Avalon U5

Craig_S · #1 03-05-2011, 04:09 PM

For clubs. Should I bother?

I'm using a Countryman now, and I'm told my bass sounds great "out front".

bongomania · #2 03-05-2011, 04:13 PM

By all reports, the only benefits a U5 would have over a Countryman, in a club-gig context, would be the tone filters and the ability to drive a power amp.

Craig_S · #3 03-05-2011, 04:25 PM

I've seen/heard a few U5s live and in the studio. I was always impressed with the tones I heard.

Craig_S · #4 03-06-2011, 11:46 AM

Well... I guess bongomania has spoken, and everyone is in agreement. I appreciate the info/insight. My Countryman will stay put.

SteveC · #5 03-06-2011, 12:09 PM

If it sounds good, use it. The results may be negligible to most, but if you think it helps and you sound good, why not. Many people use them. I'm trying a friends right now with my EUB. It might be overkill, but the same people who say that are probably using 1,000 watt, 8x10 rigs for the same club.

bongomania · #6 03-06-2011, 12:38 PM

I honestly hope nobody has the feeling that it's about "bongomania has spoken"... I was just giving my understanding of the situation, not laying down some final unquestionable word on the subject.

I'm happy for people to have differing views.

And really what Steve says is true, about "if it sounds good to you then use it". In reality most audience members can't tell the difference between any one bass tone and another, regardless of how hard we bassists try to select the most ideal gear for certain tone nuances. To the audience it's all a low thumping noise.

IanAllison · #7 03-06-2011, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

In reality most audience members can't tell the difference between any one bass tone and another, regardless of how hard we bassists try to select the most ideal gear for certain tone nuances. To the audience it's all a low thumping noise.

+7

And sometimes - not even the BASS PLAYERS can tell!

I just had a crazy experience where I shared a small, inexpensive combo amp with another band at a gig and just DIed out of the combo - forgoing my beloved REDDI. The bass sounded GREAT to me. Then I got out front and heard the next band and the bass sound was FABULOUS. It was a sobering reminder that the PA and sound guy are IN CONTROL.

So maybe instead of spending $800 on a fancy pre or DI, we ought to spend $8 on a drink for the FOH guy.

**lowfreqgeek** · #8 03-06-2011, 01:12 PM

I've played high-end clubs with a U5 and it was ABSOLUTELY an improvement over the other DIs I used. Very smooth, tight sound, and the sound men LOVED having it. I've also used an Aguilar DB900 (my current main DI) in a club that uses Countrymans every night. The full-time sound guy there prefers the Aguilar to the house's Countrymans, as well.

As a regularly gigging musician, I don't buy the argument that "it doesn't matter in the house" as in "you can't hear the difference in the house". That may be the case in many situations, but the shows where I generally have PA support are usually in clubs who's sound system cost more than my house. The audience hear's every nuance of your tone, whether they are cognitive of it or not. Does the audience care? Not really - as long as it sounds pleasing to them - but it's your job to figure out what "pleasing" is. Could very well be a Countryman, or a U5, or an Aguilar DB900, or JDI, or...

testing1two · #9 03-06-2011, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanAllison

So maybe instead of spending $800 on a fancy pre or DI, we ought to spend $8 on a drink for the FOH guy.

sig worthy

Craig_S · #10 03-06-2011, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

I honestly hope nobody has the feeling that it's about "bongomania has spoken"... I was just giving my understanding of the situation.

Sorry. I didn't intend it to sound that way.

The thread just sat for a while with no other responses.

Quote:

Originally Posted by testing1two

sig worthy

+1

SteveC · #11 03-06-2011, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

In reality most audience members can't tell the difference between any one bass tone and another, regardless of how hard we bassists try to select the most ideal gear for certain tone nuances. To the audience it's all a low thumping noise.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanAllison

And sometimes - not even the BASS PLAYERS can tell!

So true. I found that the Avalon sounded really nice...but the K&K Pure Preamp seems to be close enough for my needs...and it fits in the gig bag.

I have done A/B tests with my Yamaha and a Sadowsky and a bass players didn't even notice, not even close to the same appearance. I didn't even try to hide it - but I didn't say anything to point it out either.

Why we obsess about all the little nuance is beyond me sometimes - and I'm as guilty as the next guy. I'm currently obsessing about going from my active 5 string to a passive 4 string. No one will know or care but me.

Craig_S · #12 03-06-2011, 02:53 PM

Looked up K&K Pure Preamp.

cripula · #13 03-06-2011, 03:42 PM

I wouldn't bother. Unless there's a live recording being done I'm happy to go through a JDI or Cable Factory DI Pro.

The few times I HAVE dragged out the U5 the FOH guys have always noticed... and raved about it.

IanAllison · #14 03-06-2011, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cripula

The few times I HAVE dragged out the U5 the FOH guys have always noticed... and raved about it.

Yeah - but don't you have to wonder if the big raves, partly, are a function of a fancy DI being something DIFFERENT?!

I haul my REDDI to every live gig and it ALWAYS draws attention. But I have to wonder if it weren't contained in a big red enclosure with a blinding blue light - if it would draw NEARLY the same comments. Sadly, I bet not.

Munjibunga · #15 03-07-2011, 12:26 AM

I've used my U5 in bars and it sounds nice, but there is no discernable benefit over, say, a J48 in that situation. If I had to scrimp for a U5, I wouldn't waste the money if I were only going to use it in bars (or other noisy venues). Recording, that's a different story.

cripula · #16 03-07-2011, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanAllison

Yeah - but don't you have to wonder if the big raves, partly, are a function of a fancy DI being something DIFFERENT?!

Not with the guys I work with. They'd take more pleasure in telling me my fancy expensive DI sucked

Craig_S · #17 03-07-2011, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

...there is no discernable benefit over, say, a J48 in that situation.

I think I might try a J 48.

SteveC · #18 03-07-2011, 07:47 AM

Radial makes great stuff. I've used a JDI and am currently using an A/B box to switch between my EUB and electric on jazz gigs. Great stuff. My keyboard player uses a JDI Duplex and loves it.

I decided that the sound I got (great as it was) wasn't worth the trade off in size and weight. I'm sticking to my K&K preamp. It's very small and light and gives me the slight tone adjustment I need - at least enough for my gigs.

If I weren't such a stickler about size, weight and portability, I'd probably use the U5.

Jerry Ziarko · #19 03-07-2011, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cripula

I wouldn't bother. Unless there's a live recording being done I'm happy to go through a JDI or Cable Factory DI Pro.

The few times I HAVE dragged out the U5 the FOH guys have always noticed... and raved about it.

I honestly thought I was the only one here that uses a Cable Factory DI Pro. By far the best, smoothest, sounding (for my IEM mix) DI I've ever owned.

cripula · #20 03-08-2011, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Ziarko

I honestly thought I was the only one here that uses a Cable Factory DI Pro. By far the best, smoothest, sounding (for my IEM mix) DI I've ever owned.

I was introduced to it by the excellent monitor tech I work with. It's a great sounding DI, is built like a tank, and is a bargain to boot.

One of these days I need to bring it home and A/B it with the JDI. I also really want to try one of those switchable active/passive boxes they make. The active signal still goes through the Lundahl transformer - very interesting.

Cable Factory is local to me so I should really go stick my head in the door.