I am thinking about buying the BP 100 Fishman transducer for my upright bass. A preamp is recommended. Does anyone here think it's possible to use a compact mixer such as the Behringer UB 502 5 channel mixer for a preamp? I am a complete novice when it comes to this sort of thing, but the mixer is about half the price of a preamp. Plus, I could run my electric bass through one of the channels and when I change basses for different songs it would already be hooked up and ready to go. All I would have to do is turn the volume down on the upright, lay it down, grab the electric and turn it up. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Double Bass Compact Mixer For A Preamp...?
- Thread starter Cathead
- Start date
The preamp is needed for impedance matching. The mixer in question has an input impedance of 50 ohms balanced or around 4-10K on the line in. Ideally you want something with an input impedance in the megohms for the piezo Fishman transducer.
Thanks, mje for your reply. You "learned' me something I didn't know. I think I will go ahead and get the pickup, and if I'm not satisfied with the sound I get in my bass amp I will go ahead and spring the bucks for a preamp. Thanks again.
Yeah, he's a useful guy to have around, isn't he? His nickname isn't e=mj2 for nothing. I've always admired people who understand electronic techie stuff..... it always sounds like gibberish to me.
maxvalentino
Endorsing Artist Godin Guitars/ Thomastik-Infeld
You might want to look into a Raven Labs MDB1; a three ch. mixer/DI/Buffer amp which has three discrete channels (each with indiv. level and mutes) a 10 megohm input impedence on ach (a VERY good match for the Fishman transducer), a side chain aux loop, ans a very high quality DI.
It could set your URB up nicely, and allow you to trade off with electrics w/o unplugging or changing levels.
Very high quality.....[ristine sound and dead quiet.
Max
It could set your URB up nicely, and allow you to trade off with electrics w/o unplugging or changing levels.
Very high quality.....[ristine sound and dead quiet.
Max
Yep......definately useful. That sounds great, Max. I'll be checking that out soon. I really appreciate this forum and the help I have gotten from you fellers...thanks!
My pal Ric has the BP-100 on his (I think) Christopher, and he tells me the new Fishman bass preamp works very well with it.
I've had a BP-100 for a loooong time. Initially I tried going without a preamp...always a hassle getting the sound you want. I quickly got a fishman preamp (I think it is the old "B") ...fixed all the problems: fixed the impedence mismatch, gave me control over my volumn and sound, and clips on my hip or on a music stand.
Get a preamp.
Get a preamp.
