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Double Bass Amp upgrade, seeking advice

J

joncoffee

Sep 15, 2013
7
0
#1
Hi all,

I am upgrading my amp and need advice. I am playing small to medium venues (blues, swing, r&b w/ drums, guitar, piano, vocal) with a Kay upright, Fishman Full Circle pickup. Budget around $500.

One friend recommends an Acoustic Image amp. The small size and light weight of the amp is a plus, but will this be enough for a small to medium venue?. Would I have to go direct out from the amp to the P.A. to get a full sound?

One person recommends a Fender Super Reverb 4x10. I have no doubt this would hold down the bass. But is this too much for what I am doing? Would I still go direct out or not?

Right now I am using a newer Fender Bassman 60 with 1x12. It just doesn't do the upright any justice. The sound is flat and it feeds back easily.

There are a ton of amps on Craigslist here, I'm looking for advice so I know where to start. Thanks all.
 
#3
joncoffee said:
Hi all,
I am upgrading my amp and need advice. I am playing small to medium venues (blues, swing, r&b w/ drums, guitar, piano, vocal) with a Kay upright, Fishman Full Circle pickup. Budget around $500.
Click to expand...

Last winter I tried out the Markbass Big Bang (Head Only). It's got plenty of power, great EQ voicing, a 2 Meg Ohm load for piezo pickups. and since it's at Guitar Center you can try it out for a month to see if it works with your system.

joncoffee said:
One friend recommends an Acoustic Image amp. The small size and light weight of the amp is a plus, but will this be enough for a small to medium venue?. Would I have to go direct out from the amp to the P.A. to get a full sound?
Click to expand...

The new amps from Acoustic Image have all you'd want in a Double Bass Amplifier. Gollihur music offers a trial period on their amps as well, but the head alone is way more than $500.00. There amps are designed do they can be removed from the small 110 cabinet, and used to drive a bigger one.

joncoffee said:
One person recommends a Fender Super Reverb 4x10. I have no doubt this would hold down the bass. But is this too much for what I am doing? Would I still go direct out or not?
Click to expand...

Well, interestingly enough the Super Reverb was based on the original 4x10 Bassman amplifier. That amplifier was adopted by guitar players in the 1950's because it worked better as a guitar amplifier than it did as a bass amp. It's not something that I would use for a Double Bass, or even an Electric Bass for that matter. It's a guitar amplifier

joncoffee said:
Right now I am using a newer Fender Bassman 60 with 1x12. It just doesn't do the upright any justice. The sound is flat and it feeds back easily.
Click to expand...

That's why you wouldn't want to use the Super Reverb either

joncoffee said:
There are a ton of amps on Craigslist here, I'm looking for advice so I know where to start. Thanks all.
Click to expand...

Ampeg PF350 and PF500 Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 10T's, Markbass Big Bang, Euphonic Audio. If your really on a budget a Traynor SB 110, or used Gallien Krueger MBS.

Ric
 
#4
2 choices that come to mind are the Acoustic Image clarus or Euphonic Audio's doubler.
I would be really happy with either. I currently have a Clarus that has served me well for years and has a great tone for upright.
 
#6
For the type of gigs you are doing, I would no recommend the Acoustic Image combo. Look for a separate head and cabinet. I've successfully used my older Clarus/Acme B1 setup with a jump blues band but had to go to PA for support. It may be tough to hit your budget.
 
#7
I gig regularly with a Carvin MB-12. I also run a Full Circle, then through an fdeck. Works great for me: enough power, neutral sounding voicing, versatile, has all the features, like line out, onboard compression, 2 band parametric, tuner out, mute, etc., and definitely in your price range.

Then when I do a slab gig, I just stack it on a 1X15 extension cab and go for it.
 
#8
Greg Clinkingbeard said:
For the type of gigs you are doing, I would no recommend the Acoustic Image combo. Look for a separate head and cabinet. I've successfully used my older Clarus/Acme B1 setup with a jump blues band but had to go to PA for support. It may be tough to hit your budget.
Click to expand...

+1 that wouldn't work for his setup and he's got a @$500.00 budget so, he's most likely going to have to purchase a combo. Used GK MBE's and MBS's are a definite possibility. The new GK MB112 could also work.

Ric
 
#12
Dave Irwin said:
I'd look for a used acoustic image or EA head and match to a good cab like a wizzy 10,12, or may one of Mike Arnopol's cabinets. With 800 dollar budget if you save enough on the head to swing an Arnopol cab. You will surely be getting top quality and incredible portability.

Good luck
Dave
Click to expand...

Since a Big E 4x5 sells for $750.00. That would leave $50.00 for a head
I've never seen that, even on Craig's List. Maybe you were thinking of a
Crazy 8, those don't often come up for sale.

Ric
 
#13
You're right, an Arnopol or greenboy cab would have to be used and I have seen them from time to time.
On the other hand, he's up from 500 to 800. That GAS will be kicking in any time now.


Ric Vice said:
Since a Big E 4x5 sells for $750.00. That would leave $50.00 for a head
I've never seen that, even on Craig's List. Maybe you were thinking of a
Crazy 8, those don't often come up for sale.

Ric
Click to expand...
 

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