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Double Bass Blending Pickups

G

gypsydjango

Jul 9, 2009
460
71
UK
#1
Non technical person here--so hence question:

I have 2 pickups on my DB--a magnetic (1/4" jack)and a Ischell contact mic (works on phantom power XLR). Both pickups used independently--not both at the same time--separate gigs.

Is there a blending unit out there that will accommodate both a 1/4" jack and XLR input to blend the 2 pickups? My amp has separate channels-- both 1/4" jack and XLR inputs. When I use the magnetic pickup I plug into a Boss GED-7 EQ unit which gives the magnetic signal a big boost. Can that be included in the chain?
 
#2
It's going to be tough to find a unit that will accept the different inputs on the two different channels - can't think of one smaller than a desktop mixer format. I would point out that you can obtain cables that are XLR on one end and 1/4" on the other that would solve this problem without fuss. Then you can just use whatever kind of mixer/summing/ABY/ or blendable 2-channel preamp unit you want. As to which of those types of units you use to blend the signal, probably depends on whether each of those pickups has its own volume control, and what other equipment you are using, and whether you want a pedal format, something you can hang off the bass, or set on top of the amp, active/passive, etc.
 
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#4
There are several stand alone boxes that will do what your asking. The Headway EDB-2 H.E. has the features your looking for. It has dual channels with a phantom powered XLR input on Channel 2. It's the least expensive of the ones I have. Personally, I don't mix pickups and
microphones, but I do send the Mic FOH and pickup back to the amp.
 
#6
I'd second the idea of using a conversion cable from the XLR to phono-1/4". You have to have some sort of cable anyway, so it may as well do the conversion for you. I'm speaking as a non-technical person here, but in my experience nothing is lost in this conversion related to sound.

Once both sound collection devices are terminated in phono-1/4" mono (TS) plugs (as opposed to stereo TRS 1/4" phono plugs), there are a number of dual-channel blending pre-amps that are available. As an example, the one I use is battery operated and small enough to mount on my DB. It provides EQ and gain internally while externally there are two knobs, one for each channel; these are basically volume knobs which at the same time provide for basic blending.

As a more compact alternative to a conversion cable, there are also single-piece XLR-to-phono conversion jacks that do the same work.
 
Last edited:
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#7
For a blending preamp I use a Raven Labs PMB, to combine inputs from an onboard ribbon mic plus a piezo pickup. This setup works quite well for me; too bad Raven Labs went OOB years ago, but occasionally you see them @ reverb.com, or craigslist perhaps. The DTAR Solstice is another good one, but again, no longer produced.
 
#8
I've been looking for the same solution. There are a few double input & channel preamps available that work well, but they tend to be incredibly expensive. I could buy an entire separate amplifier for the cost. When I want to blend multiple pickups, I just use two separate modest priced preamps- one for each pickup, and then a simple Y type two in / one out junction box.
 
#9
james condino said:
... and then a simple Y type two in / one out junction box.
Click to expand...

All of these simple solutions reminded me of this (pickup comparison video from Youtube):

Screen Shot 2022-11-09 at 11.43.13 AM.png
 
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#10
I’ll agree that the blending preamps cost more. My solution was to go with powered speakers. Which
is really just like having a amp and cabinet, only with the feature set you want. Either are good solutions
I’ve always owned a dual channel amplifier. My first real bass amp was a B-15N (C) :)
 
#11
Thx Paul; I laughed out loud!

I also use a dual channel amplifier, but most of the time there is a bunch of other "stuff" in the signal before it gets to the amp, so the blender helps.

Then we can get into the whole conversation of, if I use a pedalboard (I do), then do I need two separate boards because each pickup reacts diff'rnt and I use different things on each pickup. Which one gets the tuner, which one gets the cry baby or the tube screamer or the Spatial Delivery? Yes, I use a tube screamer for my upright, but I turn down the gain and then use it as a simple volume boost. It was on my guitar 'board, & is already paid for. It works very well- a Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive with the clean blend. It is the only tube screamer type I have found that plays nice with a piezo....
 
#13
james condino said:
I've been looking for the same solution. There are a few double input & channel preamps available that work well, but they tend to be incredibly expensive. I could buy an entire separate amplifier for the cost. When I want to blend multiple pickups, I just use two separate modest priced preamps- one for each pickup, and then a simple Y type two in / one out junction box.
Click to expand...
I thought you had a 2-channel Focus Series III (with the combo inputs). No?
 
#14
BarfanyShart said:
I would point out that you can obtain cables that are XLR on one end and 1/4" on the other that would solve this problem without fuss. Then you can just use whatever kind of mixer/summing/ABY/ or blendable 2-channel preamp unit you want.
Click to expand...

Don Hergert said:
I'd second the idea of using a conversion cable from the XLR to phono-1/4". You have to have some sort of cable anyway, so it may as well do the conversion for you. I'm speaking as a non-technical person here, but in my experience nothing is lost in this conversion related to sound.
Click to expand...
Did everyone (except Ric) miss this part???
gypsydjango said:
I have 2 pickups on my DB--a magnetic (1/4" jack)and a Ischell contact mic (works on phantom power XLR).
Click to expand...
The TS to XLR conversion might work with with the Ischell, but it will likely need to be modified or not work at all. But that still means OP needs a preamp with phantom power or a separate phantom power supply. I am able to use my Prodipe mic with unbalanced, low voltage phantom power, but I had to modify a 1/4" to XLR cable for it to work, and the lower voltage results in a signal that is far, far weaker than any of my pickups, which makes it pretty tricky to balance the two. OTH, my AKG C411 PP will not work at all with an unbalanced connection. It needs all three wires and appropriate phantom power.

For a one box solutions:
  • +1 for the Headway EDB. The latest, greatest version is the -2 H.E., but you could look for a used EDB-1 or EDB-2 (non-HE). This is I think the mid priced option.
  • The Zoom A3 also works nicely for blending a mic with a piezo. It's discontinued but can still be found used for $130-$150. There are a lot of pros and cons I could mention, but the one that got me was that, IIRC, there was no way to send only the mic to the FOH. I really like the switchable XLR output on the Headway EDB-2 H.E.
  • The LR Baggs Mixpro might work for you, if you can get the 9v unbalanced phantom power to work with the Ischell.
  • The Grace Designs Felix is the other option that comes to mind. It's the Cadillac option I guess; it costs almost as much as a cheap DB new.
As James mentioned, the other option is to use two separate preamps and a Y connection.
 
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#17
A used Headway EDB-2 would work it only supplies 18v to phantom, but it's more than enough for the Ischell. If you found a Headway EDB-1 it would work but those
early ones had two channel volumes running into a single EQ section which isn't idea.
 

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