Probably a stupid question... earphones direct into active bass?

[ArtechnikA]

Any specific recommendations? I have this little Vox (Vox AP2BS), which is convenient, but the hiss is pretty loud.

I've got a few different headphone amps gathered through the years. The "Pocket Rocket" is actually pretty decent but its plug doesn't fit all my instruments... Still, not bad. I spent $20 on one through EBay and I like it because it has a clean channel, a drive channel, and accepts stereo inputs for a MP3 player, for example. Yeah - the hiss level is pretty high but I can ignore it for $20, and if it gets lost or damaged I won't cry.

I do most of my practice through my Scarlett 2i2 recording interface - DI-in from a pedal or an amp head, playback through the PC, about $125. (Does not -require- DI input, that's just what I do because it's convenient and low-noise. You can plug in with a regular instrument cable.)

Of course the gold standard is the Café Walter - I haven't been able to justify that - yet...

 

[khutch]

Also consider this. Most active instruments use a tip/ring/sleeve output jack. The tip the output. The ring gets shorted to the sleeve to complete the circuit and power the preamp, but that only works when you use a mono plug. Headphones use a T/R/S plug, but both tip and ring are signal (left and right). I suspect your preamp isn't on at all, or just very little bleed due to the relatively low impedance of your phones.

Actually the bass preamp is probably turned on, its DC current is flowing through one of the headphone drivers. Or maybe he is using a quarter inch mono to eighth inch stereo adapter to plug in the phones and in that case everything is good. The trouble is that the amplifier in the bass just is not designed to drive the low impedances of headphone speakers so this approach is never going to sound right. It sounds nothing like the signal a bass amp would get when the bass is plugged into it in fact.

The OP needs either a headphone amp or perhaps better yet, something like the Zoom B1on or B1Xon. These are multieffects pedals with headphone outputs so you get both a neat toy to play with and a headphone amp and there are other brands and models if you don't like the Zoom. Yeah, it will delay the purchase of a real amp a little but they can be a lot of fun and a real gig worthy amp costs so much more that there won't be much delay.

 

[Squid-TEGH]

I just leave my pickup bias selector strength turny-dial-knob at 50%/50%. I certainly can't hear any difference through the phones, maybe when I get something designed to be plugged into the bass that will change.
That said, I think choosing between the pickups or altering the balance between them is a little advanced for me at this stage. As far as I can tell, the two pickups are identical anyway.

EDIT I think the adapter I was using was a 3.5mm to 5/16 .

 

[ArtechnikA]

As far as I can tell, the two pickups are identical anyway.

They are not in identical locations; makes a difference. I agree it's a subtlety.

I think the adapter I was using was a 3.5mm to 5/16.

I would be astonished if this were true. (But I could buy it if you'd said 1/4" )

 

[Squid-TEGH]

Well apart from location, yeah .
I notice that I seem to get a "harder" sound if I pluck closer to the bottom pickup than the top one, cos that part of the string is closer to the bridge, I guess.

 

[Zoomaster]

Ah. Didn't know that. I'm beginning to understand why amps are expensive .

As for the GAS, come on, don't tell me the Amp's not sexay .p

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I've been playing 32yrs. have multiple basses and amps, bought the amp you mention about 6 months ago because I wanted something more portable for rehearsals outside my studio. I can attest it has great tone, can be expanded a little with a 1x15 or 2x10 cab and has a nice direct out to go through a pa system. My advice would be to buy used as I've seen these sell for as little as $349 (I paid $629 USD for mine). Great little amp... Buy it, you won't regret it.

 

[Squid-TEGH]

I've been playing 32yrs. have multiple basses and amps, bought the amp you mention about 6 months ago because I wanted something more portable for rehearsals outside my studio. I can attest it has great tone, can be expanded a little with a 1x15 or 2x10 cab and has a nice direct out to go through a pa system. My advice would be to buy used as I've seen these sell for as little as $349 (I paid $629 USD for mine). Great little amp... Buy it, you won't regret it.

Glad you like it, looks like I'm onto a winner .

I would be astonished if this were true. (But I could buy it if you'd said 1/4" )

Quite right - I double checked, it's 1/4.
I've been going round calling it a 5/16 all week

 

[moody]

Well apart from location, yeah .
I notice that I seem to get a "harder" sound if I pluck closer to the bottom pickup than the top one, cos that part of the string is closer to the bridge, I guess.

I had a friend of mine that told me that he had been struggling with his sound for years, tried different amps, different basses, effects etc.

Then somebody told him to play closer to the bridge - he has been happy ever since.

 

[Ric5]

I was fooling around and wondered if anything useful would happen when I plugged my earphones (sony MDR-XD200) directly into my bass, with the active pre-amp turned on.

To my surprise, I do actually hear the bass in the earphones. It doesn't sound amazing (actually it doesn't sound very good at all), though I don't know whether that's cos my "trick" is ill-advised, or because I'm just not very good yet.

I don't hear of folks plugging their phones direct into their bass though. I know that usually they plug into the amp instead.
But I haven't got one yet. £350 takes a few weeks of saving .

Can I get away with doing this for a while?

If you want to play into earphones then get a bass pod and play through it into earphones.

 

[Arizona Jones]

 

[XLunacy]

Get a zoom B1on, you'll get a headphone output + a drum machine + a bunch of effects/amp/cab sims + an aux in to play along your phone/mp3. For 50$.

 

[twinjet]

Thanks. I'll look through the stickies. I'm glad you managed to answer another question which I had wondered, which is "without an amp, how do I know what my bass actually sounds like".

I might get a small headphone amp, but it'd delay me being able to afford the big one.
Still, looks like I've got some reading to do . I never really looked into amp/cab configurations because it's less of an immediate concern than learning to ply. But it'll be good knowledge to have .

If you are just starting out, a practice amp is all you'll really need. Practice with that for a while as you save your money and go big with a amp/cab config once have decided you're wanting to stick with bass and want more out of your playing. It took me five years to buy my first stack.

How long have you been at it?

 

[Squid-TEGH]

If you are just starting out, a practice amp is all you'll really need. Practice with that for a while as you save your money and go big with a amp/cab config once have decided you're wanting to stick with bass and want more out of your playing. It took me five years to buy my first stack.

How long have you been at it?

About a week. Still waiting on my tuner and skillbook actually. Got a lovely bass though .

View attachment 639974

Hey everyone's a newbie some time .

 

[Bodhammer]

Seriously - look at the Zoom B1on/B1Xon - for $50-70 you will have something that allows you to play headphones, effects and amp models, drum machine/metronome, simple pre-amp, aux-in, tuner, and even lightly gig if you want. Check out the threads on TB.

Not affiliated with the company, just a happy customer.

p.s. I bought the B1On and regretted not getting the B1Xon so now I'm exchanging it on Amazon. Even for $70 for B1Xon, I don't think you will be disappointed. It really is a blast to play around with and make weird, bizarre noises with your bass still knowing you are in tune and tempo!

 

[Bodhammer]

View attachment 639974

 

[XLunacy]

Seriously - look at the Zoom B1on/B1Xon - for $50-70 you will have something that allows you to play headphones, effects and amp models, drum machine/metronome, simple pre-amp, aux-in, tuner, and even lightly gig if you want. Check out the threads on TB.

Not affiliated with the company, just a happy customer.

p.s. I bought the B1On and regretted not getting the B1Xon so now I'm exchanging it on Amazon. Even for $70 for B1Xon, I don't think you will be disappointed. It really is a blast to play around with and make weird, bizarre noises with your bass still knowing you are in tune and tempo!

You're also getting a looper, pretty cool to mess around with.
Quick demo :

Not endorsing/affiliated either, just very happy with the unit and wanted to share.

 

[thebassguy86]

I was fooling around and wondered if anything useful would happen when I plugged my earphones (sony MDR-XD200) directly into my bass, with the active pre-amp turned on.

To my surprise, I do actually hear the bass in the earphones. It doesn't sound amazing (actually it doesn't sound very good at all), though I don't know whether that's cos my "trick" is ill-advised, or because I'm just not very good yet.

I don't hear of folks plugging their phones direct into their bass though. I know that usually they plug into the amp instead.
But I haven't got one yet. £350 takes a few weeks of saving .

Can I get away with doing this for a while?

Best $40 I've spent in a while. Only complaint so far is the AAA batteries rather than 9v.

 

[thebassguy86]

I was fooling around and wondered if anything useful would happen when I plugged my earphones (sony MDR-XD200) directly into my bass, with the active pre-amp turned on.

To my surprise, I do actually hear the bass in the earphones. It doesn't sound amazing (actually it doesn't sound very good at all), though I don't know whether that's cos my "trick" is ill-advised, or because I'm just not very good yet.

I don't hear of folks plugging their phones direct into their bass though. I know that usually they plug into the amp instead.
But I haven't got one yet. £350 takes a few weeks of saving .

Can I get away with doing this for a while?

Best $40 I've spent in a while. Only complaint so far is the AAA batteries rather than 9v.

 

[twinjet]

About a week. Still waiting on my tuner and skillbook actually. Got a lovely bass though .

Post a picture! Would love to see your new bass. If you can, pick up a used Behringer combo amp. They're great for practice and small room performances.

Hey everyone's a newbie some time .

 

[willbassyeah]

yup i agree with the posters above who suggest the zoom b1on, you dont need to buy a tuner if you have the b1on it is a

multi fx/tuner/looper/headphone amp/drum machine/metronome/mp3 input for a mere 50 bucks.

Best 50 bucks ever spend on a pedal imo.
if you just want to practice, it is hell of a deal imo and best of all the fx in there sounds good much better then other more expensive modelling imho