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Double Bass Looking for a preamp/box(es) to do the following..

E

EvanGregor

Apr 12, 2004
109
9
Astoria New York
www.evangregor.com
#1
Hey all -

I am looking for a setup that can do the following, probably a preamp but perhaps something else needs to be in the equation.

Input a mic + pickup from the acoustic, blend/eq the two.

Be able to send JUST the mic to the house w/ my eq.. be able to send either or.

Now that alone is relatively simple except:

Also need electric bass in the equation. Want to be able to switch easily from one to the other.

We're basically getting into three inputs here when I want the option to send JUST the mic to the house, and not combo of pickup/mic. DTar solstice seems cool except for this last part.

Note: A lot of this is for the amount of travel/international work I am doing right now on various gigs that need both basses. As you guys know you never know what you are ending up with and I need to maximize my odds here. So this has to be self contained, and not factor the head / amp into the equation as even the gigs with a rider you never actually know.

So this is about getting a travel easy setup- a mic (probably the new dpa), and something to plug everything in including the electric, have some control over what is sent where, and not have to switch cables/have things explode when switching basses.

If two units are required for this cool, but hopefully one can be pretty small and one even smaller.

Not particularly concerned with price, let's say I want to keep it within $1500 (this includes the mic).

If anyone has any suggestions i'd greatly appreciate it. Everything i'm finding comes up short in some way, due to the fact that I need electric in the mix and want the ability to send just the mic etc.
 
#2
A small pedalboard seems to be the best option. Going modular will provide maximum flexibility so you can use only what you need.

For the mic, a small preamp with DI out to the house and a pass through is pretty common.

Add in an Fdeck as the piezo preamp.

Wounded paw and Badger schism are two options for the blend and A/B switching between DB and EB. A boss ls-2 would also work.

Those pedals plus a tuner will fit on a pedaltrain mini or nano.
 
#4
edge83 said:
.......Input a mic + pickup from the acoustic, blend/eq the two.

Be able to send JUST the mic to the house w/ my eq.. be able to send either or.

Now that alone is relatively simple except:

Also need electric bass in the equation. Want to be able to switch easily from one to the other.

We're basically getting into three inputs here when I want the option to send JUST the mic to the house, and not combo of pickup/mic. DTar solstice seems cool except for this last part...........

So this is about getting a travel easy setup- a mic (probably the new dpa), and something to plug everything in including the electric, have some control over what is sent where, and not have to switch cables/have things explode when switching basses.

If two units are required for this cool, but hopefully one can be pretty small and one even smaller.

Not particularly concerned with price, let's say I want to keep it within $1500 (this includes the mic).
Click to expand...

Edge,

One thing you have to consider is what pickup and microphone you intend to combine. The DPA 4099B is a great little mic, I'd recommend that you purchase the newer DPA 4099 B with the detachable cable and gooseneck extension. That will help you get the mic up into the sweet spot.

The Headway EDB-1 should suffice to to the things you are trying to accomplish. You can blend mic and pickup, or you can run the mic directly into the mains and let the board provide the phantom power, sending that signal to the mains. Adding a Electric to the mix gets expensive.

Another possibility would be to purchase an EA Doubler and a A/B switch running the mic into one channel, the pickup and the electric into the other, but you're going to have to reach back and adjust the volume when you switch over to the Electric, and the EQ won't be set for the EB.

So in the best scenario, you'd get the Headway EDB-1, and the EA Doubler, as that gives you the three channels you need. The Headway EDB-1 costs $300.00, the Doubler is $779.00, the DPA 4099B d vote version is $666.00. So that system is about $245.00 off the mark. If you didn't blend the mic and just sent it to the

house, the EA Doubler would be all you need and comes in at @$1,045.00. Just my thoughts. Another option is to purchase a Ehrlund EAP pickup and Pre Amp on trial, from Gollihur Music. it's a very mic like pickup, if it worked with your bass you IME, IHHO wouldn't need the DPA and could just use the Doubler.

Ric
 
#5
Thanks all.

Appreciate it Ric, i already have the old EA micro and am talking to them about getting a doubler / cab- but this is not as much of an issue when i'm playing domestically enough to have my own rig.

All my flight / international work these days, both the bass and amp are just waiting for me so there isn't any consistency between what pickup, head etc is being used, so i'm trying to do the best I can to have as much help as possible.

Will check out the other things you posted guys, thanks.
 
#6
For the mic, a small preamp with DI out to the house and a pass through is pretty common.
Click to expand...

Sounds like putting that before a 2 channel preamp like dtar would do the trick. Any suggestions for the small mic preamp w/ output and pass through? Small but maybe with some basic eq would probably be ideal, so i can cut/boost some low or high on the mic getting sent to the house. Thanks
 
#7
edge83 said:
Thanks all.

Appreciate it Ric, i already have the old EA micro and am talking to them about getting a doubler / cab- but this is not as much of an issue when i'm playing domestically enough to have my own rig.

All my flight / international work these days, both the bass and amp are just waiting for me so there isn't any consistency between what pickup, head etc is being used, so i'm trying to do the best I can to have as much help as possible.

Will check out the other things you posted guys, thanks.
Click to expand...

Edge,
Well, since the amps a set thing and out of you're control, as long as it has an effects loop, or Auxiliary in then the Headway (DPA 4099 B) can serve as a second channel for the DB EQ, while the amps primary channel could run the Electric Bass. It's a pretty simple and elegant solution.:)
 
#10
Carvin AG100:
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From the Website:

The AG100D 100 watt combo amp delivers full, pristine sound through a tuned-port full-range speaker enclosure. The 3 input channels are individually designed: one for guitar, one for bass, second guitar or other electric instrument, and one for mic, keyboards or other devices. Each channel has a separate volume and EQ (3-band active on Channel 1; 2-band active on Channel 2 & 3), while Channel 1 also features a MID sweep control. A 5 band master graphic EQ allows you to further tailor your sound. Channels 1's voicing is designed for standard electric or acoustic guitars while Channel 2 is suitable for bass guitar, a second guitar or similar instruments such as an electric mandolin, electric violin, etc. You can play bass and guitar simultaneously without degrading the guitar signal, and the bass tuned enclosure and high frequency tweeter, combined with 100 watts RMS of power, is ideal for acoustic or electric basses. Channel 3 will also accommodate line level signals from keyboards, tape decks, drum machines or a balanced microphone, and provides phantom power for condenser mics. Channel 1 & 2 have standard 1/4" phone jacks for electric instruments, and Channel 3 has a 1/4" phone jack for tape/CD players, drum machines, etc., as well as a balanced XLR mic input with phantom power, which makes the AG100D well suited for a "One-Man-Band" stage set-up.

The AG100D also features 24-bit digital effects, allowing you to add echo, reverb, chorus and flange to each channel. Each channel has its own effect send level that will adjust the amount of signal sent to the effects processor. An external effects loop (1/4" in, 1/4" out) allows you to connect external effects.

The rear panel features a jack for the optional FS22 footswitch, which allows you to remotely turn off or on the two assigned effects. A post-EQ stereo line out jack can be used for recording, as a direct feed to a mixer, or as a headphone jack. A 1/4" speaker extension jack allows you to connect an additional speaker such as the 112AG speaker enclosure. The tweeter L-Pad control allows you to reduce the tweeter level if distortion is heard at excessive volumes.

Carvin's AG100D is the ideal solution for performers who don't always need a full PA system or multiple amplifiers, but want professional features and lots of power. Ideal for small clubs & coffee shops, rehearsal spaces and other areas where quick and easy setup and a small footprint are an advantage.

- Power amp: 100 watts at 8 ohms— THD less than .03% @ 90% output
- Freq. Response: 20 - 20 kHz
- Speaker components: heavy duty 300 watt PS12 with horn tweeter and rear L-pad
- Tuned bass reflex enclosure response: 48 Hz to 16 kHz designed for bass guitar
- 3 Channels for acoustic guitar, bass and PA
- Channel 1 for acoustic/electric guitar with Bass, Mid-Sweep, Treble, Effects controls & Acoustic/Electric EQ switch
- Channel 2 for instr. or tape with Bass, Treble & Effects control
- Channel 3 with XLR & 1/4" inputs for Mic & instr. with Bass, Treble & Effects controls
- Phantom power on Channel 3 for use with condenser mics
- Effects Loop (send & receive jacks)
- DUAL Digital Effects Selectors and Parameters
- Master Level control
- Master 5 Band Graphic EQ @ 100, 250, 800, 6k & 12 kHz
- Built-in insert for speaker stand
- Forest Green covering
- 90-260VAC 50-60Hz
- Dimensions: 17" wide x 12" deep x 22" high
- Weight: 35 lbs
- Made in San Diego, California
 
#11
I'd go with 3 boxes on a small pedal board. Mic pre with DI and an FDeck for the piezo, then something like a tonehammer for the electric. All three outputs into some Y (possibly W ?) cables to run just one line to the amp. Each one acts as it's own blender and if set up ahead, nothing needs to be unplugged or level set when switching.
That should all fit easily on a Pedaltrain mini, depending on what pre's you go with.
 
#14
edge83 said:
Thanks Rake - excuse my ignorance but will this allow me to send one line out to the house? i'm not sure if most places would alot three separate lines to the bass player, heh, but maybe that's the point of the pedal board ?
Click to expand...

I suppose with that setup, you could either send just the mic or a combination of all three boxes.
Perhaps a mic pre and a Radial PZ-Pre for the piezo and electric would be better.
This is definitely an interesting question. You're asking for quite a few options from not a lot of gear. It has to be possible.
 
#17
As all of us know there, isn't a single box that will do all this, and to my working knowledge there was only one amplifier that was ever built to tackle this problem. The original AER Basscube had three independent channels. Unfortunately, it's no longer built, and frankly it weighed way to much to transport around the globe.
IME IMHO
The Headway EDB-1 will get you about as close as possible with the least gear. Just my take. Combined with the Tone Hammer for EB into the effects loopm with a A/B switch you'd have the best of both worlds, but
that's going to cost a few more bucks at what $600.00 but it might be worth it for peace of mind. If you can live with the EQ sections of the back line amps provided, then the Headway EDB-1 could be a simple solution.

Ric
 
#18
Thanks, yes I was thinking about a mixer too, and then kind of forgot about it. I know they do make tiny little mixers.. and there should be one with two outputs too i'm guessing (one to amp and one to house)

Ric I think i'm not seeing it clearly, as the headway only looks to have one or two inputs. It's definitely not always the case that the amp on gigs has any type of aux / loops etc, especially in certain parts of the world you can get some pretty interesting stuff.. so if it is depending on the amp / speaker / system itself having ANYTHING other than an input i'll probably go another route.

the $ number was fairly arbitrary, i'll spend more if it's the best solution-- time to start looking at little mixers.. good call, thanks. Kind of a fun puzzle to solve :)

unless Ric you mean there is something with a tonebone and FX loop etc within those units THEMSELVES, dropping the extra $ is not really a problem.. single, no kids etc I am able to say that the 'quality of life' this provides is worth my investment!!
 
#20
edge83 said:
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Besides having the 4 inputs (although 2 channels), if you look at the back of this thing, it does have two outputs but also an FX loop and 'insertion points' - if any of you more knowledgeable folks see those providing some options i'm not aware of (particularly insertion points, no idea what that is)
Click to expand...

I considered this little box, many times, but never pulled the trigger. At the same time I was considering the purchase of a Acoustic Image Focus, because it had everything the DTAR had, with an additional notch/high pass filter on both channels.
I think if you are considering running a microphone into an amplifier, a high pass filter is something you really need to have IME, IMHO. Something else that bothered me was the Phantom Power only providing 15 volts. So I passed on it. DPA published this little table for the 4099 mic it doesn't give figures for 15 volts. But changes occur when you lower the power supplied to the mic.

Ric
 

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