Roland db900 anyone?

I tried out a Roland... I don't think it was the 900, might have been a 750? Anyway, it was plenty loud, and had lots of punch... but all of the tones seemed somewhat synthetic and/or thin if you know what I mean.

In the end I play through a Hartke 1x15 for the one gig and a WalkAbout/GS-112 for the other... both produce a far superior tone.

Remember, my ears don't mean squat to you, it's yours that count!!!

 

At 140lbs it could also be used to anchor cruise liners...

I haven't heard one myself, but I suspect that Roland has dropped the ball with this combo. If you're willing to carry that kind of weight, get a secondhand 4x10" (SWR, Eden, TE) pick up a Mackie M1400 secondhand, and use any old preamp. More headromm, same cost, it'll hold its value and you won't have to pick it all up at once.

And if you want to go hifi, you could even ship an Acme Low-B4 over from the US for that kind of money.

Alex

 

Not completely related... but I played a gig last week at a club in Manhattan where the backline for bass was a db500.

Now, I know backline house amps get kicked around a lot but this one was fairly new.

I have to say I wasn't impressed with the sound, pretty woolly and got lost in the onstage mix.

 

I was very interested in this amp a little more than a year ago and posted the following thread.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=47865&highlight=Roland+DB900


I finally got to try one out about 10 months ago.
Ultimately I ended up passing on it. I was impressed with the concept and cabinet configuration of the amp. But I was surprised how big a amp this rig was physically.
My biggest concern was that the output was fixed at 320 watts max and there was no possibility to add a extenstion cabinet if I ever wanted to. There are no extention speaker output jacks in the amp.
For me 300 watts of solid state output does not assure me that the amp wouldn't start distorting if pushed hard. I'd rather have more head room to work with just in case.
Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to gig with the amp. Only try it out in a store, that didn't seem to give a crap.
This is also a very pricey amp when bought new. I don't think it will hold its value in the long run if you ever wanted to sell or trade it.

I was looking to downsize my rig and thought the DB-900 would be perfect. I ended up keeping my amp head and selling off my two 4x10 cabinets and replacing them with one high end 410 cabinet with casters. I made the right choice and it cost me a whole lot less money.

Cheers,
JC

PS - I still have the Roland brochure on the amp. Let me know if there's anything in particular that you would like to know specification wise.

 

There are two XLR outs. One is a straight line out and the other is a balanced DI output. There's also a balanced 1/4" line out.
The only inputs are all standard 1/4 inch.

If you would like to see for yourself, I have a scan of the spec page from the brochure showing the front and rear control panels. I can email it to you.

Just say the word and contact me. All I need is your email address.

Cheers,

JC

 

Look into the Peavey BAM 210. One of the best combo's and IMO the best modeling bass amp.

 

I tested one a while back and almost bought it. I had wanted one for a while but when i tryed it i found that it just wasnt me. The sound is nice and full but it doesnt stick out much and it takes some of the attack out of my sound. I could see this amp getting lost in the mix pretty easily. They are solid amps though and the preamp on it rocks. Oh the radiator speakers are really nice to, they really help you feel the bass even at low volumes. Definatly a sweet amp, just not my sound.

Joe

 

Sounds to me that the DB-900 will nicely satisify your needs.
Is there some place close where you could try one out, or would the amp have to be ordered in for you? I found the amp to be very versatile tone wise. The COSM and FFP technology in the amp proved to be very effective and useful.
I can't comment on the quality of Roland's power amps, but the overall appearance of the DB-900 I played through appeared to be very well built.
Cheers,

 

recently i read somewhere that Alain Caron was using 2 stacked DB500's. not sure why he was using that instead of a single DB900. stereo stuff maybe.

i'll second recommending the BAM 210. nice combo.

the only amp i never had fail on my was a Peavey, every other one (acoustic, musicman, polytone, ampeg etc.) did.

 

I used a DB 900 in a rented out practice space. The thing had great low end and I got a very good sound. Unfortunately, it is way too heavy. I couldn't believe the weight when i tried to move it!

John

 

I have also been wanting to try one of these amps for a long while now. Today I ran across a DB-500 basicly the same amp in a smaller compact form. Same amp controls just 130 solid state watts into a 12 and a tweeter. PERSONALY I am a all tube kinda guy but I have to say the "tube" and "tube drive" settings sound prety awesome. As far as amps not being loud enuff to gig with as long as your amp has a mic on it feeding the pa and stage monotors u shouldn't ever have a prob. I have very loud all tube bass heads pushing 200 watts tube and when I play live in a big venue I can't turn them up enuff to get that sweet tube drive without the sound guy loosing his mind. Even my 50 watt tube head gets me introuble. That said I did a lot of "big" shows with nothing more than my roland cube 120 and it honestly sounded light years better with a mic into the PA then a lot of the other bands 8x10 monster ampeg rackmount beasts. If u can get great tone with anamp and your going to be playing shows with PA suport don't worry about it go for tone. The DB-500 I'd a bad ass little amp and with a more powerfull version in a better cab I would jump at the chance to buy a DB-900

 

I,ve had a db700 for over ten years and it,s a lovely sounding combo.Extension speaker for these is a powered roland speaker and I,ve got one as well.Early ones were made in USA and were heavy,later series were made in china with neo speakers and are lighter but not as well made.
you can store patches in the memory as well.Good reliable combos with a great sound but the world has moved on.
Now I use a Orange Terror Bass 500 and a sp212 cab,lighter,smaller,more ooooomph and a small footprint on stage.
If you can turn one up at the right price it might be what your looking for.

 

I used a Roland DB700 for many years, for all types of gigs. I replaced the stock 15 with a JBL K140, and the tone was wonderful. I oftened thought about getting the powered cab, but ultimately went with a lighter rig. Still have the DB700 though, and pull it out every once in awhile.