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Double Bass DPA 4099 vs AMT SP25B

#261
Since I have both units I can personally tell everyone that they work together very well. The Headway makes any pickup sound infinitely better than it does alone. The I haven't been able to use the 4099 in a concert yet but it worked great at a recording session I did in October. Gordon sent the EDB-1 to one of his dealers here in St. Louis. I tested it out with the 4099 and purchased it after a trial period. That's just good business.


Ric

Disclaimer I did not receive any compensation from Nova Strings or Headway for the EDB-1

Ric
 
#262
Roger Davis said:
After being a bit sceptical re the DPA 4099 I've borrowed a friend's Headway. I put my DPA (guitar mount, low cut) on the end of the fingerboard looking midway between the f-scroll and bridge foot, G side, about 25mm above the table. I put the signal into the Headway and then fed into the effects out of my Clarus and into an EA 10" Wizzy. Using the Headway gave me three times more feedback-free volume than previously with a very true bass sound. So I'm now looking forward to gigging the whole combination.
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Excuse my pre amp ignorance, but why would using the phantom power on an AI amp (like the Focus) alone not be as good as using the Headway w/ it?
 
#264
bribass said:
Excuse my pre amp ignorance, but why would using the phantom power on an AI amp (like the Focus) alone not be as good as using the Headway w/ it?
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Bribass,
If you already have a Focus then it would sound just great. A great many bass players love the pre amp on the Focus, I'm certainly not going to dispute that. My main amps are two Walter Woods and I prefer that sound. The Headway has a voicing that's sounds better with my amps, bass, and pickup (The Realist). In fact you can use the Headway as your pre amp into a powered cabinet like the Bergantino IP's or a AI Focus SA or whatever power amps are out there. The Wood's amps don't have phantom power so the Headway solves a problem for me, the voicing of the Headway pre amp is very good with Double Bass.

Ric
 
#265
bribass said:
Excuse my pre amp ignorance, but why would using the phantom power on an AI amp (like the Focus) alone not be as good as using the Headway w/ it?
Click to expand...

The Clarus will provide up to 50v phantom power so at first sight would be a better bet than the headway's 18v. However the point I was trying to make was that the 18v are perfectly capable of running the DPA. But, more importantly, the voicing, notch filter etc on the Headway enables the DPA to run at considerably more volume from the backline before feedback. I estimated it (didn't measure it) at three times louder.

As a postscript, I had a NYE gig in a small restaurant and got quite excited about using the DPA/Headaway. When it came to it and I was loading the car I thought 'nah, lets keep it simple and easy tonight', so I just took the bass, Underwood, Clarus and 10" Wizzy - and the sound form the bass was great. So on the next gig I will make the effort but there comes a time when the law of diminishing returns kicks in and you have to wonder whether the small improvement in sound justifies all the extra fiddle.

Happy New Year
 
#266
Roger Davis said:
there comes a time when the law of diminishing returns kicks in and you have to wonder whether the small improvement in sound justifies all the extra fiddle.
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This is certainly something I notice in my life. Most of my gigs are of the "nobody would notice the difference" variety and the only one that really cares about that xtra whatever percent the mic brings is often me. The simplicity of pickup/amp/bass is very compelling on these cold winter nights when I want to get in as late as possible, set up, play, and get out with as little hassle as possible.

If I could just bring a bass and that's it I'd be really happy.

If I could just use a mic and plug into something that I don't have to carry that would be even better.

No such luck here in the Land of Cows.
 
#267
Or here in the land of horses. Still, the DPA is looking like the next best "mount this on my bass to stay, then use it when you want" option, which is all we can really hope for. And I must say that the PJB combo is pretty much the best amp for the pickup/cable/amp scenario when I just feel like doing that. I hope to be trying it with the headway before too long.
 
#268
Uncletoad said:
........... The simplicity of pickup/amp/bass is very compelling on these cold winter nights when I want to get in as late as possible, set up, play, and get out with as little hassle as possible.
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Uncletoad said:
If I could just bring a bass and that's it I'd be really happy.
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Amen

Uncletoad said:
If I could just use a mic and plug into something that I don't have to carry that would be even better.
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Amen

No such luck here in the Land of Cows.[/QUOTE] Nor in the land of arches and marshes

Phil,
Wouldn't it be nice. Personally I think it should be a rule that clubs have adequate sound re enforcement, yeah, like that's ever gonna happen out here in St. Louis. Since it's not gonna happen the alternative could be a small neo cabinet with a digital power amp built in and the Headway EDB-1. Unfortunately, the Bergantino IP 112 is pretty heavy compared to the AE 112. Phil Jones' amps are lighter, so are the Focus and the EA amps.
 
#269
I just ordered the DPA4099 directly from the good folks at DPA. Flat response, violin mount. I will probably construct my own mount using something akin to the mount that comes with the Realist pickup. You know, the little rubber loop that goes between the tailpiece and the ball of the string.


Anyway, here's a couple things that might be of interest:

1.) The flat response (No HPF @ 80hz) is available for no extra charge. It has become a standard option, as it should.

2.) The bass mount will be coming out in a month or so and will retail at about 80 bucks.


Happy New Year everybody. I wish you all the best in 2010.
 
#270
adbass said:
1.) The flat response (No HPF @ 80hz) is available for no extra charge. It has become a standard option, as it should.

2.) The bass mount will be coming out in a month or so and will retail at about 80 bucks. .
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adbass,

Thanks for the update. Mike at DPA hipped me to the different versions. So I was fine on that one.


On my bass the Violin mount isn't really even a good temporary fix, so i just took a couple of cable ties and put it right on the AMT gooseneck. DPA's proposed DB mount for the 4099 won't work for me either since it put's the mic right over the f hole which is the worst place you could possibly put a mic on my bass. So we will just wait and see. I've got my fingers crossed.
 
#271
Yea, I'm not sold on the mounting systems but I ordered it anyway. No mounting system has really done it for me yet, but this mic is so small and sounds so good that I'm simply going to chalk it up to a DIY job.

I've been craving a small mic solution that stays mounted on the bass for a long time. Now with the EA Doubler amp in hand, it's time.
 
#272
just as an aside, i had mike shank setup the thunderbox. the dpa was clipped on the bridge (violin mount) when i dropped it off ... mike told me he expected the tone of the bass to die when he clipped the dpa back on, and was pleasantly surprised by how little effect it had on the acoustic sound of the bass. it *did* effect the sound for sure, but ...

i guess it really is a question of choosing the compromise ...

jeff.
 
#273
Ric Vice said:
adbass,

Thanks for the update. Mike at DPA hipped me to the different versions. So I was fine on that one.
DPA's proposed DB mount for the 4099 won't work for me either since it put's the mic right over the f hole which is the worst place you could possibly put a mic on my bass. So we will just wait and see. I've got my fingers crossed.
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Ric, How do you know where it mounts. Did they just describe it to you or have you seen one? I agree right in front of the f hole is not a good spot, but on my bass just West of the G side f hole, just North the bridge is great spot. Will the DB mount reach that?

Thnx, BG
 
#274
bribass said:
Ric, How do you know where it mounts. Did they just describe it to you or have you seen one? I agree right in front of the f hole is not a good spot, but on my bass just West of the G side f hole, just North the bridge is great spot. Will the DB mount reach that?

Thnx, BG
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Bribass,
Like many of us I purchased the 4099 directly from DPA. Mike Morgan from DPA described the mount as being "very similar" to the mount they already have for the 4021. Here's a picture Uncle Toad found on the DPA website. I not for certain that's the final design, but I don't think that it would reach far enough.
 

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#275
Thnx Ric. Yes, I've seen that one. Doesn't quite make it to that optimal area.

If you DPA guys are reading this I think a tailpiece mounted clip with a longer gooseneck that makes it up to level or above the bridge area OR a longer goose neck that can come down from the end of finger board (perhaps attached w/ Velcro just behind the board) to the same area near the bridge.

Either of these scenarios would get the mic to a crucial area of the DB top that many of us favor for best mic results while not having to mute the bridge or dampen the string after lengths.
 
#276
Well, when I was on the phone with DPA the other day they said the violin mount can also be connected from the edge of the rib to the f-hole.

That may allow the gooseneck to reach over to just above the bridge.

Mine is supposed to arrive tomorrow.
 
#277
adbass said:
Well, when I was on the phone with DPA the other day they said the violin mount can also be connected from the edge of the rib to the f-hole.

That may allow the gooseneck to reach over to just above the bridge.

Mine is supposed to arrive tomorrow.
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They must be stoned. That thing won't span a bass sized rib will it?
 

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