• 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.

Avalon u5... thoughts?

TheDialog

TheDialog

Supporting Member
Nov 23, 2008
5,642
2,802
39
Baltimore
#1
I purchased an Avalon u5 to run live and in the studio. I am running it with an Ampeg SVT- Classic, Aguilar Agro Pre, and 2 Ampeg 810's. Just want to hear some peoples opinions on the piece.

I ran this joint direct into headphones using a few basses in the collection (71' Fender P, 03' Fender P, 79' G3 Gibson Grabber) and the tone was amazing!
 
#3
Great! I am tone crazy and I needed to tame the Classic's beast mentality.

Should I run this in the chain as Classic, u5, Agro? or Classic , Agro, u5?

Also, how would you run in...into which input.

Thanks so much man!
 
#9
It looks like U5/QSC PLX combos are pretty popular. I use this setup for my most critical gigs, and use a Markbass F1 when I want to travel light. I run into one or two Berg HT112ERs and I am lovin' it. When I play through IEMs I just bring the U5.

Nothing sounds as honest as the U5 and I am quite happy with the eq presets.
 
#10
TheDialog said:
Great! I am tone crazy and I needed to tame the Classic's beast mentality.

Should I run this in the chain as Classic, u5, Agro? or Classic , Agro, u5?

Also, how would you run in...into which input.

Thanks so much man!
Click to expand...

i dont get it.

you want to run a line out to the house using the u5?

you could possibly use the "speaker out" feature and allow the entire tone of the SVT slam into the u5, then out to the house.

look on the avalon website, there's a diagrammy you can follow.
 
#11
i did a serious comparison of the u5 at a sam ash (very funny story involved with that including the store manager coming downstairs asking why i brought my amp to the store and was i trying to sell it). I compared it to the demeter alembic and swr preamps i was using at the time and used my bass and cabs.

in a nutshell, you really didn't miss having eq knobs all that much, and the eq presets on the u5 were superb. To me, the demeter beat it out a tiny little bit as a preamp (not as a di), but it was hair splitting. I would never hesitiate to use it as a live preamp, and i couldn't think of a better DI.

I only wish i had one :bawl:
 
#12
I have been very tempted to go back to the U5 as a preamp and DI for my live gigs. I almost always have PA support so it would be great to send the best signal I can. I almost always run my amp "flat" anyway so the "lack" of EQ isn't really an issue. I used to have a rig like this and the only complaint I had was size/weight.

Then there's the cartage issue - at least it has been for me. I like to haul as little as possible. Mu current GB Combo does all I need and is supper light and portable so it's hard for me to think of hauling a rack and cab again. Of course I could just use my combo as my stage amp/monitor like I do now and put the U5 in a spare 2 space rack I have laying around...

Damn GAS.
 
#13
screw racking the u5, i'm pretty sure you can buy any number of cases for it. unless you already rack and have the spaces, i'd keep things as portable as possible. i wouldn't worry too much about it as long as the case was a bit padded, the u5 is built like a tank.
 
#16
I finally got had got around to taking the joint to the basement for practice tonight (I was having too much fun running in with the headphone jack with a 1/4 to 1/8 adaptor into my little jbl speakers for my lap top and playing through them...which sounded amazing haha) I ran the classic in to the out on the front of the avalon and the in directly to an american fender jazz bass (I was too lazy to drag my amp rack into the room with the rest of the heavy stuff) and it sounded pretty legit. I kept the tone on and ran it on 3 which is pretty similar to what I would do with my svt classic...flat the treb and bass and kick mid range up a bit...the added midrange was pretty killer. I also put on the high cut. The tone was pretty impeccable in my mind for what we are playing. I always look at the Coldplay tone of guy berryman now running the hiwatt ported 12's and the custom 100 and 200 heads into the avalon and the best rock tone and this is pretty close. I know he plays p basses and I usually play a 03' 07' or 71', but i was in the mood for the jazz joints. All in all it was pretty solid.

I still don't know the best way of running this. I'll have to take the rest of the rig in and mess with it in the midst of turkey day :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

If anyone can tell me exactly how to run this or the best way to run this let me know...every time i used the speaker out I was getting no sound...I'm sure I was just missing something in the chain.

Thanks!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back