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Double Bass NEW Euphonic Audio iAMP Doubler

#541
I prefer the pickup only on the Doubler to my (now sold) AI Contra Series II. The AI was more natural sounding solo or with a duo, but the Doubler sounds more natural against a drummer. I love being able to blend in the mic (not a major hassle since the Doubler's mic pre works great with my AT mic), but I don't typically use much/any mic when we get loud. I haven't had the Doubler out on a gig with a drummer yet, and it looks like it will be a few months before I get that chance. On Saturday, I'll be using it to double on DB and ukulele. I'll use pickup with the DB, and have a mic on a stand for the uke. Footswitch to switch channels.

I'm getting plenty of volume, but the perception (while playing) is that it has less kick than similarly-rated amps. I think this is a false impression though, as I did some A/B testing between this and my old GK 800RB through the same cabs with the same bass (slab) and was able to get more volume out of the Doubler. It sits very well in a mix, so what I may be hearing is a less prominent bass tone that sounds better with the group.

I'm still loving mine, in case you can't tell. ;)
 
#542
LarryR said:
I'd be pulling the trigger, but, that whole volume issue is troubling.
Can someone comment further?.......or refer me to a page#? ;)
Click to expand...

To simplify I feel if your using any of the wizzy cabs or other single 12 or 10" cab you will have no volume issues. If you want to maximize the volume with a fairly large 8 ohm 2x10 cabinet or 4x10 cabinet I am finding this head doesn't push those cabs to their full capabilities but does get loud. It sufficiently powers these cabs maybe 85-90% of what they are capable but not 100%.

There are certain electric gigs where my NL210 is pushing the limits of what I need to be heard and an amp like the Pro can provide me enough headroom to do it. With the doubler there are times where I could use just a touch more from it.

Again on DB gigs I haven't been close to limited in what I need as far as volume goes. In any case I prefer the doublers "tone" so if I think I can make it work the doubler is my first choice.

AGAIN IMO!
 
#543
Wild Rice Chris said:
I think this is a false impression though, as I did some A/B testing between this and my old GK 800RB through the same cabs with the same bass (slab) and was able to get more volume out of the Doubler. It sits very well in a mix, so what I may be hearing is a less prominent bass tone that sounds better with the group.

I'm still loving mine, in case you can't tell. ;)
Click to expand...

Chris,

I think one that one of the things that you do not hear with the Doubler is the 1 to 4k distortion present in many amps. The distortion in the most acute range of hearing gives the perception of volume. If one were to go out into the room, you would hear how nicely an undistorted sound carries.

Mike

BTW, Our testing clearly shows that the Doubler has MORE power at 240 than 110. It is only a couple of watts difference due to the fact that switching power supply is more efficient at the higher input voltage. Perhaps there is something else going on.
 
#544
RShew said:
Jeremy, please keep posting your experiences with the Doubler. It is still top of my short list and would love to hear the high points and low points about your experiences. The plug and play (no mic) is MUCH better than AI?

Roger
Click to expand...

I'll have had it in a few very different types of situations by the end of the month, so I'll keep posting when I've got something new to add.
I can't give you a definitive answer to your question: my opinion is that the plug and play (no mic) really is better than with AI, but I could also completely see how some people would have a very similar experience with the two amps.
For example, when I was playing the Doubler last week and marveling at the particularly warm and blossoming yet present low end coming through the mix, I was also thinking that the only other time I had heard that kind of bass sound in that room was when I loaned my AI (and my bass) to a visiting bassist from Japan (Yosuke somebody, playing with David Berkman--a complete bad-ass!). He got that same tone from the AI, and when I took the amp back he had turned the bass and low mids down and the high mids and treble UP! I tried that on my next gig and it was nasty, even with the same bass...So as always, YMMV.
But I distinctly did not notice the nastiness in the tone as the volume went up with the Doubler, and that always bugged me about the AI (even if other people never had that same response).
As far as the volume goes, I do think there are some psychoacoustic (and just plain psychological) things going on regarding the perception of loudness from the Doubler. I will never ever need more juice for an upright gig or the majority of my indoor bass guitar gigs; but I will still use the Carvin B1500 just for moral support on a rock or funk gig.
 
#546
Chris Symer said:
:confused:
Click to expand...

The voicing of the amps were such that although the AI was truer to life, it couldn't hang with a drummer (with my hands, with my basses). The first EA product I bought was a Wizzy 10 to use as an extension cab with the AI Contra. It helped, but I was still constantly fighting to be heard. I was easily overpowered by the drummer (and he understands dynamics better than most), and struggling to get the presence that my bass has acoustically. The Doubler isn't as hi-fi sounding or as natural (with pickup, I never had a mic with the AI), but it sitds so well within the band context that it comes across as more natural sounding. Toss a mic into the mix, and I've got my lower-level pseudo-acoustic thing that I liked about the AI.

Hope that clarifies some!

<EDIT>
I just wanted to point out that I'm not knocking the AI Contra-II in any way.
It was/is a fantastic amp with absolutely first-rate customer service.
Just not the amp that worked best for my current musical needs.
</EDIT>
 
#551
Hi Guys
In France this week. Mike---I think you're right. I think that the voltage is a bit different in Israel. In France I couldn't tell a difference. BTW---last night a sound guy gave me a wacky $150 power cord to try. Snake oil, right? Wrong---big difference in sound. Noticeably more impact and transparency. The whole band noticed. It has some kind of 3rd order filter he says. I'm buying one. As to the volume taper it's very linear, to me even more so than the WW. Which has proven disconcerting to some, but it offers more subtle volume control after you initially freak out that "the power isn't enough". Most amps really hit top volume at 12 o'clock. The EA stuff is very smooth and consistent. Off to sound check.
 
#552
My mute switch has a pop. With the footswitch and without, the volume of the pop is affected by the master volume. Doesn't respond to any other control changes, switch settings, room/power circuit changes, instruments plugged in or not, microphone or not, footswitch jumper position, and it doesn't lessen with repeated switching (like a static problem would). Any ideas?

I'm also getting radio when I touch channel 2's high knob.
 
#554
I've had the Doubler for almost two months, but haven't used the mute switch beyond startup before today (I just converted my Morley footswitch to momentary switches for use with the Doubler). I'm not sure if it's popped all along or if this is a new development, or a downside to the mute circuit (like true bypass pedal switches popping due to static buildup). I sent an e-mail to EA. Hope it's an easy thing to resolve, 'cause the pop will be very annoying when I'm trying to tune at Saturday's gig.

<EDIT>
I was using the mute to tune at gigs and rehearsals and didn't notice the pop. I think it's a new development.
</EDIT>
 
#556
Hi, i'm undecided between the clarus+ and the doubler. I've only tried a focus 2R III
I have these questions:
Can the Doubler be used with an external Preamp like the clarus+?
I use a Acme B2, have anyone tried it with the doubler?
Is the EA a reliable amp? I've had bad experiences with digital amplifiers (Markbass LMK head and combos) when you play for a long time with loud volumes.
Is the impedance 1M ohm?
 
#557
ValmiX said:
Hi, i'm undecided between the clarus+ and the doubler. I've only tried a focus 2R III
I have these questions:
Can the Doubler be used with an external Preamp like the clarus+?
I use a Acme B2, have anyone tried it with the doubler?
Is the EA a reliable amp? I've had bad experiences with digital amplifiers (Markbass LMK head and combos) when you play for a long time with loud volumes.
Is the impedance 1M ohm?
Click to expand...

Valmix,
The Acme Cabinets, especially the 2x10, tend to take a little more power to drive them, but it should be enough, since we know that Peter uses it with a EA VL 208. The input impedance is 1 meg ohm and you could certainly use an external pre amp, but I wouldn't think you would need one, unless you are using something like the Schertler DYN-B or an AMT mic.

Ric
 
#558
sorry, I meant using a preamp and the EA as a power amp bypassing the EQ (with the send trick). You can do it with the AI

I had a markbass LMK which is a littlemark with 2 channels it had 500W, except for the reliability (as i said earlier the sound became very compressed and ugly when you play tight for 2 hours or so) the volume was loud enough for me, is it comparable with the EA which has 550W?
For very loud gigs i always have my GK 1001
 
#560
ValmiX said:
sorry, I meant using a preamp and the EA as a power amp bypassing the EQ (with the send trick). You can do it with the AI

I had a markbass LMK which is a littlemark with 2 channels it had 500W, except for the reliability (as i said earlier the sound became very compressed and ugly when you play tight for 2 hours or so) the volume was loud enough for me, is it comparable with the EA which has 550W?
For very loud gigs i always have my GK 1001
Click to expand...

That's no trick most any amp with an effects loop can accomodate this. I have not noticed any change in the tone of the amp during long gigs.
 

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