FC + GKMB150S

[Alex Spradling]

Preamp recommendations?

I play a Hybrid NS Cleveland

thanks,

alex

[greitzer]

Alex -- I don't use a FC pickup, but I do use the same combo amp you're using (the little GK). The Fishman Platinum Plus Pro EQ preamp helps a lot. The GK equalizer by itself is hard to get just right; if you roll off the highs and mid-highs to get a deeper sound, it gets a little too deep. I'd recommend the Fishman preamp. I've used an Underwood pickup and Rev Solo pickup, and the Fishman pre helps a lot with either one of them.

[B String]

I go between a Full Circle and an Underwood pickup.
Sometimes I use them both. I usually use a Sansamp
Acoustic DI with my MB150E. Sometimes I'll go directly
into the effects return and bypass the preamp in the GK.
The Sansamp Acoustic DI isn't made anymore. The Sansamp
Para Driver took its place. (also very good)

[Alex Spradling]

Originally Posted by B String

I go between a Full Circle and an Underwood pickup.
Sometimes I use them both. I usually use a Sansamp
Acoustic DI with my MB150E. Sometimes I'll go directly
into the effects return and bypass the preamp in the GK.
The Sansamp Acoustic DI isn't made anymore. The Sansamp
Para Driver took its place. (also very good)

Does going into the effects return yield a better tone?

[bassist14]

i use FC->Fishman Platinum Pro EQ-> GK150 in the effects-return. sounds much better then FC-GK direct (which also works).

[greitzer]

I have also gone into the effects return, and agree it generally sounds better (leaves the Fishman pre in charge, rather than the coloration of the GK's built-in EQ). However, I also get a noticeable drop in volume by going into the effects return. For quieter gigs, it's nice. For louder gigs it doesn't work for me.

[B String]

Originally Posted by Alex Spradling

Does going into the effects return yield a better tone?

I think of it as a different tone. Usually better but not
always. The tone depends on which pickup, preamp, and
speaker combination I'm using, and if I can get my hands to
actually play the damn bass.

[fingers]

Originally Posted by B String

...and if I can get my hands to
actually play the damn bass.

This is exact why I dropped the mic and the preamp I was using. Now I'm just going direct into my GK MB-150s from my Realist. I feel like my tone is just different. Not better or worse. Setup is simpler and I find myself thinking less about the amp. With so little to tweak I can only focus my attention on one thing... the music.

[bdowd]

I've been using the FC with the GKmb for some time now, and it's the best sound I've gotten thus far. I used the Platinum for a while but found it didn't do much for me, nor did the Sansamp bass DI (haven't tried the Para, though). Having run the FC to the Platinum to the effects return I never really seemed to make that work. I'm thinking my holy grail is in the focus III, just haven't had a chance to try one out.