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Double Bass Good small amp?

#81
bassfiddlesteve said:
Nostalgia for amplifiers I used to own has been consistently disappointing ;)

- Steve
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I used to have a MB150s that Inused for years in LA in the early 90s and finally found one in Austin from FB Marketplace, and even BEFORE it died after a month (looked at by 2 great techs..needed parts that are not made any more), it wasn't THAT great. I a/b'd it with a Clarus SL into a GR bass AT110, and it wasn't even close, with the GK sounding boxy and limited and quite sterile. I bypassed the internal speaker and went straight out to the GR, and it was much, much better, but no better than my Clarus SL into the GR, and negates the purpose of the 1-Carry goal.

Back in the 90s, there was no better option. Now, it's an unrepairable dinosaur with an overdue expiration date. I'd steer clear and buy some newer repairable tech, IMO.
 
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#82
Double bass in larger rooms or outdoors for me starts with a Fishman Platinum Pro EQ preamp into a Carvin MB-210. Otherwise, I bank on my Acoustic Image or new Gollihur/ Genzler Bass Array combos.
 

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#83
Will try asking here:

Has anyone had success amplifying double bass using a quality bass pre-amp (PJB, Fishman, etc.) into a powered speaker enclosure?- particularly (by chance?) Carvin Audio's SCx12A 1000W model.

Any other non-Carvin powered speaker commentary could prove informative. Small to medium venue gigs.
 
#84
66 Fender Jazz said:
Will try asking here:

Has anyone had success amplifying double bass using a quality bass pre-amp (PJB, Fishman, etc.) into a powered speaker enclosure?- particularly (by chance?) Carvin Audio's SCx12A 1000W model.

Any other non-Carvin powered speaker commentary could prove informative. Small to medium venue gigs.
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No, but I've been on this idea for a few years. Teased it out here and got encouragement, but no real experienced endorsements.

Was considering powered PA speakers for a while, but a) they aren't usually lighter than combo amps and b) people who were doing that, seemed to fall out of love after a point.

There aren't that many choices in actual powered bass cabs, especially under $1k. I think the GR AT110 ACT would be amazing, but it's $1,200 and there's no opportunity to try before I buy, so it's not going to happen. GK made powered extension cabs for their MB model, but they were all big (like 2x12) and they discontinued them.

Just FYI, generally speaking, BG and DB players have very different goals and experiences with amplification, so if someone here does reply with their experience, it may not apply neatly to your usage.
 
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#85
FWIW, when ANY manufacturer rolls out a new product, it literally costs in the range of 10k just to get it approved by UL/whoever the powers that be BEFORE it goes to market. That's a gamble, selling expensive things to a limited number of people with relatively limited funds. Return on the $ is risky.

That said, I am excited to see what Henrikson rolls out with! Perhaps the new Polytone, without the egg crate grill, limited ohm input, and terrible customer service? Kinda like it was in North Hollywood, before they shut their doors for good? I tried to get a replacement grill for an amp I picked up used, and she/little old lady who picked up the phone told me she would only sell me the grill IF I promised not to re-sell it! True story...just a hop and a skip away from Gary Chen at Stein on Vine.
 
#87
flatback said:
been doing the powered MAS 18 with a Grace Felix on top (and a bunch of cords to plug in) for a number of years now. Yesterday the guitar player showed up with a little AER wedge combo. plug plug and he was ready.
I am ready for a new upright bass combo amp to hit that covers all our needs.
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I know the feeling, I've been doing a MAS 16 with a EA Doubler, so same logistics. A combo would be a little
easier to set up, but for the good sound I'm getting all toted around in a backpack, am I really that lazy, LOL?
 
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#88
flatback said:
been doing the powered MAS 18 with a Grace Felix on top (and a bunch of cords to plug in) for a number of years now. Yesterday the guitar player showed up with a little AER wedge combo. plug plug and he was ready.
I am ready for a new upright bass combo amp to hit that covers all our needs.
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Right there with you. I have a light portable amp/cab/preamp w/hpf set up, but when I consider all of the chords and cables, I count 5 potential points of failure and it still feels like a lot of stuff to pack, carry, and keep up with.

It would be nice to cover all that with a small, reliable combo.
 
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#89
Well;
Having done the MAS 1/8 with Grace Felix separates vs the Bass Bass AT Cube Acoustic I’m using the GR Bass on all my gigs now.
But there are trade offs. The AT Cube Acoustic is physically larger than the MAS 1/8 ( specifically wider and deeper) so it’s not a New York Subway carry. That compensation gives you a bigger sound in a 20 lb box. It’s also without an onboard HPF. If that’s a concern. Since GR Bass Italian company, should you have to get it repaired, it could challenging.
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#90
I just totally messed up my right shoulder in a biking accident and then messed it up further by schlepping my heavy amp/cab around (knocked over my MAS18 the other day and now I have to send the Felix in for repair..but the Focus on top((bypassing the 18 internal amp)) actually sounds way better...curiously) thinking hard about one of these GR's ...
 
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#91
flatback said:
I just totally messed up my right shoulder in a biking accident and then messed it up further by schlepping my heavy amp/cab around (knocked over my MAS18 the other day and now I have to send the Felix in for repair..but the Focus on top((bypassing the 18 internal amp)) actually sounds way better...curiously) thinking hard about one of these GR's ...
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I’m so sorry about that Piro. It’s definitely lighter, sounds great, and the EQ is flexible with lots of options. It’s a cube, so a bit awkward spatially.
15.75 wide x 15.75 Deep x 17.90 Tall
 
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#92
flatback said:
I just totally messed up my right shoulder in a biking accident and then messed it up further by schlepping my heavy amp/cab around (knocked over my MAS18 the other day and now I have to send the Felix in for repair..but the Focus on top((bypassing the 18 internal amp)) actually sounds way better...curiously) thinking hard about one of these GR's ...
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What about just using the Focus? It can't weigh that much more than the Felix? Heck, pull the power out of the M18 and it'll be lighter with the same amount of futzing and a better sound.
 
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#93
The power section on the MAS 1.8 v2 (Piro and I have the same design) Is accessible through a compartment in the bottom. Last fall I had to have the daughter board replaced when mine went dead. So it’s definitely repairable. At least mine was. Grace is great about repairing their preamps and getting them back in working order. The additional weight of the IcE Power power module inside the MAS, compared to the box, speakers, crossover and hardware isn’t very substantial. Just my take however.
 
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#96
Ric Vice said:
Well;
Having done the MAS 1/8 with Grace Felix separates vs the Bass Bass AT Cube Acoustic I’m using the GR Bass on all my gigs now.
But there are trade offs. The AT Cube Acoustic is physically larger than the MAS 1/8 ( specifically wider and deeper) so it’s not a New York Subway carry. That compensation gives you a bigger sound in a 20 lb box. It’s also without an onboard HPF. If that’s a concern. Since GR Bass Italian company, should you have to get it repaired, it could challenging. View attachment 7274197View attachment 7274198
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I've been salivating over the GR AT 110 ACT.

Powered 1x10" cabinet, like...14# or something. Would put my Q\Strip in front of it.

But, I can't imagine spending $1,200 on it sight unseen...or probably even with a local sale unless it was somehow cheaper.

Good looking stuff, for sure.
 
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#97
TroyK said:
I've been salivating over the GR AT 110 ACT.

Powered 1x10" cabinet, like...14# or something. Would put my Q\Strip in front of it.

But, I can't imagine spending $1,200 on it sight unseen...or probably even with a local sale unless it was somehow cheaper.

Good looking stuff, for sure.
Click to expand...
I have the non-powered AT110, and the box is PERFECT for double bass, especially after you play it a bit!
 
#99
Aidenn7 said:
Old psychobilly players.. used a k&k and as loud of amp as they could get. Ampeg. Acoustic cc. gk. peavey. Set clean on the verge of grit.. and use a long cable like a lower pass.
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A long cable as a low pass filter? If I’m not mistaken, a long cable will create a lpf with magnetic pickups, but with piezos it will function as a pad.

Most of us need HPFs with piezos, and many really don’t reproduce a lot of highs.
 

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