Double Bass Doubling and A-B switches

Recently I've had to do some doubling also, and I've tried two ways -- a basic A/B switch (made by Morley), and using one of those instrument cables with a little black circuit-breaker button at one end, where you push the button to break the circuit, unplug it from one instrument, plug it into the other, and push again to restore the circuit.

The A/B switch is more convenient, obviously, because you don't have to plug/unplug the instruments. It does seem to add a slightly tinny sound to my DB -- I'm not sure yet if this is just my imagination or if it's real, more time will tell.

I think the best doubling setup of all, would be to get a two-channel amp, with the separate EQ and volume controls for each channel. But that's a lot of dough. For my needs, the A/B switch works well enough (at least for now). Even with the A/B switch, I sometimes have to adjust the EQ on my amp as I switch instruments.

The Microbass II will be perfect for that.
Input A sports a boost and a high impedance input to accomodate piezos. Channels have separate EQ.
It can also be used to mute, A/B footswitch between instruments and has a DI.

greitzer said:

The A/B switch is more convenient, obviously, because you don't have to plug/unplug the instruments. It does seem to add a slightly tinny sound to my DB -- I'm not sure yet if this is just my imagination or if it's real, more time will tell.

Click to expand...

Can you open it up? The A/B switch could have a couple resistors in it to prevent the "pop," and those may be loading your piezo.

Jazz Ad said:

The Microbass II will be perfect for that.
Input A sports a boost and a high impedance input to accomodate piezos. Channels have separate EQ.
It can also be used to mute, A/B footswitch between instruments and has a DI.

Click to expand...

+1
I did quite a bit of re-search on this and I tried the bassbone, Boss LS-2,Radial ABY switch and finally EBS microbass II. it has the most true sound on my basses. you can also use it as regular DI. (flat response). the key though, it's to use the passive on channel A and use the gain to match the electric on channel B.
good luck

fdeck said:

Can you open it up? The A/B switch could have a couple resistors in it to prevent the "pop," and those may be loading your piezo.

Click to expand...

Thanks, that sounds very plausible. I tried to open it up once and couldn't, but I think your theory is probably right on.

I'll keep using it for now, but maybe in the future, if I really get unhappy with the sound, I'll check into the Microbass product.

greitzer said:

Thanks, that sounds very plausible. I tried to open it up once and couldn't, but I think your theory is probably right on.

I'll keep using it for now, but maybe in the future, if I really get unhappy with the sound, I'll check into the Microbass product.

Click to expand...

Do you have an Ohmmeter?

fdeck said:

Do you have an Ohmmeter?

Click to expand...

No, and I don't know what that is (although from the sound of it, it sounds like something that measures ohms). Could it be helpful in some regard?

fdeck said:

Can you open it up? The A/B switch could have a couple resistors in it to prevent the "pop," and those may be loading your piezo.

Click to expand...

The Morley pedal does indeed have the resistors and both lowers volume and messes with the tone.

I use the Boss A/B pedal and it has minimal impact on my sound...and it's only $35...runs on AAA batteries for a looooong time.

greitzer said:

No, and I don't know what that is (although from the sound of it, it sounds like something that measures ohms). Could it be helpful in some regard?

Click to expand...

It's a thing that everybody gets and puts in their gig bag with the vain hope that it will be useful someday.

But it sounds like your question is answered.