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Double Bass Doubling: Best chain for switching between Acoustic & electric

davemang

davemang

Guest
May 29, 2013
12
3
#1
I have been starting to get my gear ready for doubling (have currently only gigged EB) and am trying to figure out the best way to switch and maintain levels between EB and DB.

Specifically, I have a old german ply bass with a fishman full circle going into a MB mini CMD 121p combo. I seem to get decent sound going straight into the cmd 121p, but I am planning on getting a pre/HPF since I imagine it will help me in an actual gig setting.

Will the (likely) cheaper route of getting something like an HPF Pre from fdeck and running that into a simple channel switcher (then into a tuner pedal for tuning/muting during changes) be sufficient? Or would I be better off going with something like a radial engineering pre/switcher that has a piezo pre built in with a channel switch?
 
#4
Might be as simple as an fDeck and a Invalid Link Removed, and then you avoid the cursed 15v of *Radial.

ls2_main.jpg



Invalid Link Removed is another option for a twin-channel preamp doohicky.

EDB-2-5.3.13_0013R-640x471.jpg





*(I have the PZed-Pre, powering it without its wallwart is a PITA – I have a two-channel amp, but it often gets left at home and I use the supplied backline or DI to the house. Grain of salt – I don't double, yet, just DB)
 
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#5
Thanks for the link @Eric Hochberg - not sure how i missed that thread, sorry for beating a dead horse.

@MR PC - Solid advice, I'm sure at some point I'll want to go that route, but at this point I don't think I want to invest in a new rig.

@Feral Feline - Great suggestion with the LS-2, I was thinking a passive A/B switch if I went that route, but even if I don't end up doubling that much the LS-2 could be pretty useful. I suppose there are quite a few dual channel DB preamps that would do the same thing as the radial - although anything with lots of little knobs kinda scares me.

I think I'm going to end up doing something like this:

DB -> Fdeck->Boss LS-2->Tuner->Amp
EB --------------^

which means I'll probably need to build a pedal board (my preference for minimal gear makes the doubler specific amp seems to make even more sense ;) ).
 
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#6
Your Markbass has two inputs. I have the same amp. I plug my electric into one of the inputs and my DB through a Fishman preamp into the other, using the Fishman to EQ and match levels. You'll need a 1/4" to XLR adapter.

202403.jpg


You could run the DB through a volume to mute it but I never bother.
 
#7
davemang said:
...getting something like an HPF Pre from fdeck and running that into a simple channel switcher (then into a tuner pedal for tuning/muting during changes) be sufficient?
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I do in many situations. I have a Radial I/O switch that I use for doubling (both fretted & fretless electrics, or one of those and UB, depending on the gig). Radial BigShot i/o true bypass instrument selector
The Input 2 has an adjustable dim switch and a three position bright switch allowing me to balance the two instruments, and it works very well with my passive EB, piezo EB, and did with my fishman FC (I recently switched to a Realist).

Although I have a couple of usage notes: If you get the fdeck, you may find you like it for both instruments. Lots said on TB about that, and why. I actually bought the fdeck to save my speakers. It's just handy for many things! Also, both of my amps (GK combo and GB shuttle) handle the impedance for my UB pickups properly, so if I'm not running pedals, there are some simpler options, too.
 
#8
elgecko said:
Your Markbass has two inputs. I have the same amp. I plug my electric into one of the inputs and my DB through a Fishman preamp into the other, using the Fishman to EQ and match levels. You'll need a 1/4" to XLR adapter.

202403.jpg


You could run the DB through a volume to mute it but I never bother.
Click to expand...

I will admit that I've never use the xlr in on this amp, so it didn't dawn on me. Always more than one way to skin a cat. Thanks for all the suggestions!
 
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#12
Hey Dave,
I too have the MB amp and am doubling. I just use the Boss AB2. Its a simple AB switch. 39 dollars. Works fine.
My question for you is ,What settings do you use for your upright on the MB? I just cant seem to dial in the right sound. Anyone else using the MB for upright, please chime in. THANKS!
 
#13
Hi Dave,

I'm a doubler myself and use the Basswitch IQ DI. Two switchable channels and a really really good sound! And another great feature for the upright is the impedance-switch. It will switch from 1MΩ to 10MΩ and that will really make your bass sound awesome. It's absolutely worth a try! Check it out: Invalid Link Removed
 
#14
flobass said:
Hi Dave,

I'm a doubler myself and use the Basswitch IQ DI. Two switchable channels and a really really good sound! And another great feature for the upright is the impedance-switch. It will switch from 1MΩ to 10MΩ and that will really make your bass sound awesome. It's absolutely worth a try! Check it out: Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...

I just returned a Tonebone pz-pre and ordered a Basswitch IQ. Liked the piezo input buffer on the pz-pre but hated that the EQ applies to both channels (????). Some people suggest just setting the EQ for upright and then EQing against it with the onboard EQ on your electric, but that seems like a pretty big hack for $300....plus what if you are doing something drastic with the EQ, for example to notch out feedback? It can probably be made to work, but the Lehle unit seems to do exactly what I want. Looking forward to the journey.
 
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#15
Thanks to Jeff, I got set up with the passive Radial I/O switch. I've only had it at rehearsal, but it seems to work perfectly for quick changes and the tuner out, bright/dim, mute, and volume pot are all super handy. I was actually surprised by how close in volume my fishman FC and the TV Jones pickups on my Gretsch were - I didn't really have to tweak levels switching back and forth at all. Going to be gigging DB for the first time at the end of the month though, so that will be the first "live sound" test (luckily its a charity gig & I can fall back to playing everything EB if need be).
 
#16
I have a couple doubling rigs set up. Some are a bit elaborate :)

My preferred doubling rig for a couple years now is a Michael Pope MPP2, two channel pre into a power amp. Really nice for upright, pretty nice for electric. Crazy expensive and hard to find though.

Just put together a smaller pedalboard based rig this week for fun
image.jpg
Works pretty well and I can switch quickly, but there's still a couple things left to do to make it just right. Gotta say that new Grace Designs Felix looks terrific. Better be at that price!
 
#17
What's the path there, Mark? Where do the slab and upright go in, and at what point is it split?

I have a Saturnworks active splitter with volume for each channel, and was thinking of running:
Upright>fishman ParaEQ>Saturnworks A
Slab>Aguilar Agro>Aguilar Tone Hammer Pre>Saturnworks B
then Saturnworks>boss tu3>fdeckIII>AI Focus III s1

I've yet to actually arrange it all on a board and try it, but I'm playing electric in a band for the first time in years (actually had to buy an electric bass), and the upright would fit nicely on some tunes.
 
#18
I know everyone's ears are different, but I found the radial big shot aby switcheroonie thing to suck some low end tone, it was noticeable to me on gigs. Yesterday I revisited it, along with the boss ls-2, the radial bassbone, and the radial jdv, with the jdv winning hands down for preserving tone and low end. The ls-2 was clean as well. The jdv is big and requires that external power supply, and is a push button channel switcher, but it is a true rep of what you put through it. However, that basswitch is on my radar. I'm curious is any basswitch users have ditched their fdeck units......
 
#19
tyb507 said:
What's the path there, Mark? Where do the slab and upright go in, and at what point is it split?
Click to expand...

After a few gigs, I know I'm gonna change things up a bit, but for now it goes
UPRIGHT- Blast Cult pickup>fDeck>ABY switcher
ELECTRIC- Brimstone XD-1>Fairfield Barbershop>Aguilar TH DI> ABY switcher.

That particular switcher was never meant to stay on the board, but it's not bad. Just got a Loopmasters ABY that I'll be trying next week. Couple other toys coming in to experiment with in the coming weeks :)
 
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