Yes, Greg. The BAM200 does indeed appear to be very transparent and neutral. I hope and expect you'll enjoy yours as much as I am enjoying mine.
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Double Bass NHD (BAM200) & Cab comparison w Soundclips
- Thread starter rickwolff
- Start date
Yes, Greg. The BAM200 does indeed appear to be very transparent and neutral. I hope and expect you'll enjoy yours as much as I am enjoying mine.
And here is the follow-up video comparing the same amp/speaker setup as before but with the Chuck Israels mic this time instead of a piezo.
Both sound just fine - the two sound pretty similar with pizz but quite different arco. It does reaffirm one thing that we bass players know - a good sound starts with a good speaker. Its actually IMO way more important than the amp.
To me, the most noticeable differences are on the E string The MAS sounds more Clear and 'present'. The Genzler is a little muddy or muffled by comparison. It may be a pretty subtle difference, but I wouldn't deserve my moniker as 'Gear Junkie' if I weren't trying to identify such differences.
Any other opinions welcome - whether you agree or not makes no difference.
Do you have a preference? Which one?
Any other opinions welcome - whether you agree or not makes no difference.
Do you have a preference? Which one?
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
The Genzler has more low end. Better or worse?
I have the Acme Low B1 cabs which are flat to below the open E string. The warmth and full low end, especially with the Clarus are addictive but other musicians have asked me for less low end; for a clearer, leaner tone. One piano player likes that little single 10 which rolls off noticeably below 80hz.
It’s really something that is best decided on the bandstand, in my experience. The GK MB150S sounds anything but natural, but it often sounds great on the gig.
I have the Acme Low B1 cabs which are flat to below the open E string. The warmth and full low end, especially with the Clarus are addictive but other musicians have asked me for less low end; for a clearer, leaner tone. One piano player likes that little single 10 which rolls off noticeably below 80hz.
It’s really something that is best decided on the bandstand, in my experience. The GK MB150S sounds anything but natural, but it often sounds great on the gig.
Arco combined with the Xlson, is the real deal, you can hear the best of the MAS 1/6's bigger low end, and smoother transitions between lows and highs. By comparison the Genzler sounds narrower and
with less warmth especially in the low end. Just my take. Rick how did you power the Xlson into the BAM? With the Zoom?
with less warmth especially in the low end. Just my take. Rick how did you power the Xlson into the BAM? With the Zoom?
Kerry,
It’s all worth it when you get to the end of the 2nd chorus in Charlie’s Au Privave solo. That last ii/V lick is gold. Lol. Have fun!
Fun discussion, Gents.
I owned the SL/Upshot cab/head combo. I love the Upshot, but had issues dialing in enough high end from my bass equipped with a FC pickup. I really like the Upshot for portability and dispersion. I sold the SL recent. On a whim I bought the BAM200. The BAM and Upshot are definitely great partners. The BAM supplied a seemingly more controllable spectrum of EQ while maintaining a very transparent sound. I think this rig is the perfect setup for duos/trios.
It's not the MAS 1/8 and EDB-2. But, it has definite merits: very good sound, cost effective, and light weight!
I owned the SL/Upshot cab/head combo. I love the Upshot, but had issues dialing in enough high end from my bass equipped with a FC pickup. I really like the Upshot for portability and dispersion. I sold the SL recent. On a whim I bought the BAM200. The BAM and Upshot are definitely great partners. The BAM supplied a seemingly more controllable spectrum of EQ while maintaining a very transparent sound. I think this rig is the perfect setup for duos/trios.
It's not the MAS 1/8 and EDB-2. But, it has definite merits: very good sound, cost effective, and light weight!
Ric, Yes, I powered the 'Chuck' with the Zoom A3. I ran it completely 'dry' with no effects or EQ, just supplying phantom power - which I had set on 24v, although 48 is available also it uses more battery power. I have actually found the 12v that the Genzler supplies to work just fine with the Xlson 'Chuck'.
And I agree that the 16 does something really special (I imagine the 18 is just a little more of the same goodness). The really is My Bass Only Louder. I had a gobo in front of my bass and the mic just about a foot in front of the speakers, so you really are hearing just speakers and not the acoustic bass. But you'd never know that by listening to it, would you?
Greg, I have found so far that the little BAM200 gives me all the EQ control I need. The 16 really does blend well (I'm typically just playing with a pianist on a nice 7 foot grand piano - fortunately they know how to 'stay out of my way'). I can fatten up, or thin-out the sound as required by the room and the circumstances, but generally I am getting a very satisfactory approximation of 'MBOL'. I think the recording with the Xlson Chuck Israels Mic really shows that - especially with the 16.
Wow , I much preferred the tone and openness afforded by the Genzler , thank God i’m on a gear fast.
It was more pronounced with the microphone.
The bass seemed to have a more sweeter, singing tone arco with the Genzler.
It would be interesting to hear your bass unamplified to get a truer comparison of MBOL.
Ric , thanks again.
Both sound good.
It was more pronounced with the microphone.
The bass seemed to have a more sweeter, singing tone arco with the Genzler.
It would be interesting to hear your bass unamplified to get a truer comparison of MBOL.
Ric , thanks again.
Both sound good.
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Love this, we should all just record in the studio and invite people to watch. To *#$! with pickups and amps.
Ric,
With the many and varied frustrations of working in clubs, I have been seriously tempted to just do recordings and concerts. I've been recording more with this trio on the tune above. A wonderful pianist, Jonathan Markow, who moved here from New York City, and a vocalist I really enjoy, Meghan Causey. Jonathan has a really fine Yamaha 7 foot grand (it was the piano Nora Jones had reserved at the Yamaha store until she decided to order something 'custom'). I'm hoping to put together a good video demo and get some concerts regionally - perhaps in smaller outlying communities. Over 50 years ago I was growing up in a small town in Minnesota (Hutchinson) and there was a subscription concert series that brought in perhaps half a dozen concerts a year - A classical singer, perhaps, a string quartet, maybe something else AND a Jazz Group. I heard Don Shirley as part of this series. Some 20 years later I did a concert tour of this same series throughout the midwest. It was a wonderful experience and I'd love to do it again.
That last tune was recorded as a video but that file was too big to upload. Here is a link to several tunes we have done in Jonathan's home studio:
Hearing oneself adequately or spectacularly on a gig can be a never ending challenge. And, I am a gear junky as much as any other bass player (even though I've been resisting a MAS 16 or 18, now the 110), but what does an audience actually hear bass-wise vs. gear, and how much discernment is there among the audience that is John and Mary Q. Public compared to a musician, let alone an upright bassist? Its a question I have thought about often...
Which one , there are two versions.
Both killer , it’s Bird!
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