Upright Amps?

Yeah, they're not voiced. In other words, with the eq set flat, the frequency response will be flat. Bass guitar amps are not flat, they are voiced to make the toybass sound like more than a slab of wood and wires. The result is that they don't accurately reproduce the sound of the doublebass.

 

DK is correct. Plus, Plank amps are engineered around magnetic pickups with a nominal impedence in the 6-12k Ohm range. Piezo pickups, which are the most common means of amplifying real Basses, have nominal impedences in the 1M range. It's just one more thing that makes it more likely that you'll have unintended tonal consequences . . .

 

I actually play my upright through a Hartke 4x10 w/ a Hartke head. I feel that their aluminum cones are very good at interpreting the sound of an upright(eventhough I chose to sound more like myself). It's only worth the backpain for bigger gigs w/ my "nutty chaotic medieval drum'n bass" band but if I could haul it to jazz gigs, I would. My GK sounds like butt. I suggest you try the Hartke Kickback model.

 

I would add the Contra or the Clarus head to choice of amps. I chose to get the Clarus head to use with different speakers and I found the Acme B1 (4ohm 110) to be really compatible. Very uncolored sound and enough volume for gigs with drummers who know how to play low. The tone is very full and clear out of this combination.

 

In case anyone's interested, there's a Contra for sale on ebay right now

contra

Its a floor demo, but I don't know if its the old or the new model.

Have a happy.

Mike G.

 

check out Euphonic Audio's stuff. Great EQ for both electric and double basses and their cabs are hifi enough to send all that upright lovin' thru.

 

EA is terrific. I just picked up an old VL110 to use along with the B1 and it is great for both electric and upright. I actually prefer EA for electric gigs since the lows are really focused. For low volume gigs I like the B1 for the way it handles the uprights low notes.