Not sure if this will be useful to folks but I thought I would share it. For years I would carry the bass and whatever amp I had and I would rely on the preamp in the amp to help shape my tone. At some stage I think I was using some outboard preamps but basically since moving to mic-only with the XLSON, I've been carrying around this pedalboard.
The first thing to note is that yes it's an extra thing to carry but it's not very heavy or big and I actually put it on the shoulder of my bass as I'm wheeling the bass and carrying the amp or pulling a cart with amp and other stuff in my other hand. So it doesn't slow me down at all in terms of getting to and from gigs. The bag also has a shoulder strap so I could carry it that way too.
What it does allow me to do is to setup and teardown much faster and to get much better sound and have more control over things while I'm playing. Since everything is connected, all I have to do is put the mic on the bass and plug it into the preamp, plug in power for the board (the XLSON preamp has separate power) and plug into whatever amp and FOH and I'm done. Optionally I will also plug into my backup pickup and plug that into the BOSS pedal too which allows me to switch over to it as a fail safe. I then spend time properly dialing in my sound with the parametric EQ and I have to say that, especially with what can sometimes be problematic resonances on double bass, I have a lot more control than I ever did with most amps. Having HPF, LPF, plus the ability to notch out in multiple places or otherwise shape the tone is just fantastic.
Nowadays with the mic I'm just using a commonly-available powered speakers (typically 1 x 8") (although I did just order one of the GR Bass 1x10 active cabs) and at some venues I just make arrangements to use one of their flat-response monitors and I appreciate not always having to bring an amp.
The output from the XLSON is pretty hot already but I have 30 dB of gain on the Empress Bass ParaEQ and typically use some of it. I also have 26 dB of clean gain through the MXR pedal. In theory I can use that for a hands-free boost if I need it as well as being able to turn the knob with my foot if I really need to (not easy to do while standing and playing but not impossible). On certain kinds of gigs occasionally I'm playing stuff where there's simply no opportunity lean down and adjust a knob.
Theoretically I don't really need the Walrus DI as I already send the mic to FOH from the XLSON preamp and I could just connect to the speaker straight from the MXR, however it gives me the option for post-EQ XLR out in case the powered speaker only accepts XLR or for some reason the FOH wants my post-EQ out. I also have a Walrus Stereo DI that I can use instead of this mono one so I can send two post-EQ XLRs if necessary).
I'm super happy with this setup which is why I thought I'd share it. I'm very happy with all the pieces in this. The Empress ParaEQ is just awesome. The MXR is very clean. My failing eyesight loves the huge screen on the Canvas tuner.
The first thing to note is that yes it's an extra thing to carry but it's not very heavy or big and I actually put it on the shoulder of my bass as I'm wheeling the bass and carrying the amp or pulling a cart with amp and other stuff in my other hand. So it doesn't slow me down at all in terms of getting to and from gigs. The bag also has a shoulder strap so I could carry it that way too.
What it does allow me to do is to setup and teardown much faster and to get much better sound and have more control over things while I'm playing. Since everything is connected, all I have to do is put the mic on the bass and plug it into the preamp, plug in power for the board (the XLSON preamp has separate power) and plug into whatever amp and FOH and I'm done. Optionally I will also plug into my backup pickup and plug that into the BOSS pedal too which allows me to switch over to it as a fail safe. I then spend time properly dialing in my sound with the parametric EQ and I have to say that, especially with what can sometimes be problematic resonances on double bass, I have a lot more control than I ever did with most amps. Having HPF, LPF, plus the ability to notch out in multiple places or otherwise shape the tone is just fantastic.
Nowadays with the mic I'm just using a commonly-available powered speakers (typically 1 x 8") (although I did just order one of the GR Bass 1x10 active cabs) and at some venues I just make arrangements to use one of their flat-response monitors and I appreciate not always having to bring an amp.
The output from the XLSON is pretty hot already but I have 30 dB of gain on the Empress Bass ParaEQ and typically use some of it. I also have 26 dB of clean gain through the MXR pedal. In theory I can use that for a hands-free boost if I need it as well as being able to turn the knob with my foot if I really need to (not easy to do while standing and playing but not impossible). On certain kinds of gigs occasionally I'm playing stuff where there's simply no opportunity lean down and adjust a knob.
Theoretically I don't really need the Walrus DI as I already send the mic to FOH from the XLSON preamp and I could just connect to the speaker straight from the MXR, however it gives me the option for post-EQ XLR out in case the powered speaker only accepts XLR or for some reason the FOH wants my post-EQ out. I also have a Walrus Stereo DI that I can use instead of this mono one so I can send two post-EQ XLRs if necessary).
I'm super happy with this setup which is why I thought I'd share it. I'm very happy with all the pieces in this. The Empress ParaEQ is just awesome. The MXR is very clean. My failing eyesight loves the huge screen on the Canvas tuner.
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