Which amp do you like more? For upright and for electric. Both of them has a lot of features, but different features, which one more useful?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Double Bass EA iAMP 500 vs. AI Clarus for URB and ELB?
- Thread starter Barcza
- Start date
- Mar 22, 2000
- 1,972
- 73
- Disclosures
- Big Cheese Emeritus: Gollihur Music (retired)
If I could choose only one, it would be the iAMP due to its more capable EQ section. However, that's because my electric bass work can be in a dense mix/competitive environment, so I need the flexibility. If yours is not, or when I am in a less crowded/loud mix, the Clarus could do double duty.
Yes the EQ section of iAMP seems very useful for me. When I play elbass (passiv) mostly I use my EBS Valve Drive.
I think the EA is much stronger and punchier for electric. Better and more flexible eq. I double and thought that the AI was too legato. The one advantage that AI has is the ability to run a mic simultaneously. If it was only upright, that might put me in the AI camp. That being said, I chose to endorse the EA products.
I'm a session player, so I play many different situation with different bands. Sometimes in a small club with a trio, sometimes in a large hall with a 10 piece band. I never have to go loud like a hevy rock band, but I have to cut trough a 22' kick drum drummer with percussion too. In 80% i play with the upright.
I find the Clarus/Wizzy combination is fine for small doubling gigs if my electric bass is active. Otherwise, the Clarus seems too dull, although a livelier preamp through the effects return helps out in that area.
Don't discount the Glockenklang Soul as a great amp for doubling (Mcbride loves it). I own the larger, louder and much heavier Glocklang Heart Rock and I can tell you it kills my focus as far as tone goes for both DB and EB. I mention this as someone who owned a UL502 and used it as my main EB amp for 4 years and at the same time had a IAMP 350 as it's back up for EB and my main DB amp. I find the Focus convenient light and full of useful features, the EQ section is very weak though and in any case that weight is of the utmost importance I take my Glock over any of the other choices.
Pete
Pete
I can comment on these heads for EB and also for piezo loaded Rob Allen type basses, which react to these amps similarly as DB's.
The AI stuff is very fat and warm, and works wonderfully with some DB pickups, but the limited tone control and rather 'soft/organic' voicing does not work well for some EB tones. However, if you like a more 'vintage' tone on your EB, and have a pickup on your DB that matches up with it (for example, to my ear, the Realist pickup sounds very dark with this head), they are great.
The iAmp500 sound very good with EB, but unfortunately, some can be quite noisy, lots of hiss. This is a 'variable' issue.. some are reasonably OK, some are very problematic. The EQ is powerful, but I never find those extreme 'preset buttons' useful... the low boost and treble boost is too much with many cabs, and those 'mid scoop' buttons are also not voiced very well. Nice sounding head in general, and much brighter and deeper than the AI stuff.
If you are looking for a brighter, punchier tone of the iAmp with the size, reliability and power of the AI Clarus/Focus, I would recommend at least trying the Marbkass F1 (if they are available in your country). It's less expensive than both of these heads, has very powerful EQ that works well with EB and 'acoustic' type piezo loaded instruments (and DB guys report positively also). The four band EQ is nicely voiced and the variable filters are great... it's one rack space and about 5 pounds. Nice.
If you feel you need semi-parametric mids for your DB, a revised F1 called the F500 is getting ready to ship... same size and power as the F1, but with a few more bells and whistles (mute switch, two bands of semiparametric EQ, and a more fully featured DI)... wonderful, wonderful stuff!
IMO
The AI stuff is very fat and warm, and works wonderfully with some DB pickups, but the limited tone control and rather 'soft/organic' voicing does not work well for some EB tones. However, if you like a more 'vintage' tone on your EB, and have a pickup on your DB that matches up with it (for example, to my ear, the Realist pickup sounds very dark with this head), they are great.
The iAmp500 sound very good with EB, but unfortunately, some can be quite noisy, lots of hiss. This is a 'variable' issue.. some are reasonably OK, some are very problematic. The EQ is powerful, but I never find those extreme 'preset buttons' useful... the low boost and treble boost is too much with many cabs, and those 'mid scoop' buttons are also not voiced very well. Nice sounding head in general, and much brighter and deeper than the AI stuff.
If you are looking for a brighter, punchier tone of the iAmp with the size, reliability and power of the AI Clarus/Focus, I would recommend at least trying the Marbkass F1 (if they are available in your country). It's less expensive than both of these heads, has very powerful EQ that works well with EB and 'acoustic' type piezo loaded instruments (and DB guys report positively also). The four band EQ is nicely voiced and the variable filters are great... it's one rack space and about 5 pounds. Nice.
If you feel you need semi-parametric mids for your DB, a revised F1 called the F500 is getting ready to ship... same size and power as the F1, but with a few more bells and whistles (mute switch, two bands of semiparametric EQ, and a more fully featured DI)... wonderful, wonderful stuff!
IMO
dear friends,
I live in Milan, where (unluckly?)there are a lot of markbass around. This company is a marketing champion.
I have friends using markbass for high power in tiny size, bass kicking in your stomach but poor dynamic..
I don't want to argue with anybody.......but i tried the F1, very appealing size but very false sound....
artificial tone, almost useless markbass filters
i had to set everything flat and use minimum gain and boost volume to stand the tone. each knob touch ruined my sound.
I Feel is something you exerience when you plug in a GK 150 with Eb, vomit ,and try with DB, little relief.
I use bassmax and eden cxc 110.
I've been surprised of R550, tube pre, 4 tones, DI knob.
Not transparent but not acrilic. good for doublings
That head is build for headbangers, but i found it the only candidate for DB. I put my choice on AI focus R2 III.
No offence to happy markbass users, i wish i could join you..
Ciao
Giovanni
I live in Milan, where (unluckly?)there are a lot of markbass around. This company is a marketing champion.
I have friends using markbass for high power in tiny size, bass kicking in your stomach but poor dynamic..
I don't want to argue with anybody.......but i tried the F1, very appealing size but very false sound....
artificial tone, almost useless markbass filters
i had to set everything flat and use minimum gain and boost volume to stand the tone. each knob touch ruined my sound.
I Feel is something you exerience when you plug in a GK 150 with Eb, vomit ,and try with DB, little relief.
I use bassmax and eden cxc 110.
I've been surprised of R550, tube pre, 4 tones, DI knob.
Not transparent but not acrilic. good for doublings
That head is build for headbangers, but i found it the only candidate for DB. I put my choice on AI focus R2 III.
No offence to happy markbass users, i wish i could join you..
Ciao
Giovanni
Hello:
I think it's hard to separate the amp from whatever DB pickup and cab you are using. And as always, some people are using Foderas as their electric bass and others are using P-Basses with flats. It's kind of hard to say which one is preferable all around.
The AI amps are great for DB. I disagree with Ken's statement that they "don't work as well" with some pickups (like the Realist). Depending on your bass, strings and setup, the Realist/AI combination can be awesome...fat, punchy, with plenty of clarity. Marco Panascia was using this setup for a while before he went all Markbass. If you use really low action and rely on the high end of your amplifier, I can see the Realist not working as well.
I also can't believe that anybody would diss the F1 for doubling. To me, it is a pretty neutral sounding amp and the filters make it very versatile. It does not have all of the AI features but the EQ/filters are easy to use (unlike the EA sliders). The flat tone of the F1 is equal to the Focus (or better) for DB, and the electric bass tone is much more dynamic and exciting.
Will
I think it's hard to separate the amp from whatever DB pickup and cab you are using. And as always, some people are using Foderas as their electric bass and others are using P-Basses with flats. It's kind of hard to say which one is preferable all around.
The AI amps are great for DB. I disagree with Ken's statement that they "don't work as well" with some pickups (like the Realist). Depending on your bass, strings and setup, the Realist/AI combination can be awesome...fat, punchy, with plenty of clarity. Marco Panascia was using this setup for a while before he went all Markbass. If you use really low action and rely on the high end of your amplifier, I can see the Realist not working as well.
I also can't believe that anybody would diss the F1 for doubling. To me, it is a pretty neutral sounding amp and the filters make it very versatile. It does not have all of the AI features but the EQ/filters are easy to use (unlike the EA sliders). The flat tone of the F1 is equal to the Focus (or better) for DB, and the electric bass tone is much more dynamic and exciting.
Will
+1... my AI comments come from some A/Bing I did with Ric Vice and his Realist with a variety of cabs. For some reason, the AI sounded very woolly and dull with that pickup, whereas the Walter sounded natural and wide. We tried both impedance inputs on the AI with no luck. It might have just been some strange interaction between the bass, cabs, strings, etc.
Regarding the Markbass post above... hilarious
It might also be important to look at which 'generation' Realist. The older ones have a much lower output and a darker sound. The newer ones have a brighter sound and higher output.
I used a Clarus with a newer version Realist going through a Fishman Platinum EQ and had GREAT results. The Clarus (and most amps DB amps) have inputs that are rated at 1 Mohm. My understanding is that the Fishman bumps the impedance up to 10Mohm. I know it does a bunch of other stuff too but it really seemed to help my DB tone.
I used a Clarus with a newer version Realist going through a Fishman Platinum EQ and had GREAT results. The Clarus (and most amps DB amps) have inputs that are rated at 1 Mohm. My understanding is that the Fishman bumps the impedance up to 10Mohm. I know it does a bunch of other stuff too but it really seemed to help my DB tone.
I don't like the Realist pickup, it sounds very woolly for me. I use the Fishman Full Circle, I like it with the Pirastro Obligato strings. Often I dont eq to mutch, in a flat acoustic environment, I cut slightly the mid. For Electic bass I use my EBS Valve Drive preamp, On Electric bass I prefer the Jaco like bridge pickup sound, and I use roundwund strings.
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
If your bass is passive the AI may not be the best. I love my Focus/Wizzy 10 with my active bass. It is fat and dynamic, but with a passive Fender with roundwounds, it sucks. If you can put something like a SansAmp in the chain it might be great.
FWIW, my new Realist is great into the Focus. The Full Circle was too sterile. What works for one bass or player may not work for another.
FWIW, my new Realist is great into the Focus. The Full Circle was too sterile. What works for one bass or player may not work for another.
I have a passive fender but my Valve Drive works well for me instead of an Active Electronic, its Tube design and has Bass, Mid and Treble controls. The Realist and The Full Circle both are great pickups. I like so mutch the sound of Scott Colley, and he use the Realistic, but somehow Full Circle works better for me. The FC could go to sterile that's why, I think need some clear yet warm sounding amp/speaker.
I think it definitely all goes back to the sound you are looking for. The whole appeal of the Clarus as I understand it is it adds very little color to the sound. That's why DB guys love it and EB guys don't. I am a happy GK guy right now and I don't mind a little color. That said I borrowed a Clarus for an out of town gig and I really liked it. I liked it enough that I'm buying one used off a guy that was using it for guitar and liked his Fender Twin better. The whole bass, strings, pickup, amp combo needs to be carefully selected to get the sound you are looking for. Playing a ply bass with gut and an old version Realist through a AI amp is not going to get a live sound like Marc Johnson and the other way around.
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
Of all the amps I've used, I prefer the Focus for my active slab. It works beautifully. Not so on the passive.
the iamp500 is a great amp. plenty of headroom, neutral, and lots of possibilities for tone shaping.
I have news, I find a guy who is probably the only iAMP owner in my country, since I know an other guy who is the only Clarus user. I can make an comparison, and I will post my impressions here!
