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Double Bass GK MB150 vs Acoustic Image Coda

#21
TroyK said:
I'm kind of with you. Very good equipment, but there's a tone that is not right for me most of the time. I'm sure the same can be said (and has been) about the GK, but that's my impression. The bottom line is the it's a pain in the ass to amplify our instruments, period.

Using a mic is a different world, I don't have input there, but I see some good advice going around in that regard as well.
Click to expand...

I had two different Gallien Krueger 200MB's the predecessor of the MBE & MBS. When I got the new MBE, I struggled with the new EQ voicing it had, and traded it off, after a year trying to get used to it's EQ sections baked in midrange. The MBS has a voicing pretty close to the old 200MB's, so I prefer it's simpler shelving style midrange.
Acoustic Image has adopted that, in the new series 4+ heads, and I think it goes a long way to remedying their lack of midrange character. So, now may be the time to revisit the amplifiers, and check out the new EQ voicing. Just from my perspective, I'd go with the Flex System that has a front firing 10", in addition to the one that fires downward. IME, the single down firing 10" can have problems in rooms, where the bass gets over emphasized, buy the acoustical properties of the room itself. So, I think it's more about what you can afford and the MBS, new or on sale used, costs less if that's an issue for you. Adding a Headway EDB-2 to the GK, so you could run a microphone, would still be less, than the Acoustic Image Flex or the Ten 2 Series 4+

Ric
 
#22
The thing that bothers me about the Acoustic Image amps is the down-firing woofer which is voodoo in my opinion. I think this is what contributes to the "quackiness" of the sound, especially on smaller models where mid-range and up are going through a 4 inch speaker. It definitely does not appeal to me; I'd rather it all just come out of one speaker or maybe a speaker and a horn.
 
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#23
Hi guys,

Sorry to bring this thread back. I went today and tried some monitor speakers. The place I went only had Mackie and DB Technologies. I tried all of them with my ATM 350 mic, and I was getting feedback before I get enough loudness. Also on certain volumes just the notes C & Csharp were giving me a lot of tail, which made it unbearable.

Now I was running the mic into a cheap behringer mixer for phantom power and straight into the speaker. I know I'm supposed to get a pre-amp, but since they don't exist in Cyprus, I'm wondering how much of a difference it will make feedback wise, before I go ahead and throw another 300 euro.

From all the different speakers I tried, I liked the db technology Cromo 10+ and Opera 10. Cromo is the cheaper model and to me sounded better than the opera. No one is bringing the Yamaha DXR series or generally any Yamaha speakers to Cyprus, so not sure how superior those speakers are.

Also after a certain volume, before the feedback kicked in, the sound was getting very muddy. I'm starting to think of ditching the whole mic idea, and just buy an amp and run a piezo, even though that's not the sound I want.

Any ideas?

P.S. This is the first time I enjoyed listening to my arco sound with a speaker. It sounded just like my bass just a bit louder. If only I could get the volume I need before feedback :(
 
#24
If you do end up going with a piezo try the Gage Lifeline (you can see it at GollihurMusic.com) I have been very happy with mine. I also have an ATM 35 which I had originally thought of mixing but found the two sounded so much alike I just went with the Lifeline to avoid feedback and hassle.
Also, +1 to any recommendations for the Headway EDM-2. My amp is a Phil Jones Super Flightcase which is fabulous (IMO) and has a 5 band EQ, BUT, I still choose to use the Headway as I feel I can get a much better, clearer tone that cuts through.
So, my 2cents would be try the Lifeline and EDB-2 in front of Whatever Amp you get.
Good luck and let us know how it works out.
 
#25
Yes, using a mic is the ultimate in acoustic fidelity but feedback will always be the limiting factor. I've pretty much given up on using a mic on stage and only run my DPA 4099b to the FOH when there is a dedicated house PA. I'm pretty happy with the mic-like sound I get from my Ehrlund pickup and preamp so I've focused on that for the bulk of my on-stage volume. It's easier for me to just have one system that I go to every time rather than using a mic for "this" and a pickup for "that" or trying to blend the two. At some point, you want to focus on the music you're making rather than your amplification.

That being said, there are some things you can do to raise your dynamic level with a mic into a powered PA (it still may not be enough for some situations). Elevate your speaker so that it is at or near ear level pointed away from the microphone and use an EQ that allows you to pinpoint and eliminate problem frequencies. It should include features like an HPF, notch filter, or graphic EQ.

IMHO If you play in difficult rooms or with loud musicians or both, your success using just a mic on stage will be very limited. Many have gone before you with the same hope (myself included) and given up after a lot of expense and frustration. Blending a mic and a piezo could bring you more success but I think a lot of players eventually find that it is not worth the hassle.

Man, I feel like Senior Buzz-Kill right now . . .
 
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#26
I'm considering a GK or GB head. I'm currently used Lifeline>EDB2>AI Coda III>Big E45 as extension.

I'm not crazy on the AI, there's not much power and its a bit quacky. I suspect there is a fault but that another story.

Is anyone using a GB or GK head to drive a Big E45? I'm after something with a fair amount of power that's not going to quack when I did in to the strings. I'm also getting a troll ribbon mic soon.

Thanks for any advice.
 
#28
Hi guys, thanks for your replies. Is the Rev Solo II a good pickup? I found it here real cheap from a friend. And guys is it possible to get a good or fairly good sounding arco sound with a pickup? I have K&K right now into a markbass and the arco sound makes my ears bleed.

I'm either going to order a MB150 or a genz benz shuttle, or order a headway edb2 and try the mic again. It's time to spend some money, it's Christmas so I'm excused! I'll tell that to the wife :)
 
#30
Gregmak said:
Hi guys, thanks for your replies. Is the Rev Solo II a good pickup? I found it here real cheap from a friend. And guys is it possible to get a good or fairly good sounding arco sound with a pickup? I have K&K right now into a markbass and the arco sound makes my ears bleed.

I'm either going to order a MB150 or a genz benz shuttle, or order a headway edb2 and try the mic again. It's time to spend some money, it's Christmas so I'm excused! I'll tell that to the wife :)
Click to expand...

The Revolution Solo, is a hard piezo crystal embedded in a wood shell. So it's similar to the Underwood pickup. The Realist is a flexible piezo film pickup. This newer material sounds infinitely better with a bow. Shadow makes a dual element pickup, that's reasonable and uses electret flexible film that's even better for bowing. The Ehrlund EAP is exquisite for bowing, but you have to test it out before you buy it, to see if it's compatible with your instrument. If you want a refined tone pallet (that doesn't make your ears bleed) then the Headway EDB-2 into a powered speaker is the way to go. You can often find QSC K8's and K10's on ebay that have been refurbished by the company. IMHO that's the most flexible, lightweight, powerful, and sonic way to go. The K8 weighs in at 27 lbs. There is an electret film pickup, the Aptflex, available from Jonas Lohsse that is similar to the Realist. Below are pictures of the Shadow and the Aptflex.

Ric
 

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#31
Ric Vice said:
The Revolution Solo, is a hard piezo crystal embedded in a wood shell. So it's similar to the Underwood pickup. The Realist is a flexible piezo film pickup. This newer material sounds infinitely better with a bow. Shadow makes a dual element pickup, that's reasonable and uses electret flexible film that's even better for bowing. The Ehrlund EAP is exquisite for bowing, but you have to test it out before you buy it, to see if it's compatible with your instrument. If you want a refined tone pallet (that doesn't make your ears bleed) then the Headway EDB-2 into a powered speaker is the way to go. You can often find QSC K8's and K10's on ebay that have been refurbished by the company. IMHO that's the most flexible, lightweight, powerful, and sonic way to go. The K8 weighs in at 27 lbs. There is an electret film pickup, the Aptflex, available from Jonas Lohsse that is similar to the Realist. Below are pictures of the Shadow and the Aptflex.

Ric
Click to expand...

Hi Ric,

Thank you so much for your reply and for your explanation. I'm gonna do a research for these pickups and hopefully I'll get a better idea of what I'm going. Thanks a lot man, the quest continues.
 
#32
I have played on Jonas pickup test bass with Realist and APTflex and I like the sound of the APTflex much better than the sound of the Realist. The only thing is, that the output signal of the APTflex is much weaker.
The Shadow SH-965NFX was not on Jonas 's bass, but I like it on mine, at least for a combo, for big band I prefer the Full Circle to get through the large ensemble.
 

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