Double Bass Best amp for both db and slab?

[Frank Louis]

I was really hoping to not need to worry about this for some time yet, but.....


The head on my BG rig is biting the dust and needs replacing. I've only been playing upright for a few months now, but I have a sneaking suspicion that that is the way I will be headed long term. For the moment, however, slab's my bread and butter instrument. So, here I am looking for a new BG head or pre-/poweramp combination (I also noticed that Eden Navigator on the BG for sale area, but looks like someone else snagged it before I saw the post ). I am thinking that it might be a good idea to look at some DB friendly items.

I'd appreciate suggestions on a primarily BG head or pre/power that can double on DB (eventually). Need something that can push at least 400 watts. I usually play mid to mid/large clubs with a 4x10 cab and try to avoid mic's on the cab running to PA if possible. I'm looking at spending in the $1K range. Not sure about some of the "cleaner" heads (ie: clarus, focus, iamp) as I want the ability to add a little color (plus it really worries me to think about all that "clean" circuitry sucking in smokey bar air through the cooling vent and getting gunked up). The fact that I haven't played around with these probably factors largely into my hesitancy on them.

Sorry if it seems like I am just making this thread/post drag on excessively, I can be rather long winded.

PS: I know that I am putting the cart before the horse with not concentrating on getting the sound I want from acoustically before thinking about amps, but circumstances require a new amp on the BG rig now.

I really like my Ampeg SVT3 Pro, 450 watts, plenty of power, uses four 12AX7 and one 12AU7 tubes for preamp, with a Mosfet solid state power amp, and excellent EQ features. Great "color" for slab tone, and EQ's easilly for my BSX EUB when I switch back and forth, depending on the gig and the material being covered. One of the bast bass heads available, in my opinion . . .

 

[wateroftyne]

Hi Kael

What Frank said... to a degree. I just felt the SVT3 lacked a bit of headroom - it might be more than enough for your needs, though. It certainly worked fine for my EUB.

I've taken a gamble on the Focus as I'm not 100% enamoured with the idea of a 'clean' head, but I'm hoping my Sansamp DI box will overcome that.

My Focus 2 should be here in a week or so... I'll let you know how I get on with it.

 

[Chef]

Current rig:
eden navigator pre to qsc/plx 1602 bridged to schroeder 410.
This is a really good combo for both. Eden tube pre lends a little warmth, has great sound for slab set flat, and very effective para eq that only requires dialing some mids out for db. I'm real happy with this. Light, loud, clean, cool.

 

[jstiel]

Hi Kael

What Frank said... to a degree. I just felt the SVT3 lacked a bit of headroom - it might be more than enough for your needs, though. It certainly worked fine for my EUB.

I've taken a gamble on the Focus as I'm not 100% enamoured with the idea of a 'clean' head, but I'm hoping my Sansamp DI box will overcome that.

My Focus 2 should be here in a week or so... I'll let you know how I get on with it.

I never realized a 450 watt amp could lack headroom. We must be talking about an extremly high volume situation.

 

[wateroftyne]

We are talking pretty high volume - It just didn't seem to cope with the transients of the EUB too well.. they just seemed to get lost in the mix. And I have to drive it pretty hard.

This has been proved by the AI's performance over the last few gigs... clear as a bell, and it's barely been working up a sweat.

Having said that, the SVT3 is aces for slab.

 

[abaguer]

WALTER WOODS. Have never regretted buying it.

 

[shwashwa]

i dont know what pattitucci is using now... but for years, even while he was endorsing agular, you would see him playing both his upright and his electric through his walter woods, usually with a bag end cab, although that could have varied depending on the room. i play alot of slab and upright, and i cant live without my walter woods... just make sure to get one of the higher powered ones so you can cover any size gig with it. depending on the gig, i may change the cab, but the walter woods always goes with me.(i've pretty much retired my baby blue) i use a preamp before the woods with my upright.(raven labs)

 

[Kael]

OK, I'm now thinking an IAMP 800 along with a Schroeder 1210 cabinet. Don't see the point in hauling large cabinets around anymore (must be getting old ) and this seems like a good excuse to downsize. I have seen several posts with people raving about this combination. Might take me a bit to swap out sections of my rig as I go; just have too much on my plate to be without a rig for long. If I need more "tube" tone on slab I can fake it with a Sansamp BDDI or similar critter. Any thoughts on this setup on upright as I'm fairly sure from the comments on the bass guitar region that it will do fine for BG?

I realize that I should just try the stuff and decide for myself before I consider purchasing it but central Oklahoma is a bit of a wasteland when it comes to decent musical instrument dealers........ I apologize to any musical instrument dealers in central Oklahoma who happen to be reading this, but carry better stuff!