Double Bass Fishman Full Circle Without A Preamp?

[DuluthDank]

I have the same pickup and amp. My only issue would be worries about excessive lows. Like others have said, an external HPF would probably be the only thing I'd feel the need to add. The amp itself is nicely voiced, and the EQ is otherwise great for acoustic bass.

 

[Ampig]

you really want a volume knob and buffer of some type (I've had best luck mounting a K&K under the bridge(s)

Started out with K&K for years. To my ears anyways, the FC is a world of tonal improvement

 

[Ampig]

Here's a pic of the Headway EDB-1 filter section. Does this function as an HPF?

 

[Eric Hochberg]

You need a high pass filter, like the Fdeck to filter out the lows you don't need. I use the FC straight into either a Doubler or Focus
with good results. Both amps have a built in HPF. As long as your input is 1M ohm or greater you should be fine. I'm sure the Headway
fits the bill.

 

[John Chambliss]

I've read that the "Range" switch on the EDB-1 is a fixed HPF

 

[DoubleMIDI]

The parametric notch filter is always a band limiited filter around the center frequency with a frequency dependent bandwidth defined by Q.
But for a highpass filter you want a shelving filter with a harder cutoff (12 dB/oct.) to get the low frequency mud out and still be able to control the amount of (wanted) bass frequencies.

 

[brianrost]

A lot of amps have the 1Mohm or higher impedance that piezo pickups need. If the GB does, then sure it would be suitable to use without a preamp. I only use my fdeck for the HPF…all my amps have piezo friendly high impedance inputs.

 

[MNAirHead]

Started out with K&K for years. To my ears anyways, the FC is a world of tonal improvement

I gig professionally.

having a volume knob is the improvement.

I'm such a dork I have a Schaller (just in case) with 2 volume knobs (pickup and preamp)

 

[Ampig]

A lot of amps have the 1Mohm or higher impedance that piezo pickups need. If the GB does, then sure it would be suitable to use without a preamp. I only use my fdeck for the HPF…all my amps have piezo friendly high impedance inputs.

After a little research, the GB 6.0 has a built in HPF. Input impedance is 500K.
From the manual:
INPUT – The SHUTTLE 6.0® is equipped with a standard ¼” unbalanced input. The input sensitivity range is from 40 mV
to 1.6 volts. The input impedance is >500K ohms. The input stage contains a precision high order active high pass filter
(more effective and less intrusive than the more common 6 dB filters) and an “RFI” filter (radio frequency interference) to
eliminate unwanted noise. The input gain stage consists of a feedback type variable gain circuit that provides wide range,
continuously variable gain with minimal noise. The preamp contains a FET input amp circuit based on our highly regard-
ed GBE series touring amplifiers

 

[Endlesssolo]

After a little research, the GB 6.0 has a built in HPF. Input impedance is 500K.
From the manual:
INPUT – The SHUTTLE 6.0® is equipped with a standard ¼” unbalanced input. The input sensitivity range is from 40 mV
to 1.6 volts. The input impedance is >500K ohms. The input stage contains a precision high order active high pass filter
(more effective and less intrusive than the more common 6 dB filters) and an “RFI” filter (radio frequency interference) to
eliminate unwanted noise. The input gain stage consists of a feedback type variable gain circuit that provides wide range,
continuously variable gain with minimal noise. The preamp contains a FET input amp circuit based on our highly regard-
ed GBE series touring amplifiers

With a 500K input impedance, your full circle will sound better through a preamp.

 

[Ampig]

having a volume knob is the improvement.

That's very true

 

[Ric Vice]

I find it's a little bit like when I process my photos. They seem absolutely, perfectly fine beforehand. But then I spend that extra minute running one through Photoshop, compare before & after it's like: "Oh, yeah: this is much, MUCH better.".
Similarly, when I try plugging my DB straight in to most amps, it usually seems just fine. I could probably roll with it for a decade without ever knowing what I'm missing. But then I insert my buffer/HPF/phase/volume control unit, and everything is immediately improved. My HPF-Pre bounces around with the cables & runs for months on a 9V; even lazy / flow-obsessed me can manage that.
YMMV
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Great photo, and its a great comparison. I think in some ways, the Input impedance of a particular pickup, is something that may be more beneficial to us bassists, listening back to the balance between the acoustic sound of the instrument we're is playing, vs what's coming of the amplifier. Those two sounds need to be similar in timbre for me to relax and not have to fight the amps sound . When they're out of whack it's harder to play. Just my take of course.

I've read that the "Range" switch on the EDB-1 is a fixed HPF

John,
You are correct, the Range switch(es) on all the Headway EDB models are indeed a fixed frequency HPF. It has three settings Bass 41 Hz, Guitar 85 HZ, and Violin 192 Hz.

 

[Ric Vice]

After a little research, the GB 6.0 has a built in HPF. The preamp contains a FET input amp circuit based on our highly regard-
ed GBE series touring amplifiers.

Many well designed amplifiers have "built in HPF's" that are designed to roll off very low frequencies so they won't
tax the amplifier/speaker combination.. You'll still going to need the input range and impedance buffer like your Headway has to dial out low end bloom, and midrange honk. I've used one with a Shuttle 3.0 and found it tp be very useful. Just my take however. The FET's in the Shuttle preamp really improve the tone quality of that amplifier.

 

[Jefenator]

I try not to be closed-minded about which spec's & features an amp or preamp must have.
I would really love to be able to bench my HPF-Pre & get my best sound, plugging straight in. (The way I've done for decades with BG.)
But, 49 times out of 50 I find it is not to be.
Maybe one day I'll find the right pickup or amp and all that will change. (Probably 3 months before I retire.)

 

[neddyrow]

This is the main reason I love Acoustic Image so much. I can plug anything into my AI head and make it sound just like I want it to. It does help that it has an on-board HPF. Why all amps don't have an HPF I'll never understand.

 

[Jefenator]

This is the main reason I love Acoustic Image so much. I can plug anything into my AI head and make it sound just like I want it to. It does help that it has an on-board HPF. Why all amps don't have an HPF I'll never understand.

An old AI combo is one of the very few units I like w/o the buffer. (Might help that it's at a space for rehearsals where I'm less picky.)
Apparently some amps might have a subsonic filter or subtle HPF baked in. That approach works for me – as long as it sounds awesome.

 

[Ric Vice]

An old AI combo is one of the very few units I like w/o the buffer. (Might help that it's at a space for rehearsals where I'm less picky.)
Apparently some amps might have a subsonic filter or subtle HPF baked in. That approach works for me – as long as it sounds awesome.

Jefenator,

To the best of my recollection, the original AI Contra (the one with up-facing controls that looked like my grandmother’s washing machine) had a 10 Meg Ohm Input impedance. They lowered the impedance to( 5 Meg Ohms) when they built the Claris 4+ with the additional lower and upper midrange controls.But as you said it’s all dependent on the space your in, the bass your playing, and the pickup that’s on it. Just my take however

 

[Jason Hollar]

Long time FC user. For background, Drummerless gigs, running straight into my Markbass combo is just fine. Even with 500K in.

For louder gigs with drums or in larger settings I’ve been using an Empress para EQ with boost & HPF & LPF with pleasing results.

The trusty fdeck v1 is always in the gig bag in case scenario 1 turns into scenario 2.

 

[Francois Blais]

Even with 500Meg in.

I'm sure you meant 500Kohms.

 

[Jason Hollar]

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