I'm curious about your impressions and experience... especially compared to the Felix
that would extremely interesting..
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Double Bass EBS Stanley Clarke Acoustic Preamp
- Thread starter Zbysek
- Start date
that would extremely interesting..
Happy to go out on a limb here and say "Get this."
That's solely on the strength of my experience with their microbass II.
Well the Preamp is quiet with noiseless switching.
The Eq is extremely flexible, musical , HP filter and notch are great.
One issue and I can’t tell if an issue with my amp but the output of the Pre into my amp is not loud enough to use.
When I run into my PA it sounds fine but into my amp input or effects loop there is not enough gain.
I tried the 1/4 “ mono output and the XLr output with no noticeable difference in the gain structure.
I like the sound but I’m stumped by the lack of gain.
A real head scratcher?
The Eq is extremely flexible, musical , HP filter and notch are great.
One issue and I can’t tell if an issue with my amp but the output of the Pre into my amp is not loud enough to use.
When I run into my PA it sounds fine but into my amp input or effects loop there is not enough gain.
I tried the 1/4 “ mono output and the XLr output with no noticeable difference in the gain structure.
I like the sound but I’m stumped by the lack of gain.
A real head scratcher?
Do you notice any boost at all with the gain knobs at last point in the control chain?
Also, what mic and amplification are you using? I've found the transparency of a nice condenser into my small PJB combo setup can make it sound as if amplification is not working, while it actually is but in a subtle way -- MBOL.
(disclaimer: that's with a Headway EDB-2 H.E. preamp, not sure how its gain compares to the EBS box.)
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Do you notice any boost at all with the gain knobs at last point in the control chain?
Also, what mic and amplification are you using? I've found the transparency of a nice condenser into my small PJB combo setup can make it sound as if amplification is not working, while it actually is but in a subtle way -- MBOL.
Yeah I was using the Lifeline and nothing at any point in the signal chain pushed it to a useable level with my EA Doubler ll
how much gain does the EBS gain knob provide?
edit... the Manuel says up to 30dB. That should be enough.
hmm... that’s concerning because I want one as well, and I play through an EA Doubler.
How is the gain set on the doubler? Does it also have the gain trim pots (in addition to the standard gain knobs) like my older model doubler? Maybe they’re set lower?
Do you know about input impedances of the EA Doubler? Looking to the manual of the EBS I found
- Output: Output Impedance 1 kohms
Signal Level 0 dBv (nominal)
The output of a preamp should always have an output impedance low enough to drive any instrumental amp input.
My guess is something is wrong with the preamp or the setting of the preamp.
You can try using the effect out (!) to drive the amp (don‘t forget to send the signal to the effect too). If this is significantly louder, then something behind is damaged or wrongly manufactured. If not it might be in front of the effect loop, either input or EQ.
Re-read the manual and double check the settings. If nothing helps contact the manufacturer. There might be something wrong with manufacturing.
My guess is something is wrong with the preamp or the setting of the preamp.
You can try using the effect out (!) to drive the amp (don‘t forget to send the signal to the effect too). If this is significantly louder, then something behind is damaged or wrongly manufactured. If not it might be in front of the effect loop, either input or EQ.
Re-read the manual and double check the settings. If nothing helps contact the manufacturer. There might be something wrong with manufacturing.
@kerrycares from your earlier posts in this thread you seem to understand how to troubleshoot to see if its anything in your signal chain, and sounds like its not. Like others have said, I would then suspect a faulty unit. Nothing else seems to make sense here. Sweetwater has great customer service, I'm sure they'll get another one out to you.
Yeah I sent it back before I got stuck with a defective unit.
It really is a nice unit that worked well with my PA.
My Zoom A3 worked fine with my EA Doubler.
The Phil Jones BP 800 sounded warmer and more natural than both of these units with my cab but it is too long.
It really is a nice unit that worked well with my PA.
My Zoom A3 worked fine with my EA Doubler.
The Phil Jones BP 800 sounded warmer and more natural than both of these units with my cab but it is too long.
Several troubleshooting tips:
- make sure the "Volume" knob is maxed (CW)
- make sure you send the signal from the "Output", not the "Tuner out"
- plug your instrument into input A, engage A+B switch, turn both "Gain" knobs CW
That's strange. It suggests that either "Tuner out" is used or that "Volume" knob is set low...
The old microbass II presents a similar characteristic. Boosting the signal solves the problem, effortlessly.
I've taken a particular shine to a Forest Green Compressor, for this purpose — clean, quiet, unobtrusive gain to spare
There must be a million alternatives
I have been using Microbass II for several years and never felt it's output weak.
I have had the Volume control always maxed (CW) as recommended by the manufacturer in the manual...
Don't get me wrong — the output is impeccable, musically. I just find a little gain to be desirable. I'm, most often, driving a powered speaker of some kind, not an amp, and without boosting, my levels can be a little lacking
I bought mine secondhand so there may be a fault there but if there is, it's an extremely musical one. Not a fault, to my way of thinking. (There's often a trade-off between gain and clarity — noiselessness).
I also find the level from the headphones-out a bit underdone but I rarely use it so it's not a real concern
Don't get me wrong — the output is impeccable, musically. I just find a little gain to be desirable. I'm, most often, driving a powered speaker of some kind, not an amp, and without boosting, my levels can be a little lacking
I bought mine secondhand so there may be a fault there but if there is, it's an extremely musical one. Not a fault, to my way of thinking. (There's often a trade-off between gain and clarity — noiselessness).
I also find the level from the headphones-out a bit underdone but I rarely use it so it's not a real concern
You can boost your signal using the device's "Boost" knob. It provides 30db of clean boost (provided the "tube sim" is disengaged).
The Drive knob is capable of another 35 db. When one uses the preamp in series (A+B), the Boost+Drive controls can provide up to 65 db of boost. I can't imagine a situation where 65 db would not be enough.
Summary: the following switches/controls have impact on the strength of the output signal:
- -10 db pad
- Boost control
- Drive control
- A+B switch
- Volume control
I don't fiddle with it much: the volume's cranked; I stay almost always in A, not B or A+B; it's set-and-forget, as far as the rest is concerned; I get modifications to that sound elsewhere, almost always.
Thanks for the tips. I still have some exploring to do. I'd also love one of Stanley's new contraptions to play with. Not a priority as I'm quite contented already
I don't fiddle with it much: the volume's cranked; I stay almost always in A, not B or A+B; it's set-and-forget, as far as the rest is concerned; I get modifications to that sound elsewhere, almost always.
Thanks for the tips. I still have some exploring to do. I'd also love one of Stanley's new contraptions to play with. Not a priority as I'm quite contented already
I am glad to be able to help.
Take care!
