I play a lot of musical theater and need a two-channel head that is versatile for both electric and upright bass. Need plenty of power for the electric bass. Was looking on the Mesa Boogie site but don't see what I want with two channels.
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Best amp for electric/upright doubling
- Thread starter jsherm
- Start date
Normally I wouldn't chime right in with this, but being as how you're actually IN Petaluma and all -- the Mesa Subway TT-800 has two input channels and plenty of horsepower. It might be a bit of overkill for a pit band gig, but it is an option.
Late edit: Warwick has at least one 2-channel amp, the LWA-1000. Somewhat less stratospheric, price-wise.
Late edit: Warwick has at least one 2-channel amp, the LWA-1000. Somewhat less stratospheric, price-wise.
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+1 on the Warwick LWA1000. The two channels can be EQ'ed separately and footswitched between the two. Nice clean power.
If you can find one, the EA (Euphonic Audio) Doubler II is great and made expressly for that application. It is a neutral-sounding 2-channel amp with all kinds of great features like an XLR input, phantom power (for mic-type pickups), a notch filter (great for controlling feedback), separate EQ in each channel and footswitchable channel switching. It puts out 625w into a 4 ohm load - not a ton of power but I found it to be able to compete in a pretty loud band.
I would mention the original Doubler as well, but it is a bit underpowered so if you need volume to spare it might not be adequate for your needs (depending on the efficiency of your cabinet(s).
I would mention the original Doubler as well, but it is a bit underpowered so if you need volume to spare it might not be adequate for your needs (depending on the efficiency of your cabinet(s).
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I was looking at this one online. Only saw one input channel, but I didn't thoroughly check out all the stuff on the back. Overkill for a pit band gig, yeah maybe, but I'll be using it for super loud dance band gigs as well.Normally I wouldn't chime right in with this, but being as how you're actually IN Petaluma and all -- the Mesa Subway TT-800 has two input channels and plenty of horsepower. It might be a bit of overkill for a pit band gig, but it is an option.
Late edit: Warwick has at least one 2-channel amp, the LWA-1000. Somewhat less stratospheric, price-wise.
They're letting you use an amp in the pit? I had to abandon mine a long time ago... They wanted everyone on in-ears.. Most of the guys I know are using something like a Radial Tonebone or Bassbone to do the AB switching/buffering. I use the Trickfish Trilobite.
The Tt800 is my newest amp- purchased for doubling capabilities. I haven’t used it for BG and DB on the same gig, but the two channels will work when I need to.Normally I wouldn't chime right in with this, but being as how you're actually IN Petaluma and all -- the Mesa Subway TT-800 has two input channels and plenty of horsepower. It might be a bit of overkill for a pit band gig, but it is an option.
Late edit: Warwick has at least one 2-channel amp, the LWA-1000. Somewhat less stratospheric, price-wise.
I plan to use a 2-8 or single 12 for pit work.
An A-B switch box will be needed for the input since my 2 instruments have significantly different impedances.
Using a Y cord will not work.
I have really nothing to add other than I was literally thinking of this exact question yesterday. I was considering something from Phil Jones, I always want to get them but wasn't sure how loud it was for Bass guitar. Any thoughts on PJ? What models best for this type of doubling?
I looked for years for a doubling amp that had everything that I needed or wanted : >1 megaohm input impedance for piezo pickups, HPF, phase switch, notch filter, adequate eq, etc., with little success, at least in my affordable range. Instead, I set my amp (Genz Shuttle 6.0 or Neopak 3.5 into Berg HT112, or sometimes with an added EX112 when needed) for my electric, than use a Fishman Platinum Pro bass preamp for my upright and adjust my eq on that so that it works with my amp settings. I use a Radial Big Shot A/B switch to toggle between the instruments. I mostly play musical theater, as well.
That would be my suggestion - pedal that lets you eq each bass, switch between em..EBS Stanley Clarke sig also nice.
Ah, yes.
I remember the good old days, where you actually heard the band as it sounded and you learned how to play off each other and achieve a great dynamic, acoustic blend.
Now days, you just stick your headphones on, play, dink around with your Aviom trying to hear everybody, and hope the sound guy has the same musical savvy that you've finally achieved after decades of playing. (Narrator's voice: "He doesn't".)
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I use a Grace Felix 2 preamp, which has two discrete channels and all the options you could ever wish for. Not cheap, but extremely well engineered and built.
I use a Mesa WD head for both. My upright has an Underwood pick up. I plug straight into the WD with no need of a buffering pre for the upright. Sounds fantastic. The built-in HPF is great for the upright.
I just unplug one and plug in the other. A little switcher would be cleaner for the switch but what I'm doing, unplugging is working and I don't have to switch but twice. Three times if I wanna be fancy.
That TT 800 is a two channel amp and could work for switching back and forth.
I just unplug one and plug in the other. A little switcher would be cleaner for the switch but what I'm doing, unplugging is working and I don't have to switch but twice. Three times if I wanna be fancy.
That TT 800 is a two channel amp and could work for switching back and forth.
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It is a two-channel amp but has only one input.
You would still need to switch instruments or some kind of switching pre-input, but each channel could be set up for each instrument
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The most reasonably priced amplifier I have found for both electric and upright, is the Galien-Krueger MB150. But it is only a one channel amplifier. But there is a way to trick it. Plug your upright into the normal input, and plug your electric into the effects return. The upright gets to take advantage of the onboard preamp, and you adjust the volume of the electric to match.
This is exactly the scenario Walter Woods was thinking about when he create his bass amps. I have owned three of Walter amps over the decades so no bias there.
