Double Bass 2 channel amp with phantom and useable DI

[MuseChaser]

One of my peers used a stereo AI Clarus head driving an EA NL210. I thought it worked really well with upright, bass guitar, and Kala U-Bass. This rig was used for concert band, big band, jazz combo, cover band, etc.

However since AI and EA are out of business, I don't recommend them .

I should have been clearer in my terminology when discussing the AI Coda "amp" I own. It's a combo amp, with an integrated/non-removeable head. The shortcomings I referred to undoubtedly have more to do with the cabinet/speaker portion of the combo than the head.

 

[koricancowboy]

I should have been clearer in my terminology when discussing the AI Coda "amp" I own. It's a combo amp, with an integrated/non-removeable head. The shortcomings I referred to undoubtedly have more to do with the cabinet/speaker portion of the combo than the head.

Yes, I would really like a one handed schlep and am hoping for a combo. Otherwise, if I stick with separate components, I may likely buy a Barefaced cab or two

 

[bassplayer1960]

if you can deal with a single channel and want to buy from the company that is still in business, you might want to look at the Fuchs FBS head which is designed to sound similar to the Walter Woods head. Otherwise you’re looking at used acoustic image or Euphonic Micro Doubler. Both companies are out of business, but they have been the standard for doublers for many years. I have both and find that the euphonic audio head does a better job with electric bass. I also use a tone hammer pedal with my solid body through the EA head.

 

[neddyrow]

Huh.

Surprised you don’t like the BG tone from an AI head. Curious which cabs you are using. I don’t like the AI cabs either but my electric sounds great through my RevSound 48VT and MAS 18. I do have the 900watt version and can crank it pretty loud.

 

[bassplayer1960]

Huh.

Surprised you don’t like the BG tone from an AI head. Curious which cabs you are using. I don’t like the AI cabs either but my electric sounds great through my RevSound 48VT and MAS 18. I do have the 900watt version and can crank it pretty loud.

I use an AI coda R combo. The tone is passable with an electric basses through it, but my EA doubler and Bergantino 210 cab sound much better with the electric basses. Having said the above however, I am just now unpacking my car with the AI combo which I played in church with my new Lakland fretless 4494 and it sounded fine

 

[Ric Vice]

Hoping to get opinions on a two channel amp with phantom power and a good DI. I have a DI but want to keep as many things home as possible. My needs are as follows:

1. DB with Realist Lifeline and AMT Mic (auditioning new mics) blended. Pickup for volume

2. Doubling on DB and BG

That sums it up. It needs to be useable for BG but really shine on DB as that’s 90% of my uses.

So any help would be appreciated. Preferably a manufacturer with authorized repair shops in the US. $1500 max. I am not opposed to a preamp/powered cab duo and would pay more for that. Felix with a powered cab.

Thanks!

KC,

I read your post about your issues with the GR. As I own a GR AT Cube Acoustic I’m interested in what the company would not honor with their warranty. I’m finding the AT Acoustic great for DB and EB very light weight and powerful. The tone quality and equalization are voiced differently on each channel and well suited for either instrument. So, far no complaints. While I’m not defending GR for not, honoring your warranty, I also am familiar with the adage that quality control cannot reach much higher than 90% non failure rate. That said if GR Bass cannot, be responsible enough to, honor their warranty conditions then they will soon find that consumer reviews hold a great deal of weight with potential buyers. In the -ast I had issues with a different product from another company and it took them years to get it straightened out.

 

[koricancowboy]

Simply put, my amp developed a nasty hum. I was asked to send videos. I sent over a dozen. My dealer, GR, and I had a back and forth about it since March. I brought it to some pretty higher end studios and venues to eliminate anything on my side, i.e, dirty electricity though, as I told both dealer and GR, my electricity was completely updated with new lines through the house 2 years ago. It’s basically the wiring of a new construction home.

I used other people’s instruments to eliminate faulty equipment in my end. I sent everything I own through other amos and the problem did not exist on any other amp but the GR. They then asked me to do the same with electric bass. same story.

Finally they simply told me to return the amp to the dealer as they cannot replicate the issue. When I voiced my dismay because I also bought a cover and footped ($175. If anyone wants to buy these, feel free to reach out) I was told that it was unfortunate but that I should sympathize with them because of the fact that it will also cost them money to take the amp back.

Through it all, I was treated as if I was an amateur. I have owned Walter Woods, Acoustic Image, Euphonic Audio, Bergantino, Epifani, TecAmp, Ampeg, GK, Markbass, and Acoustic amps in my 30+ years of playing professionally. They name dropped some players who came into the dealer. No one I had heard of but apparently should have?

I found their handling of this just plain unprofessional. I have been more than patient. I wanted it to work but rather than replacing or repairing, I was essentially told it was my fault. I remained cordial. I remained hopeful. I remained upbeat and positive. Hopefully anyone out there needing to deal with a GR repair warranty has a different experience. I will never consider or recommend this brand to anyone.

 

[koricancowboy]

if you can deal with a single channel and want to buy from the company that is still in business, you might want to look at the Fuchs FBS head which is designed to sound similar to the Walter Woods head. Otherwise you’re looking at used acoustic image or Euphonic Micro Doubler. Both companies are out of business, but they have been the standard for doublers for many years. I have both and find that the euphonic audio head does a better job with electric bass. I also use a tone hammer pedal with my solid body through the EA head.

I use a mic mainly and a pickup to reinforce and for volume. I need to channels.

 

[koricancowboy]

if you can deal with a single channel and want to buy from the company that is still in business, you might want to look at the Fuchs FBS head which is designed to sound similar to the Walter Woods head. Otherwise you’re looking at used acoustic image or Euphonic Micro Doubler. Both companies are out of business, but they have been the standard for doublers for many years. I have both and find that the euphonic audio head does a better job with electric bass. I also use a tone hammer pedal with my solid body through the EA head.

I currently have a focus, and a Markbass CMD. I sold and EA doubler. I would rather have two channel amp with phantom rather than getting an outboard solution such as a Felix.

 

[Ric Vice]

I currently have a focus, and a Markbass CMD. I sold and EA doubler. I would rather have two channel amp with phantom rather than getting an outboard solution such as a Felix.

Well with a powered MAS 1/8 there isn’t much difference between that paired with the Grace Designs Felix vs a Unpowered speaker and a head.Just my take of course.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Chicago dealer, by any chance?

 

[koricancowboy]

Chicago dealer, by any chance?

Replied via PM

 

[logdrum]

I have a Clarus Series 4 + head. a Focus 1000 watt head and a Series III Coda combo. All Dual Channel. They are not really voiced for EB if we are being honest. So the solution is to use an external preamp (or an active bass) and plug it in the FX return or preamp in in the series 4+. You can probably use the main input as well nut be mindful of the input gain. It's not that bad, I have gigged with the Coda combo with electric and upright and it is not bad but just the mids are the wrong center frequency and Q for EB. They go go well with my EA M-Line cabs. Also great with Berg and Efipani Cabs for rock.

But they are no longer supported. Another thing is to just get a DB oriented preamp like a Headway or Grace which have so much more control on piezo or electret condenser and also on your mic. They come with notch filters as well . Then have a another pre-amp for bass , a SansAmp or a derivative (Even the lowly Behringer is actually good) or a Palmer Pocket bass, ZIO bass DI etc. and then a line switcher. Saturnworks or Lehle . You can then use any amp that has a preamp that is flat when in detent or just run it to the FX return. Then use any other decent cab except for AI which are all inefficient yet full range.. I think that is how he got them into tiny enclosure

2 weeks ago, I ran my ZIO preamp DI into the return of my Focus 1000 watt head and then a Efipani 4 X 10 and it was a great fusion setup. Same gig required me to play my Baritone guitar tuned to A and I used a EB2 preamp and used the second channel of the Focus , same cab and it was just like a PA cab. The EB2 is capable of a very natural sound. I had a mic and the piezo for that baritone and no feedback issues. The notch filter was excellent.

 

[james condino]

The Fuchs 700 only being 4 ohms is a failure IMHO; no reason to not have a brand new head that goes down to 2 ohms.

AI heads are great; I've owned a half dozen of them.
AI cabs always let me down; I've owned almost every one they made.

I've never met anybody who was not impressed by the sound of my 1000 watt AI focus plus a pair of ACME cabinets; electric or upright.

 

[bassically_eli]

Take a look at the Gollihur exclusive Genzler Bass Acoustic Array Pro.

Gollihur Series Bass Acoustic Array Pro Amplification (Exclusive)

GOLLIHUR EXCLUSIVE - This two-channel amp offers high-impedance instrument AND phantom-powered mic inputs, multi-band EQ, and a bass-centric speaker design based on the Bass Array 110. Just for upright and acoustic basses - and made specially for my customers. Also check out the matching 1x10...

gollihurmusic.com

This has a different woofer than the regular Acoustic Array Pro.

Other than that, you are probably looking at an acoustic preamp such as the Headway EDB-2 HE or Grace Designs Alix or Felix 2.

AFAIK of the four, only the Felix 2 has 48V phantom. The others have 12V phantom.

The Headway has switchable 48V phantom power on the XLR input. It also has 9V available on input 1.

 

[logdrum]

The Headway has switchable 48V phantom power on the XLR input. It also has 9V available on input 1.

The older Headway EBD-2 has 18v on the XLR only of Channel 2 but was sufficient to drive some 48v mics. 9v is also available on Channel 1 quarter inch input and switchable from tip or ring of a TRS jack which is needed by some electret mics/pickups like the Schertler. EBD 2 HE and the newest valve version EBD2 VAP, have 48v on the XLRs but he has been changing the quarter inch voltage to 11v and then now 10v/5v -- I do know what the reasoning for this is.

 

[elmer]

Take a look at the Gollihur exclusive Genzler Bass Acoustic Array Pro.

Gollihur Series Bass Acoustic Array Pro Amplification (Exclusive)

GOLLIHUR EXCLUSIVE - This two-channel amp offers high-impedance instrument AND phantom-powered mic inputs, multi-band EQ, and a bass-centric speaker design based on the Bass Array 110. Just for upright and acoustic basses - and made specially for my customers. Also check out the matching 1x10...

gollihurmusic.com

This has a different woofer than the regular Acoustic Array Pro.

Other than that, you are probably looking at an acoustic preamp such as the Headway EDB-2 HE or Grace Designs Alix or Felix 2.

AFAIK of the four, only the Felix 2 has 48V phantom. The others have 12V phantom.

I have a Headway EDB-2 HE. It has 48V phantom power and it´s a great unit.

 

[koricancowboy]

The Fuchs 700 only being 4 ohms is a failure IMHO; no reason to not have a brand new head that goes down to 2 ohms.

AI heads are great; I've owned a half dozen of them.
AI cabs always let me down; I've owned almost every one they made.

I've never met anybody who was not impressed by the sound of my 1000 watt AI focus plus a pair of ACME cabinets; electric or upright.

I have a focus and ran it through two LDS 1x8 for years. The electric sound never struck me. Passable but far from something I’d ever request if it were an exclusively EB gig.

 

[koricancowboy]

Thanks for the suggestions all. I decided to stay with my focus and got a Barefaced Mini T and Grace Felix for my mic/pickup blend and will continue to use my GK Plex. Still a two hand schlep. Shoulder bag, backpack EB gig bag, 19 lb cab, double bass. Thanks all

 

[logdrum]

Thanks for the suggestions all. I decided to stay with my focus and got a Barefaced Mini T and Grace Felix for my mic/pickup blend and will continue to use my GK Plex. Still a two hand schlep. Shoulder bag, backpack EB gig bag, 19 lb cab, double bass. Thanks all

So your Focus is 1 channel only.? Mine is 2 channel with mic inputs. Was reconditioned before Rick passed. Good enough for Remic and and FC for DB then just use a ZIO for BG directly into the FX return when doubling on BG. EA 1X10. I have carried DB, Bag with EA and Focus and a fender jazz in one shot and walked about 30 yards , no issues. No fiddling between changes. Mute mic channel, turn off FC gain, unmute ZIO and play BG. Reverse as needed.

EQ and gain all set before hand, may engage notch for Remic of the room is bad. ZIO is EQ'ed for Fender amd has DI for that. AI DI is for DB

I have 2 other AI amps, so probably will last me for a while.