Double Bass Henriksen amps

[massimo]

Is anybody using Henriksen amps with their double bass out there ( for mainstream jazz kind of situations)? I'm intrigued by those but very difficult to try here in Europe or to find someone that uses them. I know a guitar player that uses one (the small model) and for jazz guitar the sound is really great. The threads about those amps here are all very old .

 

[Earl]

I tried the Bud once and did not like it (it is not really a bass amp though). Possibly the larger ones are better.

 

[Francois Blais]

My friend guitarist has one, and it sounds great indeed for him.
Never tried it myself.

 

[Fat bob]

In denver they have them as backline for 2 jazz clubs for bass amps, also my teacher owns one. They sounds really great (the 12s). I don’t see many bassists outside of denver with them, I wish I had one myself. One of the owners is a bassist, and the 12 was I believe originally designed as a bass amp

 

[massimo]

In denver they have them as backline for 2 jazz clubs for bass amps, also my teacher owns one. They sounds really great (the 12s). I don’t see many bassists outside of denver with them, I wish I had one myself. One of the owners is a bassist, and the 12 was I believe originally designed as a bass amp

Hi, thanks for your answer. In your opinion the Henriksen is more like a traditional bass amp (punchy, clear and forward sounding,maybe not very natural) or more like an acoustic, transparent sounding amp (i put in this category Acoustic image, Mas speakers, Euphonic Audio and Phil Jones, at least the small models). I'm looking for a "ballsy", meatier sound also if not very natural. I have Acoustic image head and Mas 2x5 speaker: the sound is very natural but, especially on the gig, it lacks something, in a certain way its "anemic", too neutral, transparent, and diffused. I'm looking for a more direct sound , doesn't matter if its not very acoustic (to a certain limit). Polytone bass amps sound similar to what i like, so i'm looking for something like an improved Polytone.

 

[Francois Blais]

What strings do you use Massimo?

Bonjour du Québec!

 

[massimo]

Bonjour Francois! I use Spiro reds or weich (depends on the bass i 'm using at the moment). Often i switch to gut, Oliv, Garbo, E.Pirazzi or other thicker strings (all my heroes played with gut) but at the end i always come back to Spiros . For me, in real life situations, Spiros work better than the others. Spiros have many advantages , i learned to accept what i don't like about them.

 

[Francois Blais]

Merci Massimo.
If you had answered Obligatos, I'd have suggested to switch to other strings since those can sound a bit hollow when amplified.
But maybe a small soundpost adjustment would help to get more fat in the tone and eliminate the need for another cab.
Just a suggestion bien sûr!

 

[massimo]

Merci Massimo.
If you had answered Obligatos, I'd have suggested to switch to other strings since those can sound a bit hollow when amplified.
But maybe a small soundpost adjustment would help to get more fat in the tone and eliminate the need for another cab.
Just a suggestion bien sûr!

Thanks, i played for a period with Obligatos some years ago and with my bass they were really great with the bow, maybe a little too dark in pizz (for my taste). Actually i'm not looking for a more "fat" tone (my tone is maybe already too "fat") but a more direct sound, difficult to describe, but thick, dry, clear and articulate are words that could describe it (not deep, fat, transparent). Think Ray Browns(in his '80 recordings with red spiros) and Mc Bride ( Spiros weich or Helicore pizz) kind of tone.

 

[Earl]

The house amp at a club I play at often is an ancient Polytone mini-brute with a twelve inch speaker and it gets the tone you are looking for.

 

[Francois Blais]

I see.
Did you try Thomastik Superflexibles?
Maybe worth a try. You can find them used here easily.