Double Bass Need advice on amplifying Upright Bass

[JerryW]

Hi everyone.

I'm bascially an old electric bass player who was challenged by some other mid life crisis players to join them in bluegrass and traditional music. You've heard the story many times, but I ended up with a '51 C Kay with steel strings. I now have Innovation SuperSlaps on it. Playing bluegrass, old rock, cajun, zydeco and some polkas.

I want to try amplifying my Kay, and I have a couple of amps available from my son who is also a electric bass player, along with an Ampeg 4x10 cabinet. I saw a Fishman BP-100 and Model B preamp available locally for about $100. Would that be a good buy, or would you recommend something else?

Thank you for any help or advice.

Jerry

 

[buffalobillh]

Jerry,

I think for you as a self-described mid-life-crisis-upright-beginner, you would do fine with the equipment you describe. Most bluegrass gigs don't need a big rig, but as long as the volume knob works both ways, you'll be ok. LOL

Having said that (and not knowing how serious you want to become), I'll offer my additional thoughts from a gigging bassist perspective.

I use a Fishman BII preamp that works fine, but I've personally never liked Fishman pickups (started out with a Fishman many years ago, and was fine for what I was doing at the beginning). I now use a K&K Bass Max which has great output and a nice reproduction of your sound. I have also liked and used the Revolution Solo which, IMHO, reproduces the sound of your bass wonderfully. I personally need lots of gain/stage volume (more than the Revolution could deliver), hence the K&K. Fishman preamp still works well. Don't fix it if it ain't broke.

Regarding amps, cabs, etc...
My main gig is western swing. I play a 63 Kay with guts/obligatos. I try to get a traditional, old school sound comparable to Bob Moore/Junior Husky. My SWR 4x10 cab, which sounds great with electric bass, just cannot deliver the big, round, thumping bottom I want for upright. Even if I EQ out all the mids and highs I don't want, I still don't get the big, round bottom and thump I desire or need at the volumes I have to play. When I play through my Dietz 15 cab, powered by a Peavey Tour 700, it thumps right along with a deep sound. For lower volume gigs, I really want to get a 2x12 cab. For high volume gigs, I'd like to stack my 15 with a 2x12. I know several players who sound great on their 4x10's, but I digress...

My sound needs are definitely unique, but everyone else's needs are unique to their situation and sound concept. I guess my point is that it is perfectly fine to start out with what is available and affordable, and as you go along you can figure out what sound you want. If necessary, then you can start investigating and searching for the equipment that will create the sound you want. The Ampeg and the Fishman equipment ought to serve you well right now, and you may discover that those are all you will ever need. And that would surely be cheaper in the long run!

Bill

 

[JerryW]

Thanks for the good information Bill. Ya know, for many years in my younger days I got by playing a Fender Jazz Bass thru an old Fender Bassman amp. Now, so many options and everyone looking to capture their own sound. Not bad I guess, but it sure is a different world.

Anyway, I sure am enjoying the Kay bass I own and am looking forward to expanding its capabilities with amplification even if I don't use the amp at all times. I'm at a point in my life where I can spend a little money without taking food from the kids mouths, so I appreciate learning what others, like you, are using to achieve their sound. I'll take it all into consideration. I've even got two old original 15" Jensen life time bass speakers I bought in the 70's that I carried with me through life, and maybe it's time to build a cabinet for them.

Thank you again for your reply.

 

[Jay Corwin]

I recently switched from a Fishman Full Circle to a K & K Bassmax and WOW what a difference in output. There are other pickups that have very good reputations. Keep your eyes out for used ones on here.

In any event you'll probably want to look for a decent preamp to match impedances between a piezo and a "bass guitar" amplifer.

 

[JerryW]

I recently switched from a Fishman Full Circle to a K & K Bassmax and WOW what a difference in output. There are other pickups that have very good reputations. Keep your eyes out for used ones on here.

In any event you'll probably want to look for a decent preamp to match impedances between a piezo and a "bass guitar" amplifer.

Thanks for the information.

Any recommendations for a preamp?

Jerry

 

[Ric Vice]

Thanks for the information.

Any recommendations for a preamp?

Jerry

Jerry,
If you just want something to tame most common problems I'd go with the HPF Preamp built by Francis Deck. His Series 2 has an adjustable Hi Pass Filter, Phase Reverse, 10 megohm input impedance, and a Volume Control. You can find it here Invalid Link Removed If you only intend to use a pickup it's probably all you'll ever need.

Ric

 

[TimmyP]

As a soundman, I like the Bassmax. And I detest high-pass filters. A notch filter is the appropriate tool.

 

[Ric Vice]

As a soundman, I like the Bassmax. And I detest high-pass filters. A notch filter is the appropriate tool.

Timmy,
I can see why you would detest hi pass filters, but they are very necessary with Double Bass. On the gigs that we are fortunate enough to have a P.A. and engineer, they don't have to go out into the house, but in a vary narrow range they provide very effective control of low frequency feedback, especially were the monitor's only have one mix. Since a lot of our gigs are with out the benefit of a sound system they control the boom in the room.

Ric