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Double Bass Good amp for both the Double and Electric Basses?

Z

ZH_Driver

Feb 22, 2007
119
0
Sydney
#1
Morning All

I am an electric player who is saving up for his first double bass. I'm pretty serious about it so I am probably going to spend aroung $5500 to $6000 on the double bass and whatever else it takes for a decent amp. I do want to make sure that my money is well spent though!

Although I have been playing electric bass for 7-8 years, I have only ever got a 50W Yorkville practice amp as I have either been playing through a sound desk or had another amp available.

In purchasing an amp with teh double bass, I would like to get something that would still be a killer on the electric too.

For the double, the store suggested the Markbass Mini CMD 121P. The speaker will take 400W @ 8 ohms and is a 12" which I didn't think was that common for bass (head output is stated as 500W @ 4 ohms or 300W @ 8 ohms).

If anyone out there has experiece with this amp, could you let me know how it has been for you? I am keen to find out about it when it is used for both electric and upright basses. One of my electrics is a Rickenbacker 4001 and I'm pretty keen for the amp to bring out the classic Ric growl but I also want it to be right on the money for the upright. Unfortunatly buying two amps is pushing the dollars a little too far so I am hoping to find one just right! It'll probably be a couple of months until I can play the above amp myself but by then my arm may of already been partially twisted by people here!

Any other amp suggestions from players of both instruments?

Thanks
 
#3
ZH_Driver said:
Morning All

I am an electric player who is saving up for his first double bass. I'm pretty serious about it so I am probably going to spend aroung $5500 to $6000 on the double bass and whatever else it takes for a decent amp. I do want to make sure that my money is well spent though!

Although I have been playing electric bass for 7-8 years, I have only ever got a 50W Yorkville practice amp as I have either been playing through a sound desk or had another amp available.

In purchasing an amp with teh double bass, I would like to get something that would still be a killer on the electric too.

For the double, the store suggested the Markbass Mini CMD 121P. The speaker will take 400W @ 8 ohms and is a 12" which I didn't think was that common for bass (head output is stated as 500W @ 4 ohms or 300W @ 8 ohms).

If anyone out there has experiece with this amp, could you let me know how it has been for you? I am keen to find out about it when it is used for both electric and upright basses. One of my electrics is a Rickenbacker 4001 and I'm pretty keen for the amp to bring out the classic Ric growl but I also want it to be right on the money for the upright. Unfortunatly buying two amps is pushing the dollars a little too far so I am hoping to find one just right! It'll probably be a couple of months until I can play the above amp myself but by then my arm may of already been partially twisted by people here!

Any other amp suggestions from players of both instruments?

Thanks
Click to expand...

ZH,
I'd read that thread and then take a look at the various head cabinet combinations. If you're going to double than I'd take a look at the EA, Acoustic Image, and possibly Markbass Heads. Then you want to try out Beragntino and EA Wizzy 12's, and 10's. Keep in mind that you're in the $1,500.00-$2,000.00 range unless you can find something used if you are going this route. Phil Jones might be an option if you just want a small combo. I like the new Flight Case amp he builds.

Ric

Ric

Ric
 
#6
My advice is: Keep your current rig and spend the money on a good bow, if you're serious about becoming a good DBist.

Many, although not all, feel that bow work is extremely important in developing double bass playing technique. In a Ray Brown interview that I read he said his ideal practice regimen was 2 hrs arco (bow) and 2 hrs pizzicato per day. Many of the big names in jazz DB have worked hard with the bow to advance their playing: NHOP, Dave Holland, Ron Carter, Milt Hinton, Cachao, Bob Magnusson, and many others. And TBDB 'Ask a Pro' Lynn Seaton absolutely kicks a$$ playing jazz with the bow, and I'm not just talking ballads...

Later, when you're ready to gig on the DB, then you can work out the amplification issue. You need the bow now. It may not sound like it's what you want to do, but many players really get into arco playing once they give it a try.

Jim
 
#7
+1 on the above. The bow is more important now than an amp...better to develop something worth listening to than to broadcast poor intonation to the world at high volume :).

Don't forget Terry Plumeri in the list of jazz players using the bow. In my mind/ear, he belongs at the top of the list. (He is just down the road from you, jsbarber, in LA). He has done stuff arco, in jazz, that I've never heard matched, IMHO, in terms of phrasing, note choices, and overall freedom/musicality.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=terry+plumeri&search_type=
 
#11
I'm definitly planning to play with a bow also, I love the tone! I will be getting one with the bass and froma ll accounts the shop I'm going to will be taking good care of me on that one... but I am also pretty keen to get completely setup with an amp now as when a mortgage and kids come along, I am sure money will find itself to elsewhere!
 
#13
I have a Markbass cmd p 112 combo. It is great with my upright. It is very loud for it's size and sounds pretty good with my electric. I was using an EA iamp 800 with an epifani UL210 for a long time. It sounded AMAZING with the electric and really good with the upright. A little too bulky for jazz gigs though. What kind of music do you play? Are you playing through PAs? I have found the Markbass to be versatile, but I would not feel comfortable using it with the wedding band I am in without a PA.
 
#14
i use a Little Mark II as well for electric and for upright. It's the bomb. I pair it with two HT110 bergantino cabinets, which for me allowed a Reggae Type Dub bottom end if I wanted it and a super hi fi upright bass sound, depending on the EQ and such. The cabinet really has so much bottom, but it's much heavier than the alternative modern ones.

There is a knob on the markbass called the VLE and the VPF. The use of the two together gets me just about any sound I want except the sound of my SVT II.

I've played out of an EA wizzy 12" and it was great, so maybe better if you want to look at weight. New berg cabinets too.


As far as the bow goes. I think it's just important that you have one. My teacher Victor Dvoskin uses a medicore bow (in the $300-600 range) and just owns with it. I've seen him use a schools $100 bow and do the same things.

Just make sure it's got a good feel for you and that it has great hair on it. Don't over-rosin the bow. I did this for like 5 years before anyone told me it was a problem.

Otherwise, good luck.
 

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