Hi everyone,
Long time lurker here, finally posting for some help! I'm looking for some specific help in designing a new rig. Through using the search function here and trying about 10 different amps and setups, I've finally narrowed what I want down to a few choices. Essentially, I'm looking for a rig that can replace my mini combo and become my new "portable" rig for upright. I'm probably leaning towards solid state. I'll give you as much info as possible about my setup, etc:
The upright I'm using is a no-name carved German bass from presumable the 40's. It's outfitted with pizzicato lights, a full circle pickup, and a DPA 4099b microphone. I'm also using a 70's jazz bass with flatwound strings.
Here's the issue I'm running into with amplification. I strongly dislike a lot of the modern amplification I've used. I've tried many of the popular brands people suggest, and even owned a number of them. I have two issues.
First, the sound (with eq flat) is either colored in a way that sounds unnatural or extremely hyped... almost compressed. This is not just a pickup problem (I've used three pickups extensively before settling on the full circle)—I've noticed this with microphones too. The issue doesn't exist with my b15, although it's a tube amp and not very portable.
Second, the midrange eq is fixed in a way that does not favor upright. Every amp I've tried, except for Markbass (read below), has midrange eq that does not favor the way my bass naturally sings. This causes a few issues: inability to notch out room feedback, unnatural accenting of the sound of the pickup, and overall "fakeness" in the way the bass is amplified. This also occurs with the microphone, and is even more of an issue. The lack of flexibility is extremely frustrating. I firmly believe midrange eq makes or breaks a bass sound. I don't want to use an additional eq pedal to notch out other frequencies. I think linking in too much technology (having a 4 band eq, plus an additional 10 band, plus this and that) will make things too complicated for me.
Here's my bass amp wishlist:
A bass amp that can play small-medium rooms. I play shows that have 10 people in the audience, up to 4000. I want something that can serve as an overall room amplifier, or, an onstage monitor. 1-2 inputs (XLR would be the second one preferably). 3 or 4 band eq with sweepable midrange eq. I want it to be cleaner, without having any of the eq overly hyped.
Here's what I've narrowed my rig down to:
1)Markbass Little Mark Tube Head (500 or 800) with a 1X12 cabinet. I've played Markbass, and the fixed eq on there is the only eq I've tried yet that works very well for my bass. I like the flexibility of swapping out cabinets, meaning I can use this for bass guitar, upright, and all-sized rooms.
2) On the advice of Larry Grenadier, buying an FMR RNP, into a powered PA speaker (or a powered 12 or 15 inch cabinet). I could run my DPA into channel one, full circle (phase flipped) into channel 2, and straight into the PA speaker. This would allow me to amplify the sound from my instrument with extreme clarity, not having to worry AT ALL about the sound being colored. I could also patch in a Markbass EQ pedal if I wanted (with sweepable eq), knowing that the sound of the Markbass eq is favorable to my upright. If I wanted to use this for bass guitar, I could as well.
The advantage to choice 1 is limited electronics, and it's a sound that I like. Advantage to choice 2 is total clarity in my sound. I want the sound only coming off of my upright, and choice 2 provides that more easily.
Both rigs would be $1000 and within my budget. I'm to the point of pulling my hair out trying to find a rig I really like. I've tried a ton of the name brand stuff, boutique stuff, and have never been able to settle on anything.
I'm open to any suggestions. Apologies for standing on my soapbox. I understand there are many supporters of common amplifiers out there, and my intent is not to hate on anyone for their choices. This is all just my own personal preference.
Thank you!
Long time lurker here, finally posting for some help! I'm looking for some specific help in designing a new rig. Through using the search function here and trying about 10 different amps and setups, I've finally narrowed what I want down to a few choices. Essentially, I'm looking for a rig that can replace my mini combo and become my new "portable" rig for upright. I'm probably leaning towards solid state. I'll give you as much info as possible about my setup, etc:
The upright I'm using is a no-name carved German bass from presumable the 40's. It's outfitted with pizzicato lights, a full circle pickup, and a DPA 4099b microphone. I'm also using a 70's jazz bass with flatwound strings.
Here's the issue I'm running into with amplification. I strongly dislike a lot of the modern amplification I've used. I've tried many of the popular brands people suggest, and even owned a number of them. I have two issues.
First, the sound (with eq flat) is either colored in a way that sounds unnatural or extremely hyped... almost compressed. This is not just a pickup problem (I've used three pickups extensively before settling on the full circle)—I've noticed this with microphones too. The issue doesn't exist with my b15, although it's a tube amp and not very portable.
Second, the midrange eq is fixed in a way that does not favor upright. Every amp I've tried, except for Markbass (read below), has midrange eq that does not favor the way my bass naturally sings. This causes a few issues: inability to notch out room feedback, unnatural accenting of the sound of the pickup, and overall "fakeness" in the way the bass is amplified. This also occurs with the microphone, and is even more of an issue. The lack of flexibility is extremely frustrating. I firmly believe midrange eq makes or breaks a bass sound. I don't want to use an additional eq pedal to notch out other frequencies. I think linking in too much technology (having a 4 band eq, plus an additional 10 band, plus this and that) will make things too complicated for me.
Here's my bass amp wishlist:
A bass amp that can play small-medium rooms. I play shows that have 10 people in the audience, up to 4000. I want something that can serve as an overall room amplifier, or, an onstage monitor. 1-2 inputs (XLR would be the second one preferably). 3 or 4 band eq with sweepable midrange eq. I want it to be cleaner, without having any of the eq overly hyped.
Here's what I've narrowed my rig down to:
1)Markbass Little Mark Tube Head (500 or 800) with a 1X12 cabinet. I've played Markbass, and the fixed eq on there is the only eq I've tried yet that works very well for my bass. I like the flexibility of swapping out cabinets, meaning I can use this for bass guitar, upright, and all-sized rooms.
2) On the advice of Larry Grenadier, buying an FMR RNP, into a powered PA speaker (or a powered 12 or 15 inch cabinet). I could run my DPA into channel one, full circle (phase flipped) into channel 2, and straight into the PA speaker. This would allow me to amplify the sound from my instrument with extreme clarity, not having to worry AT ALL about the sound being colored. I could also patch in a Markbass EQ pedal if I wanted (with sweepable eq), knowing that the sound of the Markbass eq is favorable to my upright. If I wanted to use this for bass guitar, I could as well.
The advantage to choice 1 is limited electronics, and it's a sound that I like. Advantage to choice 2 is total clarity in my sound. I want the sound only coming off of my upright, and choice 2 provides that more easily.
Both rigs would be $1000 and within my budget. I'm to the point of pulling my hair out trying to find a rig I really like. I've tried a ton of the name brand stuff, boutique stuff, and have never been able to settle on anything.
I'm open to any suggestions. Apologies for standing on my soapbox. I understand there are many supporters of common amplifiers out there, and my intent is not to hate on anyone for their choices. This is all just my own personal preference.
Thank you!
