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Double Bass Opinions on doubler rigs?

FritzM

FritzM

Supporting Member
Jun 21, 2001
974
976
Madison, MS
www.fritzmartin.net
#1
I'm trying to decide which setup would sound best for my particular needs. I play a fully carved bass with gut strings and a 5 string slab, pretty much all jazz, and never get really loud. I would like at some point to use a DPA 4099 with my setup. I currently have a realist pickup. That being said, here is what I have been looking at:


1. EA Doubler w/ EA NL 210 or M12

2. QSC K10 powered speaker w/Headway pre and Aguilar pre

3. Phil Jones super flight case (could not use 4099)

4. Genz Benz?

5. your thoughts . . .
 
#2
You will certainly get a lot of responses. That being said, I have the EA Doubler head and NL210 v3 cabinet. I always put a Fishman Platinum Pro DI in front of the Doubler. I haven't taken my NL210 cab to any gigs yet because I want to get a cover for it. I have a "house gig" at a restaurant and get to leave a cab at the place (& bring the Doubler head with me). For tougher bar gigs and general warfare, I keep a GK MB212 in my van. I look forward to a great year with my Doubler/NL210 rig!:)
 
#3
I think that the Doubler is a great choice. ( I am an endorser)
It allows the most flexibility if you ever want to use a pickup also, or play electric bass.Plenty of power. The other amps you mentioned would be a bit limiting, I think. I was using the EA speakers, but now I'm building my own in composite---lighter and better sounding.
 
#6
There is nothing wrong with hifi if all the other components are there in terms of function. You can take a hifi sounding cab where all of the other qualities are there and eq it to a more "old school" sound. But not visa versa---you can't add what's not there initially. When I was using EA cabs I passed on the NL210.(as an endorser I've owned them all) It's really warm---too much for me. For me. It was too diffuse without the thump and definition that I like. That being said, there are a lot of guys out there that LOVE the NL210. I'd bottom out the NL210 way too early for my taste. To be honest, the only EA cab that I really like is the CXL12 which is no longer made. It needed a lot of taming in the mids and some boost in the bass, but when dialed in it had the thump and punch that I need. Sold it when I got a Thunderchild. But the 12" that I've been using a lot is my less than 16 lb. Eminence 3012HO equipped cab. Reminds me of the CXL. Needs some dial-down in the mids and a bit of bass boost, but goes as loud as the CXL. And can be warm and old school. And at 15.8 Lbs.
 
#8
Yeah, but with the Phil the mic is a pain. With the Doubler you have so much more flexibility. And the Super Flightcase doesn't go all that loud (the equivalent of a good 12)---it would be limiting on electric. And only 250 watts.
 
#9
Please recommend your cab choices to go with the doubler. I do need something portable. I have a Neo 410 and its way too much trouble. I've always liked 10's as opposed to 12's, but I'm open for suggestions.
The PJ sounds like it would be nice, but lack of volume and no mic might bother me. :hmm:
 
#10
What do people think Acoustic Image offerings?

Acoustic Image

A two channel Clarus seems nice... with a cabinet of your choice.
Or get a 2 channel Coda or Ten2 with the option of a 2nd cabinet when you want it.

I'm not in a hurry to spend money... I'd like something in the future than can quadruple.... double bass, electric bass, acoustic guitar, voice. Not at the same time of course. Lightweight and scalable... with built in effects like reverb as it's desirable for acoustic guitar and voice.
 
#12
Fritz
A few years ago I would have agreed about 12's, but they have really come into their own. The new Eminence Kappalite and the Faital neo drivers are phenominal. The theory that a 10 is punchier than a 12 which is punchier than a 15 are simply no longer true. The new neo 12's can go as loud as what we would expect from a 15.
 
#13
I always used to think each size speaker had a 'sound' but that doesn't seem to be the case at all these days. I'm a doubler, and since I'm a Genz endorser, take this with a grain of biased salt, BUT I love the Genz ShuttleMax for doubling...Two pre's, great tone, and even though they have tons of power, they weigh under 7 lbs and sound just as good at low volume...I'd rather have more power than I need and simply turn down when I don't need it. For cabs, I think the AudioKenesis TC115AF or a fEARful 12/6/1 seem to be the pack leaders for doublebass, though the Genz NeoX 212 or Uber 1288 get a lot of love as well.
 
#14
longfinger said:
What do people think Acoustic Image offerings?

Acoustic Image

A two channel Clarus seems nice... with a cabinet of your choice.
Or get a 2 channel Coda or Ten2 with the option of a 2nd cabinet when you want it.

I'm not in a hurry to spend money... I'd like something in the future than can quadruple.... double bass, electric bass, acoustic guitar, voice. Not at the same time of course. Lightweight and scalable... with built in effects like reverb as it's desirable for acoustic guitar and voice.
Click to expand...

I use a Clarus into a EA Wizzy 12 M-Line (or two if I really wanna hurt people) when I double. For electric bass though I run a Sansamp BDDI in line. I really like the AI stuff for DB especially with a mic, I've used it as a mini pa, but they lack some character for porkchop.
 
#15
I use an EA micro with up to two EA Wizzy 12s. For most gigs I switch between an old pass and an old Kay. I use a Tech 21 VT Bass pedal for some old school tube tone. Other gigs I use a 5-string. The Wizzy 12s hold up very well. The 2 pound micro puts out 550 watts; so I can go toe to toe with most drummers.
 
#18
FritzM said:
The Thunderchild 112 looks pretty nice. Pairing that with the EA doubler might be what I'm looking for. Does the EA Doubler require a preamp, such as the Headway, to reach its potential?
And, would you order the cab straight from the their website?


Thanks, Fritz
Click to expand...

The Doubler has 48 volt phantom, variable phase shift, lo cut filters, and a mic input. It's got the whole package for a Double Bass. Audiokenesis TC 112's are ordered directly from the builder. There is a also TC 112AF that has an additional tweeter on the backside of the cabinet. You might consider that cabinet as well.


Ric
 
#20
The Doubler will make a nice acoustic guitar and vocals rig. I've run Martin steel string and Martin nylon string guitars through the Double/NL210v3 rig...hi-def. I will choose this over my Fishman Loudbox Performer anyday for a "folky gig".
I think that if I were in your shoes, I'd settle on a bass head first (providing you're not opting for a combo), then try out various cabs until you find the one you feel serves you best. My NL210v3 handles my hi-fi needs and my old Peavey 2-15 cab serves my oldschool lower-fi wooly bully rounded sound. Have fun!
 

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