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Double Bass NEW Euphonic Audio iAMP Doubler

#561
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...

I've never had an amp change its characteristics though a gig. That includes my EA doubler. On the other hand, it's really common for our ears to become fatigued when exposed to loud sounds/music for extended periods of time. "Compressed and ugly" pretty much sums up my experience when I've been exposed to high sound levels for an extended period of time.

The example that comes to mind are the folks mixing sound that do not use earplugs. After an hour or two, you'll notice the highs getting turned up as their ears numb out.

If this sounds like what's happening to you, I strongly suggest that you try using some ear protection when you play those louder gigs. These days you can get good ear protection that's both relatively inexpensive (hey, what are your ears worth?!) and "unobtrusive".

Prove that you're smarter than us geezers and avoid getting tinnitus ;)
 
#562
johnz said:
I've never had an amp change its characteristics though a gig. That includes my EA doubler. On the other hand, it's really common for our ears to become fatigued when exposed to loud sounds/music for extended periods of time. "Compressed and ugly" pretty much sums up my experience when I've been exposed to high sound levels for an extended period of time.

The example that comes to mind are the folks mixing sound that do not use earplugs. After an hour or two, you'll notice the highs getting turned up as their ears numb out.

If this sounds like what's happening to you, I strongly suggest that you try using some ear protection when you play those louder gigs. These days you can get good ear protection that's both relatively inexpensive (hey, what are your ears worth?!) and "unobtrusive".

Prove that you're smarter than us geezers and avoid getting tinnitus ;)
Click to expand...

Just picked up an "antique metal sign" from one of the local tourist traps yesterday, I couldn't resist it and it now hangs here in the shop.

It says

Lifetime Rocker
(please speak loudly!)
​
 
#564
johnz said:
I've never had an amp change its characteristics though a gig. That includes my EA doubler. On the other hand, it's really common for our ears to become fatigued when exposed to loud sounds/music for extended periods of time. "Compressed and ugly" pretty much sums up my experience when I've been exposed to high sound levels for an extended period of time.

The example that comes to mind are the folks mixing sound that do not use earplugs. After an hour or two, you'll notice the highs getting turned up as their ears numb out.

If this sounds like what's happening to you, I strongly suggest that you try using some ear protection when you play those louder gigs. These days you can get good ear protection that's both relatively inexpensive (hey, what are your ears worth?!) and "unobtrusive".

Prove that you're smarter than us geezers and avoid getting tinnitus ;)
Click to expand...

Yes I know about that but i don't play heavy metal....

And with my GK 1001RB II (which is not a quiet head) I don't have any of these problems. Playing the same things with the same gear.

Last week I lent my double bass for a gig in a jazz club that had a Mark Bass combo. I was in the audience and the combo began to fart during the last 15 minutes of concert. It was a jazz situation, not very loud but intense.

The impression to me is that while a normal head responds dynamically to the "input" you give and more you give more they respond, after a while the mark bass (and maybe other digital heads) the more you give the more they sound as they can't take no more.

I had a LMK for 2 years and tried different lightweight MB products.
I've friends that have same problem.
Love the sound by the way (with the electric).

(sorry for the possible english mistakes)
 
#565
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
Click to expand...

ValmiX,
If I were buying a amp, I would want the preamp to offer the tone quality and eq that I liked to hear, otherwise I'd look for some other amp that did. I have been told by others smarter than I, that when you insert a external pre amp into the effects loop of an amp, you are not totally bypassing the internal preamp on the amplifier. If you really want to do that, you have to connect the stand alone box to a power amp provided it will drive one.



ValmiX said:
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...

I've heard that a little with all tube amplifiers, like my B-15N
but, at least in my experience, it's been my ears tiring, not the amp changing tone quality with my Walter Woods Amps. IMHO. If that's the case, turning the amp down just a little seems to help with that. Of course, you can't always do that.


Ric
 
#566
Because I've also a Crest CA6 power amp that I use with my custom tube preamp. And it really sounds wonderful. But the crest is a heavy heavy heavy mother******.
I know it's not the same thing but, it's cool to have more or less the same quality sound without breaking my back all the time. and maybe keep the crest for recording or important gigs.
I can buy another lighter poweramp...but only if you give me the money :D:D:D

Of course I'm going to buy the EA mainly for it's common use.
I tried an AI focus 2R III as a power amp and it works great this way.
 
#567
ValmiX said:
Because I've also a Crest CA6 power amp that I use with my custom tube preamp. And it really sounds wonderful. But the crest is a heavy heavy heavy mother******.
Click to expand...

Ouch, that's a spicy meatball. I had eyes on a Crown power amp when the Alembic Preamp first came out, but I'm very glad I bought my first Walter Woods in 1980. Loud it wasn't, but tone it had, and it only weighed 7 lbs.

ValmiX said:
I know it's not the same thing but, it's cool to have more or less the same quality sound without breaking my back all the time. and maybe keep the crest for recording or important gigs.
Click to expand...

It's really to bad that AI dicontinued the Focus SA. It would be ideal for what you are trying to do. Lightweight and powerful.

ValmiX said:
I can buy another lighter poweramp...but only if you give me the money :D:D:D.
Click to expand...

Ha. Perhaps you could help me buy the Doubler. ;):D:D

ValmiX said:
Of course I'm going to buy the EA mainly for it's common use.
I tried an AI focus 2R III as a power amp and it works great this way.
Click to expand...

So, if you could actually find a Focus SA you would be set. Unfortunately, I've only seen one for sale.

Ric
 
#569
I'm not sure of exact output but I can say I use Bob's (all hail) cable and run directly to the PA snake. I've never used a DI box. I'm using a newer Micro but I think the DIs are similar. I bought a ground lifter just in case but I haven't had a problem with hum. You can adjust the DI level with the DI trim pot as well.
 
#570
swmmojo said:
I'm not sure of exact output but I can say I use Bob's (all hail) cable and run directly to the PA snake. I've never used a DI box. I'm using a newer Micro but I think the DIs are similar. I bought a ground lifter just in case but I haven't had a problem with hum. You can adjust the DI level with the DI trim pot as well.
Click to expand...

How's that cable any different from any other XLR to TRS cable widely available at any music store?
 
#572
Wild Rice Chris said:
It's free from Gollihur with purchase of the Doubler. :hiding:
Click to expand...

So the "Specialty Breakout Cable" is just a marketing term? That's good to know for those that have an EA amp, because if it gets lost, at least you can go to most music stores and buy another right away. I can see it disappearing when the sound guy tears down quickly.
 
#573
When I joined my first band (11 years old), I learned how to make cables. My dad bought wire and plugs, and we soldered up 3 mic cables, 5 instrument cables, and 2 speaker cables. Excellent skill to have, I use it daily.

I play Lava Cables pretty much exclusively these days. Great sound, great quality, US made, veteran owned, great customer service. Plus, I'm a dealer. ;)

As for making your own DI breakout cable, quality TRS and XLR plugs will cost you ~$4 each, add in the balanced shielded cable (where can you buy just one foot of it?), soldering, cost of doing business, etc, and $13.50 isn't out of line for a quality cable from a reputable seller.

No other EA dealers I'm aware of carry such a cable, much less include it with the sale for no charge. I'm glad Bob and Mark include it, I've used it a number of times and I didn't have to make it myself.
 
#575
I played a gig with my Micro 300 this past week where there was ground loop hum..added the ground lifter barrel to the XLR connection and it went away.

It seems good to carry one...not too expensive and a sound tech is unlikely to have such a thing.
 
#576
Just got my Doubler last week and have played 2 shows with it; classic country-about 2/3 electric and 1/3 upright. I sold a vintage SVT to get it. I was expecting to miss the SVT tone a bit on electric, but that the convenience of a 3 lb amp (as opposed to 86 lbs) and not having to set up a pedalboard full of crap to make the upright sound good would make it all worthwhile. As it happens, my experience is sort of the opposite of what I expected. I plugged in my electric ('86 Stingray with TI Jazz Flats) and it sounds gorgeous! I don't miss the SVT tone at all. On the other hand, the upright (Underwood piezo) is more "quacky." The signal path I was running with the SVT was Underwood-Fishman ProEQ II, Carl Martin semi-para eq pedal and then an ab switch to switch with electric. I ran all eq's essentially flat (besides using the para eq as a notch filter for feedback) and got a surprisingly full, round tone. I was expecting to achieve this plugging directly into the Doubler but I find that to get a tone I find pleasing, I still need to run through the ProEQ and cut the mids a bit there and cut the mids on the amp a bit. I'm not sure where the Fishman mid control is centered, but it definitely removes some unpleasantness that the Doubler's mid doesn't touch. Also, while the Doubler is plenty loud for this band, if I went back to loud rockabilly or loud rock on electric I feel I would need to add a second cab to bring it down to 4 ohms. I'm presently playing through a Carvin LSx1503 3-way 15" cab with an Eminence 3015. And, yes, I do understand the linear volume controls and the 3 gain-stages on the amp. This review may sound a little negative, but I'm just trying to be completely objective for all you nice folks here. On the positive side-again, the electric tone is stellar-the amp is totally silent (operating noise-wise) even when cranked, it's cool to the touch after a 45 minute set, and I love all the built-in piezo-friendly tools. And the weight and form-factor! I can bring in a URB, 2 slabs, amp, cables, guitar stand and 15" cab in 2 trips to the car! Love that. When funds permit, I'll try a Full Circle or a Revolution Solo and that will likely solve my piezo issues. Oh, and Bob from Gollihur Music was a peach to deal with! Over all-I do really like this amp.
 
#579
I'm still digging it. I'm no longer willing to make exuberant statements about how much better it is than an AI Focus/Clarus; I still think it is better, and slightly more natural sounding, but I think many people would not notice too much of a difference. What I notice is a difference in "feel," if that makes sense, and it's an important difference to me.

I enjoy it with electric bass quite a bit, as well; there's not much "character" in the sound, but it's also not sterile at all. It's a perfect amp for bringing out the unique voice of an instrument, or amplifiying a separate preamp. And the volume has not been an issue for me at all, especially when sending a preamp into the fx return; I've played some really loud gigs with it, driving an 8ohm 1x15 (Berg HT115).

The mic channel works quite well, although I have not used it much. Great little amp! (It even survived a drop onto the pavement outside the Nachbar in Louisville last night, as an overeager, undersober fellow bassist helped me load out.)
 

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