Double Bass Doubling rig for 2023

[Kevin Hailey]

I agree but I don't think I want to buy a second 2 channel AI head only. My AI is a combo and the head is not removable. I love the combo for most of my UB work need to add a direct firing extension cab to it for EB sound full. The Mark 102P at 31lbs and 8 ohms works but something smaller and lighter at 4 ohms would be even better. I am thinking the doubleshot or possibly a 1-12?

My “big” speaker is one of the current series epifani 1x12, pretty much the same weight as your 210 but runs at 4ohm and sounds incredible.
It’s too big for the subway though, so mostly I use an upshot, which sounds great but is lacking in volume or an old GK extension cab which is loud but not as nuanced.

 

[Slammin Scotty]

Thanks Kevin. I am worried about volume when playing w/o FOH support. I am 50 miles north of NYC so no subways to deal with but I do like to load-in and out in one trip wherever possible. So far doubling requires 2 trips; EB, accessories and cab on trip 1, UB and combo or head on trip 2.

 

[crd]

I tried this. UB into preamp into active input on walkabout, Pbass into passive input. When I adjust the parametric EQ so the EB sounds good the UB is too Boomy. Cut the bass on the K&K preamp but still haven't found a great compromise. I am wondering if the Fdeck series 3 would be better than the K&K for my application? If I can get the system working with the walkabout I could then look into if an AB switch would have any advantages.

The Fdeck will help with the boominess. I have no experience with the K&K stuff but I suspect putting the fdeck after the preamp or in the effects loop of the walkabout will take care of the excessive low-end. Some of this stuff is taste. I like a colored but flat upright sound so I would be pumped to put an upright through the walkabout before I would use the acoustic image stuff but that is just my preference. I'm don't know what your electric sounds like, so maybe you do need two separate EQ channels. I would still think about getting an a/b switch and having two separate signal chains for the upright and electric rather than a two input amp.

When I was doing touring roots/pop stuff my doubling rig was a TecAmp bonafide which was okay. (You can hear what it sounded like direct to board here if your curious.) I bought that rig in 2015 and spend five years using and wishing I bought a Grace Design's Felix so I flipped it last year for a Grace Designs Felix which is great but probably overkill for your situation.

 

[statsc]

Is this rig sufficient for the Bass in a small to mid size venue without FOH support? If so I am look at adding a doubleshot as an extension cab to my 2 channel AI combo.

Not sure how you’re defining “mid size venue,” but I think using the Doubleshot as an extension cabinet would be enough, even without FOH. For a small venue, the Doubleshot by itself would probably suffice.

 

[Jazzdogg]

The CodaR has many of the same features as the Focus 2 R but I cannot remove the amp from the combo cabinet as this earlier generation was not designed to work that way. If you were going to bring just one cab to a gig in a mid size venue without FOH support which of the above cabs would it be?

Probably my Crazy88 or Wizzy12M; the focus has a built-in variable HPF, so I can get a lot of volume without worrying about overdriving the 8" drivers in the Crazy88 with too much bass.

 

[Kevin Hailey]

Thanks Kevin. I am worried about volume when playing w/o FOH support. I am 50 miles north of NYC so no subways to deal with but I do like to load-in and out in one trip wherever possible. So far doubling requires 2 trips; EB, accessories and cab on trip 1, UB and combo or head on trip 2.

If your upright has a wheel and your amp etc. are on a hand truck, electric on your back one trip is doable, a massive handful, but doable. ​

 

[Slammin Scotty]

Yeah but it is a bear to get through the turnstiles

 

[Slammin Scotty]

Probably my Crazy88 or Wizzy12M; the focus has a built-in variable HPF, so I can get a lot of volume without worrying about overdriving the 8" drivers in the Crazy88 with too much bass.

Thanks Jazzdog this is helpful. My Contra2R has the same preamp section as the Focus 2R (maybe the same amp?) but it is not detachable from the speakers so The extension cabinet is critical for a fuller EB sound and more volume.

 

[overit]

Headway EDB-2 HE - small, light affordable. I'd go with something similar and see how it goes with your Walkabout and a 2x10. I use mine with a Quilter BassBlock 800 and either a Doubleshot or 2x Quilter 2x10 cabs depending on volume.

 

[Marty Forrer]

I double. I find my AI Clarus head is too transparent. My setup is GK MBF500 head with footswitch. This head has two gain controls and two master volumes, so the factory footswitch allows for different pickups to be set at the same volumes. I gave up using piezos, my Krivo mag pickup has more even string volumes and much more natural tone than any piezo I've tried (Vics, Rev Solo, Shadow, Barbera, Max,). Cab is a GK 2x10. EB is a Jazz.

 

[Ric Vice]

Headway EDB-2 HE - small, light affordable. I'd go with something similar and see how it goes with your Walkabout and a 2x10. I use mine with a Quilter BassBlock 800 and either a Doubleshot or 2x Quilter 2x10 cabs depending on volume.

Good call,
I use my Headway EDB-2H.E. as one of my go to DB preamps.

 

[Zbysek]

When I am doubling, I use different preamps to send signal for each instrument into FOH separately.

Aguilar TH pedal for BG and Broughton Messenger for EUB.

For monitoring, I am using Markbass LM 3 and Bergantino cn112. One preamp goes to instrument input and the other goes to FX return.

 

[Slammin Scotty]

Headway EDB-2 HE - small, light affordable. I'd go with something similar and see how it goes with your Walkabout and a 2x10. I use mine with a Quilter BassBlock 800 and either a Doubleshot or 2x Quilter 2x10 cabs depending on volume.

That is an option I am looking at. I just missed one on the classifieds.

 

[Slammin Scotty]

Thank you community for all the generous feedback. There were some subtle changes from the threads of 3 years ago but for my situation I was left with 2 solid options:
Add a second cabinet to my AI Contra 2R 2 channel combo with one instrument in each channel or add a 2 channel preamp and use my Walkabout with 2x10 speaker.

I like the way my walkabout and 2x10 sounds for many of my EB gigs and it has been solid on louder UB gigs such as rockabilly and blues, so I decided to pick up a Headway EDB-2 HE to get the settings right when doubling. I found one used for a good enough price that I can flip it if it doesn't work out. I have a month before the next gig so plenty of time to dial in some options.

The only downside is this research got me thinking about 2x8 cabinets but that is a topic for a different thread.

 

[Ric Vice]

Thank you community for all the generous feedback. There were some subtle changes from the threads of 3 years ago but for my situation I was left with 2 solid options:
Add a second cabinet to my AI Contra 2R 2 channel combo with one instrument in each channel or add a 2 channel preamp and use my Walkabout with 2x10 speaker.

I like the way my walkabout and 2x10 sounds for many of my EB gigs and it has been solid on louder UB gigs such as rockabilly and blues, so I decided to pick up a Headway EDB-2 HE to get the settings right when doubling. I found one used for a good enough price that I can flip it if it doesn't work out. I have a month before the next gig so plenty of time to dial in some options.

The only downside is this research got me thinking about 2x8 cabinets but that is a topic for a different thread.

1. Congratulations on finding one used, I was lucky enough to get one on the resale market as well.

2. Having tried a whole slew of 2x8 cabinets, I came to the conclusion that they aren't any better than any well made 1x10, or 1x12. Mike Arnopol
probably built the best of the 2x8's. I have his 1x8 and it's tremendous for the size. Mikes retired to Wisconsin these days.

 

[Jazzdogg]

The CodaR has many of the same features as the Focus 2 R but I cannot remove the amp from the combo cabinet as this earlier generation was not designed to work that way. If you were going to bring just one cab to a gig in a mid size venue without FOH support which of the above cabs would it be?

Probably my Crazy88 or Wizzy12M; the focus has a built-in variable HPF, so I can get a lot of volume without worrying about overdriving the 8" drivers in the Crazy88 with too much bass.

1. Congratulations on finding one used, I was lucky enough to get one on the resale market as well.

2. Having tried a whole slew of 2x8 cabinets, I came to the conclusion that they aren't any better than any well made 1x10, or 1x12. Mike Arnopol
probably built the best of the 2x8's. I have his 1x8 and it's tremendous for the size. Mikes retired to Wisconsin these days.

I love the composite Crazy8 and Crazy88 cabs Mike built for me. Other bassists looked askance when they saw them both stacked vertically with a tiny Acoustic Image Focus on top at a get-together several years ago at Bass San Diego. But, they grinned widely when I plugged in and started playing.

 

[Slammin Scotty]

There were links for three builders of the crazy 88 design but none of them are active anymore. Is anyone currently building this design? I would love to find one in composite, is the used market is my only recourse?

 

[Jazzdogg]

If I were to build a pair, I would build them to accommodate pole-mounting, with one Crazy88 on the floor, horizontally, and the other pole-mounted, vertically, using the bottom cabinet as ballast for stability.

The lower cab should couple well with the floor to increase the perception of low bass; position the upper cabinet at a height that places the drivers close to ear level, and puts the amplifier close to eye-level for easy viewing.

Before I retired I used this configuration with the bottom cab aimed sideways, across the the stage, as a bass fill for my band mates, or pointing out into the audience; the top cab was a tweeterless Crazy8 which functioned as my personal monitor; having the lower cab coupled to the floor meant I perceived strong bass, even though it wasn't aimed toward me. IMHO, this setup KILLED with double bass, and sounded full and authoritative with five-string electric. It would doubtless have sounded better, and could have doubled as small PA speakers in intimate venues, if I had used two 88s.

I am a huge proponent of variable high-pass filters, and with my Crazy cabs, VHPF enabled me to produce ample volume without imperiling the 8" drivers or sounding at all deficient in deep bass.

I keep my Crazy cabs in zippered Cajon bags, which makes for easy carrying, load-in, and load-out. I am fortunate that my composite Crazy8 and 88 sound great while weighing only 11 pounds and 20 pound, respectively.

Please keep us posted as you proceed.

 

[Ric Vice]

Scotty,
As far as I know Mike Arnopol was the only individual building composite Crazy 8's. He stopped due to it's effect on his health. Without a air handling system
the materials are unhealthy at best.

 

[Ric Vice]

GR Aero Tech Cabinets are Carbon Fiber you can take a look at them on their site. They make ultra light cabinets there is a 2x8 in their line. I've not personally played one. A few TB players have purchased the 110.