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Double Bass Reddi/noble for upright bass

A

afroblue

Oct 25, 2012
162
52
#1
I see a couple of people on this site loving their noble preamp on upright into an amp. I have a Reddi, primarily for recording electric bass but was wondering if I could use it for upright into an acoustic image Clarus or EA doubler. These amps are designed to take mics as well as line inputs. Would I run into any issues putting the Reddi into them? I know strictly speaking it’s a DI I have rather than a preamp but I was thinking that perhaps the tubes in the Reddi would interact nicely with my piezo pick-up (realist). Obviously I wouldn’t have the control open as the realist on full would be too dirty a sound for upright but maybe just passing through?

I believe the AI clarus pad is -10db, is that enough to keep my equipment safe? Reddi sends mic signal out rather than line.
 
#2
Sounds like there's nothing to lose, except the hassle of hauling out & patching in that REDDI.
With the level control on the DI & gain controls on the amps, I don't think there's much risk. I'd probably start with the DI level @ noon & turn the amp gain up carefully from zero. If it's too hot or cold, you should be able to compensate pretty easily.
Using my Realist Lifeline with tubes, I found I still benefitted from a solid state 10MΩ buffer w/ some HPF.
I actually got the 50W tube head with cocktail jazz DB gigs in mind. I wound up using it more for rock gigs with BG and it's freaking amazing for that. (For DB I seem to have gravitated back to my class D head & smaller cab.)
 
#3
My 2 cents: just like with BG it’s almost placebo in live settings. At best you, the sound guy and your bassist buddy might notice the difference. However its impedance is lower than the ideal 10M for a realist or any other piezo.

For laying down tracks it could be the right tool for the right situation if that’s what’s needed.
 
#6
Just got a Nobelium and love it on my upright. Completely changed up my whole pedalboard because of the great tone I was getting from the Nobelium.

But I am an in-ears guy not an amp guy for most gigs....not sure if it matters. Still sounds great through an amp or FOH.
 
#10
I find that, since 90-95% of the places I've played weren't designed with how they sound in mind, the warm subtlety of a tube preamp would be superfluous or counterproductive.

At most gigs, I'm striving for a definitive attack and clarity of pitch, because some frequencies are naturally getting eaten and some boosted by the room. I think the last thing I'd want would be a bit of distortion or "bloom" in my sound.

Now, if I was in a controlled setting, like a studio or symphony hall, then it certainly might be something to try.
 
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#11
uprightbass.com said:
My 2 cents: just like with BG it’s almost placebo in live settings. At best you, the sound guy and your bassist buddy might notice the difference. However its impedance is lower than the ideal 10M for a realist or any other piezo.

For laying down tracks it could be the right tool for the right situation if that’s what’s needed.
Click to expand...

Yes it could be subtle for the audience, however I’m all into finding those 2 to 5% improvements, they can all add up. Getting the best possible sound for yourself as the player is probably going to inspire you (and hopefully the band) more and hence, sound better. It’s funny about the 10m impedance, how for example the 1m redeye seems to work so well….
 
#14
afroblue said:
Yes it could be subtle for the audience, however I’m all into finding those 2 to 5% improvements, they can all add up. Getting the best possible sound for yourself as the player is probably going to inspire you (and hopefully the band) more and hence, sound better. It’s funny about the 10m impedance, how for example the 1m redeye seems to work so well….
Click to expand...


I’m not an engineer and the most qualified to discuss 10M vs 1M and if 1M is enough. That topic has already been discussed extensively by others to a general consensus.

If you feel that it’s worth using and the extra lug and effort, then it’s worth using. Like others have said you already own the thing so there isn’t much to be gained speculating beforehand.
 
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#17
james condino said:
Do I get an aristocratic hipster tube pre-amp or do I pay my mortgage for six months? :roflmao:
Click to expand...

Can I still be an aristocratic hipster if I am a boomer whose beard is short, never wears plaid, and never drinks beer at all, let alone IPA? I thought not, but you now have me wondering.
 
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