Double Bass Directional amplification

[JBarz]

My tinkering mind has been reeling for weeks about how to maybe mount a PJB earbox onto the bass itself to deal with the bandstand real estate issue, but at some point I realized how ridiculous I had gotten - especially considering I've only got one real steady weekly gig right now. I've been throwing myself into bass stuff as a way to psychologically avoid dealing with the quarantine/covid stuff, but the reality of another lock-down is imminent, if you ask me. I've been having a lot of fun playing solo with a "Game Changer Audio Plus Pedal" for sustaining notes/chords and a loop station for playing on top of tunes. I highly recommend either or both as a way to sidestep the no-gig, playing-by-yourself blues - endless fun to be had in your own living room. Hope it picks back up for ya, hombre.

 

[JBarz]

So the solution was really simple, it turns out. I picked up a used AI Focus 2R series II head and found an old GK 112 combo amp in my barn that had blown out (ebay return - blarg). I cut off the amp part and wired it as a cabinet and I dare say it sounds more "B15-like" than my actual Ampeg. Ive been putting it in a stool about two feet behind me and I'll be damned if this amp doesn't sound like it's coming from EVERYWHERE. I suspect it has something to do with the very musical aluminum cabinet itself --- the thing sounds super pretty just as a hand drum in its own right! Anyway, I've been around the mill with the amplification issue and am grateful to find something that works so I can go on to thinking about something else. I plan on selling the B15, the Suitcase, the Cub, and the didn't-work-so-well-as-a-bass-amp BOSE L1 portable solo PA.

 

[bassically_eli]

Gosh, I'm really surprised I haven't seen more love on this thread for the latest generation Acoustic Image speakers, Audiokinesis, and Mike Arnopol Soundworks. My MAS and AK Thunderchild cabinets really take care of the dispersion issue for me. If I were in the market for a speaker right now, though, it'd be awfully hard to pass up the AI Double Shot, seeing as to how hard it is to get a hold of MAS and AK speakers now. The Double Shot must be fantastic! If I needed something cheaper, the 7" based Phil Jones speakers seem pretty promising--the small speakers w/ horn and slanted baffle ought to offer good dispersion. The QSC CP line of powered PA speakers also look very promising for DB at a very affordable price point.

 

[JBarz]

I have been meditating on a lot of the ideas presented in this thread and thought it might be a good time to revisit it.

I’m an amateur DIY plumber/electrician/carpenter, so I really enjoy when I figure out an elegant solution to a confusing problem I’ve been puzzling for a while.

I was really surprised at how well my Barefaced One10T gets along with PJB gear. What’s neat about this setup is that I have the Velcro locktite securing the cabinet in such a way it can tilt and turn securing in all four directions, depending on the bandstand setup. I also have a pole mount that I’ve been playing with too.

Decided hauling a pedal board was a hassle, so I trimmed the fat to simply a PSU, redeye into the amp, and a HPF PRE series 3 into a Sushibox Slampegg (for just a little tube warmth) in the FX loop. Then I just mounted everything directly on the back of the amp. It all slips under the amps padded cover for transport.

I’ve got a solution en route to make the power to the Zuma PSU and the Suitcase run off one IEC cable and have a shared single power switch.

I got called back to play a jam session downtown tonight in a much bigger room than I’m used to playing. Brought just the One10 on a stand last time and it was under powered (but I heard myself just fine!). Am considering bringing the PJB powered extension speaker, but I suspect it’ll be over kill. The suitcase+one10 has plenty of volume and compliment each other delightfully! Potential phase issues be damned - the two cabinets seem to stay in their own respective lanes, so I’m hoping there won’t be any unexpected phase problems once I get in a big room (as if).

 

[JBarz]

Set break follow up: damned if it’s still not quite enough power to overcome the amp’d piano +4 horns without crossing into the “boxy amp sound” threshold (past noon on this rig). I guess shoulda brought the powered cab. Next time…

 

[Earl]

Set break follow up: damned if it’s still not quite enough power to overcome the amp’d piano +4 horns without crossing into the “boxy amp sound” threshold (past noon on this rig). I guess shoulda brought the powered cab. Next time… View attachment 5024584 View attachment 5024585

Well your jacket matches your case anyway!

Have you asked anyone in the audience how they are hearing your bass? You might be surprised.

 

[bassically_eli]

Set break follow up: damned if it’s still not quite enough power to overcome the amp’d piano +4 horns without crossing into the “boxy amp sound” threshold (past noon on this rig). I guess shoulda brought the powered cab. Next time… View attachment 5024584 View attachment 5024585

Off topic, but what's that tailpiece? Is there another TB thread about that?

 

[JBarz]

Well your jacket matches your case anyway!

Have you asked anyone in the audience how they are hearing your bass? You might be surprised.

Man, everyone is always too nice. They were all very complimentary. Don’t get me wrong, it did the job and filled the space with sound. Both the Suitcase and the One10T have a similar point where they stop sounding “MBOL” and start sounding boxy. It’s not a bad thing necessarily, but I like to avoid it. The PJB six5 powered speaker feels like super overkill in my house with this rig, but I suspect it would have made my tone much more natural in that room, at that volume level. Certainly not essential, but since I’ve got one left over from the old shop anyway, it’ll be worth the hassle of stacking up on the cart and lugging out next time. When stacked, it puts the One10T right at ear level, too, which is ideal.

Off topic, but what's that tailpiece? Is there another TB thread about that?

It’s just a Marvin tailpiece. I took all the Velcro stuff off and it sings really nice under a bow, but amplified needs a tennis ball or something dampening it and the top. I found this squishy heart shaped stress ball the kids picked up somewhere and it does the job marvelously.

 

[JBarz]

I got frustrated today at my one10 cab. For vocals, it’s killin’ when you put it on a stand, but for bass it sounds anemic on a stand and way better coupled with the floor. When I put it on top of my PJB cab, the low end of the barefaced was too pronounced and was overlapping the high end of the PJB.

I had a wild hair to try something I’d been thinking about for a while, and I think it works and checks all the boxes! I got the idea from the Bose vocal amps that sound surprisingly good in any room. Subwoofer on the bottom, tweeter high in the air. In this rig, there’s about 3’ between the two cabs and they stay out of eachothers’ way (fingers crossed!).

Tiny stage footprint, can stand right next to it, can point upper cab any direction and is 100% above the body of the bass (feedback resistance).