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Double Bass Looking for info and guideance on upright bass amp

I would recommend staying away from electric bass guitar amps. Most upright players are looking for clear and transparent sound, "my bass only louder." Most bass amps give some color to the sound and are often not defined enough in the higher frequencies to accurately reproduce slap or other high sounds. If I had it to do again I would spend the money on a nice preamp and powered monitor type PA cab since I always play with PA support anymore

That being said there are a lot of good bass amps that are fairly flat and I'm sure folks will be in to recommend some, maybe even a combo or two.
 
Here's what Lloyd Swanton of Invalid Link Removed offers up as the prerequisite components of his most desirable rig.

Bass Amp:​

Preferably Gallien Krueger 400RB, 800RB or 1001RB, otherwise Laney RB9, Trace Elliott, Ampeg, SWR (but NOT SM-900 or SM-1500), Euphonic.



Bass Speaker:​

4x10", preferably Hartke, otherwise Ampeg, SWR, Trace Elliot, Mark Bass, Bergantino, Hughes & Kettner, EV, JBL, Peavey, Laney, NOT Gallien Krueger.

Contrabass:

(Required for ALL performances outside Australia and North America):

3/4 to full size 4-string acoustic contrabass in good working order, with extendable tail-pin of sufficient length as to allow instrument to be played standing up by 182 cm (6 foot) tall player.

Jazz strings (prefer gut on G and D) and setup, not classical.
Preferably with Fishman Full Circle or David Gage Realist transducer, but I will also bring a clip-on transducer to be safe.


 
I am looking for an amp that puts out a natural sound for my upright bass. Can anyone suggest an amp that will give me this sound or does anyone know anything about Fenders Rambler II 200 or 500? Thanks

For natural amps you might look in the direction of Acoustic Image or Euphonic Audio.

If you are not going with a combo amp, a transparent cab helps with a natural sound too.

Acme, EA, there are also many builders that frequent here that make very high quality cabs.
 
I really like my Acoustic Image Focus 1 Siii, though I don't know how "natural" it sounds. It sounds great, though. I also really liked the Aguilar Tonehammer 500 I had earlier. I just wanted more wattage. The EA Doubler was OK, but it felt like it didn't really put out the juice I needed.
Chris Fitzgerald recently posted positively about the new Fender Rumble combos.
I don't have any experience with them, but it sounds promising.
How much volume will you need, and what's your budget like? That can help steer suggestions.
There are some really great cabs for upright being made these days, but they can get pretty spendy!
 
I really like my Acoustic Image Focus 1 Siii, though I don't know how "natural" it sounds. It sounds great, though. I also really liked the Aguilar Tonehammer 500 I had earlier. I just wanted more wattage. The EA Doubler was OK, but it felt like it didn't really put out the juice I needed.
Chris Fitzgerald recently posted positively about the new Fender Rumble combos.
I don't have any experience with them, but it sounds promising.
How much volume will you need, and what's your budget like? That can help steer suggestions.
There are some really great cabs for upright being made these days, but they can get pretty spendy!

+1

Custom builds are a little more money, but sound great with DB.

I also liked the sound through my TH350, but felt it did "color" my sound more than my Acoustic Image.
 
I can recommend a Mike Arnopol cabinet, specifically because I have experience with that one, the MAS26. It's a GREAT way of amplifying the double bass, and it works with virtually any amplifier head you might get a hold on. I use an Eden and have tried TCs... But there's tons of other options, like f.ex. Aguilar, Tecamp, and whatnot.

Best
Sidecar
 
I am looking for an amp that puts out a natural sound for my upright bass. Can anyone suggest an amp that will give me this sound or does anyone know anything about Fenders Rambler II 200 or 500? Thanks


Mrs. Mac,
Since there's no information in your profile about what kind of bass you have, what strings you use, or at the very least what kind of pickup you use, it's much harder to recommend something better suited to your. We'd also like to know what type of music your currently playing since
amps used for Jazz, are usually quite different from amps for Rockabilly. Tecamp, Aguillar, Acoustic Image, Euphonic Audio, Markbass are all wonderful amplifiers. Acoustic Image and Euphonic Audio both have additional controls that are specific to Double Bass.

Ric
 
Mrs. Mac,
Since there's no information in your profile about what kind of bass you have, what strings you use, or at the very least what kind of pickup you use, it's much harder to recommend something better suited to your. We'd also like to know what type of music your currently playing since
amps used for Jazz, are usually quite different from amps for Rockabilly. Tecamp, Aguillar, Acoustic Image, Euphonic Audio, Markbass are all wonderful amplifiers. Acoustic Image and Euphonic Audio both have additional controls that are specific to Double Bass.

Ric
John Juzek, no pick up, currently play big band and swing, and I believe it is Spiracore strings, it's been a while and my memory isn't what it once was.
 
Hello everyone,

I am looking into a cab for by DB. What speaker size would you all recommend? I have heard opinions all across the board. I am leaning more towards a 410 cab. I like a nice punchy sound. I recently ran my bass through a fender 210 combo amp (I do not recall the exact model). It sounded great to me; nice and punchy and the high end was just great with the click coming through nicely. Just trying to get some guidance so i dont regret my decision when i buy the cab.
 
My amp is the Acoustic Image Coda and it has a great, natural sound, the amp is lightweight and easy to transport, and it can hold its own volume wise in a big band situation. Customer service on this amp is excellent as well and the amp has a lifetime guarantee.

They are often available here used and Gollihur Music online and other sites sell them. For upright bass, a lot of other amps just do not deliver the kind of natural bass sound the Acoustic Image, and other amps mentioned here, can deliver.
 
Hello everyone,

I am looking into a cab for by DB. What speaker size would you all recommend? I have heard opinions all across the board. I am leaning more towards a 410 cab. I like a nice punchy sound. I recently ran my bass through a fender 210 combo amp (I do not recall the exact model). It sounded great to me; nice and punchy and the high end was just great with the click coming through nicely. Just trying to get some guidance so i dont regret my decision when i buy the cab.

You are a young man, so 4x10 is probably great. For an old fart like me, too big to schlep around. My stuff is all very small.
 

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