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

[Barcza]

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.

Why do you use the iAMP as backup amp? There's differences in quality of the two amps or just you like more the sound of AI?

 

[bolo]

I see, maybe a stupid question but, the iAMP 500 has not to mutch power for the 200w Wizzy? It's could not be a problem?

This is not a problem IMO, unless you push the speaker past its limits. I use an amp that's rated at 800 watts @ 4 ohms with a speaker that's rated at 250 watts @ 4 ohms, and I've never had a problem.

Maybe I am oversimplifying this, but I think your ears will tell you when the speaker is starting to sound stressed, which means you need to back off.

 

[bolo]

Why do you use the iAMP as backup amp? There's differences in quality of the two amps or just you like more the sound of AI?

I basically have a backup for everything, except my upright. I almost always take two basses to every gig, two amps, backup cables, power cords, even a spare tuner. Most of the time the backup units never leave the van, but on the rare occasions when I needed to swap something out I was glad I had options close at hand.

I like the sound and the build quality of both amps. They do sound slightly different, but I like them both. IMO they are both excellent. It might just boil down to a matter of personal taste, and differences in the feature sets.

The main reason I bought a Focus 2R even after I had an iAMP 200 was because I blend a mic and a pickup. I also wanted to use a high pass filter. The two channel Focus has those features built-in, and thus eliminated the need for outboard units like my D-TAR Solstice.

 

[Barcza]

It seems the questson is different now! The only competitors are AI and the EA! I start a new thread: EA iAMP 500 or AI Clarus for URB and ELB? I count on you Bolo!

 

[bolo]

Yikes. I'm just a local part-time gigger who loves music, loves playing bass, and spends too much time on this web site.

Tell you what. I am intentionally not going to post to your new thread. Listen to what other people have to say. Many of them know a lot more than I do.

Moral of this thread (IMO): Don't put too much stock into advertisements, marketing blurbs on manufacturer's web sites, or what artist endorses what piece of gear. Personally I would put much more stock into the reviews and feedback you can gather from players from all kinds of backgrounds and experience levels right here in this forum. You may have to filter out some things, but follow the concensus more or less. Then you have to just try things for yourself, understand that we all don't like or dislike the same things or the same sounds, and trust your ears.

Good luck!

 

[Barcza]

Thank for all the helps! If I had to chance to try those gears, I can easy select what I need. But my country is small and no busines for the dealers to stock expensive products especially upright gears. The only way is to order from Germany or UK. But this talk help me a lot.

Good Luck!

 

[bolo]

It seems the questson is different now! The only competitors are AI and the EA! I start a new thread: EA iAMP 500 or AI Clarus for URB and ELB?

Hello again Barcza. I did not want to post in your new thread, as promised. But I did want to point out that there's lots of good info on the Focus and iAMP 800, which are the larger siblings of the Clarus and the iAMP 500.

Start with this. It also links to more posts re: same, so I would encourage you to read them all. Just click on the imbedded links.

I could be wrong, but I'd say all these comparisons probably correlate pretty well to the two amps you're looking at.

 

[Barcza]

Tha Aguilar has 1Mohm input impadence since Epifani has Passive 470 KoHms
- Active 200 KoHms. As far as I know mostly the higher works better with piezzo.

 

[Barcza]

I tried the Aguilar AG-500 at a shop, it's an amazing amp. The EQ section is extreamly effecient (mostly the bass and the treble), and the flat sound has warm yet clear sound. I tried with a passive P-bass (with dead strings), but I shure that amp sounds very good with upright bass too. The only con is the weight (18lbs). I also tried the Epifani UL-502 it's also fantastic amp, sounds extreamly clear, but a bit "sterile" for me. For upright could be a problem the Low inpedance input (470 KoHms). For me the Aguilar is the winner, is worth a try.

 

[balazs.horvath]

I've tried Epifani UL-502+UL 110 speaker recently with DB, and wasn't impressed by the sound. It was too bassguitar-like, I couldn't find the right equalization. It has parametrical mid, which seemed very useful, but I prefer amps which I plug in, and there's no need to touch any equalization, or just a little bit.
UL 110 sounded fine with my GK 700 RB amp, much better than with the 502 (but it's still the GK sound...). Probably the low end is missing from this cabinet. Also tried PS 210, but it has too much of lows.

Szevasz Barcza

 

[Barcza]

Szevasz Balazs,

Yes, the Epi head doesin't impressed me too. I also tried the UL-110 cab, and I think the same, nice relatively uncolored sound but lacks of bottom, I did'nt try other Epifani cabinets, but many testers says they have too mutch bottom for URB. The Aguilar is different, the head has, very nice little bit "old scool" sound, a lot of warmth, but clear at flat EQ. The mids are also parametric, but could be sufficient. With bass pot you can cut the boominess without getting bodiless. With the treble you can cut the fingerboard noises without losing the definition. The GS-410 cab is olso very good but absolutely not portable.