Has anyone compared these two? Obviously the clarus has a lot more power and features but it looks like the bam has good sound and enough power and flexibility for the average acoustic jazz gig. Or does the clarus just blow the bam away? I know there's been a couple reviews and comparisons here but hoping to focus on just these two.
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Double Bass Clarus SL vs Bam200
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For me there's really no way to compare the two. First while the EQ section of the BAM works fine, the EQ section of the Claris SL has better sensitivity and has a Low Cut filter. The connections on the SL are Speakon and the
amp will operate at a 2 ohm load. The BAM 200 power rating is at 4 ohms, if you connect it to a 8 ohm cabinet like most of us have the avaliable power drops. The Claris SL is reparable and AI has the best customer service
on the planet. While the BAM is a very impressive piece of kit, if you're only going to have one amp IME you'd want the Claris or something like it. Just my take
amp will operate at a 2 ohm load. The BAM 200 power rating is at 4 ohms, if you connect it to a 8 ohm cabinet like most of us have the avaliable power drops. The Claris SL is reparable and AI has the best customer service
on the planet. While the BAM is a very impressive piece of kit, if you're only going to have one amp IME you'd want the Claris or something like it. Just my take
Thanks I'm aware of the differences in specs. I guess I'm looking for more reports from the field - comparisons from people gigging with both (if there are any). To get more specific:
Do you find that the bam lacks power and flexibility in the EQ when playing with an acoustic jazz quartet with drums? Do you miss the clarus when using the bam on a gig?
100 watts should be enough for the average acoustic jazz gig (at least for me). If the EQ on the bam is flexible enough to get a good sound do you really need everything that the clarus has?
Do you find that the bam lacks power and flexibility in the EQ when playing with an acoustic jazz quartet with drums? Do you miss the clarus when using the bam on a gig?
100 watts should be enough for the average acoustic jazz gig (at least for me). If the EQ on the bam is flexible enough to get a good sound do you really need everything that the clarus has?
Basss,
I've gigged with both amps. IME the BAM is only useful as a backup amp for emergencies or duos and background music. The BAM 200 is not enough power for a quartet. I tried it once.
I immediately missed the Low Cut Filter on the Clarius and the power Clarius SL provides. It's a duo or very soft trio amp. Just my take.
I've gigged with both amps. IME the BAM is only useful as a backup amp for emergencies or duos and background music. The BAM 200 is not enough power for a quartet. I tried it once.
I immediately missed the Low Cut Filter on the Clarius and the power Clarius SL provides. It's a duo or very soft trio amp. Just my take.
I've been using a tcbam 200 very sucessfuly on jazz gigs with drums, electric keyboard and horns. Lifeline to Tonedexter to bam to Upshot. The Tonedexter has stuff missing from the amp - high pass filter - notch - phase switch - all of which I have used at times.
Im looking at the BAM200 now as well. After 'upgrading' from my CODA+ Series III to the SL Series 4 (mainly for weight/size), I haven't been truly satisfied (mainly with the EQ bands). I would agree that there are some of specs on the AI that Id miss... (HPF, Switchable mic input, PP as I was mainly using a mic for UB gigs). But Im pleasantly surprised that a few of these new micro amps are starting to accommodate piezo pup with a 10MΩ input.
As for power, Im always surprised at how much 'power' TBers need/want for their gigs. I've gone as small as a Quilter Microblock 45 paired with an Upshot for even moderately sized groups with no issues (but certainly at its upper limit). But the key here is "YMMV"—it'll all depend on how you're using it.
So a comparison for me would be about my use 'doubling'. Could I get the tone I needed on both UB and EB? The BAM's lack of HPF would probably regularly be missed on UB gigs. And the BAMs power would limit its use on some gigs—but any larger gig (in my case) would have FOH support.
I very curious to try a BAM200 side by side with SL.
As for power, Im always surprised at how much 'power' TBers need/want for their gigs. I've gone as small as a Quilter Microblock 45 paired with an Upshot for even moderately sized groups with no issues (but certainly at its upper limit). But the key here is "YMMV"—it'll all depend on how you're using it.
So a comparison for me would be about my use 'doubling'. Could I get the tone I needed on both UB and EB? The BAM's lack of HPF would probably regularly be missed on UB gigs. And the BAMs power would limit its use on some gigs—but any larger gig (in my case) would have FOH support.
I very curious to try a BAM200 side by side with SL.
Karl,
I've used it for both instruments, you will miss the two midrange controls on the Clarius. It's also got a whole lot more RMS power. That will definitely come into play
if you're cabinets are 8 Ohm, where the BAM 200 only gives you @ 135 watts RMS. By comparison the Clarius SL is producing @450 watts. That's a big difference, even if
you're playing at moderate volumes, because of the avaliable headroom the Clarius provides, when you dig into certian notes. Based on my gigging experiences with the BAM 200
I think it would get lost as a Backline Amp in a FOH scenario. Just my take however.
I've used it for both instruments, you will miss the two midrange controls on the Clarius. It's also got a whole lot more RMS power. That will definitely come into play
if you're cabinets are 8 Ohm, where the BAM 200 only gives you @ 135 watts RMS. By comparison the Clarius SL is producing @450 watts. That's a big difference, even if
you're playing at moderate volumes, because of the avaliable headroom the Clarius provides, when you dig into certian notes. Based on my gigging experiences with the BAM 200
I think it would get lost as a Backline Amp in a FOH scenario. Just my take however.
I would like some education on whole volume/watt thing. Back in the day I used a Ampeg B15 which I think had 35 watts very successfully with some bashing drummers. Was I just happier with crappier sound in those days, or is there more to it than that?
Lurk,
I to did many gigs with my B-15N(C) in Ramada Inn Lounges, Holiday Inn Lounges, etc. Those rooms were small in comparison to halls and auditoriums I play in now. I probably could get along with my B-15N(C)
when I do wedding receptions, and assisted living complexes, but it weighs 75 lbs. and there's no comparison to the sound I'm getting from my powered MAS 1/8. I have to really work to position the B-15N and it takes
very focused listening, which around the third set becomes very challenging. Just my take of course. In 2019 the most common standard amps are @500 watts.
My take as a listener is that almost any band I have ever heard was way to loud. I have left a few concerts in the past because I could not longer stand the noise. Almost never you hear the audience complain, that the music was not loud enough. In my point of view, a 100 Watt amp is enough for any smaller settings and as a monitor for anything bigger with FOH.
I broke down and bought the Bam 200 a couple months back. I've owned the Clarus SL for several years and have used it quite a bit with both upright and electric.
I can gig with the Bam no problem with the right cabinet. It's got a warm but focused sound that works well. I've used it with a 410 cab on moderately loud electric bass gigs and it was fine.
It sounds really good with upright as well. The 10 mega ohm input and warm sound give a good natural tone to my Full Circle pickup with the amp set flat. No piezo twang. I will say you have to like 'warm' to like this amp. It's not nearly as open in the lows as the Clarus and can feel a bit compressed when pushed, although not obnoxiously so. I picked up Revsound RS8 and RS28 cabs to use with it and am very pleased. For the past several years I've used either a Phil Jones Double Four for small gigs or a Genz Shuttle 3.0 10t and am liking the Bam/Revsound rig better.
I can gig with the Bam no problem with the right cabinet. It's got a warm but focused sound that works well. I've used it with a 410 cab on moderately loud electric bass gigs and it was fine.
It sounds really good with upright as well. The 10 mega ohm input and warm sound give a good natural tone to my Full Circle pickup with the amp set flat. No piezo twang. I will say you have to like 'warm' to like this amp. It's not nearly as open in the lows as the Clarus and can feel a bit compressed when pushed, although not obnoxiously so. I picked up Revsound RS8 and RS28 cabs to use with it and am very pleased. For the past several years I've used either a Phil Jones Double Four for small gigs or a Genz Shuttle 3.0 10t and am liking the Bam/Revsound rig better.
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my BAM200 just came today. and im glad to see the 10MΩ impedance, looking forward to some holiday trials 
I have one it's a nice, practical, inexpensive amp. I think trying to compare sonically it to a Acoustic Image, is an exercise in futility. The amps really weren't built on an "equal fitting".
Concert's are to loud, for sure. When I'm taking out one of my standard amp rigs, I'm not often headed to do a concert, I'm going to some kind of social event where they need background music.
If it's a big, loud social event, my experience's with the Bamis that it cannopt keep with that intense crowd noies. Just my opinion
Concert's are to loud, for sure. When I'm taking out one of my standard amp rigs, I'm not often headed to do a concert, I'm going to some kind of social event where they need background music.
If it's a big, loud social event, my experience's with the Bamis that it cannopt keep with that intense crowd noies. Just my opinion
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
Ric, did you intend to type footing?
I’ve played a lot more gigs through an AI than anything else and I do think the BAM has a more open and natural tone than the Clarus.
Edit: The OP has experience with both amps and seems to like the BAM which is much, much cheaper. The comparison has been made.
My comment about the BAM’s tone does not apply to the low end where it sounds compressed.
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Yes Greg, I meant footing. Fitting doesn't really work in that context, does it?
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