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Double Bass Clarus SL

damonsmith

damonsmith

May 10, 2006
10,333
9,044
53
Saint Louis, MO
www.balancepointacoustics.com
#1
I just got a brand new Clarus SL. It is great. There are two questions I have.
1. When I turn it on, I have to play the bass, just one note, for the signal to get to the amp (an upshot). Is this normal or sign of an impending issue?

2. It exposed the tone suck of my old Boss volume pedal even more than my old Clarus 1. If anyone knows of a volume pedal, preferably a mini that doesn't suck tone, that would be great! I am just going to go without for now.
 
#2
damonsmith said:
1. When I turn it on, I have to play the bass, just one note, for the signal to get to the amp (an upshot). Is this normal or sign of an impending issue?
Click to expand...

I'm also using an SL and an Upshot. I don't have the issue you describe. It does take a second or so after the amp is turned on before the power section is "self-aware" and ready to produce sound, but it has no bearing on whether or not I'm playing. It's just "booting up."

I have no responses to question #2. Other than maybe look into passive volume pedals that pedal-steel players use, like the Ernie Ball, or a low-profile Goodrich.
 
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#3
fu22ba55 said:
Other than maybe look into passive volume pedals that pedal-steel players use, like the Ernie Ball, or a low-profile Goodrich.
Click to expand...

Another advantage to the Ernie Ball and Goodrich pedals... you can swap out the volume pot with whatever resistance you prefer: (250K, 500K, 1000K) as long as you can find a replacement volume pot with a long enough shaft. Pedal steel players are notorious for fiddling with their volume pots, so they are out there.
 
#5
Jeff Kissell said:
All of the AI amps I've used take a couple of seconds for everything to glow regardless of the input. (In the tube days it was sometimes a minute or two to full power!) I always power up and down with the mute engaged also.
Click to expand...
Great info. Thanks! The sound is incredible on either of my basses. I am using a Soundclip/George L. bass cable/Clarus SL/Speakon cable/Upshot.
 
#6
damonsmith said:
I just got a brand new Clarus SL. It is great. There are two questions I have.
1. When I turn it on, I have to play the bass, just one note, for the signal to get to the amp (an upshot). Is this normal or sign of an impending issue?

2. It exposed the tone suck of my old Boss volume pedal even more than my old Clarus 1. If anyone knows of a volume pedal, preferably a mini that doesn't suck tone, that would be great! I am just going to go without for now.
Click to expand...
I don’t have that problem either with my Clarus. It powers up quickly and sounds so wonderful with my upright. It’s the best tone I’ve ever been able to get with an amp. I’m blending a piezo pickup and mic and the two channels on my Clarus 2R Series 4 are perfect for that.
 
#12
I find the Clarus+Upshot responds to my touch so well that I don't really miss a volume pedal most of the time. However, with the kind of music you make I understand if it's a non-negotiable. I've never tried one, but Mission Engineering makes volume pedals especially for piezos. The price and power requirements are a deal breaker for me personally.

Mission Engineering Inc VM-Pro-PZ Buffered Volume Pedal for Piezo Pickups - Black
 
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