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Double Bass Avalon 737

flatback

flatback

May 6, 2004
2,990
2,667
#1
I heard that Marc Johnson had one and actually giged with it as well as bringing it to the studio, so when the other day a friend showed up at my door with one I was eager to plug it in. It is essentially a high end tube channel strip, but man is that the sound. I plugged it into my Focus 2III and LDS 1x8 and also direct into a Mackie SRM450 and the Avalon (although an absolute brick) the nicest sound I ever heard. I'll never get one ($2500) and carrying it around would be a huge drag, but that sound was all the very best of it.
Anyone ever tried one of these? I wonder if the Avalon U5 sounds, the same?
 
#2
I don't know if it sounds the same, but I love my U5. I used to use it in my live rig with a qsc power amp and eventually it made it's way into my home studio. I couldn't live without it, it makes my basses and guitars sound great plugged right into my DAW. It would be nice to have the 737 and use the mic pre's...maybe one day when I have an extra $2000.00 sitting around. :bassist:
 
#4
He uses Spiro reds, a Fishman FC pickup, into an Avalon and then I don't know what. I couldn't tell what his other gear was when I saw him playing.

Whatever it was, it was a very warm but direct sound. Very relaxed but completely cut through and sounded truly badass. I've heard more realistic sounds but seldom have I heard one that worked better in a live setting.
 
#5
I'm a huge fan of the U5. A bandmate has the 737 in his home studio, and to me it sounds great in the same way the U5 does--powerful, clear bass and sweet highs, just a great sound overall with no sonic defects. I use the U5 into a poweramp (focus SA) with both electric and upright. As good as it sounds it's a bargain, and it's clunky but really tough
 
#6
PB+J said:
I'm a huge fan of the U5. A bandmate has the 737 in his home studio, and to me it sounds great in the same way the U5 does--powerful, clear bass and sweet highs, just a great sound overall with no sonic defects. I use the U5 into a poweramp (focus SA) with both electric and upright. As good as it sounds it's a bargain, and it's clunky but really tough
Click to expand...
Yeah -- no gaps in the sound. It's very full and solid tone in my view.
 
#8
How are you guys connecting the U5 to your amps? Is there a way for me to go from the U5 into my WW Ultra and into the PA at the same time?

I'm wary of the "THRU" output since it seems like I would lose the tonal benefit by using that.

Perhaps I could connect the line level output on the back of the U5 to my amplifier? It would require a transformer to make XLR into 1/4".

Just looking for advice. I'm now in the market for a DI and I'm not sure which way to turn. It's either Avalon U5, Radial JDI, Summit Audio TD-100, or just the Countryman.
 
#9
I do a bunch of things, depending on what the sound man wants--if he wants the xlr line out, I run the xlr mic out to my amp. If I'm playing without a PA, I run the xlr line out to my power amp. Sometimes I run the line out to my amp and the mic out to the PA. I've also used the mic out and the "active to thru" 1/4 jack on the front at the same time--the "thru" 1/4 jack is line level and could be used with a 1/4 effects loop input.

It's noisier, as you might expect, than the xlr outs
 

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