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  #1  
Old 08-22-2000, 10:34 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Colorado Springs CO
Ok, Guys I really did it this month, Got the Clarus Amp, Bag End Speakers,and the K&K Bass Pro pickup from Bob G.
The Clarus was just amazing, when it came in the mail, I was looking for the rest of it. Unbelievable sound from such a small box,But it has yet to steal my heart like the Greatest amp in the world, my beloved WW. And the Bag ends!
Wow! Made my goliath 3 obsolete in a heartbeat!
The thing is, everything sounds so different to me now, I'm
not exactly sure what kind of sound I am looking for. The question is mainly about the pickup, because there are so many different ways to EQ it.Right now, I have a Nice woody sound coming from the bridge transducers, and a dark lush sound coming from the Wing pickup.I'm not sure if I want to mix them, or use one for pizz and one for Arco. Any suggestions, or Opinions?
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Old 08-23-2000, 09:02 AM
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For a while, I had two highly rated pickups on the bass at the same time. Since the bassist is in the worst position to hear the sound of the instrument, at the beginning of each gig, I'd play thru both and let the others in the group pick which one they liked the most. The answer was always the same: the Barbera.
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Old 08-23-2000, 02:29 PM
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[quote]Originally posted by Ed Fuqua
[So Ed's Sage Advice is to come up with a combo that sounds most like your unamplified bass at most volume levels and that gets the least possible difference between arco and pizz sounds. Easy, right?

Wow, That's so simple! Why didn't I think of that?
Sorry; Yes, The Clarus is Bassically the guts of the acoustic image contra. Like I said, and I think you agree, Ed, I already have the best amp in the world, the Walter Woods, but I wanted to get a backup,1.to experiment, and 2. just in case.
I was using a Barkus Berry before,(Thats what's on my Juzek now) But it wouldn't fit on the 7/8 Fendt Bass, and the K&K was another Army freebie, I couldn't pass it up. To Don: Yes, I agree, It is really hard for me to actually hear what the audience hears. I'll either get a real long cord and play 20 ft. in front to see what it sounds like, or ask a few of my tone-deaf drummers (don't tell them I said that!) what sound they like best.
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Old 08-23-2000, 02:58 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2000
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I've had plenty of experience with the K&K Bass Master Pro and their two pickups since I started selling them over three years ago.

Key is to treat and EQ them separately, and play to each of their strengths and characters, and then use the internal gain controls to equalize their volumes-- the Bass Max side is very hot and doesn't need much or any boost, but the Double Big Twin side, due to its nature, needs some juice.

Personally, I blend them depending on the type of gig. I like to favor the rounder, warmer Bass Max side when I'm doing country or blues -- as well as for arco, though I'll bring a little Double Big twin in for articulation and string sounds if I want it. Fingerstyle jazz makes me lean towards the stringier, almost close-mic'd sound of the Double Big Twin side, but with some Bass Max for richness. The combination adds dimension IMHO.

To me, the blending of the two pickups is a great advantage; I've had other bassists add one of the two pickups, along with a 2 channel preamp, to enhance the coverage and improve the versatility of their other, non-K&K pickup. No matter whose pickup you have, two can be better than one.

Greg Hippen, Bassist for Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" radio show told he he clips his preamp to the edge of the music stand during shows so he can change characters on the fly, given the wildly eclectic nature of the material he plays for their weekly shows.

As with any pickup, it's always an advantage to get somebody else behind your bass so you can hear how it sounds from an audience perspective. I've found a less bottomy sound on stage helps clarity -- and heard far too many basses whose boomy reflection on stage turns to mud.

Shameless plug: http://www.gollihur.com/kkbass

I have an Acoustic Image (nice little combo!), but also have a Clarus on the way that I hope to pair with the Euphonic Audio 208 cabinet I recently got. I read of its dimensions, but I guess will find it hard to believe until I have it in my hot little hands.
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