• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass Pre amp with AI Clarus?

K

klem.gote

Jan 18, 2009
259
25
New England
Disclosures
Bass Player
#1
Hello folks,

I have an AI Clarus, Series III, and a Wizzy 10 and over all I'm very happy with this setup. But there's one room I work regularly where no matter what I do my bass sounds like a cardboard box!! I know the Clarus isn't supposed to need a pre amp, but I'm wondering if using one in difficult situations might help, maybe a Fishman or something similar. Has anyone tried this? I'd love any feedback, thanks!!!
 
#2
klem.gote said:
Hello folks,

I have an AI Clarus, Series III, and a Wizzy 10 and over all I'm very happy with this setup. But there's one room I work regularly where no matter what I do my bass sounds like a cardboard box!! I know the Clarus isn't supposed to need a pre amp, but I'm wondering if using one in difficult situations might help, maybe a Fishman or something similar. Has anyone tried this? I'd love any feedback, thanks!!!
Click to expand...

I have almost always carried a little seven band stomp box Bass EQ pedal (clone of Boss GEB7) in my gig bag in case I encounter The Stage From Hell while gigging my AI Contra (same amp). It very seldom emerges from my bag, but when when that crappy stage tries to bite me I am glad it is there. It usually ends up in the effects loop since I seldom use a preamp, but if the amp is further away (because we're playing loud) and I'm using a preamp for local volume control, I'll put it near me after the preamp so I can fiddle from a distance. (pun intended)

It can be a great Plan B when you need EQ beyond the typical three band EQ of an amp, and it takes up little room. Just remember a couple 6" cables, too.
 
#3
klem.gote said:
Hello folks,

I have an AI Clarus, Series III, and a Wizzy 10 and over all I'm very happy with this setup. But there's one room I work regularly where no matter what I do my bass sounds like a cardboard box!! I know the Clarus isn't supposed to need a pre amp, but I'm wondering if using one in difficult situations might help, maybe a Fishman or something similar. Has anyone tried this? I'd love any feedback, thanks!!!
Click to expand...

+1 to Bob's idea, because sometimes you just have to dial the offending frequencies out. For this purpose, I also have a couple of little magic boxes in my tool kid. Sometimes FDeck's little HPF/Preamp and a little twist of the Lo Pass Filter will do the trick, but since you already have one of those on the Claris I doubt that's the offending culprit. Since it's also got a Phase Reverse switch, that will also sometimes change things dramatically. It doesn't always work, but when it does it's kind of like magic. The third thing it will do is raise the input impedance to 10 meg ohms and with certain pickups ( the dreaded Fishman BP-100 and even the Underwood) it can bring about subtile tonal changes that help things as well. I also have the new Headway EDB-1 that has a whole host of EQ (five bands), Phase Switch, Notch Filter, and even three different Meg Ohm Loading options. If I have real problems I just plug it into the power amp section of my Walter Woods and use the pre amp on the Headway. It is not as inexpensive as either the HPF or the Boss EQ however.

Ric
 
#4
Hi guys, and thanks for the ideas. A friend has a Fishman Pro Plat. that I'm thinking of trying out this week. I used it a couple of times with my SWR before I got the Clarus and thought it did a good job. Maybe it will help with the Clarus too. This particular gig is a fun one, but as far as sound goes it's the room from hell!!! I'll try anything!!!
 
#5
klem.gote said:
Hi guys, and thanks for the ideas. A friend has a Fishman Pro Plat. that I'm thinking of trying out this week. I used it a couple of times with my SWR before I got the Clarus and thought it did a good job. Maybe it will help with the Clarus too. This particular gig is a fun one, but as far as sound goes it's the room from hell!!! I'll try anything!!!
Click to expand...

Klem.
That should definitely solve your problem. The Pro Plat has a phase reverse, and lo cut filter, plus a five band EQ. If it cant solve the problem, the room just totally sucks, so next time take a Gibson mando- bass. :bassist:

Ric
 
#6
Hi! Well, I definitely want to avoid a mando (or anything remotely similar) if I can!!! And yes, the room definitely sucks!! This is the second different spot we're in now, and the second place is at least as bad as the first, bad room. But a fun gig, and I'd love to get at least a decent sound for it. I'll try the Fishman, certainly can't hurt. Thanks!!!
 
#7
I've been using a Baggs ParaDI for a while with my Coda SIII. My bass has an early Gage Realist pickup and the Coda EQ is typically 12:00 for bass, mids and treble all the way off, fine tuning feedback/rumble with the HPF. It does tighten up the sound even with the EQ on the box set flat.

Pluses:
-- phantom power from the amp, no battery to deal with
-- phase inverter
-- two sweep EQs
-- way more gain
-- small enough to keep in my bass bag all the time
-- DI box with EQ for ampless gigs

Minuses:
-- yet another thing to plug in, lose or forget to bring to the gig
 
#8
Hi! O.K., I've been using a Fishman Pro Plat into my Clarus and it does seem to help. Gives me a little more control. But I am a little confused about one thing. I now have 2 pass filters to deal with, and I have no idea what to do with each. Would one over-rule the other? Does anyone have any ideas/experience with this kind of thing? Thanks!!!
 
#14
I've been using a the Baggs Paracoustic DI for a bout 3 yrs now w/ my AI Focus 2R III and an EA Wizzy M-Line 12. Cleans the signal some and gives me greater control of EQ than w/o the Baggs. I find I prefer not to use the HP filter on the AI when I'm using the Baggs. Also the signal seems to sound better thru the regular input of the AI. Putting it thru the send and bypassing the Focus pre seems to sound a bit thinner and 'clinical', but not bad.

I think using the Baggs DI to the house system is warmer sounding than the DI of the Focus, however depending on the venue and system the Baggs as a DI can cause more hum thru the amp, but only sometimes.

I also own an older AE Wizzy 10, but I prefer not to use the Baggs w/ this more middy sounding speaker. W/ the smaller Wizzy the bass seems to have more umph factor w/o the Baggs.

i always bring the Baggs on the road when I do not know what kind of backline bass amp (if any) I will encounter. Gives me some peace of mind knowing that I'll be able to get some kind of sound (and proper impedance) w/ whatever amp or PA system is supplied.

YMMV, Bri
 
#16
#17
Interesting the freq responses of the two units is drastically different. In your experience, which one would be better for DB?

Arion MEQ-2: 40hz 80hz 150hz 300hz 600hz 1.2khz 2.4khz
Boss GEB-7: 50hz 120hz 400hz 500hz 800hz 4.5khz 10khz

It seems like the the Arion is designed around the octave and tops out quite a bit lower, whereas the Boss has "chosen" some specific freqs that must be good for bass?
 
#18
stefaniw80401 said:
Interesting the freq responses of the two units is drastically different. In your experience, which one would be better for DB?

Arion MEQ-2: 40hz 80hz 150hz 300hz 600hz 1.2khz 2.4khz
Boss GEB-7: 50hz 120hz 400hz 500hz 800hz 4.5khz 10khz

It seems like the the Arion is designed around the octave and tops out quite a bit lower, whereas the Boss has "chosen" some specific freqs that must be good for bass?
Click to expand...

It seems like the the Arion is designed around the octave and tops out quite a bit lower, whereas the Boss has "chosen" some specific freqs that must be good for bass?[/quote]

I frankly diidn't recall the specific frequency centers, and when I using it I tweak by ear. However, when I consider the bands as shown above, I think I would choose the Arion over the Boss, but that's just my gut reaction.

In my experience it's the lower and midrange frequencies that need the finer adjustments to get "my sound." The treble control on an Acoustic Image amp, for example, is 10K, so I've got broad control over that area of the spectrum. The denser array at the lower end appeals to me.
 
#19
Bob Gollihur said:
... However, when I consider the bands as shown above, I think I would choose the Arion over the Boss, but that's just my gut reaction.

In my experience it's the lower and midrange frequencies that need the finer adjustments to get "my sound." The treble control on an Acoustic Image amp, for example, is 10K, so I've got broad control over that area of the spectrum. The denser array at the lower end appeals to me.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think so too. My rig is Realist into AI/Coda. It's the finer control over the middiness of the Realist that I'm after. I also, when possible, blend in a microphone.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back