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Double Bass a sturdy pre-amp/line box than can handle touring

stockbass

stockbass

Sep 26, 2005
138
3
Stockholm, Sweden
#1
I've been using the adi-21 beh* as my personal line box for a while. It has worked fine, but I'm suspecting that something is starting to go wrong with it (yea I know...). It does not sound as clean anymore, there is an ugly tendency that sounds like a small distorsion - in a bad way. This is only eminent when I play on some loud gigs.

So, I'm thinking to get a new one that is better - perhaps the fishman platinum. However, I'm a little concerned that it is a plastic box with a lot of small notches and knobs. A lot of my gigs are done late evenings, there is a lot of instruments and stuff, and the gigs is occationally quite energetic. It's a rough place to work, and I already have both doublebass and tuba to worry about, so I really need a sturdy pre-amp that can handle touring. What I essentially need from it is the handling of piezo impedance, volume, and both XLR and line out. EQ and sound processing is nice but not necessary. I have good stomp boxes for that (Boss bass EQ and EBS multicomp).

Or perhaps the Fishman is sturdy enough? What do you say?
 
#2
If you like that behringer unit why not get the sans amp paradriver di? The behringer is a cheaper copy of the sans amp, and as anyone will tell you, sans amp stuff is really tough. I used a sansamp bassdriver di for years, in all sorts of conditions, and it never failed.

The paradriver will do what the behringer did, but be more reliable

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for me, there's no better preamp/di than the avalon U5, but it's pricey
 
#3
I've been using a Tech 21 Acoustic DI (now superceded by the Paradriver DI), and it has taken a ton of travel, gigs, and abuse. As tough as it gets, and I find it pretty easy to get good useful tones. Good DI for electric bass as well.
 
#4
One local guy down here is having good luck w his K&K Bassmax thru a Baggs Para Acoustic DI. CCB, but sounds really good and real natural thru the pa. He says the notch filter works great to dial the room in.

You might wanna check it out.
It looks sturdy, a little big to mount on the bass. Has XLR out, not sure about line. Plenty of eq on there, several knobs.

Luddite me still using the old battery chewing Fishman Bass Pre in the metal housing. Just bass, treb, and gain.
No XLR tho.
Dang thing along with the BP100 just won't wear out. Been using it since 93.
 
#6
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Best so far that I've found for my application: NS La Scala/Gage Realist. With a bit of tweaking I've found it to be very transparent, rugged as all get-out, high-fashion textured brown finish, etc.
Caveat: I did have to mod the input a bit as the new Gage's output approaches a staggering 3VRMS "when digging in". A couple calls with their engineering dept led to a simple solution.
 
#7
Thanks guys. Sorry about my silence...I've been on vacation in Italy with no Internet.

I was initially very excited about the cheap behringer, but now I'm not so sure anymore. Maybe it's my trusty old realist pu that has lost it's edge or, which I hold more likely, that the preamp is not what it used to be.

I will try to check out the lrbaggs stuff, though I'm a little concerned that it is not available in the stores here in Sweden (please correct me if I'm wrong). Otherwise it sound that the original sansamp model is the thing.
 
#8
I've been using the Baggs Para Acoustic DI w/ the Realist on my good bass and a Bass Maxx on my plywood. Great as a DI and for tone shaping w/ my combo amps.

I've seen this on the net and it looks intriguing:

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#9
I've been touring with a DTar Solstice for over 2 years with no problems. I ordered a 220V power supply for overseas. I also find and xlr pad comes in handy for the main xlr out, as it tends to be a bit hot for some boards. I hear this issue has been addressed in later models. This has one the best pieces of gear ever.
 
#10
I recommend the Sans Amp - Bass Driver - eq/Di box. I have toured with the same one for over 4 years and it has never gone out and taken quite a beating. It retails around $120 and sounds kick ass with upright (and electric too)
highly endorse the sound and sturdyness of this product
 
#11
This item is out of the price range of most players, but the Millennia-Media TD-1 is very sturdily built, has line out and DI out, and has great tone. It also has mic and instrument inputs (but only one can be used at a time), so if you get motivated to try playing with a mic you can. It is expensive though at about $1,500.

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Jim
 
#14
Thanks again. I've got several interesting alternatives. Now I must concider what to do. The DTar would be great as I do a lot of doubling with tuba and sometimes bass guitar. It is though kind of big to carry around... And the lrbaggs looks also like a good work horse.

On the downside is that I live in Sweden. That means I have to buy without testing - which is kind of not a good option. On the other hand I really liked what the Beh* did, and it looks like almost any of the mentioned boxes will be an upgrade...
 

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