Double Bass NEW Euphonic Audio iAMP Doubler

[Bob Gollihur]

Bob I guess you liked the new 210 prototype?

Yup.

 

[MOSCOWBASS]

One thing I didn't have a problem with was the EA build quality, I thought all the amps and cabs I had were very well built. I thought the micro 500 was top notch

 

[Clarkybass]

To finish my story here, I used a new Acoustic Image Clarus+ at a festival gig (with Wizzy 12") and it was just superb - I am now completely sorted now I appreciate that my view on the Doubler is different to others' and I am genuinely happy that others love their Doublers. It just wasn't for me. So we are all happy now!

 

[Wild Rice Chris]

And the truth wins out again--there are too many variables between your fingers and ears to have one amp be "the one" for every player. I played an Acoustic Image Contra Series II for over six years. The Doubler works much better for my playing in general, although I do sometimes wish I had the AI back.

 

[Ric Vice]

And the truth wins out again--there are too many variables between your fingers and ears to have one amp be "the one" for every player. I played an Acoustic Image Contra Series II for over six years. The Doubler works much better for my playing in general, although I do sometimes wish I had the AI back.

Chris,
Yep, there are even players who didn't care for the Walter Woods amps I own. I think we are just getting to the place where pickups and live microphones are accurate enough to actually reproduce the sound of our instruments.

Ric

 

[hari442442442]

thanks bud.

 

[hari442442442]

Hi there u’s.........I have the same popping problem with the mute and notch button on my EA doubler. It does seem to be a huge oversight being that it is a top of the range well developed bit of pro kit

......this is the second one that I have had, the first self destructed within the first few weeks and had to be swapped. Both had the pop. Also both weren’t setup as in there default settings, the DI was post, which gave the front of house tech’s the run-around as I was faffing with the volumes and EQs mid set, as does tend to happen when you are working in a new ting.....like wring in new boxers! I must admit the false start and pop has given me the jitters.

I hope my trust in it is rebuilt in the next few months cos it sounds top!

 

[peterpalmieri]

I believe you can change the pre/post settings by pulling the cover and flipping one of the dip switches. As I understand it the tradeoff of a truly bypassed switch that does not effect the tone is that it does make some noise. I don't understand the science but have heard this to be true. Any audible popping was not significant enough to be of concern in my case.

I hope this helps.

 

[hari442442442]

I don’t really buy the whole true bypass concept. I have used some middle of the range tuners that have a true bypass and they are as quite as mice. It is a ‘thing’ about the doubler, or maybe just this batch....the pop would only be of real concern if it were to come out through the DI.

 

[Mike Dimin]

I don’t really buy the whole true bypass concept. I have used some middle of the range tuners that have a true bypass and they are as quite as mice. It is a ‘thing’ about the doubler, or maybe just this batch....the pop would only be of real concern if it were to come out through the DI.

there is no power in a tuner ... and certainly not 550 watts. EA made the decision to have a bit of noise in the mute button rather than add buffer circuits which would compromise sound. It is a decision that you either chose care about or not. You obviously care, personally, I do not

 

[peterpalmieri]

I don’t really buy the whole true bypass concept. I have used some middle of the range tuners that have a true bypass and they are as quite as mice. It is a ‘thing’ about the doubler, or maybe just this batch....the pop would only be of real concern if it were to come out through the DI.

An amp is very different from a tuner. It's not a thing about the doubler or the batch you got. It's just the way it is and a trade off if it's a concern for you.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

You don't have to use the mute switch... This is the first amp I've owned that has one and I somehow got by.

 

[Bob Gollihur]

You don't have to use the mute switch... This is the first amp I've owned that has one and I somehow got by.

I used the mute (speaker off) on my EA iAMP800 for the last eight years; the original generation had an onboard tuner (what a wonderful thing!). It would often make a small noise but it never seemed an issue. More recently I've been using a Doubler and other gear and have started using a Fender floor pedal tuner more frequently. It, and I suppose many others, has an output that is muted when you stomp on it to tune, and it seems quiet, effective, and convenient. If I am playing URB acoustically I'll use a Meisel clip-on, but if amplified I prefer the little stomp box tuner.

 

[peterpalmieri]

On the topic of tuners. I have a turbo tuner st-200 it's true bypass and $130, best thing going in my opinion

Depending on my set up I either use it inline between instrument and amp or on the tuner out on the doubler. I've done a few really loud gigs where I was short on speakers and ran the doubler with gain and master wide open. Had no issues with using the mute switch, not noticeable on stage.

 

[Mike Dimin]

On the topic of tuners. I have a turbo tuner st-200 it's true bypass and $130, best thing going in my opinion

Depending on my set up I either use it inline between instrument and amp or on the tuner out on the doubler. I've done a few really loud gigs where I was short on speakers and ran the doubler with gain and master wide open. Had no issues with using the mute switch, not noticeable on stage.

I use the exact same tuner and connect it both ways depending on the gig

 

[Steve Freides]

Many of you have played through AI heads before switching to an EA Doubler. I have a question for you - if you had to do only one or two simple things to make your AI head sound like your Doubler, what would they be? I'm thinking, e.g., turn up the AI's midrange to 2 o'clock, use a ToneHammer and set it to ..., get xyz amp modeler and select the abc amp - that sort of thing.

I just finished reading this entire thread - good that I have most of the day off today! - and I'll provide a bit of background below:

I'm mostly a teacher and only gig occasionally.

I'm a multi-instrumentalist to the point where no one seems to be able to tell what my first instrument was. (Jazz guitar, was classical guitar then voice then conducting major in college, then Theory and Ear-Training teacher, currently play/teach double bass, electric bass, all manner of guitar, keyboard/piano/organ and a couple of brass instruments.). Last Weekend, between rehearsal and performance, I played amplified classical guitar, archtop electric guitar, keyboards, double bass, and had other people singing and playing an SM-57 mic'ed piano, all running through my amp.

My gear is mostly AI stuff including a Series III Ten2, and my general approach is that I like knowing the AI gear amplifies what comes into it and doesn't change it much.

I ask this question because I'd rather change what's going into my AI than get another head and would buy a gadget based on recommendations here. I'm also curious to know if we can put more concrete words to describe the differences.

Many thanks in advance.

-S-

 

[Ric Vice]

Steve,
Sounds like the AI Ten2 is the perfect amp for you. So, you could go with a Tone Hammer. I talked with a TB member who though it sounded a lot like an older Walter Woods, since he had both amps.

Ric

 

[Steve Freides]

Ric, any recommendation on specifically what settings of a Tone Hammer might make it sound more like an EA Doubler?

I agree the Ten2 is perfect for me.

Since the only gadget I currently own is a $50 Line6 PocketPod Express - they're noisy - some guidance on what to do with xyz gadget would be appreciated. I'd love to own one good gadget as I currently down own any. I'm certainly not averse to making a "better" sound but I'll do it through an effect, not a new head, and I'm interested to hear that so many people seem to find the AI "flat" and the Doubler better somehow - I'd like to quantify that somehow not just in words but in gear.

NB: I realize these are impossible questions to answer definitively but I find the opinions offered here, many of which come from experienced players, very helpful - if I could add something to my signal chain that makes my piezo-amplified upright sound more like experienced giggers here like, that's a big plus for me when I play out, IMO.

-S-

 

[Jazzdogg]

I love my iAmp800, but want something smaller and lighter that can handle a 2-Ohm load, so I went down to Bass San Diego this morning to try a Doubler.

They were out of Doublers, so I tried the Micro. I was disappointed to find that it had a baked-in presence peak in the upper mids/treble that I wasn't able to dial out. It also felt less powerful than the published wattage would suggest.

Should I expect the same basic sound and power delivery from the Doubler?

 

[Bob Gollihur]

I love my iAmp800, but want something smaller and lighter that can handle a 2-Ohm load, so I went down to Bass San Diego this morning to try a Doubler.

They were out of Doublers, so I tried the Micro. I was disappointed to find that it had a baked-in presence peak in the upper mids/treble that I wasn't able to dial out. It also felt less powerful than the published wattage would suggest.

Should I expect the same basic sound and power delivery from the Doubler?

Yes. (meaning only that the EQ and power section of the Micro and Doubler are the same)