Double Bass Preamp recommendations for Realist

[TroyK]

Troy,
I would have agreed with that until I purchased a RedEye Preamp. It makes any pickup sound better, especially my realist life line. The box is very simple with only a line in and out, boost, boost gain, and treble control. Just my take of course, there’s nothing wrong with FDeck’s HPF.

It is an intriguing little box. I've never been in a room with one, but everyone who uses them seems to say the same thing.

I've long been in the "best pre-amp is no pre-amp" camp, but sometimes a HPF is essential. Recently I've been getting along really nicely with the Tech21 Paradriver.

I never felt like I needed one with the Realist.

 

[shwashwa]

this has high impedance input. HPF, and is transparent.

PZ-Deluxe - Radial Engineering

 

[bassically_eli]

If it were me, I would go with the Headway EDM-1 H.E. Super small (small enough to be mounted to the bass tailpiece or quiver), loads of functionality (EQ, DI, HPF, phase, etcs), affordable, and I find Headway's H.E. feature breathes a little more life into my Realist pickups, which is much needed.

 

[Ric Vice]

There’s certainly nothing wrong with the Headway EDM-1. Having used both the EDM-1 and the RedEye Single channel IME the RedEye
is capable of doing things to improve the timbre of the signal that the EDM-1 doesn’t address. They cost about the same.

 

[bilias]

Indeed these 2 seem to be the best options (except changing pickup to something else like Full Circle).

Red-eye has only positive feedback and I really want to try one.

On the other hand the Headway has extra features (EQ, HPF, Phase, Mute, variable input impedance) which will sure get handy.

Both seem to have a good input impedance, good DI, phantom power

Although reading further I can't see how to connect both to PA via DI and amp on stage. I don't understand what the Insert Point (for H.E.) is.

EDM-1 (round EQ knobs) has only 1 output (either 1/4 to amp or adapter to balanced XLR/DI) + that insert point
EDM1 H.E. (up/down knobs) has only 1 output.

 

[Ric Vice]

Billas,
The Headway EDB-2 H.E. has 2 insert points a DI out and a 1/4 line out, it also has an effects loop. The RedEye has a single mic and a effects out. so easy peasy

 

[bilias]

I've found a cheap EDM-1 on ebay and ordered it.

But I will probably also get a red-eye just for the DI as well as have it in the signal chain.

I've found a twin RE (descent price) in my country (FB) but seems to be an old version with a fixed 1MΩ impedance and no lift (according to manual posted by user). Probably gonna avoid this and go for a new single.

If all these dont work then FC.

 

[Nuggulux]

I haven't tried every preamp with my Realist LifeLine, so I can't say that nothing is better, but I really love my Headway EDB 2 H.E. It had all of the necessary features, it's rugged, and best yet, band-mates and audiences alike seem to love the sound. I don't even bring an amp to gigs any more, just use the pre/DI into the PA. Make the PA flat, and use the controls on my DI to tweak as needed.

 

[danbassuk]

Just seen this thread. I’m a bit clueless in this department. My realist doesn’t work with my pjb double four. I’m looking for the cheapest possible thing to make it happen. I want to wheel the bass around with the double four in my back pack so small, light and cheap are my requirements. Any advice appreciated

 

[Francois Blais]

What’s the problem exactly?
These amps are compatible with the Realist.
But it’s useful to note that:

Positioning the DOUBLE FOUR for Best Sound
Often, playing in different venues will cause your bass to sound different. This is partially due to the acoustics of the hall influencing the low frequency waves that are coming from your speaker. Bass waves are large and room dimensions heavily influence them when the walls reflect the sound waves, causing them to collide by adding together or canceling each other out. This causes some fundamental notes (the ones you feel more than hear) to ring out louder than others and some notes not to be heard at all.
Here is an indication of where fundamental bass frequencies are, showing open string’s approximate frequencies and acoustic wavelength:
B string E string A string D string G string C string
31Hz 36feet 41Hz 27feet 55Hz 20feet 73Hz 15feet 98Hz 11feet 130Hz 9 feet
This may give you some indication of the offending notes (frequencies) that may be booming or resonating louder or quieter than others. For example if your speakers are five feet from a wall, the open A string may sound weak. That could be because the path length of the reflected sound off the wall from your speaker is exactly corresponding to half a wavelength on the open A string causing at that particular note to cancel out.
Where you position the DOUBLE FOUR will ultimately affect your low frequency limit. For best results keep the DOUBLE FOUR on the floor. Placing it on objects off the floor will cause it to sound thin and lack bass punch. Placing the DOUBLE FOUR with the
back close to a wall will help reinforce the lower notes. Placing it in a room corner will
-6-
further enhance the low notes.
Room size makes a large difference in how deep the bass will sound. The further the distance to the listener the less the bass will be. This is due to the physics of acoustics not the unit itself.

 

[bassically_eli]

Dan B is correct. Perhaps some versions of the Double 4 work with the realist, but mine does not. I’m not sure what the input impedance is, but I’m sure it must be well under 1M ohm. On top of that, the amount of gain on the input is pretty pathetic. It’s really not a great preamp section. Don’t get me wrong, I love the D4, but I am fairly disappointed with the preamp. Works great with my active bass guitars though.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Get a HPFpre. It helps with input impedance and can clear the low end so that the amp power can be used for frequencies you need.

But a Realist is a really dark pickup, so a combination with a small speaker low power amp is less than ideal. A bridge leg/wing pickup would work better. Or get the Shadow NFX under the bridge leg (also works with only one foil under the low string bridge foot). Similar to the Realist but at least some mids and highs in the signal.

 

[Earl]

Just seen this thread. I’m a bit clueless in this department. My realist doesn’t work with my pjb double four. I’m looking for the cheapest possible thing to make it happen. I want to wheel the bass around with the double four in my back pack so small, light and cheap are my requirements. Any advice appreciated

Headway Preamp, Stanley Clarke preamp etc. My Double Four impedance is only 500k and did not work well with either Realist. A good preamp will solve the problem of impedance and volume.

Get a HPFpre. It helps with input impedance and can clear the low end so that the amp power can be used for frequencies you need.

But a Realist is a really dark pickup, so a combination with a small speaker low power amp is less than ideal. A bridge leg/wing pickup would work better. Or get the Shadow NFX under the bridge leg (also works with only one foil under the low string bridge foot). Similar to the Realist but at least some mids and highs in the signal.

The Double Four needs a preamp with gain, for volume. The Fdeck does not have gain.

 

[TroyK]

...The Double Four needs a preamp with gain, for volume. The Fdeck does not have gain.

 

[Earl]

View attachment 7279357

It has a volume control but has 0db of gain!

The Headway on the other hand has 32db of gain.

 

[bassically_eli]

It has a volume control but has 0db of gain!

The Headway on the other hand has 32db of gain.

Right (pretty much). I thought my v2 HPFpre had something like 2db of gain, but my D4 needs more than that.

Something like a Boss (or even Behringer) EQ pedal could work too. The 1M impedance is good for the Realist, and they should have plenty enough gain, and the low bad of EQ might be OK as a low bass cut (which the D4 really needs).

BUT something like the Headway EDM-1 HE or a Fishman platinum would be much better. I have the EDB2 HE and it’s really great (incredible for the price). Haven’t used the EDM preamp but it looks like a great little device.

 

[Earl]

Right (pretty much). I thought my v2 HPFpre had something like 2db of gain, but my D4 needs more than that.

Something like a Boss (or even Behringer) EQ pedal could work too. The 1M impedance is good for the Realist, and they should have plenty enough gain, and the low bad of EQ might be OK as a low bass cut (which the D4 really needs).

BUT something like the Headway EDM-1 HE or a Fishman platinum would be much better. I have the EDB2 HE and it’s really great (incredible for the price). Haven’t used the EDM preamp but it looks like a great little device.

I think the Edm1 has 20db of gain.

 

[TroyK]

It has a volume control but has 0db of gain!

The Headway on the other hand has 32db of gain.

I guess I don't understand the difference. It's the amount of signal to the amp, right?

My understanding (loose as it is) is that gain is the level going in and volume or master is the level coming out.

But again, I don't claim to really understand.

 

[danbassuk]

Basically I get no sound at from my realist into double four. My acoustic image is fine, as is my Mark Bass. Phil Jones himself replied to my question. Of course he recommends the PJB PE-5 which costs more or less what I paid for the amp. What I’m looking for is something simple and cheap but I don’t really get the physics of impedance so I don’t know what I’m looking for.

 

[lurk]

I use a Lifeline pickup into a RedEye preamp into a Double 4 - mine is the older version - with good results. Before the RedEye I used a Fishman Platinum - again the older bulkier version - also with good results. The RedEye also is useful for smoothing out the sound with just about every amp I use. It's small and stays in my bass bag always.