Roland DB-500?

[miglito]

Hello,

I might have a deal for a Roland DB-500. I heard some good things about it for bass guitar but I never heard opinions for double-bass. Anyone knows something?

Thank you.

Miguel

[conte2music]

I owned one for a few years, and toured with it playing a Czech-Ease. I thought it was exceptional for electric bass, and when using an upright of lesser tonal quality it was pretty good. However, when I used it with better quality instruments, it didn't carry the nuances in nearly the fashion of an acoustic image/acme low b1 (or similar setup).

The DB-500 gets pretty loud, and sounds good for a single 12 inch speaker. As an all purpose rig for a utility player/doubler, it would probably serve you well, but if you're looking for a serious upright rig, I would probably look elsewhere.

[miglito]

Thank you very much. As a side note I experimented a GK MB150E/112 and I really enjoyed it. I just put everything flat and turned off all "mid boosts" and compression/chorus etc... Great sound for pizz and arco... I guess the DB-500 can't compete with this?

I haven't tried the models you mentioned, I'm not sure where I can try one in Portugal...

I use an Underwood pickup that I bought in the late nineties in London.

Thanks again!

Miguel

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by miglito

Hello,

I might have a deal for a Roland DB-500. I heard some good things about it for bass guitar but I never heard opinions for double-bass. Anyone knows something?

Thank you.

Miguel

Miguel,
I once owned one of the original Cube 60 Bass Amps. It was a nice lightweight amp with a nice simple three band pre amp, as long as you didn't try to push it the combo had a good (not great mind you) sound. A little on the dark side for my tastes, but this amp pre dates the GK Microbass Amps by a couple of years. Then Roland went into their "digital modeling amp" craze and those amps are interesting to a point, but so far I haven't been all that impressed. I've owned two GK's the 200MB and the MBE, both of those were amps great! They are small and lightweight with an great pre amp (the 200MB has a pre amp that's got one of the best EQ's for Double Bass ever designed IMHO) Unfortunately, that amps been out of production for a long time. You really cant go wrong with the MBE or MBS. Personally, I prefer the EQ on the MBS, since it's less complicated and sounds better to my ears. In combination with the MBX cabinet you have a nice little inexpensive combo rig.

Ric

[AMJBASS]

The MBS is a great sounding amp. Its not particularly great with Electric bass, but the EQ points are perfect for Double Bass. I use mine for about 95% of the gigs I play. Its been a really nice work horse.

[miglito]

Hello Ric and Adrian,

Thank you for your replies. The MB series is really what I was after, I expect the MBS to be more appropriated... I don't see a point for a built-in chorus on the MBE.. But I just used the MBE and I expect the MBS to be at least as good. The DB-500 is just a "good deal" perspective.

I think I'll try looking for a used MBE/S around these parts.

Thanks!

Miguel

[jrlynch]

i owned a 500 until i got tired of the electronics in it cutting out randomly ... probably something knocked loose somewhere. all the qualities that make it a decent amp for bass make it a pretty crappy amp for db: wooly sound with tons of low end and a pretty ill-defined mid. it could get stupidly loud for its size and you could coax a pretty good facsimile of a vintage jack bruce sound out of it, but that doesn't make for good db amplification. And compared to more modern amp designs it weighed a ton. other than that ...