Double Bass Too many levels

[Norre]

Hi all,

My amplified setup is this: bass (Full Circle) - Headway EDB-1 preamp - Genz Benz Streamliner 900+cabinet and/or PA.
I think it's a bit confusing to get the settings at the preamp and amp right. To preamp has 2 controls: ch1 (input level) and master (output level) and then the amp itself has a gain (input level) and a master (output level). So basically, I have to find the right balance between all these settings. That's just too many knobs How do you guys do it?
All advice is most welcome

Thanks,

KN

 

[Frits]

For instance use your Headway preamp (or in my case the vintage revolution preamp) to drive a self-powered unit such as the Phil Jones PB300 or the (yet to go into production) new Acoustic Image powered cab. I used to own a Bergantino IP112 powered enclosure and that was the most powerful and simple set-up, too heavy though.

 

[Norre]

Hey Frits, thanks for the info. I'm planning on eliminating some stuff soon (getting an AI Focus for double bass this summer and will be using the EDB-1 for ampless PA gigs only), but for now I have to play with what I have. It works the way I use it now, but somehow I feel the sound from my amp is lacking some balls compared to the sound I get from a PA.

 

[agedhorse]

Start with the amp's input gain and volume at 12:00 and the master volume at 2:00, this will get you plenty close to "nominal". Then set you preamp"s master to 12:00 and adjust the gain to wherever you need to achieve adequate volume. If the preamp's gain control ends up being in the 10:00 to 2:00 position, that's going to be pretty much as expected. If you need to use more gain that the 2:00 position, try increasing the preamp's master volume to the 1:00 position and repeat.

 

[GrowlerBox]

Start with the amp's input gain and volume at 12:00 and the master volume at 2:00, this will get you plenty close to "nominal". Then set you preamp"s master to 12:00 and adjust the gain to wherever you need to achieve adequate volume. If the preamp's gain control ends up being in the 10:00 to 2:00 position, that's going to be pretty much as expected. If you need to use more gain that the 2:00 position, try increasing the preamp's master volume to the 1:00 position and repeat.

From the horse's mouth, so to speak ...

How would you go bypassing the Streamliner's preamp and plugging the Headway into the effects return, essentially using as a power amplifier (assuming the effects return is appropriately wired, as my Markbass, for example, is not)?

 

[agedhorse]

From the horse's mouth, so to speak ...

How would you go bypassing the Streamliner's preamp and plugging the Headway into the effects return, essentially using as a power amplifier (assuming the effects return is appropriately wired, as my Markbass, for example, is not)?

Yes, that's entirely possible on the Shuttle/Streamliner platforms. See the owner's manual for details.

 

[Adagio]

Start with the amp's input gain and volume at 12:00 and the master volume at 2:00, this will get you plenty close to "nominal". Then set you preamp"s master to 12:00 and adjust the gain to wherever you need to achieve adequate volume. If the preamp's gain control ends up being in the 10:00 to 2:00 position, that's going to be pretty much as expected. If you need to use more gain that the 2:00 position, try increasing the preamp's master volume to the 1:00 position and repeat.

I have a similar setup but I can't do as described here: the FC output is just to hot for the Headway and I got distortion in the sound when I dig too much.

The way I do it is simply to set the input level below 2, crank the master level as much as possible without getting white noise (headphones are a must to set it properly if you record). Then I adjust the amp's level until the output is adequate for the room/band. Ric Vice also told me that Gage made padded cable especially to cope with that phenomenon, but I never bothered with buying one.

Norre, have you ever noticed any distortion using the FC with the EDB1? Maybe it vary from bass to bass?

I know the combination is less than ideal but the Headway gives such a beautiful voice to the FC that I can't part with it!

 

[Norre]

Thanks for the info guys!

@adagio: yes, I noticed the distortion when I put the input/output level of the EDB-1 too high. Like you said, the EDB-1 sounds great, but it's tricky to get the right balance ... and somehow I'm not good at tricky stuff

@Growlerbox: I've tried bypassing the preamp of the Streamliner but prefer the sound of the EDB-1 into the input of the Streamliner. Maybe because I don't use the EDB-1 the way I should. Problem is that I'm more a plug-and-play kinda guy. I love playing my bass, but I hate amps ... especially when they are complicated (and have too many knobs ). The Streamliner is a great amp, really. I'm sure the weak part in the chain is me and not the amp.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[GrowlerBox]

Thanks for the info guys!

@adagio: yes, I noticed the distortion when I put the input/output level of the EDB-1 too high. Like you said, the EDB-1 sounds great, but it's tricky to get the right balance ... and somehow I'm not good at tricky stuff

@Growlerbox: I've tried bypassing the preamp of the Streamliner but prefer the sound of the EDB-1 into the input of the Streamliner. Maybe because I don't use the EDB-1 the way I should. Problem is that I'm more a plug-and-play kinda guy. I love playing my bass, but I hate amps ... especially when they are complicated (and have too many knobs ). The Streamliner is a great amp, really. I'm sure the weak part in the chain is me and not the amp.

Thanks for the advice!

In that case, you won't do better than to follow agedhorse's advice - you know, the Genz engineer!

 

[Norre]

Yes, tomorrow I have a rehearsal with the band. I'll try it then