How do I stop Feedback coming through my bass amp with my double bass

[bassmanjake123]

Hello there

I have just purchased a double bass. It is a brand new one.
I have the problem though of feed back coming through my amp.
I have a markbass 550watt combo with a 800 watt 4x10 cab underneath. The gain is set to a half on the control and the master is just under a quater but as i turn the master over a quater i get this monstrous feedback. As you can tell I'm not ovarly Clued up with it. For my double bass i also use the NS design of the realist Kontrabass pickup. I have tried putting my bass amp against the wall and placing the double bass behind the bass amp. Still the same feedback :/

If anyone can advise me on what to do please help
Many thanks
Jake.

[Jake deVilliers]

Hey Jake, there are a few helpful threads on this very topic in the 'Amps, Mics & Pickups' Forum.

[Michael Eisenman]

Try this one, for a start:
Stopping Feedback in LOUD Settings

[johninmemphis]

I'm pretty new to it as well. Do a search for feedback in the forum. Lots of variables/suggestions - flat amp tone settings; preamp may be needed; foam in the f holes; position of the DB to the speaker cab; etc.

[Turnaround]

The phase inversion on some preamps attempts to compensate for this problem by providing an electrical signal 180 degrees out of phase with the acoustic vibration of the instrument. Theoretically this should kill the feedback loop by simple cancellation.

I certainly have found it to be effective sometimes and not at all in others. It makes me wonder if we really need a phase shifter that will allow us to continuously adjust the amount of phase shift from 0 to 180 degrees. Or would that just shift the feedback to a different frequency? Anybody know if this has been attempted?

[BigOldHarry]

wow... that's a lot of amp for a double bass... perhaps that's your problem (??)

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by bassmanjake123

hello there

i have purchased a double bass (a new one) and along with it a Kontrabass Realist pickup (Ns Design). I am new to the game of double bass haha.
I have a problem though with my bass amp. I am using a 550 watt combo markbass and i have my gain set to a half and my master to just below a quarter. As i take the master above a quarter i get a montrous feedback. Please Help....

Many thanks
jake

Jake,
Here are the basics from Phil.

"I have never been able to use a Realist in high volume situations. The Full Circle has a far more usable sound in high volume contexts.

The more resonant and loud your instrument is the harder it will be to amplify. The best orchestral basses just don't respond well to playing amplified loud. Good sounding but quieter tighter basses will amplify loud easier. Poorly set up basses won't amplify loud well either. Any deficiencies in setup will be magnified under amplification.

I have played ridiculously loud in small and large venues with huge rock bands using my plywood New Standard Cleveland bass with a Full Circle pickup into an AI Focus 2RIII and Euphonic Audio VL208. It manages to still sound like a string bass too."


Several Considerations;
1. The onstage bass volume should be low, feel the low end and presence of the bass through the PA.

2.Use the onstage system with mids and highs only as a personal monitor to stay in tune.

3.Dial in the front of house sound without any on stage sound whatsoever and then turn up your rig just enough to play in tune when everything else kicks in.

4.Try to get whatever personal monitors you use up off the floor near your ear and away from the body of the bass.
Stay well behind the main speakers and well away from the subs.

5.Keep the bass out of the floor wedges and stay as far away from any on stage speakers as you can.

6. Use the rubber stopper on the endpin and don't stick the pin directly into the floor.

7.Experiment with phase reversal on the preamp.

8.Experiment with high pass filters on the preamp. (try the fdeck preamp!)

9.Stay away from compressors in your rig or on your channel in the mains.

10.Place a foam wedge or towel between the body of the bass and the tailpiece if you still have feedback.

11. Weave a strip of velcro through the afterlength of the strings between the bridge and tail piece.

12. If there is no PA and you are trying to get your rig as loud as you can put it in front of you pointing out at the crowd. You'll hear it just fine and it won't feed back near as much as if it's behind you or beside you.
__________________

[robobass]

Originally Posted by Ric Vice

Jake,
Here are the basics from Phil....

Pretty good! I would only add: turn the lows down on your amp as well. What sounds thin to you will likely be just the ticket for your fellow musicians and the audience.

[bassmanjake123]

Originally Posted by Ric Vice

Jake,
Here are the basics from Phil.

"I have never been able to use a Realist in high volume situations. The Full Circle has a far more usable sound in high volume contexts.

The more resonant and loud your instrument is the harder it will be to amplify. The best orchestral basses just don't respond well to playing amplified loud. Good sounding but quieter tighter basses will amplify loud easier. Poorly set up basses won't amplify loud well either. Any deficiencies in setup will be magnified under amplification.

I have played ridiculously loud in small and large venues with huge rock bands using my plywood New Standard Cleveland bass with a Full Circle pickup into an AI Focus 2RIII and Euphonic Audio VL208. It manages to still sound like a string bass too."


Several Considerations;
1. The onstage bass volume should be low, feel the low end and presence of the bass through the PA.

2.Use the onstage system with mids and highs only as a personal monitor to stay in tune.

3.Dial in the front of house sound without any on stage sound whatsoever and then turn up your rig just enough to play in tune when everything else kicks in.

4.Try to get whatever personal monitors you use up off the floor near your ear and away from the body of the bass.
Stay well behind the main speakers and well away from the subs.

5.Keep the bass out of the floor wedges and stay as far away from any on stage speakers as you can.

6. Use the rubber stopper on the endpin and don't stick the pin directly into the floor.

7.Experiment with phase reversal on the preamp.

8.Experiment with high pass filters on the preamp. (try the fdeck preamp!)

9.Stay away from compressors in your rig or on your channel in the mains.

10.Place a foam wedge or towel between the body of the bass and the tailpiece if you still have feedback.

11. Weave a strip of velcro through the afterlength of the strings between the bridge and tail piece.

12. If there is no PA and you are trying to get your rig as loud as you can put it in front of you pointing out at the crowd. You'll hear it just fine and it won't feed back near as much as if it's behind you or beside you.
__________________

Thanks there for all those tips. I'v been told to have my bass amp quite far away from me. The reason why i purchased my Realist pickup is because i like that warm sound of a double bass. Many Thanks once again

[TimmyP]

Parametric EQ (must have Q/Bandwidth control). High pass filters get rid of the feedback, but also get rig of all the goodness.

[Jaromir]

I can get pretty loud with the Realist. I just put some foam into the E side f-hole.

[bassmanjake123]

Originally Posted by Jaromir

I can get pretty loud with the Realist. I just put some foam into the E side f-hole.

oh excellent what side do i put the foam in ? and what side have you placed the realist pickup in ? i'v put mine underneath the bass part of the the bridge. Many thanks for the advice
What bass amp do you use don't mind me asking ?

thanks
jake

[bassmanjake123]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

wow... that's a lot of amp for a double bass... perhaps that's your problem (??)

yeah its a very loud bass amp. The guy who i bought it off used a double bass through it when he had and he recommened that when i got my double to buy the Realist pickup. Now he has said to put the amp about 10 yards away from me. then you can up the volume on the bass amp but that isn't any good if your on a small stage.

many thanks for the advice.
jake