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Double Bass Preamp suggestions for my double bass

Mik75

Mik75

Sep 21, 2013
600
1,575
Frankfurt, Germany
www.bassamatomy.com
#1
Hi there everyone! ;-)
After years of taking a break from the double bass (and only playing the electric bass), I got myself a nice german bass. It's a student model (3/4), but it's setup professionally, the fingerboard got replaced, a Realist pickup has been installed as well, and the bass plays and sounds really good.
I'll play the bass live, together with my acoustic bass guitar. I normally use an Eden WT-550 or a TC Electronic BH250 into an Hartke HyDrive 112. When simply switching the instruments, and using the same settings on the amp for both, the double bass volume is way too soft. If I adjust the correct volume for the double bass, I can't adjust the level of the acoustic bass guitar, so that it sounds good and doesn't produce noise and hiss.
Since I am absolutely happy with the sound of the bass guitar into the amp, I'd like to get an additional preamp for the double bass, to make it louder, and slightly adjust an EQ, so that both instruments have a nice and even frequency range. A notch filter would be great as well.
I already had a closer look at the Fishman Platinum Pro EQ. It offers everything, has a compressor and tuner on top, and is reasonably priced as well.
Do you guys know that preamp, has anybody tried it with the Realist pickup, and what could be (similarly priced) alternatives?
Thanks a lot in advance!
 
#2
In that price range, the Fishman will serve you well. Given the right amount of money, you can look at Headway EDB2, or any of the more recent offerings from Grace Designs. If you are not planning on running a microphone, the Grace Designs ALiX or BiX would get my vote.

I have used all of the above, and each is a good piece of kit.
 
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#3
Adam Booker said:
In that price range, the Fishman will serve you well. Given the right amount of money, you can look at Headway EDB2, or any of the more recent offerings from Grace Designs. If you are not planning on running a microphone, the Grace Designs ALiX or BiX would get my vote.

I have used all of the above, and each is a good piece of kit.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot for your detailed answer and your suggestions! I'll have a look at the Grace Designs offerings!
 
#4
+1 on the Fishman. My only regret is that it doesn't take a mic, as I'm wanting to try one in live situations to see if I can make it work.

txstatebass, I was under the impression that the ALIX was a one channel version of the FELIX but takes mics as well. Glad I stumbled on this before purchasing.
 
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#5
MrMyopia said:
+1 on the Fishman. My only regret is that it doesn't take a mic, as I'm wanting to try one in live situations to see if I can make it work.

txstatebass, I was under the impression that the ALIX was a one channel version of the FELIX but takes mics as well. Glad I stumbled on this before purchasing.
Click to expand...

Ok, but I don't plan on using a microphone. I actually love the tone of the Realist. I just have to bring it up to a more usable level. And the neat features the Fishman offers on top, are not too bad either (tuner, compressor, notch filter).
 
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#6
MrMyopia said:
+1 on the Fishman. My only regret is that it doesn't take a mic, as I'm wanting to try one in live situations to see if I can make it work.

txstatebass, I was under the impression that the ALIX was a one channel version of the FELIX but takes mics as well. Glad I stumbled on this before purchasing.
Click to expand...

Double check. You might be correct. Coffee hasn't kicked in yet.

Sidebar, I am seriously impressed with my FELIX. If the bix or alix are of the same quality, but with less features, you would be very well served.
 
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#8
Mik75 said:
Ok, but I don't plan on using a microphone. I actually love the tone of the Realist. I just have to bring it up to a more usable level. And the neat features the Fishman offers on top, are not too bad either (tuner, compressor, notch filter).
Click to expand...

Sounds like you're good to go, then! Happy playing!
 
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#15
Hi Mik, here's a different suggestion: I've been doubling with a WT300 for years now. I have used different pre-amps for DB, but I hardly ever use one with the WT. I find the EQ very usefull for DB and the input impedance is high enough. Nowadays I only pull out the Fdeck with the WT to combat really bad acoustics. I prefer to put something between the electric bass and the WT to match volume levels and vary the EQ. The EB is much less demanding on what is inbetween the signal line, so depending on the gig I often can get away with a simple effectpedal with a level control. Sometimes my older model fishman platinum gets pulled out for this purpose.
 
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#16
Matthijs said:
Hi Mik, here's a different suggestion: I've been doubling with a WT300 for years now. I have used different pre-amps for DB, but I hardly ever use one with the WT. I find the EQ very usefull for DB and the input impedance is high enough. Nowadays I only pull out the Fdeck with the WT to combat really bad acoustics. I prefer to put something between the electric bass and the WT to match volume levels and vary the EQ. The EB is much less demanding on what is inbetween the signal line, so depending on the gig I often can get away with a simple effectpedal with a level control. Sometimes my older model fishman platinum gets pulled out for this purpose.
Click to expand...

Hi there!
I have a WT-300A and a WT-550. I use the WT-550 for many electric gigs, and the 300 for recording at home. While I really liked my double bass directly into the WT-300A (with the gain at around 2 o'clock and the compressor already kicking in), I had to fully crank up the gain on the 550. And the double bass sound with neutral EQ is better with the 300 as well. I actually thought, these both amps had a quite similar pre amp. Maybe I'll give the 300 a try on a rehearsal or a gig. Man, that's really a beautiful sounding amp.
 
#18
did anybody have difficulty with the set up of the Fishman Pro-EQ Platinum?
I got a used one and seems to work but the manual says you need to set the gain so the battery light goes on at hard playing. I have to max the gain and set all the sliders up at max to get a little light to briefly flash.
 
#19
bobsax said:
did anybody have difficulty with the set up of the Fishman Pro-EQ Platinum?
I got a used one and seems to work but the manual says you need to set the gain so the battery light goes on at hard playing. I have to max the gain and set all the sliders up at max to get a little light to briefly flash.
Click to expand...

Try cleaning all the 1/4" jacks with Deoxit 5. Switch out the 9 volt battery and try the wall wart.

Ric
 

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