Double Bass ART Preamp + Small Speaker (powered?)

[kwd]

I use a Polytone Mini-Brute II. I run my BassMax into a K&K preamp into the "Preamp Out" jack on my Polytone. For those of you who know Polytones, there are four inputs. I've tried a lot of different combinations with and without preamps (ART Mic, K&K, LRBaggs) into each of the four inputs and finally settled on the K&K into "Preamp Out". I find it interesting that the Polytone Owner's manual describes the PREAMP OUT jack as something solely for use with their Sidekick speakers.

I play in small ensemble in my church. Last Sunday my K&K battery ran out during the warm-up, sound check. I went out to the car and retrieved my back-up, an ART microphone preamp. I found the sound not to be as warm as the K&K but I could warm it up by increasing the gain on the unit and rolling off the output. To make a long story short, the ART is now my main unit. I ordered the instrument version (includes a HPF) this morning.

There is a post int a thread stating the the practice of running a source into the 'Preamp Out' is essentially using the amp as a powered speaker. Given that statement, I'm assuming that I could use the ART unit with a small, say 8", powered speaker. Would it necessarily need to be a powered speaker? If that would work, it would give me a small, lightweight rig for my other gig and rehearsals.


model: ART Tube MP Project Series Tube Microphone/Instrument Preamp

 

[fdeck]

You could certainly use the ART with an 8" powered speaker. It does have to be powered. With that said, I don't know who makes an 8" powered speaker with sensitivity comparable to a small bass amp. You might surprise yourself to find that inexpensive 10" bass combo amps are quite portable and readily available in sufficient variety to serve your needs.