Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Double Bass Grace Designs Felix
- Thread starter flatback
- Start date
Hey Chris
the two channels are either totally independent (and you toggle between with foot switch) OR with one of the little side switches you switch it to AB mode and it mixes the two signals.(then the A/B toggle has both lights on and it does not work. If you are blending you set your eqs for each channel THEN decide how much of each are in the mix with the blend knob. If you want two independent channels for doubling then you the toggle between them with the switch.
If you have the Felix in mix mode then you must either turn the mix knob all the way in one direction or the other to isolate channels or turn down the channel volume. But in Mix or A/B the foot switch does not cycle back and forth between the channels.
As I said I really like the Blend knob it allows you to dial in each channel perfectly THEN dial the mix in.
the two channels are either totally independent (and you toggle between with foot switch) OR with one of the little side switches you switch it to AB mode and it mixes the two signals.(then the A/B toggle has both lights on and it does not work. If you are blending you set your eqs for each channel THEN decide how much of each are in the mix with the blend knob. If you want two independent channels for doubling then you the toggle between them with the switch.
If you have the Felix in mix mode then you must either turn the mix knob all the way in one direction or the other to isolate channels or turn down the channel volume. But in Mix or A/B the foot switch does not cycle back and forth between the channels.
As I said I really like the Blend knob it allows you to dial in each channel perfectly THEN dial the mix in.
Last edited:
- Mar 8, 2011
- 12,232
- 51,187
- Disclosures
- Authorized greenboy designs builder/Owner of BNA Audio
I blend both channels. Piece of cake! I just finished a month long tour and love my FELIX more than ever. Amazing pre for upright. Never heard anything that comes close, and that's after at least 50 gigs now. I dunno, I'm sold on this thing 
I blend both channels. Piece of cake! I just finished a month long tour and love my FELIX more than ever. Amazing pre for upright. Never heard anything that comes close, and that's after at least 50 gigs now. I dunno, I'm sold on this thing
DoR,
I'm really enjoying getting familiar with my new Grace Designs Felix. Although, I won't have the opportunity to use it on gigs for a few weeks, I can already sense that this the DB preamp than many of us have wished for. More and more, I'm doing concerts where I am able to rely on the house systems, rather than schlep my own backline. I've been using my EDB-2 which does a remarkable job in these situations. Having a full two channel preamp on the Felix, which provides a full 48 volts and runs off standard line voltage just makes it all that better. This box has the most transparent EQ I've ever experienced.
Ric
Last edited:
One note of caution with two channel preamps that offer this level of sophistication. Last night I was getting ready to go to a gig where I wanted to use the Felix and just run the Remic mic (a duo gig in a big restaurant) for about 15 minutes I could not get the Felix to make a sound. Everything looked great: the green lights flickered showing signal coming in, phantom on, amp line out to amp, everything looked good but no sound. I took the mic out and plugged it into the Focus, sound. I plugged in different output cords, from the Felix to Focus, nothing. Checked mute, off....rechecked everything, no sound. Finally I just left me studio with the Focus. I still haven't figured it out...Im sure I will...Im sure it will be nothing, a routing button or.. something, but Im just saying, when these boxes get complicated they get complicated. The Remic into the focus sounded really good, but I did mis the clairty and sound and eq of the Felix.
+1 probably nothing serious, the learning curve for the Felix is one you have to take a little time with. For instance, I can get both the DPA 4099B and the Ehrlund to work via the amp out send, but no luck so far figuring out the mic/line configuration set right to send it out to the board.
So that's my goal for today. "With great power comes great responsibility". I've found the EQ section to be very intuitive and user friendly, no problems there at all. I'll most likely mount it onto a mic stand mount, because I like having the controls right close at hand.
Ric
I blend both channels. Piece of cake! I just finished a month long tour and love my FELIX more than ever. Amazing pre for upright. Never heard anything that comes close, and that's after at least 50 gigs now. I dunno, I'm sold on this thing
+1 I've gigged and recorded with the Felix. Great even with my Clevenger EUB. We ran it into a Phoenix (Neve) preamp, and I'll be D.... if it didn't almost sound like a Double Bass.
Ric
I miss this box...gotta ask Santa.
Played last night with a trio. Been trying to use 100% Remic mic on most gigs and just dial in the Pickup as needed. Last night was a Bill Evans kind of gig and The pianist likes a lot of interactive soloing. The mic sounded great by itself into the Focus, but man the whole feature set of the Felix is just so rocking. Once you have it dialed in, it is intuitive and yet extensive and sounds so damn good. Is it $700. better then the Headway....Yes, Yes it is.
Played last night with a trio. Been trying to use 100% Remic mic on most gigs and just dial in the Pickup as needed. Last night was a Bill Evans kind of gig and The pianist likes a lot of interactive soloing. The mic sounded great by itself into the Focus, but man the whole feature set of the Felix is just so rocking. Once you have it dialed in, it is intuitive and yet extensive and sounds so damn good. Is it $700. better then the Headway....Yes, Yes it is.
+1 By the time you pay for shipping on the EDB-2, which lists for $364.00 it's closer to $394.00. unless you can score one used on TB or Ebay. The significant difference between the two boxes is the Felix's EQ, which is a dream to easily dial
in, set and forget. There are many other features of course, but the simplicty and flexibility of it's EQ is by far it's strength.
Ric
+1 Lots of incredible features, hope you're able to save your pennies and get one, to me the Grace is on par, with the first Walter Woods, I was able to purchase. It's a game changer and it has a 5 year warranty. So, you won't be contributing to landfills with a Grace.
That's something that's virtually unheard in these days of throwaway technology. Granted, it's exensive, but a touring DB player could take this with or without his axe and get a great sound anywhere on the planet.
Ric
A black Felix should be available in December. Pretty sweet rig if paired with the SA currently in the classifieds.
A black Felix should be available in December. Pretty sweet rig if paired with the SA currently in the classifieds.
Nathan,
That will be nice, but I'm totally fine with the silver one, depending on the graphics, a black background can make it difficult to see the controls. I saw the Focus, but went for the Monique M700
that went up for sale at the same time. It cost a few more bucks, but it's a little more robust build, and designed to dissipate heat through the aluminum enclosure and lots of air venting. I contribute
the longevity of my Walter Woods amps to their all aluminum enclosure, and top vents. Once I get my MAS 4x5, I'm finished with my amplifier world building.
Ric
Ooooh! I didn't see the Monique. I think the SA is gone now anyways. Ever since the app went away I've found myself on here a lot less. Probably saved some money that way. You're going to love the MAS 45!
- Mar 8, 2011
- 12,232
- 51,187
- Disclosures
- Authorized greenboy designs builder/Owner of BNA Audio
It is a no brainer for upright! I tried electric through it and was quite pleased even though I don't really go for a squeaky clean electric sound as a rule
Well, for electric I like a clean sound. Until I don't. That's where the FX loop comes in handy. Just click a pedal (or two) on/off to get the desired effect.
You know, I don't mind some mild OD on URB, either. The Tone Hammer, Agro and Azure Drive all sound pretty darn awesome on my URB (with very mild OD settings). IMO, etc etc.
Aside from obvious differences in the EQ, how does this compare to the Acoustic Image Flex in terms of sound?
The Flex has some different functionality, of course, but would the Felix be noticeably better under most stage conditions given the same bass, mic, and pickup (if blending)? The studio is another story, I'm sure.
The Flex has some different functionality, of course, but would the Felix be noticeably better under most stage conditions given the same bass, mic, and pickup (if blending)? The studio is another story, I'm sure.
Sorry for the late reply.
I've been using a Stat B with the Grace after contacting Schertler to confirm that the Stat would work normally with a 12V supply. In fact, they play very well together, Stat B and FELiX.
However, as you may have discovered, the Stat B really responds to small changes in orientation and regardless of the other gear you use best results are achieved through considerable trial and error experimentation. The sonic differences that result from certain changes in orientation far exceed what is achievable using most EQ filters. After dissatisfaction with the limited range of position afforded by Schertler's recommended mounting scheme, I ended up using an old bridge and drilling three 5/8" holes--left, center, and right--with a Forstner bit to facilitate experimentation with different placement across the bridge and provide a full 360º range of orientation. On my bass, the best location was in the hole near the G string with the cork end pointing at 10:45. Placing a witness mark on the cork and index marks on the bridge helps when making fine adjustments, and especially when re-mounting the Schertler after removal.
Once the best possible position for the element is located, then on to the Grace for even better results. It's probably impossible to achieve the sound of a proper mic setup, but the Stat B can be made to sound pretty good for a simple pickup.
-bob
