What the AmpWedge looks like in action. Not a super high lift, but extremely effective at hearing more clearly while standing close to the cab.
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Double Bass Directional amplification
- Thread starter JBarz
- Start date
I'm trying to find a solution for the old generation PJB stuff. I’ve got these two amps left over from when I was a dealer, would be cool if I didnt have to buy more stuff (ever again). Because I've got this Cub (100w) + Suitcase (200w) though, theoretically I’ve got the same power as the Super Flight Case, with a little extra control of the monitoring (albeit a bit clunkier). Sounds great like this, though - at least in my practice room. Im already brainstorming some sort of tripod mount or easily transportable pole mount between the two amps to securely raise the Cub to ear level. I think this is going to work just fine - I’ll just get a dolly cart to lug it all around.
I'd be concerned with phase/comb-filtering issues doing something like that. Have you thought about simple earbuds?
The cab w/AmpWedge is a Phil Jones PB-300 powered cab -- no upward firing speaker in that one. Just six forward firing speakers.
I can't hang with earbuds, but I hear you about phase concerns. That is the first thing that pops in my head when I see these alternate direction firing and/or multiple cab setups. I experimented with it a little more and came to the realization I like it best when the Cub is right up at my face level (as close as possible!) at a lower volume. Upfiring (as pictured) was cool, but the sound still felt like it was coming from the box too much and I kept wanting to crank the Cub too loud (see phase concerns). A tripod mount or something is going to be clutch in this situation - just a matter of experimenting until I find something stable enough. I tracked down a couple of 36" long pieces of threaded 1" steel pipe and some screw on floor mounting brackets online that I suspect, when mounted between the two amps, will hopefully serve this purpose quite nicely! -- I'll be sure to let ya'll know what I come up with. -J
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I have a PB 300 and a Noble. I need to try that!
That's good to know. I have a CUB, and it's disappointing, the only PJB gear i can say that about. Can you give a more detailed comparison?
It can cut a gig with a drummer at non-bashing volume. I think it has to do with that "radiator" thingamajig at the back which handles some low frequencies. The bottom is huge for such a tiny amp. In some environments I place it on end to avoid boominess. It does, however, need some kind of coupling with the floor; sitting on a chair it's not so good. I do use an old Fishman Pro Platinum pre with it. It's not a beautiful sound like the bigger PJ models - I've used a friend's amp with the up-facing speakers in addition to the forward-facing and love it - but it weighs under 9lbs and is great for gigs where a little barking is ok. Since the pandemic I've been doing a weekly outdoor jam session in a local park with horns, drums, keyboard, and guitar, and the Double Four actually works better than my usual Tonedexter - Clarus - Upshot rig. Not as pretty or subtle, but plenty of sound and clarity. It's amazing. My limited experiance with the Cub is that it's only good for semi-acoustic settings where you just want a little extra boost, or maybe - I haven't tried this, but someone above suggested it - as sort of a personal monitor in addition to a larger amp. I recommend it highly with the caveat that it is, after all, tiny, and you can't expect too much. It's a working musician's tool, not the ultimate solution.
I played a gig tonight that I wish I hadn't taken -- a decent paying country/western thing with a relatively big name front man. No set lists and I'm not too familiar with the tunes ( I'm a jazz guy ) and was trying my best to keep up while dude flashed numbers with his right hand. I played the whole 3 hour set (!) without really being able to hear myself out of the house amp/pa. It was terrible. Everyone was really nice about it, but I can tell you now - it’s the last time I play without that Cub as a personal monitor. It should have been such an easy gig, but it felt like shooting darts in the dark — even on simple I IV V tunes — and I never want to feel that way again. Uggh… amping upright bass is hard.
I feel your pain. I have been to gigs like that too...
My problem with playing I-IV-V tunes that are unknown to me is that there are so many permutations of those chords, and melodic leading tones don't help so much! It's easy to guess wrong. And if I can't hear myself, that anxiety makes it worse.
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Exactly. The 'tip the band with shots' format they've got going on over there didn't help matters, either. It was an interesting (albeit slightly embarrassing) experience, but in hindsight there were lessons learned regarding staying within one's wheelhouse.
There were phase issues, but only from my perspective -- it didn't translate in the house...
It was a little tricky to get a feel for how I fit into the mix with the Cub in my ear, but upon playback of the recording I am pleased.
All things considered, I don't think I'll be bringing the Cub to every crappy dive-bar gig as a personal monitor now that I know I can just tilt the amp up, but it would/could certainly come in handy from time to time - especially on arco heavy stuff.
Thanks again for all your help.
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I also try to put my cab(s) close to my head. Mostly for the sake of hearing clear highs (= being able to hear the exact pitch fast enough). From practical standpoint, it looks like this:
- I put my cab(s) on something, the higher the better, at least a chair. I take care to turn the cab(s) in the direction of my ears, but away from the body of the bass.
- before I start my soundcheck, I play a while acousticaly to get the right sound to my ear. Then, I amplify my rig and try to dial the same sound as I heard. The faster I am able to dial the sound, the better the resulting sound, as (my) ear's memory is short. In my experience, this part is more important that what pickups or cabs I use.
I noticed PJB isn't making the Flightcase or Super Flightcase amps anymore and that surprised me. Does anyone have an insight as to why? I've never actually tried one, though I am well familiar with the rest of the PJB line -- Were there phase issues inherent in the design?
