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Double Bass Aguilar Bliss

Jason Sypher

Jason Sypher

Jan 3, 2001
3,836
5,203
Brooklyn, NY
jasonsypher.com
#1
Just a quick note to say how much I am loving my new Aguilar rig. Tone Hammer 500 into a DB1x15 and a DB 4x10. This is a thing of beauty, power, grace, tone, girth. I'm currently experimenting with a Kirvo and a David Gage Copperhead Realist blended into my Grace Felix pre-amp. I have yet to try out my AMT mic as there seems to be something wrong with it at the moment. But I am very happy with what I am getting so far. I tend to use more of the Gage in the mix and add the Krivo to help with the mids. The Krivo is not my favorite as a stand alone but here's something interesting, it accentuates the mids particularly as you move up the fingerboard which is exactly where the Realist starts to lose punch and clarity. Sure, it could be said that those notes up there can take on a more electric bass sound but it the mix they just pop out so beautifully. I have a couple of passages with arpeggios that are left ringing in that middle register and the added Krivo really gets them up in the mix. I'm really in the midst of a total sound redesign for myself as my needs for volume and presence have really changed touring this new Rhiannon Giddens record. Hannah Mayne, the great luthier, came to the show last night and said she thought the bass sound was excellent and I can count on her to be unsatisfied if the sound wasnt happening...Thank you Aguilar and Felix for really opening up new tone worlds for my musical settings.
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#2
That looks live one heckuva rig. While I'm a Berg guy through and through, I currently run a full circle into a Summit TD100 and have been kicking tires on trying a different pre. The Felix looks all kinds of awesome.
 
#8
That TH500 is really a nice unit. And I think you are on to something with the magnetic/piezo blend for the large venues. I think it was the bassist in Lake Street Dive who was using this sort of combo as well..probably even Red Mitchell was doing this sort of thing way back when, but these days the 2 channel bass pre amps are making it much easier to pull off. It really makes sense. Congrats Jason, it's sounding great out there!
 
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#10
That's an interesting use for the Krivo that I had never thought about. Logical, though, since as you say, "it accentuates the mids particularly as you move up the fingerboard which is exactly where the Realist starts to lose punch and clarity. Sure, it could be said that those notes up there can take on a more electric bass sound but it the mix they just pop out so beautifully." Somehow I am put in mind of the little suitcase mixer that NHØP used to carry with him to perform live and the way that his lines in the upper register always spoke. I've played in a couple of groups where that rig would have come in real handy. Certainly it's miles above the standard backline you'd find most places you play.

BTW, Glen Worf is one of the nicest guys I've ever met. I was the middle man on a bass handoff between Nnick Lloyd and Glen. He came by the house to pick up a bass, and we ended up hanging and talking for like 90 minutes in my music room. Much as I would love to have Hutch's gig, I think Glen's would be #2 on the list. You are breathing some rarefied air, my friend! Good on you.
 
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#11
Glen has been one of my few mentors, reaching out to me and gently prodding me to keep looking for gigs where I can use my skill set. We've talked music for hours without ever naming a single note or scale or any such theory, speaking only from the emotion and intent of the music. Humble and so very deep. I would carry his amp five miles in the snow if he asked me to.

I'm still experimenting with all this stuff. There's so many options when you add the Felix with all that eq shaping and blending capabilities.

I'm learning a lot by playing near some big dogs and seeing how they handle sound. This tour has been a real education for me...mostly because I've opened myself up to make changes.
 
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#13
Jason Sypher said:
Glen has been one of my few mentors, reaching out to me and gently prodding me to keep looking for gigs where I can use my skill set. We've talked music for hours without ever naming a single note or scale or any such theory, speaking only from the emotion and intent of the music. Humble and so very deep. I would carry his amp five miles in the snow if he asked me to.
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[gear thread derail]
I totally got that from him, and felt that his humility was very real. He even said at one point, "of course, I'm not a real double bass player with real chops like you...". I laughed and reminded him that he has the second greatest gig in the world, and could easily have the first. We LOVE Mark Knopfler in this house. My wife feels about him the way I feel about Bonnie. It was so great to hear from Glen that Mark was every bit as down to earth and real as you described Bonnie as being recently. It warms my heart to know that these people are out there, that at least a few of my heroes are living their message off the stage as well as on.
[/gear thread derail]
 
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#20
That's a pretty large rig for upright. I had the Aguilar DB 410 for a while for my electric bass. The cab sounded great but is very very heavy with it's 80 pounds. That's why I sold it. Also still own the Tonehammer preamp.

Did you ever try the Biesele magnetic pickup? I have that one. It's quite expensive though.
 

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