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Double Bass 2 Channel Amps for Doubling with electric

A

ahahum

Jan 9, 2006
20
0
Nashville, TN
#1
Hello All!

I wanted to start a new discussion on which amp setup people are using for doubling with electric and upright. Here's my current setup:

Series 1 Contra for smaller upright only gigs.

Eden Metro for larger gigs on electric or when doubling.

Here are my thoughts. I don't like the Contra for electric at all. For smaller gigs I find it to be sufficient unless the drummer is playing too loud.(never happens right?)

The Metro sounds great! I love the 2 channel setup that allows me to switch basses very quickly without turning any knobs. However, the weight/size is a little much. Especially when transporting an upright and an electric or 2.

I'm considering selling them both and getting something in between the 2 in size that is also expandable. I haven't had a lot of luck finding a good 2 channel amp. I really wish Eden would have a 2 channel similar to the Metro head only the size of the 550. I know the 1205 does, but it's overkill for what I need.

I read about the Genz Benz 1x12 combo with Neo speakers. It seems that would be perfect with the extension cab, but only 1 channel!

Recommendations? Suggestions? Does anyone else feel my pain?
 
#2
The AI Focus 2 series III (5 lbs, 800 watts at 4 ohm) is a great amp for both upright as well as bg. Add an Epifani UL112 (8 ohm) for small gigs and rehearsals and add a second one (which totals to 4 ohm) for large gigs.
If you wanna add some grind for bg, use the sansamp VT-bass and you got any sound you could wish for. This VT-bass pedal is also useable for upright.
 
#3
Regardless of my amp setup, my doubling tasks are handled by my Radial Bassbone. It's got two switchable channels, both with individual volume and eq settings.

I deal with the impedance issues by first running my Shen 7/8 Willow w/ a Fishman Full Circle into an LR Baggs ParaDI then into the Bassbone, where I match the levels with the electric I'm using and then send the output to my amp. The Bassbone also has an XLR out and works great as a DI for the house.

The only drawback is that there are kind of a lot of cables to deal with, but I've found it to be a really flexible system that sounds great, helps me control feedback and works with nearly all of my various amp/cab combinations.

But to the OP- on smaller gigs, I use my SWR California Blonde, and when I need more volume I use an Ashdown EVO 500 w/ either an Ashdown 410 or EA VL210 (2x10, 2x5, horn). I've even used my '75 SVT w/ 810!

The blonde sounds pretty good on its own when I just plug each bass into it's own channel, but I really like the fact that the Bassbone also acts as a mute.

-b
 
#5
There are head-only versions of the Metro out there. Chef has one I think. They come up sometimes.

I did one gig the other week where I just turned off the mid scoop on my GK 800rb and rolled the bass down, switched the cables that I had velcroed together and bam. Only took a second more than stomping on a footswitch and it worked!

Mostly, though, I run my bass through a rane AP13 acoustic pre into our band PA and let the bass amp be electric only.

Posts like yours make me miss my Metro, though. I came across MY exact amp at Sam Ash last month. I could tell by the dent in the older-version badge. Memories.....
 
#6
For a few years now I've been using an AI Focus I, and a
Sansamp ParaDi into the effects return loop. This acts as a
two channel amp. The upright (Full Circle or Underwood) go's
into the 10 meg ohm input on the Focus, and electric bass in
the ParaDi through the effects return. Small, light, lots of
power, and great tone.
Use the speaker (s) you like.
 
#7
Well, I made my move. I got a shuttle 6.0 210T combo. It's 41 pounds and very versatile. I can pull the head and take it with a different cabinet setup if I wish, although I think it'll be just fine as is. I appreciate everyone's input! Although I didn't get a 2 channel head that I wanted, there are some creative ideas here that I'm going to try out. Now, on to find a preamp to use with this thing!
 
#8
B String said:
For a few years now I've been using an AI Focus I, and a
Sansamp ParaDi into the effects return loop. This acts as a
two channel amp. The upright (Full Circle or Underwood) go's
into the 10 meg ohm input on the Focus, and electric bass in
the ParaDi through the effects return. Small, light, lots of
power, and great tone.
Use the speaker (s) you like.
Click to expand...

I did something like this recently and worked great. Clarus series 3 into a pair of Wizzy 12 cabs. My BugBass EUB went into the regular input while my electric bass went into an Aguilar Tone Hammer through the effects return. Really handy having a separate EQ for the electric via the Tone Hammer. Nice sounding rig overall.
 
#9
ahahum said:
Hello All!

I wanted to start a new discussion on which amp setup people are using for doubling with electric and upright. Here's my current setup:
Recommendations? Suggestions? Does anyone else feel my pain?
Click to expand...

Ahahum,
When I got my first Walter Woods in 1980 this was one of the reasons I bought it. It's very difficult to built an amplifier that works well for both instruments. For me the Woods is the right mix. It handles both instruments well, but it's expensive.

Ric
 
#11
tornadobass said:
I did something like this recently and worked great. Clarus series 3 into a pair of Wizzy 12 cabs. My BugBass EUB went into the regular input while my electric bass went into an Aguilar Tone Hammer through the effects return. Really handy having a separate EQ for the electric via the Tone Hammer. Nice sounding rig overall.
Click to expand...
Do all effects send/returns work this way? Is there any degrading of the regular input signal?
 
#12
Standalone said:
Do all effects send/returns work this way? Is there any degrading of the regular input signal?
Click to expand...

Most effects returns can be used with a preamp going in. Some are directly patched as a loop, while some are sidechained so that they blend with the input signal.

The Clarus' effects loop blends the effect, so you have to turn the blend knob all the way up if you're using it as another channel.

No problem with the signal degrading from what I've found.
 
#13
ahahum said:
Hello All!

I wanted to start a new discussion on which amp setup people are using for doubling with electric and upright.
Recommendations? Suggestions? Does anyone else feel my pain?
Click to expand...


I was looking around at MarkBass, Gallien Krueger, Gentz Benz, and other sites and there just aren't as many two channel amps. EA and AI still build them but most of the new lightweight digital amps for bass are single channel. I've often wondered why the don't build amps with two channels, my guess is that since EB sales drive the market they don't see the need for dual channel amps.

Ric
 
#14
I think you're probably correct about the market...that's a shame! But it forces us DB players to come up with something creative to achieve our results.

I haven't had a chance to try the effects loop on my new shuttle 6.0 to see if it will work as desired. I'll probably buy a preamp and a Morley ABY box. That will probably do it. As long as I can get my volumes fairly close, I think I can use a good preamp with EQ to tune the DB in and use the EQ on my EB to dial it in. It's not perfect, but it should accomplish what I need. Bottom line is that my amp just lost about 40 pounds which is amazing!!! Bye bye Metro!
 
#15
ahahum said:
I'll probably buy a preamp and a Morley ABY box. That will probably do it.
Click to expand...

I'd suggest a different AB box. The Morley is passive and puts resistors in line with the signal to avoid a pop when switching. That extra load cuts both the signal strength and the tone. The Morley uses a battery, but only to power its LEDs.

Look at something like a Boss A/B pedal instead that uses a buffer and switches silently. These are inexpensive and reliable, and have minimal signal degradation. And of course, there are more expensive solutions, like the ToneBone and others.
 
#16
tornadobass said:
Look at something like a Boss A/B pedal instead that uses a buffer and switches silently. These are inexpensive and reliable, and have minimal signal degradation.
Click to expand...

Great idea, thanks for the insight! I like the price of that one better anyway! I just thought about the Morley because I had seen it on Christian McBride's gear page. He has enough tone to compensate for a little resistance!
 
#17
I love my metro. Most my work is either swing/blue or country where i need to switch quickly. So here's what I do: I use a BBE acoustimax as a preamp for the db ( [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] ) it has, gain and master control, eq, a mute switch, and a DI. I have an AB box. I set the amp to the elec bass. plug both into A/B box, then set acousticmax for db. So I'm playing upright, song ends, hit mute, hit A/B, switch basses...goes purtty quick. I've tried a lot of preamps and love the acoustimax, sits on the floor, mute switch, and i can actually change volume w my foot while playing.
 
#19
And don't forget the D-Tar Solstice. A road worthy little preamp with two identical full-featured channels that work well with upright and BG through whichever single channel amp you choose. Gone are the days when the standard amps like Ampeg and Fender all had dual channels, but they were heavy suckers! And the AI heads come in two channels as well. I have a Clarus that does nicely as a doubler.

Ike
 
#20
tornadobass said:
Most effects returns can be used with a preamp going in. Some are directly patched as a loop, while some are sidechained so that they blend with the input signal.

The Clarus' effects loop blends the effect, so you have to turn the blend knob all the way up if you're using it as another channel.

No problem with the signal degrading from what I've found.
Click to expand...


Kind of off topic, but I guess the Clarus` effects loop could be used to blend a pickup and mike? Pickup through an outboard pre, and mike straight into the xlr, or vc-vs! Walla!
 

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