Double Bass Genzler Magellan Pre with Realist (or other piezo)?

[lowfreqgeek]

For the past 8 years or so, my go-to upright pre has been a Grace Felix. What I specifically love about it is the ability to run both mic and pickup simultaneously with independent outputs to FOH, plus send the pickup to an amp (and tuner), as well as the ability to simultaneously mute both channels for FOH and stage. I also appreciate the HPF for each channel, and the fully parametric mid-band. I love that I can provide independent signals for FOH, and most FOH engineers I've worked with appreciate receiving separate feeds.

However, I don't really feel like the bass or treble controls are optimal for DB. I've started putting my Realist into an MXR M-81 preamp (2.2Meg input, 3-band w/sweepable mids) and I find the treble and bass controls to be more useful to me. I will often run that into my Felix so I can retain the functions I highlighted above, but it's cumbersome to have an addtional preamp with the Felix. I also don't use the mic as often, so I could get away from the dual-channel function of the Felix and give the FOH engineer full control over the mic when I do use it (or add a mic-mute switch to my setup when I do need to have that control).

With that in mind, the Magellan Pre seems to have many of the features I'd like on paper, but I'd really like to know how it does in practice - especially from anyone with a Realist. For those using the Magellan, are the Contour functions useful? I can see several possible use cases. Is the treble control (6kHz) useable, or too high to make much difference? The M-81 is at 4kHz and it works well to add some "finger noise" and "air" without getting too honky in the upper mids.

I apprecate any real-world input you can give me!

 

[Ketbass]

I have one and do use it for DB as it has a HPF but only when I don't have my AI Coda amp. I use it with Rev Solo p/u but I imagine it would do well with a Realist too. It works well and has a lot of EQ to dial in. I don't use it for the treble and bass as much as the mid eq's. The classic/modern settings are useful too. Just my 2cents

 

[Ric Vice]

Based on what I can discerned from reading the Magellan Preamp's Manual, it doesn't have the flexibility to do what you're already doing with the Felix. Just like you, I balked at the idea of two boxes as my preamp setup for the powered MAS 1/8 and 4x5.5's speakers I own. That said, once I put the RedEye Twin in front of the Felix the Realist Lifeline or the Ehrlund EAP pickups sing. So that's my solution. Just my take however.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

Based on what I can discerned from reading the Magellan Preamp's Manual, it doesn't have the flexibility to do what you're already doing with the Felix. Just like you, I balked at the idea of two boxes as my preamp setup for the powered MAS 1/8 and 4x5.5's speakers I own. That said, once I put the RedEye Twin in front of the Felix the Realist Lifeline or the Ehrlund EAP pickups sing. So that's my solution. Just my take however.

You're right, the Magellan definitely doesn't have nearly the same versatility that the Felix has. My intent would be to replace the M-81 + Felix with the Magellan for use with only the pickup and just use the mic when I have competent FOH support. Another viable (and cheaper) option would be to simply add an FDeck and tuner/mute to the M-81, which is also a nice clean DI with lots of headroom. That would give me the HiZ/HPF/EQ/Mute/DI functions plus a tuner. I could also bypass the EQ when it wasn't necessary.

What's actually going on is that I'm not playing DB as much - especially in situations where I need to have control over a mic - and, as much as I love the Felix, I prefer other tools for EB. My primary use for the Felix was always as I described in my first post (DB mic + pickup). So, I'm looking for other paths to give me the control I want/need for my upright and allow me to put some resources toward gear that suites my other needs better.

I'm not ready to let go of the Felix just yet, but I would like to explore some other options, be it the Magellan or my M-81/FDeck idea, a Redeye, Fishman, etc.

I appreciate your input and advice!

 

[Povl Carstensen]

For the past 8 years or so, my go-to upright pre has been a Grace Felix. What I specifically love about it is the ability to run both mic and pickup simultaneously with independent outputs to FOH, plus send the pickup to an amp (and tuner), as well as the ability to simultaneously mute both channels for FOH and stage. I also appreciate the HPF for each channel, and the fully parametric mid-band. I love that I can provide independent signals for FOH, and most FOH engineers I've worked with appreciate receiving separate feeds.

However, I don't really feel like the bass or treble controls are optimal for DB. I've started putting my Realist into an MXR M-81 preamp (2.2Meg input, 3-band w/sweepable mids) and I find the treble and bass controls to be more useful to me. I will often run that into my Felix so I can retain the functions I highlighted above, but it's cumbersome to have an addtional preamp with the Felix. I also don't use the mic as often, so I could get away from the dual-channel function of the Felix and give the FOH engineer full control over the mic when I do use it (or add a mic-mute switch to my setup when I do need to have that control).

With that in mind, the Magellan Pre seems to have many of the features I'd like on paper, but I'd really like to know how it does in practice - especially from anyone with a Realist. For those using the Magellan, are the Contour functions useful? I can see several possible use cases. Is the treble control (6kHz) useable, or too high to make much difference? The M-81 is at 4kHz and it works well to add some "finger noise" and "air" without getting too honky in the upper mids.

I apprecate any real-world input you can give me!

I think the Felix has a internal switch to change the bass control attack frequency (my Alix does). Probably not possible for treble though.

 

[Ric Vice]

I think the Felix has an internal switch to change the bass control attack frequency (my Alix does). Probably not possible for treble though.

I didn't know that, I'll have to investigate using it.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I think the Felix has a internal switch to change the bass control attack frequency (my Alix does). Probably not possible for treble though.

I'll check the manual, but I don't recall that. Mine is the original version, though, and I know they added more features to the V2.

Thanks!

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I think the Felix has a internal switch to change the bass control attack frequency (my Alix does). Probably not possible for treble though.

I just checked the manual, and you're right! I'll have to open mine up and see where the jumper is set, but there is an internal jumper for the bass control. There is not one for the treble, though.

I'll play with that some more before I make any other moves. I really just need to spend a few hours playing with it. I'm sure that will cure my GAS in a jiffy, cause the Felix is incredibly powerful and I'd hate to lose that power for a shiny new object.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I opened my Felix up, and sure enough, both Bass jumpers were set to the "Hi" position. Meaning my bass knobs were in the 250Hz setting instead of 125Hz. I set up CH2 to "LO" and A/B'd the channels with EB and a strat. Sure enough, CH2 works much better for bass now, while CH1 worked well for guitar. I'll set both to LO and see how they do with my DB configuration.

 

[Ric Vice]

Mischief Managed!