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Double Bass Headway EDB1 preamp

#123
Speirsy said:
I bought a headway EDB1 which sounded good with my Eminence RN4 but distorted at high attacks, and I couldn't set the gain low enough.
After much testing by me, TWO returns by post to Headway, and some very poor customer service by them, I was no further forward so the preamp has gone back to the shop for credit cause it's no use to me.
I've since borrowed a Baggs which works fine so I'll probably get one of those instead.
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I am having the same problem. I am getting distorsion
and cannot set the volume low enough.
 
#124
liberamemusic said:
I am having the same problem. I am getting distorsion
and cannot set the volume low enough.
Click to expand...

give gordon, headway's us distributor, a call at 1-800-930-1955. he has a post a bit earlier in this thread. apparently, the resource who is manufacturing these lovely little units got a little creative on some of them and subbed a different resistor at the input stage. he's sending me a replacement, no questions. should be here in the next couple of days.

jeff.
 
#126
RShew said:
Quick question...will the headway allow me to mix a mic and pickup, send it to my amp AND to the house? Are there multiple line outs?

Thanks,

Roger
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Roger,

There are two inputs, one for a pickup and the other for a pickup or mic with phantom power. There is a 1/4" inch blended line out that I send to the amp, and a balanced XLR out that goes to the house. I use mine a lot although the thing it does best for me is turn any POS backline amp into an acceptable amp. My two regular gigs over here both have BG amps on a backline and the Headway allows me to get a great sound out of them. I also use it for theatre gigs going directly into the house with my Ten2 amp as a stage monitor, or if the PA guys are on top of their game, I just rely on one or two monitors from them for stage. I have only used it for a pickup however, choosing not to go through the trouble of fooling with a mic. The 5-band EQ, when combined with the High Pass filter, is also quite magical. It also gets very good life on the batteries though it comes with a power supply as well.

Erik
 
#129
I can't help with U.S. source but you should know that buying them on-line in Britain directly from Headway they cost £200, including a 17.5% VAT. Backing out the VAT means a net price of £165, which at today's exchange rate of 1.47 is $242.55 before any sales tax and S&H. I still love mine and am using it constantly, running my bass's RevSolo II through it and the output either into the effects return of a Clarus SL or into house back line amps. I'm playing again tonight in a Rat Pack show in a community theatre down in England, and will use it as my DI into the house, letting them provide me on-stage sound with monitors and taking no amp.

Erik Hansen
Scotland
 
#130
by the way for those of you using the EDB1 the switches can get flipped to a middle position which leaves you with no sound...for two gigs i got stuck this way then inadvertently flipped it with the volume way up (cause I wasn't gettin any) and howling feedback from the mic...
 
#132
Funny turn of events on my end: I finally got fed up with the whole mic-blend-through-the-amp thing, and am moving away from that for awhile if not for good. This should make the Headway an expendabe piece of gear for me, but it doesn't at all: I discovered that if I run pickup only through the Headway and the FX return of the Super Flightcase, I can get a really great sound that's more articulate and flexible EQ-wise than using the onboard preamp, so that's the new setup.

OCD nutcase that I am, I've even mounted a short mic stand pole (complete with telescoping arm) onto the back of the Flightcase so I can have the controls right where I need them and can leave the unit plugged into the FX return for travel. I sounds great and is very convenient, but sometimes I wonder if I need psychiatric help for my obsessive gear shenanigans. :hiding:
 
#138
the sum total of my experience on this: my bandmate scored a couple of qsc k10s. we did an acoustic gig, everything mic'ed, no pickups. one k10 functioned as a main, the other as a monitor. dpa ran flat into the board, with the exception of the hpf in the headway clicked in (bass setting/flat cartridge). the sound was rather amazing, and no feedback.

i am curious about how this could work out as a stand-alone bass rig. the qsc's pack 1000 watts and sound pristine. i'm thinking that set on a lightweight stand, one could potentially be the ultimate sounding double bass rig.

i think i'll borrow one and try it.

jeff.

RShew said:
Just curious, but is that what you are using as your main bass amp? The EDB into a powered speaker?
Click to expand...
 
#140
jhelsley said:
Mind if I ask how come?
Click to expand...

For one, the PJB Flightcase/Headway combination sounds so good that the mic doesn't really add much. For two, the issue I'm having with all mics at the moment is that up to a point, they help your sound. Beyond that point, they make you sound worse. If you set your sound at the beginning and the volume creeps up from other sectors of the bandstand, you're pretty much shagged, baby... at least until you have time to adjust again. With a pickup, you find the best sound you can and just play.
 

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