Is everyone on TB going stereo??

[Lava]

No

 

[JW56789]

Stereo (either the separate-amp-for-each-pickup, or the bass in and out of a 1-in, 2-out effects box) is one of those things that you think, 'man, wouldn't that be great' . . . until you start lugging all the extra stuff around, nobody else hears it, and finally the FOH tells you they want to talk to you about that rig . . . .

One amp for the neck pickup, and another for the bridge pickup, or I can lug a power amp rig around. Right . . .

 

[Astronaut]

Djeebus!! How many Quad and Dolby jokes you need to change a stereo bulb?
Seems a pretty good idea to be honest; can see some very cool applications.

 

[prowla]

I am!
I've been running mono and splitting signal paths to two amps, but I'm shifting back towards going stereo so I can separate the character of my pickups.

 

[Azari]

Even þough I have a stereo rick bass I'm yet to be in a situation where it's actually practical to use...

 

[Raoul_Duke]

Oh jeez that sounds like a huge pain in the ass. Do you need two amp heads? Seems like a lot of hassle for something only me and other bass players would notice or care about.

 

[FFEJY]

I didn't know this was coming back.

Back in the late 80's stereo rigs were a thing when stereo chorus was all the rage.

Rack preamps like the ADA MB-1 were stereo, with multiple stereo effects loops.

I dabbled with it at the time, and recorded lots of bass tracks with stereo effects.

It was fun. I still like bass chorus. Stereo bass chorus is very rich and full.

I don't run stereo nowadays, but I DO run a full range cab (4×12) with a second sub cabinet (2x15) crossed over at 250hz.

I started doing that way back in 1992 with the ADA utilizing the low out. That way, I could add more bottom without muddying my main cab. I found when I added bottom to my main cab, it changed the midrange clarity for the worse. Now, when I need more bottom, I just turn up the sub cab and the main cab still screams. I tried true biamping (cutting off the lows below 250hz to the main cab) and hated it as there was always a "hole" in the response.

My amps have changed, but I still run a separate sub cab.

 

[H K]

Hahaha! I'm the author of all those posts! I just have a lot of questions for the pros about it man, what u calling me out for?

Naa, but its going pretty well now! Got most of it figured out. I'll make an update when I get home today

 

[Zooberwerx]

Low frequency in stereo is something of an oxymoron. Low frequency isn't directional, so any stereo effect is lost, unless you are listening with headphones. Additionally, there will be phase cancellation at low frequencies according to how distant the speakers are spaced from each other.

I live in this camp: I keep my low freq enclosures centered and clustered to reduce comb-filtering. That being said, one of our more knowledgeable contributors puts forth the premise that room / venue reflections have a more profound impact on enhancement or degradation. My interpretation: go ahead and separate the subs, put a stick and mains on top of each...it really won't matter.

Riis

 

[40Hz]

Stereo is a waste of time and effort for bass. On guitar it can sound amazing.

Wet/dry might be worth it if you’re heavily into effects however.

 

[lbbc]

I'm not....heck, most of the time I play direct into the PA

 

[Acoustic356]

Spatial Audio is where it's at...

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Low frequency in stereo is something of an oxymoron. Low frequency isn't directional, so any stereo effect is lost, unless you are listening with headphones. Additionally, there will be phase cancellation at low frequencies according to how distant the speakers are spaced from each other.

Yeah, but all that fret noise could be in glorious stereo!

 

[Ekulati]

I'm still trying to figure out who here on TB plays the kind of live gigs where running anything in stereo, much less your bass rig, even matters.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Spatial Audio is where it's at...

That's very mid 1990s, I thought.

 

[lark_z]

 

[BobDeRosa]

I wouldn't even know how to go stereo.

 

[Relsom]

Nope, and I have 2 basses who's stereo jacks will remain virgins as long as I own them.

 

[Plain Old Barry]

Surround Sound is where it's at now.

Dolby 7.2! FTW!

 

[geddeeee]

The 'stereo' people who play guitars talk about is not stereo.
It is dual channel. Not the same thing.

Very few amplified instruments are true stereo. Keyboards... maybe... That's it.

I have a Rickenbacker bass, but I have never run it in 'stereo'.
Yes it has a stereo jack, but that is where it ends. Dual mono is a more accurate description.