Double Bass Acoustic amps

[chuck3]

for what it's worth, I took the new AI Coda Series 4 out on a gig Sunday evening without even practicing with it first, other than to check that it worked. Had the upright in channel 1 and the mandolin (about 4 songs out of 33) in channel 2. Used it as a monitor while the DI out fed the FOH.

Sounded great for the upright, very happy with the sound. I will use it for other gigs that don't have FOH support and report back on that.

 

[neddyrow]

I will say that I spent a lot of time trying different things to get a good sound and I tried the GK 150 MBS, powered speakers, an ampeg micro VR and a few others. But I've finally settled on an acoustic image focus powering an EA NL 210 cabinet. Sounds expensive and I think that may be why you are looking for other options but, thanks to talkbass, I got both the head and cabinet for under 1K. And I couldn't be happier! It exactly what I was looking for.

 

[BrandonEssex]

I agree with Chuck3, amplification is the least cut and dry subject I can think of that gets battered about on this forum.
Some rigs that have served me very well in the past….

AI Contra Series I. I ran out and bought one of these as soon as I heard and played through one. This amp was a game changer. My Juzek, Innovation Piccato Orchestras, old original Realist, George L fat series cable, a power cord, and a couple volumes of pocket changes went with me to about 1500 jobs (read; years and years) before I got tired of the setup and started changing stuff. It was like an old Honda, nothing wrong with it, I just got tired of a good thing!!

AI Clarus Series III, with old Ramsa 8" PA cab, EA Wizzy 10, or as a front end for a QSC KW122. The Clarus has been my main tool for amplification for the last 4 or 5 years. The above mentioned cabs, a K&K bassmax, a mess of other pickups, and now the Troll Mic. I almost bought another that came up second hand, but then I realized that it would preclude getting a new AI when this one finally gives up (Do they? My last one worked fine when I sold it!).

Looking ahead, I recently got a Flex Pre, and I must say, in testing, that with a K10 was pretty hard to beat. I have yet to use this rig on a gig, but the Flex with the KW122 was stellar. I'm also very curious about the Flex cab, I haven't had a chance to use one yet.

I guess I'm an AI guy, eh?

 

[Nate74]

I guess I'm an AI guy, eh?

And for good reason. I messed around with a GK, a Genz and my slab rigs. Finally got a used Clarus 2 (Series III) and haven't looked back. Didn't like it with a Wizzy 10, but an Acme B1 and I'm in heaven. Haven LDS 2x8 for larger gigs and am really set now. Plus the HPF and input impedance of the Clarus just make it ideal.

I managed to mangle one of the side pieces when I dropped the head at a show and had a replacement in the mail withing a day of emailing. Wouldn't even let me pay for it.

Can't see myself ever looking elsewhere for DB amplification at this point...