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Double Bass Potential Ohio DB amp shootout/hang/axecheck/ belchfest
- Thread starter Chris Fitzgerald
- Start date
I was just about to post this exact question!
(I'm on the waiting list for a Cleveland-ordered sight unseen/unheard and keeping my fingers crossed)
(I'm on the waiting list for a Cleveland-ordered sight unseen/unheard and keeping my fingers crossed)
Both basses rocked. It was hard to compare them because of the string difference. However, they both played, looked, and sounded great.
- May 6, 2003
- 5,272
- 160
- 64
- Disclosures
- Proprietor Fifth Avenue Fret Shop. Technical Editor Bass Gear Magazine
- May 6, 2003
- 5,272
- 160
- 64
- Disclosures
- Proprietor Fifth Avenue Fret Shop. Technical Editor Bass Gear Magazine
I'm still infatuated with my Cleveland. I wouldn't trade it for a Chris's LaScala but I'd love to have them both. The Hybrid LaScala kills. I felt at home on it immediately. If I had never played the Cleveland I'd have bought a Hybrid LaScala without thinking twice. If I ever get around to getting another bass....Freddels said:
Not to put to fine a point on it, but, I think that since my bass is only a 5/8th's (on the small side with a big bottom). The Realist is actually adding something that my bass needs, but most do not.
Neither the BP-100 or an Underwood worked well at all, since they emphasize the midrange timber which is not a pleasant tone on my instrument. This rig only works at realitvely moderate volume levels. If you try and push it begins to sound exactly as Chris describes. Fortunately, I never have to push beyond that point very often. If it's necessary for me to be louder, I prefer running a mic to the mains. So it's great in 300 seat auditoriums and smaller venues.
Ric Vice
The Belchfest Review was great!!!! When I retire I'll sponsor one in St. Louis. Bu,t that's a couple of years off
Neither the BP-100 or an Underwood worked well at all, since they emphasize the midrange timber which is not a pleasant tone on my instrument. This rig only works at realitvely moderate volume levels. If you try and push it begins to sound exactly as Chris describes. Fortunately, I never have to push beyond that point very often. If it's necessary for me to be louder, I prefer running a mic to the mains. So it's great in 300 seat auditoriums and smaller venues.
Ric Vice
The Belchfest Review was great!!!! When I retire I'll sponsor one in St. Louis. Bu,t that's a couple of years off
At least as a bystander this time, I see one overall and very significant thing here...
Once again, the TB GTG's have proven to be absolutely priceless.
Consider this:
Without these experiences, and the reviews of same for those who can't attend, there'd be a LOT more wasted purchases and lost money and time due to people buying stuff that just didn't work for them.
It's immediately clear to me these once again prove it's NOT safe to assume that, just because something is top quality, it will work the best for all situations and can do anything.
The right tool for the right job. Damn right.
It's also awesome when folks post information in such a way that it's usable by everyone, instead of making vague generalizations that don't really benefit anyone.
Finally, props to all the folks supplyin'. I know that, as much fun as it is, it's still requires effort, and deserves appreciation... even from us poor non-attendees.
In other words, kudos, guys.
Once again, the TB GTG's have proven to be absolutely priceless.
Consider this:
Without these experiences, and the reviews of same for those who can't attend, there'd be a LOT more wasted purchases and lost money and time due to people buying stuff that just didn't work for them.
It's immediately clear to me these once again prove it's NOT safe to assume that, just because something is top quality, it will work the best for all situations and can do anything.
The right tool for the right job. Damn right.
It's also awesome when folks post information in such a way that it's usable by everyone, instead of making vague generalizations that don't really benefit anyone.
Finally, props to all the folks supplyin'. I know that, as much fun as it is, it's still requires effort, and deserves appreciation... even from us poor non-attendees.
In other words, kudos, guys.
Big props to Phil in this case...a truly spectacular host. Likewise to Tom because who else in their right mind has all this stuff sittin around? Thanks guys.
- May 6, 2003
- 5,272
- 160
- 64
- Disclosures
- Proprietor Fifth Avenue Fret Shop. Technical Editor Bass Gear Magazine
Honestly it was truly selfish. I didn't even leave my neighborhood.Joe Smithberger said:
All hail Tom Bowlus Undisputed Heavyweight Gear Geek of all time. The fact that he buys all this stuff, and keeps it, even if it's only just "OK". Then he humps it around and then lets everybody and their neighbors audition it.
Its a huge service to bassdom.
Everyone else has already said everything better than I could, but I'll just add that it was great meetng Chris, Joe, Phil and Tom on Tuesday. They are all exceptionally nice people, not to mention incredibly enthusiastic.
It was also pretty amazing to have an opportunity to see, hear and play Chris's La Scala and Phil's Cleveland. Both basses are simply outstanding and words and pictures cannot do them justice. The quality of these basses and the attention to detail by Arnold and Wil is very impressive, to say the least. Both basses played and sounded great, yet each had its own unique personality. Interestingly enough, each bass seemed to fit the owner perfectly.
Joe brought some very nice bass guitars. The Mouse bass was especially interesting, and I really enjoyed listening to everyone playing it.
Tom of course brought an amazing amount of fantastic gear. The Berg IP112 was especially impressive. It gets incredibly loud too. It was hard to believe so much sound came from such a small box. I was also very impresed by Tom's Summit Audio instrument preamp. The sound was superb.
Chris is an outstanding player. Great chops, technique and tone. It was a pleasure hearing him play his La Scala, as well the other basses.
Finally, major thanks to Phil for hosting and for being such a cool guy in general. He is also far too modest, and is really a very good player in his own right. I enjoyed his DB playing very much, and he sounds great on his Cleveland (which has an incredibly huge sound BTW).
Thanks to everyone, and it was a real honor to be there.
It was also pretty amazing to have an opportunity to see, hear and play Chris's La Scala and Phil's Cleveland. Both basses are simply outstanding and words and pictures cannot do them justice. The quality of these basses and the attention to detail by Arnold and Wil is very impressive, to say the least. Both basses played and sounded great, yet each had its own unique personality. Interestingly enough, each bass seemed to fit the owner perfectly.
Joe brought some very nice bass guitars. The Mouse bass was especially interesting, and I really enjoyed listening to everyone playing it.
Tom of course brought an amazing amount of fantastic gear. The Berg IP112 was especially impressive. It gets incredibly loud too. It was hard to believe so much sound came from such a small box. I was also very impresed by Tom's Summit Audio instrument preamp. The sound was superb.
Chris is an outstanding player. Great chops, technique and tone. It was a pleasure hearing him play his La Scala, as well the other basses.
Finally, major thanks to Phil for hosting and for being such a cool guy in general. He is also far too modest, and is really a very good player in his own right. I enjoyed his DB playing very much, and he sounds great on his Cleveland (which has an incredibly huge sound BTW).
Thanks to everyone, and it was a real honor to be there.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,945
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
robgrow said:
Is this The One That Shall Not Be Named?
Edit: Ha, Tbeers and I are on it, two minutes apart. Apparently, inquiring minds want to know!
- May 6, 2003
- 5,272
- 160
- 64
- Disclosures
- Proprietor Fifth Avenue Fret Shop. Technical Editor Bass Gear Magazine
Uggh. Alright I guess since the cats out...robgrow said:
The Preamp not to be named is the Summit Audio TD100. Everything we plugged into it, and everything it plugged into, sounded better with it's presence.
Its especially significant on Piezos. The box has two knobs, one for output gain and the other for input impedance. That input impedance knob is the special sauce. The Piezo pickup is super sensitive to the relationship it has with whatever its plugged into. The input impedance changes the character of the sound of a Piezo in drastic fashion.
We were all amazed as we swept the control from end to end and heard the range of tones coming out. In a nutshell the lower the impedance the thinner and brighter the sound, the higher the impedance the darker and fatter the sound. There was a sweet spot for each pickup/bass/amp combination that was different for each. It was very eye opening for me to move the knob and hear how things changed. I think if anything it's a great teaching tool about the relationship between Piezo and input side electronics.
The Cleveland with the Full Circle plugged into the Summit directly into the Berg IP sounded HUGE. Big, round and loud as hell. Window rattler for sure. No EQ on the rig at all. Didn't need it. Yikes.
I tried the preamp through the front end of the Woods and it was clean, quiet and transparent. Better sounding to my ear than the Raven, the Baggs Para DI, the Fishman Platinum Pro or the K&K preamps I've used. It is the only thing I've heard yet that gets rid of the piezo sound of piezos. It is a swiss army knife for piezo pickups.
There you have it. Now I guess the things will cost $1000 like the EA VL208.
Duh... guess I should read all the other posts before posting. Anyway, since the cat's out of the bag now, Summit Audio TD-100. Very Nice!Tbeers said:
Uncletoad said:
Just don't nobody tell 'em, that's all. Sweetwater is selling it for $450. (Which seems like more that I have laying around at the moment, but then again I've also spent considerably more than that just on piezo pickups in my life.)
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TD100/
That's good to know.... Since my new WWU has no XLR out, I should grab a direct box. Until now, it looked like the Radial JDI was the one. Hmm....
Anyway, in the end perhaps my rig will be Full Circle --> TD-100 --> WWU --> NL-210 (or stay with my LDS 2x8). Who knows..
Anyway, in the end perhaps my rig will be Full Circle --> TD-100 --> WWU --> NL-210 (or stay with my LDS 2x8). Who knows..
