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Double Bass Powered Speaker / PreAmp Combo for Double Bass

HateyMcAmp

HateyMcAmp

Apr 13, 2006
1,469
1,165
Queen City of the Plains
Disclosures
Krivo Pickups
#1
Lately, I have been getting more gigs that require me to bring a speaker cabinet. Typically in the past, I would simply use my BassMax pickup into a LR Baggs Para DI into the effects loop of whatever backline amp was there for stage monitoring. Front of house got most a line of its own from the DI, or I'd just use a SM57 to the F hole.

I'm a public transit user, so I'd like something small. I'd also like to continue to use my Baggs pre. Lastly, of course, I'm broke as hell and I'm going to use this thing once a month tops. I found this little guy- Invalid Link Removed

220 Watts is about what I want anyway and I like 10 inch speakers. Under 20 pounds and about 200 bucks, too. Would that work as a low-volume DB amp paired with my DI? Or am I missing something? Think small rooms with no drummer, but with a bandleader who wants to hear/feel the bass a little.
 
#3
I wouldn't trust anything like that for $200. I'm with Steve on the Contra or possibly a GKMB150S depending on your preference. These amps have long reputations for reliable service and would meet your needs. The 20 lb threshold is tough and more expensive.
 
#4
Yeah, I was thinking the same. Class D seems to has have made small, loud, and cheap possible, but I assume this was a bridge too far :/

I like the Contra combos I've used and they can be had for cheapish. Unfortunately, its too big to take on a subway along with my bass.
 
#6
I had one of those, a Behringer 210, that I used with a Baggs Para DI. I was pretty happy with it. I ended up donating it to my church after most of their sound equipment was stolen. If I still had it, I'd prefer it to my amp/cab for gigs where space is limited. The Baggs unit isn't voiced for bass and the Behringer is voiced as a PA so it probably wasn't the best set up for bass.

It's a good unit for the money. We use them for kick monitors at church. One day the mains were out of commission so we used two as the mains and one as a monitor. The sound was surprisingly good. I've thought about getting another one but now that I have a MB200 head, it probably makes more sense to get a passive 8" cabinet for smaller events. I think it has a built in HPF.

The unit is under 15 pounds but it doesn't have a handle -the only downside. I tried it out at a gear store with my preamp before buying. I'd recommend doing that. If you like big, oozing bass, it's probably not the unit for you.
 
#7
now who doesn't like 'big, oozing bass'? I went the full Headway Pre into a QSC K10 route and discovered that I don't think its really the best way to go for me. The accuracy is uncanny but, with that accuracy comes a lot of open-ness that doesn't really cut in the mix the way a bass amp does. It's nice sounding but kind of vague. I tried to really bump it up at the last small gig I did and it put out quite a bit of sound but it was kind of spread out too much, kind of like a down firing type deal.
 
#9
Jason Sypher said:
now who doesn't like 'big, oozing bass'? I went the full Headway Pre into a QSC K10 route and discovered that I don't think its really the best way to go for me. The accuracy is uncanny but, with that accuracy comes a lot of open-ness that doesn't really cut in the mix the way a bass amp does. It's nice sounding but kind of vague. I tried to really bump it up at the last small gig I did and it put out quite a bit of sound but it was kind of spread out too much, kind of like a down firing type deal.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the post. That's an astute observation. I used the powered speaker once in a higher volume context and I experienced just what you have described. It makes sense. Since I started using the amp/cab at church a lot of singers have commented on how much easier it is for them to hear the root of the chord. So, yeah...it's a big oozing sound but it works.
 
#10
To be sure the QSC is less ampy sounding and very woody and all, I often am not sure it's on at first because it is so true to my bass. Initially this was a break-through moment and I felt like I finally solved all my problems. But, at least with my set-up, mic and Gage, I'm not totally convinced it's the best way to go. Just getting a great doublebass amp sound might be more realistic.
 

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