stereo amps

[floridagatorfan]

Is bridging an amp the same thing as running it in stereo?
Sorry for the dumb question

 

[Jim Carr]

No, not the same.

In stereo, A and B channels are receiving separate inputs and work as two independent outputs. Bridged, A and B get identical input and become essentially one summed output.

 

[JimmyM]

Right, and just to get all nitpicky, most amps that are called "stereo" aren't, because they have only one preamp to feed both sides of your amp. it's more about running two cabs and splitting the load up than running true stereo.

 

[bongomania]

Further nitpicking: "stereo" normally means you're hearing one signal in your left ear and a slightly different signal in your right ear, and your brain uses the difference between them to create a sense of placement in the space around you.

Two amps, two speakers, two different locations for those speakers, and two slightly (or very) different signals through each set of rigs.

 

[floridagatorfan]

ok so my 4 pro in a sense is not a TRUE stereo amp, what about bi-amping is that considered stereo?

 

[colcifer]

It can be.

 

[Bass_Pounder]

ok so my 4 pro in a sense is not a TRUE stereo amp, what about bi-amping is that considered stereo?

No.....................

Bi-amping is taking a signal, and splitting it at a certain frequency point, then sending the high frequency content to one amp and the low frequency content to another

 

[DigitalMan]

No.....................

Bi-amping is taking a signal, and splitting it at a certain frequency point, then sending the high frequency content to one amp and the low frequency content to another

What if instead of ears on either side of the head, we had one little ear for high pitched sounds, and one big ear for low pitched sounds?

Bass_Pounder is right of course. Stereo sound is the equivalent of 3D video. Sound is considered stereo specifically for R/L listening and the two channels have some audible differences in order to create an illusion of positional sound. Just like 3D, the human brain creates the positional illusion by computing slight volume and tonal differences between left and right.

Oddly, no one has (to my knowledge) designed a pan circuit that also changes tonal character the further sound is from center. If you think about it, sound directly off your left side had far more high end in the left ear, and is far less bright in the right ear. I think I'll be stopping by the patent office on Monday come to think of it...

 

[digitalmoney]

Stereo Bass

CertainBass.com

I picked up a replacement plate for my jazz bass with a varitone and high end roll off.
Saw this when I was looking at the site.

 

[DavidCertain]

There is something eerily hip that happens by splitting the pickups of, say, a Jazz bass (or like Alembic, Rickenbacker, others). Taking the two points of the string and spreading them apart from a few inches to 3 to 6 feet or more makes for some kind of psychoacoustic effect. It sounds like an effect, but it's completely dry and flat, but sounds very alive, huge. What's interesting about is if you have everything flat or at least equal for both "sides" and switch the pickups' channel assignment, it sounds different just because of speaker placement. Throw in a pair of Varitones, and it's on.

Now, most have enough fun carrying one amp and don't want to have even more fun carrying two. But what I've found is two amps in stereo that together are smaller than your one big mono amp will kick the mono system's hiney. So, you can actually carry less for a bigger sound.

I don't know why stereo is not utilized by more bassists; it's probably due to the prospect of carrying too much stuff to the gig. (You know you're getting old when you're more concerned about the size and weight of the amp rather than its sound.) But just about anybody who was anybody did it. Stanley Clarke, Chris Squire, John Entwistle and more. Basically, about anyone playing an Alembic or a Rick went stereo back in the day.