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Double Bass Do i need pre amp for the DB?

#5
Short answer: it depends on the amp.

Typically when people say you need a preamp when running a piezo pickup into a bass amp, they're talking about impedance matching. If your amp can't handle the high impedance of a piezo, then you're going to get some funky EQ going on, which can lead to feedback at moderate volumes, etc. You want a preamp with a 10M Ohm input.
 
#6
Pre-amp is indispensable for me. Never know what you're going to plug into. I use it even with my PJB superflightcase because it sounds so much better. Plus you get volume control at your fingertips.

I say get a decent pre-amp.
 
#7
fivaras said:
Someone told me that in order to play with an amp and a Db u need to plug it in a pre amp first. Is that true? And what kind of pre amp is this? they told me that this would work


http://www.thomann.de/gr/tech_21_sansamp_rbi_basspreamp.htm


thank u guys
Click to expand...

Fivaras,
Many of the newer amplifiers have 1 Meg Ohm input loads now. MarkBass, Acoustic Image, Euphonic Audio, Gallien Krueger, and even SWR's do. So you don't necessarily need one any more to buffer the input signal. Check the specs on your own amplifier.

Ric
 
#9
As said, its depends of your pu...
And your taste. some players don't need preamp, they likes their sound as it is directly from the pu.
This said, most of the piezzo are better sounding with a preamp, to match with amp and to manage sound, eq...
If you play in a loud band, you'll need the preamp imho. Piezzo are often 'thin" sounding....
i got underwood, k&k, barcus berry, etc, and none of them was nice directly on the amp...
One of the best preamp for db is the fishmann pro platinum...
 
#10
A preamp can be a real help when you need to match input impedance(as has been said). However that preamp that you linked is a rack mount preamp. IMO not necessary at all for Double Bass. You would be better off with a Fishman, K&K, Fdecks pre, etc. Smaller, lighter, easier to throw in your gig bag etc.
 
#11
Adrian Juras said:
A preamp can be a real help when you need to match input impedance(as has been said). However that preamp that you linked is a rack mount preamp. IMO not necessary at all for Double Bass. You would be better off with a Fishman, K&K, Fdecks pre, etc. Smaller, lighter, easier to throw in your gig bag etc.
Click to expand...

I agree - I use a small Sadowsky metal unit which seems indestructible! Most pro Jazz DBers I've seen use small preamps like you mention ...

Invalid Link Removed

...at a small fraction of the price of a rack unit!! :eek:
 
#12
Just build one of these: :D

ebpre.jpg


Just kidding of course. My latest DIY experiment. :hiding:
 
#17
dvh said:
+ 1 I have found I don't need the pre-amp with my Markbass head.
Click to expand...


DVH,

The Mark Acoustic 250 head has a different load on Channel 2 that's set at 1 meg ohm, so they have evidently figured out that a 1 meg ohm load is helpful for acoustic. The Little Mark II's or III's are set at 500 k ohms, but again lots of upright players are happy with them. I would be really interested in why they configured the 250's and the LMK differently. With both my amps the 1 or even a 10 meg ohm load improves the sound dramatically .

Ric
 

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