• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Kala UBass Megathread, Part 3

Status
Not open for further replies.
#803
I'm glad the F-Deck pre's are working out for you guys. I'm still loving my Fishman Plat Pro.

I took another look through the manual and some online talk about the Plat Pro, and have been adjusting the Depth knob (which is an HPF) more often to suit the environment, since you guys started talking about the F-Deck. It's been doing great, now that I'm paying more attention to it.

I agree that the Fishman does color the sound, but as I've said it's a color I like. However Chad's thoughts on clean sound got me to start back over at zero last night with the EQ on the Fishman and what I ended up with was far less dramatic settings. I did a curve similar to what I had before, but it's way closer to the center line, and it sounded great.

One of the other things that's been great for crisping up the UBass/Fishman is the "room coupling" control on the AI Ten2, which attenuates the down-firing speaker. It's the perfect way to clean up some mud in certain rooms or on certain types of floors, and it varies at each show. The key is to step away from the amp and let someone else adjust it for you while you play (it's become a standard part of my sound check now). I've become an AI believer for sure!
 
#804
I won't be getting ride of my Fishman. :) For gospel music and the country/bluegrass I was playing Sunday night, I think the cleanness of the Fdeck compliments that music well. But for the blues, the character of the Fishman sounds nice.
 
#805
The Fishman Pro is definitely the tool for me (need di out and eq)! If I were doing shows with an amp & no pa, I could see the Fdeck being a better solution though- roll of subs so you dont hammer the amp & using the amp eq. Great that we have so many quality options!
 
#806
I think at this point I am done testing preamp boxes for my own uses. Between the Fdeck and Fishman, I have both ends of the spectrum covered. Mr. Watson, though, is a tone freak. I'm sure something else will come along that will just demand being tested. And he will buy it and test it for us. :D
 
#807
caeman said:
I think at this point I am done testing preamp boxes for my own uses. Between the Fdeck and Fishman, I have both ends of the spectrum covered. Mr. Watson, though, is a tone freak. I'm sure something else will come along that will just demand being tested. And he will buy it and test it for us. :D
Click to expand...

True that! Doctor Watson for the preamp mashup! :)
 
#808
Okay, the Amazon order is placed. I am going to try the neoprene holder.

The Snark did a fantastic job Sunday. My other clip-on tuners had problems with the U-Bass, but not the Snark.
 
#809
caeman said:
Okay, the Amazon order is placed. I am going to try the neoprene holder.

The Snark did a fantastic job Sunday. My other clip-on tuners had problems with the U-Bass, but not the Snark.
Click to expand...

I've had the best luck with the Red Snark. The other snarks (the other guys in different bands I play with have other models) just don't respond to the low frequencies of the bass as well as the Red model, in my experience.
 
#810
I am going to look into a sound hole cover that will fit the U-Bass, of someone else hasn't already found one the correct size. I was getting a lot of feed back Sunday night due the higher volumes and numbers of amps on the stage.
 
#814
TimWatson said:
Actually there are decent buffering pres. We have been talkin about a few of them throughout this thread. The Baggs and the Fishman are popular. The Radial PZ-Pre is another good one. There are several small belt pack types designed for upright. Other floor units too. On paper, many of them have very high impedance inputs. Many have phase switches and High pass filters. Almost all have some type of tone control or active EQ bands. Many amp and pedal makers are putting 1MegOhm inputs in.

It is true that none of these features are new. Heck, I own a bag full of them right now. I have owned 2-3 times as many as I currently have now and tried even more.
Click to expand...

What I was saying in my head, but did not manage to type clearly was that I do not understand why manufacturers do not put a simple buffer into any instrument with a piezo pick up in it. I'm sure the cost would be a very small percentage of the instrument, but would make them sound SO much better. I'm sure we have all played a cheap electro-acoustic guitars which once partnered with a buffer suddenly turns into a totally useable instrument.

I have been through way too many pre-amps. Currently using the Headway EDB - 1 which is fine and dandy for now. Not as plug and play as the fdeck though!
 
#816
caeman said:
I am going to look into a sound hole cover that will fit the U-Bass, of someone else hasn't already found one the correct size. I was getting a lot of feed back Sunday night due the higher volumes and numbers of amps on the stage.
Click to expand...

:gasp: you mean the f-deck didn't take care of it? And you said you have a M-108, right?

I'm thinking F-deck>M-108>Direct box for all ubass and upright rigs. I'll put the VT in line for electric.
 
#819
Something from speaker building. Polyfill (pillow stuffing). With a quality acoustic bass or guitar, I never let it touch the top of the instrument. In this case, probably not a problem. Watch out for the pickup wires though. About a 3rd to a fourth of the internal volume is enough and sometimes you can get away with using it just behind the pickup area.
In extreme cases the soundhole cover is necessary.
Unless you use too much, it actually makes the cavity larger.
I use it in my Baby Taylor and it has also the beneficial effect of chilling out some ugly highs with no effect on the acoustic volume.

Just don't use too much!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back