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Double Bass EA iAMP800 vs AI Focus 1

J

Jake

Dec 11, 1999
802
4
Florida
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#1
These two amps have about the same amount of power and are similar in price. Which one sounds better? I like the Focus' small size and light weight, but the iAMP800 appeals to me as an amp that would be great for both double bass and bass guitar. If the iAMP really does sound great for both DB and BG
(I've heard the Focus is great for DB but just okay for BG), I'd be more than willing to deal with the extra weight and size. Which one should I get?
 
#3
For doubling, the Focus works well for me. It sounds
great with a piezo pickup, warm and punchy. If I'm
doubling, I just use a Sansamp pre into the effects
return on the Focus. VIOLA! Second channel! Just
remember to turn down the volume on the Focus pre.
A small, light, and easy to hook up doubling amp.

The iamp is great if you need alot of eq help, or just
for electric bass.
 
#7
Jake said:
These two amps have about the same amount of power and are similar in price. Which one sounds better? I like the Focus' small size and light weight, but the iAMP800 appeals to me as an amp that would be great for both double bass and bass guitar. If the iAMP really does sound great for both DB and BG
(I've heard the Focus is great for DB but just okay for BG), I'd be more than willing to deal with the extra weight and size. Which one should I get?
Click to expand...

I strongly suspect that most of the preferences that are stated with regard to these amplifiers have more to do with the cabinets they were driving and the particular rooms in which they were than the electronics, per se. That being said, I find the parametric eq on the iAmp series to be an enormously powerful and useful tool. As for piezo pickups, high impedance inputs are essentially required and both amps supply those.
 
#8
Like DRURB said, the EQ on the iAMP is simply amazing. You just have to hear it. A real ear-opener.

That said, I run mine flat.

OTOH, if you are worried about the AI sounding too clean or sterile w/ slab, consider sticking a SansAmp Bass Driver DI in front of it, similar to fish slapper and his EBS pedal.
 
#9
I've had the iAmp 800, the Focus 2RII, and the Walter Woods Ultra. The Focus goes out the door for almost all my DB gigs. The Woods goes out the door for all my bass guitar gigs and when I'm doubleing.

I sold the iAmp. It didn't do either of those things as well as the other two.
 
#10
I loved the iAmp 800 for electric bass--to say it again, the EQ section is great, it's monstrous sounding, it rocks. It also works really quite well for string bass; had it been more portable, I wouldn't have given a second thought to using it as my one amplifier.

I (currently) love the series II Focus for string bass--I just set it flat (the EQ is pretty useless, it seems) and use the High Pass filter to adjust to the room. (How did I ever live before without a HP filter? It really is the magic bullet, for me at least). It's great! For bass guitar, well, it's nice, and loud, but I could see how people would think it's a bit sterile. I leave it flat (again) and use the bass's onboard active electronics to get the *oomph* I seek. No problems there.

I would definitely use the iAmp if the majority of my work was on BG, and I would not have anything to complain about with its UB response. I would definitely use the Focus if the majority of my work was on UB (which it is) and portability/clarity were considered to be of higher priority. I think it's easier to stick a Multi-Comp or tube pedal in the chain on the Focus for when you play BG than it would be to figure out a way to bypass the voicing of the iAmp to get that clean Acoustic Image tone going for the UB. But that may not be such an issue, since the iAmp sounds so nice with the UB anyway.

But these are really fine hairs to split...I love both of those amps, for both purposes; I honestly miss the iAmp when I play BG gigs with the Focus, and I wished for the Focus when I was schlepping a 25 pound amplifier in a two-space rack around to jazz gigs. It's good to have a backup anyway--get one of each! :smug:

PS For reference--the cabs used with both amps were a Wizzy and an Acme Low B2 Series II.
 
#11
Another vote for the Focus. FWIW I have been using the notch filter (about 9:00) more often than the high pass lately. It seems that I can tame my E string with more control with the notch and still get the phase reverse.

For BG a Demeter Compulator set at a very low setting (barely on) makes this a totally different amp. I am finding that even at the lowest setting, the Compulator makes a huge difference in apparent headroom when you start digging in. I almost bought a Thunderfunk a few weeks ago in Atlanta untill I added the Comp to the AI. With both EQ's flat and the Comp set low, I couldn't tell them apart. Props to the Atlanta Bass Gallery for indulging a traveling Ohioan for most of an afternoon. Don't even get me started about the Ken Smith BG I couldn't put down.
 
#12
Hey Jake,

I use both of these amps and love them both, for many reasons.

The Focus I find suits DB a whole lot more, not sure why but it just seems 'easier' to make things happen. I've also used the Focus to run an Ashdown BP1510 (1x15,2x10 and horn) for rock gigs, with a Sansamp up front. Feels effortless. So, not strictly an 'acoustic' amp IMO. The Focus is also first call for doubling gigs. I run it flat and deal with any EQ issues before they get to the amp (ie: both EB and DB go through two separate Fishman Dual Parametric DI's before they hit the amp)

The iAmp I go to first for EB only gigs, or gigs that I know to be hot venues (the Focus runs pretty hot in these places. Not a biggie but seeing as I have the option I take the one I know won't suffer). A big advantage of the iAmp is the Tone Shaping section. As versatile as you'll ever need.
 

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