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Double Bass Mystery Amp

T

turf3

Sep 26, 2011
6,855
16,334
#1
Back in the time frame of say 1995-2005, I played with a band whose main bassist (upright) used a little amp that looked like a cylinder laid on its side. When Acoustic Image (RIP) came out with their DoubleShot a few years ago, the amp I think I remember looked a lot like that. What I remember (I was a saxophonist in those days, not a bass player) was that it was a small amp, much smaller than any bass amp I'd seen before, and it was super loud (at least for a 16 piece big band).

Was there such an amp, back in those days? Is it possible I'm remembering a series 1 Contra and I'm misremembering that bit about "cylinder laid on its side"?
 
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#2
Don't know myself. The only thing that fits that description is the Doubleshot and that was released in 2019.

1733235059849.png


Maybe that series 1 Contra?

1733235548774.jpeg
 
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#3
Well, those are the two contenders that come to mind - but of course the DoubleShot didn't exist yet. And my memory tells me that the amp in question was smaller than the first series Contra and looked like a cylinder laid on its side. But maybe I have that bit wrong.

I have a Contra series 1 myself, now.

If anyone remembers Al Wesar from Dallas, chime in. I also remember he carried his bass, without a bag, in the front seat of a Ford Thunderbird.
 
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#5
A while back Ratso Harris was using some kind of tube speaker thingy that was built for cars. I don't remember what he used a head, but it had a lot of volume and bass for its size. I remember thinking that it would have been a very nice rig with a Baby Bass in a salsa band.
 
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#9
lurk said:
A while back Ratso Harris was using some kind of tube speaker thingy that was built for cars. I don't remember what he used a head, but it had a lot of volume and bass for its size. I remember thinking that it would have been a very nice rig with a Baby Bass in a salsa band.
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Ratso Harris played here in St.Louis many years ago with Kenny Werner man that was an exciting, amazing, astounding trio.
 
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#14
Hey, thanks for all the feedback to my not-actually-important question. To respond to the suggested possbilities:

1) I don't think my friend was using the 15W "fender can" as he was playing upright with a 16 piece big band.
2) It could well have been some kind of custom jobbie using one of those automobile "bass tube" things.
3) It could also have been the "TOOB" with a little amp head mounted on.
4) It could well have been that he had the series 1 AI Contra and that I'm not remembering exactly what it was that I was looking at.
 
#16
turf3 said:
Well, those are the two contenders that come to mind - but of course the DoubleShot didn't exist yet. And my memory tells me that the amp in question was smaller than the first series Contra and looked like a cylinder laid on its side. But maybe I have that bit wrong.

I have a Contra series 1 myself, now.

If anyone remembers Al Wesar from Dallas, chime in. I also remember he carried his bass, without a bag, in the front seat of a Ford Thunderbird.
Click to expand...
Al Wesar was my Grandfather. I always wondered how that looked to anyone else. Just showing up with a upright bass in the passenger seat.🤣
 

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