to run multiple lines out, I would pick up a small 4 channel mixer. Run all the signal there, adjust your levels, then send one line out of that.

RickenBoogie · #3 09-28-2012, 05:30 PM

Yup, something as simple as a Mackie 402 VLZ3 will do just fine. Mix, and run one single output to any bass amp you wish, or mix stereo and run to 2 amps, or 2 preamps and a stereo poweramp. Many many options.

**MostlyBass** · #4 09-28-2012, 06:28 PM

I own that mixer and it's a great product.

Diegombass · #5 09-28-2012, 08:15 PM

But my problem is that I think a lot of equalization for the harmonic plate piezo to get an upright bass sound... and that I want a preamp that gives me the dynamic range I need for an acoustic instrument
Thanks for your answers!

**CL400Peavey** · #6 09-28-2012, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diegombass

But my problem is that I think a lot of equalization for the harmonic plate piezo to get an upright bass sound... and that I want a preamp that gives me the dynamic range I need for an acoustic instrument
Thanks for your answers!

If you want to EQ all the signals separably, then you need separate EQ's. You will still have to balance all those through a mixer.

RickenBoogie · #7 09-29-2012, 08:37 AM

Yes, no matter what else you do, a mixer is needed. Beyond that, there's a whole world of preamps to choose from, and that's where personal preference comes into play. You have so many options, it would be best to go out and play some gear, and get a feel for what you may like.

dincz · #8 09-29-2012, 10:03 AM

Just don't plug your bass directly into a mixer. You need high impedance inputs - especially for piezo pickups.

RickenBoogie · #9 09-29-2012, 10:21 AM

The Mackie mixer suggested above has inputs suitable for bass/guitar. There's a switch to go mfrom line to instrument level.

Diegombass · #10 10-11-2012, 02:03 AM

Nowadays I'm thinking about the Mackie Onyx 820i, because I need to EQ with parametric MIDs. But it hasn't phase reverse button... I wish I don't need it, it is electroacustic and the mics will be always in the same position...
Thanks for the suggestions

Downunderwonder · #11 10-11-2012, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

The Mackie mixer suggested above has inputs suitable for bass/guitar. There's a switch to go mfrom line to instrument level.

I don't know about that model but my U-bass doesn't drive another fairly new 16 channel Mackie very well at all. The U-bass has a hell hot piezo pickup.

Diegombass · #12 11-28-2012, 01:31 AM

Hello again,
I'm still looking for the thing I need, while I'm saving the money to get it.
I have see the EHX LPB-2ube, it has 2 preamp tube and after that I would mix it. I was wondering if this preamp is as clear as I need with the warmth of a tube preamp.
What do you think?
Thanks!

RickenBoogie · #13 11-28-2012, 07:10 AM

ElectroHarmonix makes awesome gear. I haven't used the LPB-2ube preamp, but I have used the Black Finger compressor, which is the same format, and it';s clean as a whistle, warm, and musical. Whatever preamp you choose, will be based on YOUR opinion of it, after you TEST it. But yeah, that LPB-2ube will certainly work.

Steve Dallman · #14 11-28-2012, 07:28 AM

The "high" impedance inputs on a mixer are around 50k ohms. A piezo without a preamp needs to plug into 5-10meg ohms. Plugging a piezo directly into 50k will cause a loss of a lot of low end and volume. How hot the piezo is, isn't the issue. Loading by too low impedance is.

I would put buffers in the bass, if they don't have buffers or preamps, including the Bart, and THEN go to a small mixer. If the mixer has channel inserts, an equalizer, pedal or rack type, could be patched into the piezo channel(s). Buffers are not hard to build and can be as simple as an FET, a resistor and a cap.

Diegombass · #15 01-12-2013, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Dallman

The "high" impedance inputs on a mixer are around 50k ohms. A piezo without a preamp needs to plug into 5-10meg ohms. Plugging a piezo directly into 50k will cause a loss of a lot of low end and volume. How hot the piezo is, isn't the issue. Loading by too low impedance is.

I would put buffers in the bass, if they don't have buffers or preamps, including the Bart, and THEN go to a small mixer. If the mixer has channel inserts, an equalizer, pedal or rack type, could be patched into the piezo channel(s). Buffers are not hard to build and can be as simple as an FET, a resistor and a cap.

Hello Steve!
Thanks for your answer, I've been thinking about your reply, and I have some questions:
-First of all, what's better a preamp or a buffer?, or maybe it is the same thing.
-If buffer would be better, what is the best design to build it the cheapest way?

I was thinking about buying the Headway EDB preamp, that has two 10Mohm input impedance, or buying another preamp or amp with 1Mohm input and to build a buffer close to the bass. What do you think?

If you don't understand my English, please let me know. I'll try to do explain myself better.

Thanks