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Double Bass Amp for singing upright player

bobsax

bobsax

Jan 16, 2011
818
143
Southern Oregon
#1
For duo gig where guitar player sings out of his amp and I out of mine. Picked up the Mark acoustic AC 101H with AH 250 head. Manual says it’s good for double base but I get a flange/ chorus sound with all the effects off. Don’t know if something is wrong with it? I still have a window to return it ….wondering if there is a better solution out there? Ideally a combo but just a head would probably work .https://www.markbass.it/product/markacoustic-ah-250/
 
#4
Genzler Acoustic Array Pro. It's the most versatile combo amp I've ever owned; phantom power if needed, two completely independent channels, GREAT natural sound, and most importantly a nice wide projection pattern into the room...sounds great anywhere. I use mine on keyboards, EUB, micing reeds/vocals, electric violin. There's literally nothing it doesn't do well, except for insane volume levels and extreme low frequency thump.
 
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#5
bobsax said:
For duo gig where guitar player sings out of his amp and I out of mine. Picked up the Mark acoustic AC 101H with AH 250 head. Manual says it’s good for double base but I get a flange/ chorus sound with all the effects off. Don’t know if something is wrong with it? I still have a window to return it ….wondering if there is a better solution out there? Ideally a combo but just a head would probably work .https://www.markbass.it/product/markacoustic-ah-250/
Click to expand...
I suggest a high quality powered speaker and very small mixer. (QSC, JBL). Run your bass and both vocals through the mixer.
Acoustic guitar would be ok too. Electric guitar requiring “rock tone” wold be best served though a small guitar amp. I did a midi duo for about 20 years and tried it all. This was our best and lightest solution.
 
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#8
bobsax said:
manual says good for all acoustic instruments, including acoustic bass. They may mean bass guitar?
Click to expand...
The manual says double bass as well.

It also says the effects selected will be present on both channels, though you can turn them all the way off with the mix knob on each channel respectively.

Is it possible that you have effects on for vocals that might be warbling the bass channel?
 
#9
Thanks for the excellent advice. My main amp is a little Genz-Benz Shuttle . I actually have the Genzler Acoustic Array but I got it before they came out with the bass version. I haven’t used it for bass and singing in a while but it’s often a monitor (or main) in the trio with female singer. I like the little mixer idea,maybe to add channels to the Genzler. I wish there was a little mixer that didn’t need power.
BTW I got it from Guitar Center with a 15% off deal for around $650. But it’s now on sale for $500. That’s a pretty high-quality amp comparable to the Genzler which is over $1000.
I’ll spend some time comparing the two and Report back😃
 

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#10
If you’re doing a drummer less acoustic gig the March Acoustic will certainly work. I’ve never had much luck running my DB into the same amplifier that
I’m singing through. The Acoustic Array has great definition because of that linear array set of high frequency drivers. For as expensive as it is
It’s got a great dual channel feature set. I had three concerns were I to purchase it . One weight being weight 27 lbs, the second being available amplifier power 150 watts into the single internal 8 ohm speaker, the third was lower phantom power voltage 12 volts. Just my take however. If those aren’t an issue for you It’s a great box
 
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#11
For years I used my Markbass 121P to run a 4 chl mixer board for two vocals, guitar and cello via the xlr input and the electric bass through the 1/4" input. The 12" and piezo combo works great. Vocals are warm, guitar and cello are fine. Plenty of power with option to use an extension speaker.
 
#13
I'd use a powered speaker, but not without a preamp for the bass. I have the Alto TS 408, and the Fishman Pro EQ preamp, I would be comfortable with my config in the situation you described for a small quiet venue. If you'd want more low end, you could go for the same speaker series but with a bigger driver, TS410 or TS412
 
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#14
s van order said:
For years I used my Markbass 121P to run a 4 chl mixer board for two vocals, guitar and cello via the xlr input and the electric bass through the 1/4" input. The 12" and piezo combo works great. Vocals are warm, guitar and cello are fine. Plenty of power with option to use an extension speaker.
Click to expand...
Nice was is it like this. ? It looks like the balanced line jack is out not in though?
 

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#15
Quentin MCB said:
I'd use a powered speaker, but not without a preamp for the bass. I have the Alto TS 408, and the Fishman Pro EQ preamp, I would be comfortable with my config in the situation you described for a small quiet venue. If you'd want more low end, you could go for the same speaker series but with a bigger driver, TS410 or TS412
Click to expand...
For 250 bucks that’s a pretty good deal. Alto Professional TS408 2,000-watt 8-inch Powered Speaker
Amazon has one with a 15 for about $100 more.
So I’ve been using…JBL EON One Compact Portable PA Speaker with Rechargeable Battery Which works pretty well so far with the upright, but you have to max it out, but it doesn’t seem to overdrive it.
 
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