• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass Anybody useing AG-500 or UL-502 for Upright?

Aguilar AG-500 or Epifani UL-502 for Upright?

  • Aguilar AG-500

    Votes: 1 11.1%

  • Epifani UL-502

    Votes: 8 88.9%
  • Total voters
    9
Barcza

Barcza

May 1, 2005
1,171
256
Budapest
www.myspace.com
#1
John Patitucci endorsing the Aguilar AG-500 head and Christian McBride the Epifani UL-502. I like sound of both players (more Patitucci). But I always skeptic to go a product just becouse somebody endorsing it. In my country no dealer for this amps and nobody use. The only help if you share your observations with me.
 
#2
Barcza said:
John Patitucci endorsing the Aguilar AG-500 head and Christian McBride the Epifani UL-502. I like sound of both players (more Patitucci). But I always skeptic to go a product just becouse somebody endorsing it. In my country no dealer for this amps and nobody use. The only help if you share your observations with me.
Click to expand...

When John Pattucci visited St. Louis with Wayne Shorter there was no amp in site. Christian Mc Bride used a Glockenklang when he was here with Pat Matheney. It's better to find something that works for you. It's my humble opinion that these two players would sound good through any decent system. Touring necessitates flexibility. Matt Garrison also uses the Epifani 502.

Ric
 
#3
Maybe Patitucci use only microphones, when he played in St. Louis with Shorter they work with a fantastic sound engineer (I dont know the name). I know this guys when, touring use different amp whats available at the City. Off Course they sounds good with any amplification, becouse the are fantastic players. But I just like find a really good amp for playing clubs to medium concert halls. I just need suggestions, becouse I have no chance try before buy. The good sound is very subjective. To explain my taste: I like the sound of GK. SWR I don't like : Ampeg, Trace Elliot
 
#4
I read almost all of the posts in this forum in detail. It's not often that either of those heads get mentioned here for use w/ DB. Not saying they won't sound great, just sharing an observation.

IMO, if you want a really good amp for DB that gets "endorsed" by a lot of people in this forum with a wide range of abilities and credentials, then check out the Acoustic Image Focus.

[ Edit - If you are going to use it to double on EB, you may or may not want something in front of it like a SansAmp BDDI or a Demeter Compulator. ]

If money and wait time are not a concern, add Walter Woods to the list.
 
#6
Barcza said:
The good sound is very subjective. To explain my taste: I like the sound of GK. SWR I don't like : Ampeg, Trace Elliot
Click to expand...
Hm. I might have skipped over that comment before now. Would you consider just getting a GK or an SWR if you already know you like their sound?

It also made me think you might also want to consider the Micro 300 or iAMP 500 from Euphonic Audio. IMO, the Acoustic Image sound is accurate, bare, and subdued. To my ears the EA amps I've heard have a more lively, hyped sound in the mids and upper register. Both very musical, both very good. But I would not necessarily put the sound of GK and SWR in the same group as AI.

Of course, YMMV, I could be all wet, etc.
 
#7
Thanks for help! Yes I know the AI is different than GK (I currently use since long time) but flirt to get some more detailed sound amplification. I think the real sound for Upright is the Neaumann U67 in a studio, but I like to find some nice amplification for stage. The Micro 300 is also sounds nice to me. The " my bass only louder" philosophy, very sympatic for me but I'm not shure I want to hear "my pickup only louder". There's one guy who has an AI in my country, I will try it. But no chace to try the EA.
 
#8
Barcza said:
The " my bass only louder" philosophy, very sympatic for me but I'm not shure I want to hear "my pickup only louder".
Click to expand...
Smile. You make an excellent point that a lot of us tend to overlook I think.

What about Markbass products? Do you have access to those? They have been getting some positive reviews on this site. Just another thought.
 
#9
I would highly recommend AI, especially if you can get the Focus 2R, and use Acme cabinets, or something similar (three way, dome tweeter - I find that the compression horns on most cabs are what make the sound of a pickup horrid). That's the setup I am using, with a Full Circle pickup, and I am very happy with my sound, feels like the bass louder, not the pickup. I use the same amp with electric going through an EBS Valvedrive, and love the results for that too.
 
#12
I use an Epifani UL502 for work with a Pollman fitted with a realist. I run the realist through a Fishman Pro platinum EQ before the Epi and have been pleased with the results. I am running this into a Berg HT112 also and I like the tight response this cab has...not as deep and round as the Epi 12, but it has worked well for me in a variety of situations. I plug a Zon Sonus custom into the other channel of the 502 also and it sounds great. I have no experience with the Aggie, but I do use an EA iAMP 500 alot as well and love it for both up & el fwiw.
 
#15
Barcza said:
What do you think about EA iAmp 200 + Wizzy 12 for upright and doubling?
Click to expand...
I used the iAMP-200 C Wizzy combo for about three years and was quite happy with it. My gigs are ~ 90% upright, 10% slab. I still have it as my backup amp. There are a couple other folks here on TB that use that combo or the separate head and cab (they're sonically equivalent). And I don't think I've ever heard any complaints. The points that sadowskyschmaus made about iAMP 500 are well taken though.

[ Edit - I think EA plans to discontinue the iAMP 200, if they haven't already. ]
 
#17
I think the first thing you need to consider is what kind of pickup your using and will the input impedence on your amp match up with that well.

I owned a UL502 for a long time but didn't like it for the upright, another pickup might give you different results though. I have no experience with the Aguilar stuff.

I now have a Glockenklang and a Focus both sound very good with my pick up, but again results vary depending on your bass, pick up and cabinet.

Allot of guys like the Focus Wizzy pairing or a berg 112.

In addition some have used a Summit Audio TD100 instrument preamp which has a variable input impedence and this makes matching your pickup with a variety of heads much easier.

Allot of good reading here. Do some searches when you get a chance.
 
#18
I use Fishman Full Circle, I like it. Fishman says: "works best into an ultra high impedence (1-10 mega ohm) imput". Often I don't like useing preamp before the amp with upright. I agree with Marcus Miller but I have no chance to try and compare most of this amps. Your helps at this forum is very important for me!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back