Double Bass Amplifying through a Keyboard Amp

[The Spanier]

Hi everybody,

First of all, i´d like to introduce myself as a new member typing from Spain as well as to thank you for building up the best DB forum on earth…

My question is about amplification. I am playing a full solid DB equipped with a David Gage. Although i´ve been not comparing many of them, I consider it an acceptable pick up. I´m playing in a Gypsy Swing band and i´ve been searching for amplification solutions for practising with the band. I use Roland-100 Cube and the sound it produces is extremely nasal, never minding how much time you expend in equalizing… Of course i´ve heard about specially suited –and expensive- DB amps, but last week I tried playing through a Keyboard Amp –Behringer costing around $350- and the results were fantastic!!!

Have you ever tried this? Would you recommend it?

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

If it sounds good, a keyboard amp should be fine. The only thing to be wary of is that it may not be able to take the abuse of pumping out bass frequencies if you play at higher volumes over time - but if it sounds good, go for it. Lots of bassists play through PA speakers as bass amps, and keyboard amps are basically close to the same design in that they are designed to be full range amplification devices.

Welcome to Talkbass.

 

[dug dog]

Agreed.

 

[TimmyP]

The input impedance of the keyboard amp is way to low for any type of passive bass pickup (including passive electric bass pickups). You need an active buffer or preamp with at least a 1M Ohm input impedance. (Or an X2/Line6 wireless unit, which I think has a suitable input impedance.)

 

[Monte]

With a mic or full range transducer like the Schertler they can work very well. One of the best live sounds I've gotten was a few weeks ago when I played an outdoor gig and ran my Heil PR40 mic into my Schertler PreAIII to raise the gain into the provided Roland KC-550 keyboard amp.

 

[AMJBASS]

The Roland KC series amps sound great IMO with the Double Bass. They are clear and warm sounding without adding too much coloration. I'd definitely consider using one as my main amp if they were so heavy...

 

[The Spanier]

The input impedance of the keyboard amp is way to low for any type of passive bass pickup (including passive electric bass pickups). You need an active buffer or preamp with at least a 1M Ohm input impedance. (Or an X2/Line6 wireless unit, which I think has a suitable input impedance.)

Very interesting! That is something i did realise as i was using the Keyboard Amp with my David Gage. The volume was too low… Which Preamp would you recommend??

Thanks!

 

[mr mastodon]

The Roland KC series amps sound great IMO with the Double Bass. They are clear and warm sounding without adding too much coloration. I'd definitely consider using one as my main amp if they were so heavy...

agreed. played through my school's Roland forever, but got a GK 115. liked it at first for the light weight, now it's just a major pain in the ass with horrible feedback problems and i have half a mind to sell it and just go buy a Roland KC from the store.

 

[Steve Freides]

Very interesting! That is something i did realise as i was using the Keyboard Amp with my David Gage. The volume was too low… Which Preamp would you recommend??

Thanks!

Would an FDeck do the job? (I'm asking everyone, not the OP.)

-S-

 

[Jake deVilliers]

Would an FDeck do the job? (I'm asking everyone, not the OP.)

-S-

Works well for me!