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Double Bass Best preamp w/ HiZ input and HPF?

sumeursault

sumeursault

Supporting Member
Jun 21, 2006
1,716
701
#1
I was hoping folks could weigh in on this (see title). I was looking at the Grace Felix2, but it's SOOOO expensive. If I'm going to pull the trigger on something like that I want to get some real-world reviews first. I'm currently using a Headway EDB2 H.E. and not really finding it's working for me. Thanks
 
#2
Do you want the *BEST*? Felix is it, IMO.

But I don't have a ton of experience with much else in the same category. I did use an AI Flex for a few years before the Felix. Felix is significantly better, IMO. I've messed with the Headway and didn't care much for it at the time. That was a long time ago. Felix just fits my needs, so I stick with it. Think of it as 2 studio-grade channel strips in a pedal. It has a TON of routing features that you may or may not need, but at the core, it's 2 independent mic preamps/EQs/DIs in a pedal. Perhaps a downside is that there isn't much color, if you're looking for that. It's clean, clear, pristine, etc., but not a lot of mojo by itself. You can always stick some mojo in the insert, if you're looking for that. But again, the routing is so flexible that you could have your mojo-box in the insert for a pickup going to FOH and your amp, and still pass your mic straight to FOH without the mojo-box touching it. Perhaps the only other routing gripe is that you can't route both inputs to either channel (that I've figured out - yet). That means you can't use the same source for the 2 channels with different settings. I believe you can run a TRS into input 2 and have the ring route to CH1, so you could make a custom TS>TRS cable to route a single source to both channels. I may try that.

If you don't need 2 channels, the Alix would be great, too. Also, I haven't used the Felix2, so my experience is based on the first gen Felix.
 
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#5
Ryan in PDX said:
Can you tell us what you feel you're missing from the headway?
Click to expand...
When I'm approaching a sound that I'm happy with I find that I have to cut the lo-mids and hi-mids all the way and crank the presence knob all the way. And it still sounds kind of tubby with too much rumble in the low end. Just seems like a very extreme EQ setting, and that something must not be jiving. Set flat, it's just the most awful, nasal, peaky tone you've ever heard. I use a Lifeline pickup, so nothing weird there.
 
#6
I,currently own both the Grace Felix and a Headway EDB-H.E. I.M.E. There is no comparison between the two. The Grace is the best there is

While the Headway is a nice piece of gear the differences are substantial. The Grace has More headroom, fully parametric EQ, variable HPF, separate volume control on the Amp Out. Mute and Boost pedal switches. It’s worth the difference. With no control over Amp Out you can quickly have feed back problems on main stages or clubs between amp volume and and FOH.
 
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#7
sumeursault said:
When I'm approaching a sound that I'm happy with I find that I have to cut the lo-mids and hi-mids all the way and crank the presence knob all the way. And it still sounds kind of tubby with too much rumble in the low end. Just seems like a very extreme EQ setting, and that something must not be jiving. Set flat, it's just the most awful, nasal, peaky tone you've ever heard. I use a Lifeline pickup, so nothing weird there.
Click to expand...

What is the input Z on the Headway? It sounds like it's too low for the Lifeline.
 
#10
If all you care about is HiZ and hpf, then the F-Deck is cheap and excellent. I have one and it gets me out of jams.

I also have a Tech21 Q\Strip that I'm really happy with 4.8 is a perfect input for my pickup. It's quiet, has a great DI and a very useful 4 band EQ, with the two mids semi-parametric. It's really great.

The only issue with it is the fixed at about ... I want to say 50hz hpf, but most of the time, that works for me. When it doesn't, I pull the f fdeck out.
 
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#12
sumeursault said:
When I'm approaching a sound that I'm happy with I find that I have to cut the lo-mids and hi-mids all the way and crank the presence knob all the way. And it still sounds kind of tubby with too much rumble in the low end. Just seems like a very extreme EQ setting, and that something must not be jiving. Set flat, it's just the most awful, nasal, peaky tone you've ever heard. I use a Lifeline pickup, so nothing weird there.
Click to expand...
What other preamps have you plugged this particular bass and pickup into? Is the nasal quality to the sound consistent across different amplifiers or is it just with the Headway?
 
#13
Scott Lynch said:
What other preamps have you plugged this particular bass and pickup into? Is the nasal quality to the sound consistent across different amplifiers or is it just with the Headway?
Click to expand...
I've plugged it directly into a Mesa Walkabout, with similar results. Thing is, I don't believe the acoustic sound of the instrument is particularly nasal or unmusical.
 
#14
sumeursault said:
I've plugged it directly into a Mesa Walkabout, with similar results. Thing is, I don't believe the acoustic sound of the instrument is particularly nasal or unmusical.
Click to expand...
My guess is that it's probably the pickup that is causing the issue. I have had a similar problem with my bass. It's one I really like the acoustic sound of but there is a lot of midrange peakiness that has always been difficult to dial out of the Yamahiko I have installed on it.

I've met with limited success with most of the preamps I've tried so far. However, I just picked up a Tonedexter recently, and while my experience with it has been brief, so far I have been astounded at what this thing is capable of. Fellow TBer @statsc has sung its praises here on the forums and his commentary was helpful in my decision to give it a shot. I'd recommend looking into it and seeing if it might be an option for you to consider.
 
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#15
sumeursault said:
I'm sure it's a combination of factors... my bass (late-1800s flat back), strings (evahs)... who knows... I've never been satisfied with my amplified upright tone... it's just something I tolerate
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My bass is also a late-1800s flatback. I'm running Spirocores with a Realist copperhead. The Felix works well for me, but I also like to run a mic to FOH (rarely or never through the amp), so the Felix is great for that. I don't do much sculpting with the Felix, but I am relatively pleased with my amplified tone most of the time. I often have to add highs, but that's about it. I do miss the clarity of my old Full Circle from a different bass, but I don't have adjusters on this bass.
 
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#16
TroyK said:
If all you care about is HiZ and hpf, then the F-Dexk is cheap and excellent. I have one and it gets me out of jams.

I also have a Tech21 Q\Strip that I'm really happy with 4.8 is a perfect input for me pickup. It's quiet, has a great DI and a very useful 4 band EQ, with the two mids semi-parametric. It's really great.

The only issue with it is the fixed at about ... I want to say 50hz hpf, but most of the time, that works for me. When it doesn't, I pull the f fdeck out.
Click to expand...
The Q\Strip manual says the hpf is fixed at 45hz with a -12 per octave slope. I find this preamp/DI to be simle, useful and kinda vibey.
The FELiX and ALiX are both more versatile and hifi but I never really connected with them sound wise. Pretty sterile to my ears.
 
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#18
Did you by any chance turn the phantom power on the Hi-Z input of the Headway, If you did you have about 12volts that should not be there.

This may not be the fanciest preamp but it is a good preamp - I have no desire for anything more. Many folks before you myself included by big hitters in the jazz world have made the old old clunky Fishman BP-100 and the very limited 2 band EQ (that you can separately buy if you are lucky )work. The HE is 10X that in features.

The FC and Dave Cage products work just fine on most bass amps for electric bass. without additional preamp. You just have to adjust the gain structure, maybe an HPF and play with the EQ.
 
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#20
lowfreqgeek said:
My bass is also a late-1800s flatback. I'm running Spirocores with a Realist copperhead. The Felix works well for me, but I also like to run a mic to FOH (rarely or never through the amp), so the Felix is great for that. I don't do much sculpting with the Felix, but I am relatively pleased with my amplified tone most of the time. I often have to add highs, but that's about it. I do miss the clarity of my old Full Circle from a different bass, but I don't have adjusters on this bass.
Click to expand...
Maybe my Lifline is installed incorrectly? Because the threads are pointed "down" on my bridge, the pickup is on the "top" side.
longfinger said:
Have you tried an Audio Sprockets ToneDexter? (Either version 1 or 2). It works as advertised.
Click to expand...
I haven't, but generally speaking I tend to not do well with digital presets, etc... I'll keep it in mind though, thank you
logdrum said:
Did you by any chance turn the phantom power on the Hi-Z input of the Headway, If you did you have about 12volts that should not be there.

This may not be the fanciest preamp but it is a good preamp - I have no desire for anything more. Many folks before you myself included by big hitters in the jazz world have made the old old clunky Fishman BP-100 and the very limited 2 band EQ (that you can separately buy if you are lucky )work. The HE is 10X that in features.

The FC and Dave Cage products work just fine on most bass amps for electric bass. without additional preamp. You just have to adjust the gain structure, maybe an HPF and play with the EQ.
Click to expand...
No, the phantom power is off. Yes, my sense is that I'm not doing anything outlandish with my setup. Messing with EQ definitely improves the sound, but I do find that I have to go to extremes to find something that I can live with.
Quentin MCB said:
I'm very satisfied with the Fishman Platinum Pro EQ, with its HPF, parametric mids and its notch filter. Check the doc for the input impedance, I'm not sure about that. I use it with a Yamahiko pickup
Click to expand...
Is the Low Cut knob on this a HPF then? I guess when I see "Low Cut" I generally assume it's a shelf, not a filter
 

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