Double Bass Grace Designs Felix

[RVBASS]

Do you guys run the Felix straight into a power amp, or do you incorporate a tube preamp in some way as well?. Right now I just use an Alembic F-2B and power amp. I was thinking of replacing the F-2B with the Felix.

 

[emjazz]

I'm running my Alix into the power section of my old Acoustic Image amp. Sounds fabulous.

 

[edwinhurwitz]

Do you guys run the Felix straight into a power amp, or do you incorporate a tube preamp in some way as well?. Right now I just use an Alembic F-2B and power amp. I was thinking of replacing the F-2B with the Felix.

I did that a lot. It wasn't until I got an Alembic IN-2 that I went back to the all Alembic preamp scenario.

 

[Anthony White]

taking the transformer DI out from the tube pre and running that into the Felix Ch1 with an XLR makes everything sound maximally excellent.

Interesting. That's the Sarno V8 preamp you're running before the Felix?
And what is the difference if you run 1/4" out on the V8 into the 1/4" input on the Felix? (Does it bypass the transformer in the V8?)

 

[Ric Vice]

Do you guys run the Felix straight into a power amp, or do you incorporate a tube preamp in some way as well?. Right now I just use an Alembic F-2B and power amp. I was thinking of replacing the F-2B with the Felix.

I have three different powered MAS speakers. So, it’s just plug and play.

 

[oren]

Do you guys run the Felix straight into a power amp, or do you incorporate a tube preamp in some way as well?. Right now I just use an Alembic F-2B and power amp. I was thinking of replacing the F-2B with the Felix.

I run the Felix into whichever of my amps I use, either a Markbass combo or a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.2.

 

[flatback]

Anthony, yeah V8>Felix>MAS18pow. Somehow the gain staging is just perfect and I dont know if there is a technical difference in sound (if the transformer does anything) but it sounds cleaner and more hifi to me.

 

[Ric Vice]

I guess the closest thing I can compare the Grace Designs Felix with a bass guitar would be using a Neve channel strip as your bass preamp, or maybe one of those earlier Aguilar Preamps.

it's just very clean, personally I like that sound for certain types of gigs, with say fretless EB and DB, if I'm really leaning into EB I like something with just a little more dirt, which I realize as

soon as I read what I just wrote is kind of counter intuitive. Just my weird take. If I were playing EB exclusively I'd probably look at one of those Malcom Toft Bassics preamps, but that's just a hunch

on my part.

 

[RVBASS]

I received the Felix and have been working through the settings. I tried it with a Starfire bass and produced a fantastic tone, very full, but clear. I really like it. I have a couple different electric basses that I will try it out on, but I think the Felix will work out great!

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I guess the closest thing I can compare the Grace Designs Felix with a bass guitar would be using a Neve channel strip as your bass preamp, or maybe one of those earlier Aguilar Preamps.

it's just very clean, personally I like that sound for certain types of gigs, with say fretless EB and DB, if I'm really leaning into EB I like something with just a little more dirt, which I realize as soon as I read what I just wrote is kind of counter intuitive. Just my weird take. If I were playing EB exclusively I'd probably look at one of those Malcom Toft Bassics preamps, but that's just a hunch on my part.

I did an album in Studio A at the University of Northern Colorado a few years ago and they put my EBs through a REDDI and my Realist on my upright through my Felix. However, when it came to fretless, the REDDI just had TOO much grind on it. I swapped the fretless to the Felix and it smoothed out the grind and gave the lush, full, warm, clean tone that we were looking for.

The REDDI was great with my P-bass and G&L, but the Felix really complimented the fretless much better.

YMMV.

 

[Ric Vice]

I did an album in Studio A at the University of Northern Colorado a few years ago and they put my EBs through a REDDI and my Realist on my upright through my Felix. However, when it came to fretless, the REDDI just had TOO much grind on it. I swapped the fretless to the Felix and it smoothed out the grind and gave the lush, full, warm, clean tone that we were looking for.

The REDDI was great with my P-bass and G&L, but the Felix really complimented the fretless much better.

YMMV.

I think it's not a "one size fits all" thing. Since a REDDI would be a pretty major investment for me and the Grace is a better fit for the kinds of

music I play ( well hopefully, soon play again). I actually switch out preamps if I'm just playing BG and use my 3Leaf Audio Enabler. Unfortunately,

ya can't get them anymore, because that box literally does everything I need for EB.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I think it's not a "one size fits all" thing. Since a REDDI would be a pretty major investment for me and the Grace is a better fit for the kinds of

music I play ( well hopefully, soon play again). I actually switch out preamps if I'm just playing BG and use my 3Leaf Audio Enabler. Unfortunately,

ya can't get them anymore, because that box literally does everything I need for EB.

The takeaway for me was: I don't need a REDDI.

I have been running a Union Tube and Transistor LAB compressor on EB lately, which really does something nice to the EB without squashing anything or losing dynamics. That and the Felix are a really nice combo.