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Double Bass Compression? Preamp?

R

rxZombie

Apr 17, 2008
2
0
#1
Hello guys! I've a few questions about my setup. I play a 3/4 Cremona bass that's been through the ringer. I'm not sure how old it is. Probably 15 years or so. The guy before me split it by standing on it, and glued/screwed it back together. It was the only bass in my price range, and i've come to love it. I play rock music, and am into rock a billy right now.

I have a magnetic pickup, It's a Krivo magnetic pickup, looks like an older version of this:
Invalid Link Removed
Mine isn't a humbucker, and was around $90.

I have a fender rumble 100

So my question is one of getting a better sound out of the amp. The acoustic quality isn't great, due to damage, but i am playing amplified rock a billy most the time. I've looked into compression pedals, and preamps a bit. I don't want to change the "tone" per se , more like get a consistent nice even sound coming out.

What kind of pedals or gear can you guys suggest for me as a noob looking to play some rock a billy??

Thanks in advance!
 
#2
Given your current setup, I'm going to assume that faithful reproduction of your acoustic tone is not really what you're going for. With that in mind, there are many, many options out there.

Bongomania is a TBer (generally posts on the BG side) with vast experience in compression, and has a website devoted to reviews of dozens of pedal and rack models. You will find more than you thought there was to know about compression there.

A quick and fairly simple toolbox designed for DB is the Fishman Platinum Pro -- a preamp/DI box with graphic EQ, single-dial compressor (which isn't bad, but offers little fine control), high-pass filter, and of course, a direct out. It works well, is very reasonably priced, and in my view, would be a great place to start. While its primary use is with piezo-type pickups, it can certainly be used with magnetic ones. Other options might be those built by K-Max or L.R. Baggs.

Hope that's a start. :)
 
#4
You should definitely check out the Basswitch IQ DI. It doesn't colour your sound at all and the impedance switch really brings your pickup alive! Check out the video of the Bass Whisperer on their website. Invalid Link Removed
It works beautiful with upright bass. I have a plywood bass myself and it sounds amazing with the Basswitch.
Hope I could help,
Florian
 
#5
flobass said:
You should definitely check out the Basswitch IQ DI. It doesn't colour your sound at all and the impedance switch really brings your pickup alive! Check out the video of the Bass Whisperer on their website. Invalid Link Removed
It works beautiful with upright bass. I have a plywood bass myself and it sounds amazing with the Basswitch.
Hope I could help,
Florian
Click to expand...

This is getting absurd. I'm thrilled that you love the Basswitch, but it would be far more convincing if you limited your shilling to those threads in which it is at least relevant. It may be a fine piece of kit, but it really doesn't address the OP's needs, and with all due respect to him it may be worth more than his bass.
 
#6
GrowlerBox said:
This is getting absurd. I'm thrilled that you love the Basswitch, but it would be far more convincing if you limited your shilling to those threads in which it is at least relevant. It may be a fine piece of kit, but it really doesn't address the OP's needs, and with all due respect to him it may be worth more than his bass.
Click to expand...

Excuse me?
He is looking for a preamp that doesn't color the tone...
He is looking for something that makes his amp sound better...
The Basswitch works great with upright bass, even that maybe no compression pedal would be required and these expenses could be saved. And in some people's carrier there comes a moment, when they want to move forward and invest in something, that they can use for a long time and not some cheap stuff they throw away or grow out of quickly.
We all make suggestions here and I think it's up to the OP to draw his conclusions and not to somebody who is addressing in such an "absurd" way.
 

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