Yeah, EBS has been on my mind, and along with Mark Bass is a couple of the few brands I can actually try out here, so I might check that out!
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Hunting for a clean-sounding head with nice sparkling highs
- Thread starter NeonVomit
- Start date
Yeah, EBS has been on my mind, and along with Mark Bass is a couple of the few brands I can actually try out here, so I might check that out!
If you have the opportunity to get a good Eden deal that is a good choice for high freq clarity and doubling. But there are a lot of amps out there that will do fine. Especially if you only use the power section. So a dedicated pre for double bass or for transparancy is a good idea too.
personally I’ve found the most important step for a pleasing transparant en sparkling high and high-mid reproduction is in the cab. A good mid driver that fits in the general design helps a lot. The generic 4*10+tweeter mostly doesn’t, as Downunderwonder already pointed out. Barefaced would be a super solution, but there’s more out there.
personally I’ve found the most important step for a pleasing transparant en sparkling high and high-mid reproduction is in the cab. A good mid driver that fits in the general design helps a lot. The generic 4*10+tweeter mostly doesn’t, as Downunderwonder already pointed out. Barefaced would be a super solution, but there’s more out there.
Another vote for the Genzler MG350, but make sure to check out their array cabinets as well, especially the 10 and 12.
Years ago I purchased a Walter Woods blue light directly from Walter (RIP). I can't think of a more perfect match from what you described. The myth has been it's one of the best upright bass amps. To my ears it can do so much more with both electric and acoustic basses than any amp i have ever played through. It is a tad pricey. And I second the Eden amps. I recently A/B'd some of my amps and the WW was the hands down winner. Good luck on your search.
I believe that you can run into the aux-in of the D800. You might need to determine the proper adaptor for that.
Here is the demo of the Eich that I mentioned earlier. Be sure to read the description so you know what's going on (particularly with regard to when it's pre-EQ and when post) and listen with decent headphones or good speakers:
I don't have a lot of experience with the TecAmp Puma, which preceded the Eich -- I played one a couple of times, but not side-by-side with the Eich -- but, to my ear, the Eich is a little crisper, more open, and more aggressive (which folks might or might not like). I don't think it's a totally neutral amp, but neither is it as heavily voiced as some. I think it could work well for what you're looking to do, if you like the basic sound and the EQ.
Be advised that it has a pretty wide-open deep low end -- can get the speakers pumping if you're playing loudly. You might or might not find it helpful to run it with an HPF (which some external DB pres will have built-in). The T-900 model certainly has the juice to strain a single, smaller cab, so utilize good judgment if you go that way (particularly if folks will be sharing your rig).
I know you can dial these in fairly clean (used to have a TH500), but would you consider that amp conducive to "sparkly, shimmering," wide-open highs?
Actually, OP, if you play through an amp that has a ruler-flat frequency response and very low distortion, it might not sound all that sparkly and shimmering to you unless the source already has that. The tiniest bit of distortion and/or even a very gentle rise in the treble (which you can dial-in if the amp is open up-top) can help get that across.
It is possible to have a very present, even "bright" treble sound without extending so high up, but you might find it to be qualitatively different than what you're looking for.
Very useful post, thanks! Yeah my Marleaux has some quite nice highs, it sounds very detailed. I have a good 'source' to work with, so to speak.
I've had a Mesa D800 and a Magellan 800 - imho they don't do what i would call sparkle very well (my main amp is a GK 700rb2 so i think i know what you mean). They're both very warm sounding amps but i personally struggled to get some zing going with them. I use a couple of Barefaced cabs so they generally put out what the amp puts in to them. I use a Quilter BB800 and its got a massive clean sound but is a bit treble shy - it's not dark sounding but you have to goose the top end to get the zing going. An EBS may be a better shout for you - i had a TD650 and a 660 and they do a lovely crystal clear sparkle if you want them to. I think a Reidmar 750 would be a good call.
I believe Eich is the successor to the TecAmp brand, is it not? Same guy behind both brands.
Yep, Thomas Eich -- same guy and the heads are very similar in many respects but there are some differences under the hood (with regard to cooling and component layout, per Mr. Eich, if I recall correctly -- how major these differences are, I can't say) and with regard to voicing/sound (my subjective impression, but others seem to agree).
As for "successor," that might depend on who you ask. Both brands -- TecAmp and Eich -- are still running, under different management.
Don't know much about recent models, but the older Eden World Tour (WT-300/400/500/600/750/800) roll-off the highs around 12kHz, so they aren't very open and airy sounding, IMO. I modded mine to allow up to 20kHz and it sounds much more transparent than a stock unit.
another alternative you might consider would be using a high end powered speaker like a QSC K.2 Series with your favorite pre-amp. I have been using a QSC K10.2 with a couple of different preamps with very good results - but I am not playing in a heavy metal or hard rock band situation. Most of my playing is with a small jazz ensemble, swing band setting or musical theater pit... for example I have a Aguilar Tone Hammer Pre-amp/DI - works and sounds great! I have a Walter Jones Pre-Amp - sounds great! I recently bought a used Arkham Bullet tube preamp - It sounds great - in fact it is becoming my favorite for Bass Guitar. And I have a Grace Designs Alix as a preamp for my Upright bass... In fact I bought a pair of QSC K10.2's so I'd have a pair for PA work - in fact I may well use both at my next larger venue bass gig... Lot's of options out there 
Beautiful basses. I have a Mensinger with Delano's. Great sounds to be had.
Since you have time, you might want to look at Bass Gear Review Magazine's measurement reviews.
I've measured several pieces of equipment.
The GK preamp goes all the way up to 20khz and can be made flat by turning down the treble and bass.
I measured a Trickfish which was flat to 10khz and rolled off quickly above there. It does make a difference in perceived clarity if your pickups and cab are capable.
I did see a measurement of a Markbass that rolled off above 10khz as well.
Good information... I ran RMAA loopback tests on my modded WT-500 versus a stock WT-300 (same preamp section) and the difference was obvious in the frequency response plots (and via listening). From the replies here, I gather that people vary quite a bit with regard to what they consider "clean, sparkling highs".
For some that might mean 4-5kHz brightness or perhaps 7kHz sheen (which any decent bass amp should be able to produce), whilst others prefer the open, transparent, sound of the upper harmonics out to 15-20kHz (which can be more difficult to find in bass amps). As a 12-string player and a fan of Lane Poor and Q-tuner pickups, I really like hearing those extended upper harmonics. Of course, the cabinet makes a big difference too, which is why I have a T3W fEARful that has reasonably flat response up to around 16kHz.
I'm in the same camp. I have a Q-tuner and Delano's in my basses. Only fullrange low noise preamps will do these days. Luckily there are quite a few options.
Euphonic Audio iAmp specially the one's with the bright switches, iAmp 900 and the 1200 and a cab that is full range and hi-fi (not necessarily audiophile grade) like MAS, Bag end and EA's very own like the Wizzy's and their older cabs or some Bergs ) - My experience of course but I have not tried others like Bergs, Epifanis, DNAs and what not. Acoustic Image too, but those are politer than an english butler.
