Double Bass Headway EDB-2 - minor complaint

[lermgalieu]

I don't know if they changed it on the new model, but I just got a deal on the older one. Why is the mono mix (1/4") out on the RIGHT side of the unit, when almost universally pedals have outputs on the left. This thing is messin' with my pedalboard flow (I am rearranging my pedalboard for doubling, so the Headway will be the first thing in the signal chain for DB, even prior to A/B switch). Ok, I feel better now. I'll figure it out.

 

[Ric Vice]

Just a guess here, but there is only only so much real estate on the front and sides of the box. The new Headway EDB-2 H.E. Has the 1/4” mono out on the same side of the box.

 

[lermgalieu]

Just a guess here, but there is only only so much real estate on the front and sides of the box. The new Headway EDB-2 H.E. Has the 1/4” mono out on the same side of the box.
View attachment 4251253 View attachment 4251254

Agree, and it’s not really a “pedal” anyway. To me out on the right has always made more logical/flow sense (not sure why...maybe cuz we write in that direction?) anyway, but pedal manufacturers generally disagree. Finished product:

ps although that pedal on the left is for EB, you should hear arco through it, holy hobgoblins!

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

I use the H.E on a pedal board. Have to pry it off the velcro and turn it in order to use the XLR out. Minor annoyance.

 

[flatback]

It has been a long time (and a generation of the box) since I used the Headway, but John (I think it is John) who runs the company is one BAMF. I remember having long conversations with him about his intended market and how the product was designed to slit into many different kinds of setups while maintaining it's small size stellar audio and price point. It seemed to me that where he was cutting corners was on paying himself as brilliant engineer. I went for the Felix and then tubes but I still look at this box with wonder.

 

[logdrum]

Well it is what it is and it is not really a pedal. It is designed to be on a belt clip or a mic stand or music stand. As a belt clip that is the right way for 99.99 of bass players who use a right handed bass. In actual use you want want it within reach so that you can adjust the feedback quickly if it arises. As nice looking as the pedal arrangement are on the examples, I don't get why you would like this on the floor. It is quite delicate compared to a pedal and too far for any quick adjustments that is expected on acoustic instruments.

Also circuit design wise that is the right place to put it based on the form factor that he has - away from the the battery.

 

[lermgalieu]

Well it is what it is and it is not really a pedal. It is designed to be on a belt clip or a mic stand or music stand. As a belt clip that is the right way for 99.99 of bass players who use a right handed bass. In actual use you want want it within reach so that you can adjust the feedback quickly if it arises. As nice looking as the pedal arrangement are on the examples, I don't get why you would like this on the floor. It is quite delicate compared to a pedal and too far for any quick adjustments that is expected on acoustic instruments.

Also circuit design wise that is the right place to put it based on the form factor that he has - away from the the battery.

I realize it is what it is. That statement is meaningless, but there is a good George Carlin bit about it...

Respectfully, I don’t necessarily agree with all these statements. It’s not delicate. It’s basically a DI box. I agree it’s not really a pedal. I said that above. Sure some people might want it where they can quickly adjust it, but others may not. I tend to get things dialed in for the room and go from there. Moreover, feedback isn’t really an issue for me anyway (I use a Krivo). I am using the Headway for tone shaping and impedance matching. But not really following why you think a DI box is delicate. Seems pretty sturdy to me. I said it was a minor complaint. And the point about...uh ok, but why does the battery need to be on the left then? That kind of logic is a rabbit hole. Are you telling me I am “wrong” to put it on a pedalboard? Because I did! Mwahahaaha!!!!

EDIT: and frankly I can’t even imagine putting it on my belt! My pants would fall down

 

[lermgalieu]

I use the H.E on a pedal board. Have to pry it off the velcro and turn it in order to use the XLR out. Minor annoyance.

View attachment 4251807

I put mine the other way on my Nano+ (as shown above). It’s wider than the board that way, but still fits in the case.

 

[lermgalieu]

It has been a long time (and a generation of the box) since I used the Headway, but John (I think it is John) who runs the company is one BAMF. I remember having long conversations with him about his intended market and how the product was designed to slit into many different kinds of setups while maintaining it's small size stellar audio and price point. It seemed to me that where he was cutting corners was on paying himself as brilliant engineer. I went for the Felix and then tubes but I still look at this box with wonder.

It’s a great box. I bought it.... as I said above, this is a minor complaint. I don’t expect it to be designed for the one man market of me, but hey, this the internet and it’s where I come to pontificate.

 

[lermgalieu]

I use the H.E on a pedal board. Have to pry it off the velcro and turn it in order to use the XLR out. Minor annoyance.

View attachment 4251807

Oh I just looked more closely and saw what looks like a right angle connector for the DI? That’s cool! So why do you need to turn it to use the DI if you have that?

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

The connector was wobbly and not a snug fit. And it injected noise so I had to pull it out. Wish it had worked!

 

[Hoyt]

That’s another reason I ended up going with the EBS SCBP. I loved the feature set of the Headway, but I felt the SCBP was much more pedalboard friendly. Especially with the white color. My eyesight isn’t what it used to be, and between the jack locations and the ease of reading what’s on the unit, this won out.

 

[Ric Vice]

Lermgalieu,
You’re absolutely right it absolutely does look weirdly backward. I have the 3 Leaf Audio Enabler that has the 1/4” Output before the 1/4” Input from left to right. That just feels weird to me. Just my take however.’


I actually tried the belt clip a couple of times with the EDB-1 when they first came out. It was an epic fail, because with all the knobs facing out it’s difficult
to access the various controls with out any visual conformation. Turning the “correct” dial or flipping the proper switch was pretty tricky. Personally, I’m a “less is more”
kind of guy, so it goes up on a collapsible stand, with a ball and socket camera mount. That puts the controls right at my fingertips. Just my take however. I also found out the hard way that changing the 9v batteries on the fly was not possible.

 

[lermgalieu]

Lermgalieu,
You’re absolutely right it absolutely does look weirdly backward. I have the 3 Leaf Audio Enabler that has the 1/4” Output before the 1/4” Input from left to right. That just feels weird to me. Just my take however.’


I actually tried the belt clip a couple of times with the EDB-1 when they first came out. It was an epic fail, because with all the knobs facing out it’s difficult
to access the various controls with out any visual conformation. Turning the “correct” dial or flipping the proper switch was pretty tricky. Personally, I’m a “less is more”
kind of guy, so it goes up on a collapsible stand, with a ball and socket camera mount. That puts the controls right at my fingertips. Just my take however. I also found out the hard way that changing the 9v batteries on the fly was not possible.

Yes - and I might do the same except I am doubling and need the board anyway. I like to just pull the board out, plug it in, and play.

 

[lermgalieu]

View attachment 4254797 That’s another reason I ended up going with the EBS SCBP. I loved the feature set of the Headway, but I felt the SCBP was much more pedalboard friendly. Especially with the white color. My eyesight isn’t what it used to be, and between the jack locations and the ease of reading what’s on the unit, this won out.

I didn’t know about the EBS or I would have considered it. Looks like some good gear.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

The connector was wobbly and not a snug fit. And it injected noise so I had to pull it out. Wish it had worked!

This is the only elbow connector I could find that would mechanically work with the H.E. As I recall, the direction of the three prongs was inverted from typical offerings so a custom(izable) solution was required. Anyone know about a higher quality noiseless connector that could work for this use case? That would make the H.E "perfect" with no complaints!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081TLMYH7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[logdrum]

I realize it is what it is. That statement is meaningless, but there is a good George Carlin bit about it...

Respectfully, I don’t necessarily agree with all these statements. It’s not delicate. It’s basically a DI box. I agree it’s not really a pedal. I said that above. Sure some people might want it where they can quickly adjust it, but others may not. I tend to get things dialed in for the room and go from there. Moreover, feedback isn’t really an issue for me anyway (I use a Krivo). I am using the Headway for tone shaping and impedance matching. But not really following why you think a DI box is delicate. Seems pretty sturdy to me. I said it was a minor complaint. And the point about...uh ok, but why does the battery need to be on the left then? That kind of logic is a rabbit hole. Are you telling me I am “wrong” to put it on a pedalboard? Because I did! Mwahahaaha!!!!

EDIT: and frankly I can’t even imagine putting it on my belt! My pants would fall down

I bet you that if you step on the EBD-2 vs your pedals that it will get damaged more than your other pedals. I am just trying to give you an explanation why. I do work with circuits and you always want your outputs away from power sources. If you get a George L cable it will be flexible and thin enough to get out of the way. I can tell from experience that you want this preamp near you because the feedback that is not there at soundcheck will be there sometime during the gig and you want quick access rather than bending down trying to twiddle the small knobs and you point your bass body to a monitor and your speaker and the squeaky feedback becomes a nasty roar. Been there, done that, not only this preamp.

Second explanation. Made and designed in England where they drive on the other side of the road.

 

[lermgalieu]

I bet you that if you step on the EBD-2 vs your pedals that it will get damaged more than your other pedals. I am just trying to give you an explanation why. I do work with circuits and you always want your outputs away from power sources. If you get a George L cable it will be flexible and thin enough to get out of the way. I can tell from experience that you want this preamp near you because the feedback that is not there at soundcheck will be there sometime during the gig and you want quick access rather than bending down trying to twiddle the small knobs and you point your bass body to a monitor and your speaker and the squeaky feedback becomes a nasty roar. Been there, done that, not only this preamp.

Second explanation. Made and designed in England where they drive on the other side of the road.

1. Why would I step on it? There’s no reason. I think you’re assuming much more crazy stuff happens with a pedalboard than actually does.
2. No, actually I don’t want it closer to me.
3. I didn’t question the rationale for keeping the power away from the output. My point was that your statement presumes the battery has to be on the left. Which it doesn’t.

I’ve gigged many times with a double bass, and I actually know what I want, despite your sureness that I don’t.

 

[lermgalieu]

Pardon me, it was Jerry Seinfeld.

 

[logdrum]

1. Why would I step on it? There’s no reason. I think you’re assuming much more crazy stuff happens with a pedalboard than actually does.
2. No, actually I don’t want it closer to me.
3. I didn’t question the rationale for keeping the power away from the output. My point was that your statement presumes the battery has to be on the left. Which it doesn’t.

I’ve gigged many times with a double bass, and I actually know what I want, despite your sureness that I don’t.

The battery is away from the unbalanced line out. Yes it on the left looking top down and that is the reason why you do not want the output on the left. Here's the picture of mine. Have you actually opened your battery compartment?

I do have experience of someone stepping on a pedal board not mine but the guitar player who had a fight with someone at sound check. The BOSS pedals were fine but the EHX POG with all the tiny buttons was non operational after that.

I am not assuming anything. This is an internet forum. You ask, people answer. You can always put me on your ignore list. I won't get offended.