Double Bass Recommended pre for EB/DB switching

[vin*tone]

Hey gang. Just wondering what people are using to gig both your EB and DB. I'd like to keep settings for each and switch between the 2. I'm sure this has been asked and answered before but I couldn't find it.

Looks like the EBS Microbass and Radial Bassbone are contenders though it doesn't look like either have phase switching or notch filtering (semi-parametrics).

Oh and.... I'd prefer to use my current amp (Mesa Walkabout + Aguilar DB112) but if you're using a dual pre- amp like a Markbass LMK let's hear it.

Thoughts?

 

[Sam Reese]

I have two Fishman Platinum Bass DIs that get used professionally every week...if you go this route get an A/B box if your amp only has one input (like my Fender Pro 400).

 

[Ric Vice]

Hey gang. Just wondering what people are using to gig both your EB and DB. I'd like to keep settings for each and switch between the 2. I'm sure this has been asked and answered before but I couldn't find it.

Looks like the EBS Microbass and Radial Bassbone are contenders though it doesn't look like either have phase switching or notch filtering (semi-parametrics).

Oh and.... I'd prefer to use my current amp (Mesa Walkabout + Aguilar DB112) but if you're using a dual pre- amp like a Markbass LMK let's hear it.

Thoughts?

Some players on TB love the Radial PZ Pre. It could be the solution to your problem, not sure since it only has one EQ setup. The Rane AP 13 was a nice box designed for a mic and peizo combination with two channels of graphic eq, phantom power and channel mute, but again it wasn't precisely designed for what you want to accomplish. The Markbass AH 250 has two full channels with phantom, notch, and phase. There are also players here that like that amp. At that price however the Acoustic Image Clarius + has all the bells and whistles and more power. The Little Mark has two inputs, but you would have to re EQ when you switched between instruments, wouldn't you? The Little Mark Tube has separate gains for two instruments but you would still have the EQ problem. So, I would suggest inserting a pre amp into the effects loop on the Walkabout. The Headway EDB-1 would work for this as would the Fishman Pro-Platinum.

Ric

 

[tornadobass]

The BassBone doesn't have the right input impedance for piezo pickups, so you'd need to use a preamp...my experience was that the volume controls are cut rather than boost.

One simple solution I tried was running the upright into the input of my Clarus and running the electric bass into a ToneHammer and then into the effects return. I could then turn down one of the volume levels or use the electric's volume control.

More recently, I've been using a Micro 300, since it has switchable channels with separate EQ and level. I got the Boss momentary contact footpedal to speed up the switching tasks...hit the pedal while going from one bass to the other.

 

[bolo]

Just wondering what people are using to gig both your EB and DB. I'd like to keep settings for each and switch between the 2. I'm sure this has been asked and answered before but I couldn't find it.

I used the advanced search and found these pretty quick. I just looked for "doubling" in thread titles.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=485619&highlight=doubling

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=420697&highlight=doubling

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=371266&highlight=doubling

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=280143&highlight=doubling

 

[vin*tone]

Thankyou sirs.

I should have mentioned I have a Realist pup on the DB. There's also a trade available for me to pick up an EBS Microbass locally so I'm considering options before I jump in.

 

[TimmyP]

I'd try a PZ-Pre. (They announced a PZ-DI many months ago, but I've yet to see one.)

 

[Feral Feline]

Bump!

...
Looks like the EBS Microbass and Radial Bassbone are contenders though it doesn't look like either have phase switching or notch filtering (semi-parametrics).

PZed-Pre has phase and notch and semi-para mid. The piezo buffers are defeatable so you can have your DB buffered for its piezo and defeat the piezo buffer in input 2 for your EBG.

Some players on TB love the Radial PZ Pre. It could be the solution to your problem, not sure since it only has one EQ setup...

I'm one of those players that loves my PZed-Pre.
Run an EBG through an EQ stomp-box before the PZed-Pre and you're sort of sorted for second input's EQ -- not ideal I know, but c'est la vie.

The BassBone doesn't have the right input impedance for piezo pickups...

No, but the PZed-Pre does and it has a mute switch and the phase switch and the...

I'd try a PZ-Pre. (They announced a PZ-DI many months ago, but I've yet to see one.)

PZed-DI looks pretty cool. It's got "drag control", which the PZed-Pre doesn't have, but overall the feature set of the PZed-Pre seems more robust. The only thing missing from the Pre for me is concentric tone pots so that channel 2 has independent EQ from channel 1.

It's beyond me why Radial dropped the ball on this point. Not enough space inside the box? Blows out the price-point? C'mon! I've had my fiddle player plug in to my Pre (he forgot his DI) and my bass and the fiddle were both compromised tone-wise that gig. Give me concentric tone-pots or give me... an external EQ pedal for channel 2

I've been following this thread, and I'm curious to know...
Vin*tone, did you pick up the EBS or ???

 

[McGryff]

I use an A/B/Y switch. I run my DB into a Fishman Pro Plat, and my EB though a SansAmp VT Bass, both into the A/B/Y. Mine's an active circuit, so I don't have to fiddle with volume between the two, I just tap the switch!

 

[Standalone]

My ears tell me that the 1 Mohm input of my 800RB is great for doubling.

 

[Brian K]

If you use a pre for your DB, plug it into the return of the effects loop and use your amp's pre for the electric.

 

[rllefebv]

If you use a pre for your DB, plug it into the return of the effects loop and use your amp's pre for the electric.

This... On those rare occasions when I do DB and EB, I use an AI Clarus... EB into the input, DB into a Fishman Platinum Pro running into the effects return. Works great...

-robert

 

[Jim Carr]

I am doubling a lot. I use a Realist into a Tech21 ParaDI (as a pre amp), this is then routed via an EBS multicomp (compressor pedal) into input 1 of a passive Radial Bigshot A/B switch. The switch has my slab running into input 2. The output of the Radial A/B goes to a Countryman type 85, and that goes to a GB Shuttle 6.0 driving two Epifani 210 cabs.

DB Realist->ParaDI->Multicomp-->​Radial BigShot A/B->DI->Amp​
Active Sadowsky P/J Electric Bass-->​

A Korg Orch tuner hangs off of the Bigshot, and the house gets both basses from the Countryman. The ParaDI is only used as a pre, not a DI. I use this setup for large outdoor stages at Fairs and Festivals. Switching takes less than 10 seconds. No cables are moved. I turn, switch the foot switch, put down one bass, and take up the other.

 

[Jim Carr]

I might add that recent experience has shown me that this:

DB Realist->ParaDI->Multicomp-->​Radial BigShot A/B->DI->Amp​
Active Sadowsky P/J Electric Bass-->​

should have been this:

DB Realist->ParaDI->Multicomp-->​Radial BigShot A/B->Amp​
Sadowsky P/J Electric Bass-->DI-->​

The ParaDI and DI each need a channel in FOH and monitors.

 

[BCAlbin]

+1 for Radial PZ-Pre. Phenomenally versatile unit, great for doubling!

-BCA

 

[vin*tone]

I picked myself up a Baggs DI running into an ABY switch. Amazing little box. I'm tempted to get a second one for the EB - you can use the notch filter to dial in some massive punch.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

I've been doubling on a show using a boss bass eq pedal (for upright) into a Morley A/B box. Nothing fancy and it does the job.