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Double Bass Focus SA?

christ andronis

christ andronis

Nov 14, 2001
759
12
Chicago
#1
So I'm thinking (always dangerous), I wonder what an AI Focus SA and a Fishman Platinum Pro EQ as a pre would sound like for upright (Realist pu). I would be using my EA110 or EA112 or both.
Input or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.



go Cubs!
 
#3
I have a Focus SA--it's been a great unit for me, very reliable and powerful. I also have the Fishman Platinum pro. Together they have an excellent sound, and the platinum pro is really well designed for bass. I just did a slab gig with the Fishman and the SA--it was very good, although the sound of the Fishman is a little, I don't know, "two dimensional" or something. A little flat. I used to use the Focus SA with an Avalon U5, and that was the best sound I've ever gotten. But it was a little inconvenient and I'm lazy about schlepping stuff to gigs.

The Platinum Pro is a very good unit, and it pairs well with the Focus. The 1/4 out works better than the XLR out.

I'm back to using the Fishman now, as the Avalon is now at home doing home recording and some jerk stole the markbass 112 combo i was gigging with
 
#4
christ andronis said:
AI Focus SA and a Fishman Platinum Pro EQ upright (Realist pu)
go Cubs!
Click to expand...

this is exactly the set up I use with an Eminence Bass

I took the Focus SA because most of the time I use an external preamp and bypass the amp one
In that case, the Focus SA is a good solution instead of the regular one
The Fishmann is a good box that works with the Realistic
and there is many possibility of others preamps too.
I never tested the regular Focus and can't tell you if an external preamp would be better than the Focus one.
Alain
 
#6
Phil Redman said:
I think there are pre's that sound better than the Fishman but the Fishman has all the right knobs and is quite versitile.

Phil
Click to expand...

Exactly my opinion--well put. It drives the Focus SA perfectly well--not as well as the Avalon U5, but the U5 is an active device that costs well over twice as much. I did a bar gig with a loud band and used the focus into 2 single 12 cabs, and it was more than loud enough. With the Focus volume knob on full I never got the Fishman vol. knob past noon.

Somebody ought to take the basic idea of the Fishman--especially the Hi-pass filter (The "depth" control") and couple it to a really high quality preamp. The compressor is good with the slab, although it's not a great compressor
 
#7
Have you seen fdeck's HPF/PRE? There is a thread here with nothing but high praise for it. Granted it has no EQ control, just a buffering pre (10 MOhm input, same as Fishman) with a high pass filter and phase switch. But, from what others have said about it here, just plug your bass into it, and it into your amp of choice, and you're set. And at the price he's selling it for, its really a hard deal to beat. I'm probably going to pick one up just to have in my bag.

PB+J said:
Somebody ought to take the basic idea of the Fishman--especially the Hi-pass filter (The "depth" control") and couple it to a really high quality preamp.
Click to expand...
 
#8
PB+J said:
Somebody ought to take the basic idea of the Fishman--especially the Hi-pass filter (The "depth" control") and couple it to a really high quality preamp. The compressor is good with the slab, although it's not a great compressor
Click to expand...

Agreed. I currently am running a Clarus and am pretty pleased with it but I'd love to see preamp with:

The sound quality of the Avalon U5 (but not 12 lbs.!)
Flexible EQ
HP filter
Phase inversion
Ground lift
Studio quality compression

I'm currently using the FMR RNC compressor in the effects loop of the Clarus and am finding it much more useful than the single-knob Fishman compressor for UB.

Cheers,
Phil
 
#9
Wow...thanks to all for the great feedback and suggestions. So from what I'm hearing, the Fishman is a good match with the Focus SA if not the best choice, it certainly holds its own. I'm concerned because I have the occasional "stupid loud" (Chris F.'s words) gig and need something to cut through. Mostly I would be using it for upright in a big band and small trio type settting though.
 
#10
I have seen f-decks unit, and it looks like a great idea. But it won't drive a power amp. I agree with Phil--I'd like a preamp with prety much the same thing

the signal quality of a the avalon U5
the size and weight of the Fishman
simple passive eq controls, including the hi-pass filter
XLR out
phase reversal

I could take or leave the compressor

I suppose that's the U5 with f-deck's hi pass filter. But then I'm back to hauling more gear than I want to haul
 
#11
True, and neither will the Fishman (not adequately at least), which is why I eventually got rid of it. If I decide I can handle the schlep of my iAmp800 and hang on to it, I'm definitely getting one of fdeck's pre's, since it has exactly what the iAmp lacks.

PB+J said:
I have seen f-decks unit, and it looks like a great idea. But it won't drive a power amp.
Click to expand...
 
#13
You are right. I was speaking mainly about "lead sled" rackmount power amps. The SA can accept instrument level inputs, which is what the Fishman (and most other smaller preamps) outputs. Most rackmount power amps only accept a line level input. If I had the scratch for an SA while I had the Fishman, I may have kept it.
 
#14
I used the Fishman for awhile and was never happy with it because it seemed to strip some life out of the signal. It sounded a bit cold. I believe the AI pre is better for DB and with the filters, phase switching, etc it seems like it should work well. I'd go with the a full out AI head and be done with it. I did.
 
#17
clink said:
I want to plug the bass directly into the head and play. Life is way too complicated to mess around with extra gear.
Click to expand...

+1! I love my iamp, but the thought of having a nice little 5 pound head to carry with my db makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. Especially when my iamp combined with the rack case, bumps it up to around 30 lbs. GAS is starting to get the best of me.
 
#18
christ andronis said:
So I'm thinking (always dangerous), I wonder what an AI Focus SA and a Fishman Platinum Pro EQ as a pre would sound like for upright (Realist pu). I would be using my EA110 or EA112 or both.
Input or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

go Cubs!
Click to expand...

Most of the people in TB say excellent words about AI + wizzy rig.
I was just wondering:

Both AI Focus and Focus SA (SIII) have output power
>800 Watts (4ohm)
>450 Watts (8ohm)
>1,000 Watts (2ohm)

Wizzy 110 Speaker # Power Handling: 250 watts # Impedance: 4
Wizzy 112 Speaker # Power Handling: 250 watts # Impedance: 4

If you connect one of the speakers you will have 800 W @ 8 ohm
If you connect both of the them you will have 1,000 W @ 2 ohm

Isn't this a dangerous for 250 W speakers?

Giannis
 
#19
bilias said:
If you connect one of the speakers you will have 800 W @ 8 ohm
If you connect both of the them you will have 1,000 W @ 2 ohm

Isn't this a dangerous for 250 W speakers?

Giannis
Click to expand...
Only if you turn it up too loud :D

Seriously, I wouldn't worry about it too much. What I find interesting is that a lot of folks go with a Focus when a Clarus would appear to have plenty of juice to drive TWO Wizzies beyond full power (500 watts into 2 ohms). By the way, on the speaker connection on the back of the cab it says the Wizzy 12 is rated at 200 watts. That's also what EA's Web site states.

Thanks,
Phil
 

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