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Double Bass Help choosing an amp

Gregmak

Gregmak

Oct 1, 2009
289
65
38
Toronto, Canada
#1
Hi guys,

I currently use an Acoustic Image Coda+ with a troll mic. I like the sound that I get from this setup, but because the coda speaker points at the floor and spreads the sound, I am missing that directional clear sound in noisy bars. It sounds good for the people who are listening, but I and the band members have trouble hearing the bass clearly, especially when I'm playing with loud drummers. (Don't ask me to tell the drummers to play softer, it has never worked).

I am wondering if I get an amp/speaker that points forward, and put the amp on a stand closer to me if it will be much better. And if yes, what combo do you recommend?

I was thinking to get a QSC K8/K10 since I play a lot of duo with my girl who's a vocalist, but not sure how that would sound if I have a quartet gig again in a noisy place. Or if I should go with a normal bass amp.

Any recommendations?
Thank you.
 
#3
Years ago, when I still mixed a mic and a pickup I used various speakers up on a pole mount powered by an AI Focus head, and the fact that the pole got the speaker up and over the bass allowed me to get a lot more volume before feedback than using an amp on the floor. The QSC products are excellent and would work great for this purpose. If you are using only a mic and playing in noisy environments it might be wise to try a 12" speaker when you are testing things.
 
#5
Hear ya about the woes of you and the band not being able to hear ya. :)

What has ended up working for me and the band in noisy bars/coffee shops is my Phil Jones Flightcase. I plunk it in the middle of the huddle; two front-firing speakers and two front-facing ports for the audience and two up-firing speakers for the band. If it's a bit loud in the room I often end up putting it on a chair to get it up in the air a bit and let the group hear some of the front-firing stuff too. So far so good.. although the 150 might be a bit underpowered for bigger noisier venues. When that's happened to me so far there's been a backline anyways, and the Flightcase becomes my bass wedge.
 
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#6
Thanks Vince! That's a big cab haha. I don't see an XLR input though, so I guess this wouldn't work with a mic? Unless I get an extra preamp with mic input, though when I see amp's with no xlr input, I start thinking they're not made for mics. Interesting combo though, never seen one of those. Thanks for sharing.
 
#7
Gregmak said:
Hi guys,

I currently use an Acoustic Image Coda+ with a troll mic. I like the sound that I get from this setup, but because the coda speaker points at the floor and spreads the sound, I am missing that directional clear sound in noisy bars. It sounds good for the people who are listening, but I and the band members have trouble hearing the bass clearly, especially when I'm playing with loud drummers.

I am wondering if I get an amp/speaker that points forward, and put the amp on a stand closer to me.

I was thinking to get a QSC K8/K10 since I play a lot of duo with my girl who's a vocalist, but not sure how that would sound if I have a quartet gig again in a noisy place. Or if I should go with a normal bass amp.

Any recommendations?
Thank you.
Click to expand...

I used a Headway EDB-2 combined with a QSC K8 and it sounds good. They project well and are very durable
Compared to a EA, MAS, or Audiokinesis bass speaker the upper midrange sound is brighter than those
speakers.
 
#8
I had a Coda for a while and when it was good, it was great, but in the environments that you described (which are not uncommon for me) I had the same issues that you are having.

EA Micro head and a Wizzy 10 cabinet is at least at portable and much better. It is almost always enough for jazz, in any context. I also have a EA 500 Watt combo with a 12" Wizzy speaker which, while better, is almost never necessary (for jazz). It stays plugged into my keyboard at home most of the time.

I would guess that a Wizzy 10 would pair well with your AI head as an option.
 
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#10
I've seen a few guys using the QSC K10's for bass. My one friend who used the K8 for a while thought it was too bright and without much real low end. These after all are made for vocals and instruments that don't don't put out serious low frequencies like an upright bass.
 
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#13
B String said:
I've seen a few guys using the QSC K10's for bass. My one friend who used the K8 for a while thought it was too bright and without much real low end. These after all are made for vocals and instruments that don't don't put out serious low frequencies like an upright bass.
Click to expand...

There is a definite difference between the my QSC K8 and my MAS 1/8 there’s also a price difference. EA also designs and sells bass amps and cabs specifically for bass. They build a quality product with great features.
 

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