Can I use the Ehrlund pickup and AI-Clarus head without a preamp? The high-impedance input of the Clarus should fit IMO. Has anyone tried it?
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 Ehrlund and Clarus ?
- Thread starter Emoody
- Start date
On my bass (a 5/8 th’s Mirecourt) the Ehrlund is my favorite pickup. My take is if it works on your bass then it’s magic.
I’ve always used a Headway EDB-2 ( now a EDB-2 H.E.) or the Grace Felix as a preamp into a powered cabinet.
I’ve always used a Headway EDB-2 ( now a EDB-2 H.E.) or the Grace Felix as a preamp into a powered cabinet.
That doesn't sound very enthousiastic .... you didn't like the sound or what was the problem?
I traded the Ehrlund, it was simply not working with my cheap ply boomy bass. 
I was just replying to your question about the Ehrlund/Clarus compatibility.
I was just replying to your question about the Ehrlund/Clarus compatibility.
In my experience the Ehrlund works best with carved instruments. It sounds exceptional on my bass. The only way to know if it will work is to demo it. It’s my
understanding that Ehrlund pickups are reasonably priced in Europe compared to their prices in the U.S.
I have a series 4 AI head and it most definitely does not have enough gain to amplify the Ehrlund properly. It works quite a bit better with the preamp built for it or better yet with one of the Grace preamps. Alix or Bix should work fine since with proper placement the Ehrlund sounds like it could be a decent microphone without as many feed back issues.
That will be the case with everything due to massive inflation from printing so much money in the last year. It’s not that thinks cost more, it’s that the dollar is worth less.
The Euro's actually below where it was this time 3 years ago; however, shipping costs and supply chain headaches from COVID have driven up the costs of all sorts of imported goods—especially from smaller suppliers, and Ehrlund is all of that.
That's good to know Nathan, I've only run the EAP through a Grace Felix, Headway EDB-2 H.E., Both of those preamps have plenty of gain to drive a powered speaker using the Ehrlund as a Pickup.
- Jul 19, 2000
- 2,014
- 2,224
- Disclosures
- Owner/President, Gollihur Music LLC
Yes, it will work, and sounds good.
That said, the A.I. heads have around a 1 megohm input impedance, and most players find that the sound of the Ehrlund is better (more open and transparent) when used with between 5-10 megohm input impedance, so a Grace/Headway preamp would likely improve upon the sound. The original stock preamp from Ehrlund, if memory serves, is a little over 6 megohm - and it always sounded "better" to me when using their preamp.
That said, the A.I. heads have around a 1 megohm input impedance, and most players find that the sound of the Ehrlund is better (more open and transparent) when used with between 5-10 megohm input impedance, so a Grace/Headway preamp would likely improve upon the sound. The original stock preamp from Ehrlund, if memory serves, is a little over 6 megohm - and it always sounded "better" to me when using their preamp.
