Double Bass Upright Bass Tone and Gear

[DoubleMIDI]

The soundclip can sound very diffently depending of the mounting position, pressure, added weight etc.
Have a look at the soundclip threats.
I would also recommend a preamp like one of the the FDeck HPFpre models.

If you want to check out some other strings, try Spirocore Weich (maybe the S42W 4/4 strings on a 3/4 scale if you like a bit less tension).

Change the strings only if you do not like the acoustic sound of your instrument and pickup/electronics
if the amplified sound is not what you expect but the acoustic sound is good.

 

[Ric Vice]

I've personally never liked running the realist right into the Walter Woods. I have the WW Ultra and even in the double bass channel I have to eq the high and mids out of it.

Oddly enough, although Walter's MI series amplifiers had separate channel EQ's, so that Channel 2 was for Double Bass, to the best of my knowledge the Electroacoustic's are not set up that way. As far as I know, both channels of the Ultra have the same EQ voicing. Regardless, when I switched over to the Ehrlund, all that midrange honk vanished. The Headway Band is also very natural sounding, with little of the midrange honk.

The acoustic image is a much better sound fit for me. Many of my WW owning friends disagree but that's the sound I like. I want it darker with just a little zing. I've also never liked the Daddario hybrid strings and changing strings is probably the cheaper way to go unless you're really happy with them.

I do like the EQ section on the new AI amps, with the added Low and High Midrange Controls. Once, I compared one of the older Focus heads to both of my Woods amplifiers, and found the EQ on the Focus to be to neutral for my bass; and the Realist (Copper Foil version). Both of my Woods amplifiers sounded warm and musical compared to the Focus. Currently, I find that the Headway EDB-2 and a QSC K8 to be my go to rig.

Ric

 

[Ric Vice]

I am not very happy with my tone lately, especially amplified. I use an Upton bass Hawkes, D'Addario Helicore Hybrid Light Tension, Realist Pickup, and Markbass 1x12 and a Walter Woods amp. All quality equipment in my opinion, and still crappy tone!!! any suggestions TB land??

Alfredo,
Well, I certainly cannot fault any of your equipment, as all of it is high quality. Oddly enough, I've found that some speaker combinations don't match up well with Walter Woods Amps ( I own a Woods MI-400-8 and an Electroacoustic Ultra). So the first thing I'd do is try borrow different brand of speaker, and try all your gear using the different box.

Ric

 

[Huy Nguyen]

Tone is also in your hands. Technique should be examined first.

 

[alfredo_bass]

Here is an update. I recently played a gig with a big band, I decided to use my markbass 112 and Ampeg PF-500 instead of my Walter Woods. My bass is naturally boomy, so normally I have to lower the Lows. With the Ampeg, I didn't have to as much. I propped up my cab and amp on a chair about 18 inches off of the ground. Also, I didn't crank the volume as much as I normally do. My tone was a little bit better, but not quite what I want. Like I said previously, I am happy with my Acoustic tone, I just can't seem to replicate it electrically. I am going to look into a preamp. Eventually strings as well. The problem with strings is they are so expensive that if I don't like it i'm stuck with $150 strings that I don't like.

Also, I wanted to add that I also have a Ampeg 115 cabinet that I have played out of with my Walter Woods and Ampeg amps. The 15 is too boomy. I was considering 2x10's possibly as well. Thoughts?

 

[Ric Vice]

Here is an update. I recently played a gig with a big band, I decided to use my markbass 112 and Ampeg PF-500 instead of my Walter Woods.......

I assume you have tried the Walter Woods with the Markbass 112 and that was not satisfactory? The PF 500 has a totally different pre-amp voicing than the Woods.

With the Ampeg, I didn't have to as much. I propped up my cab and amp on a chair about 18 inches off of the ground. Also, I didn't crank the volume as much as I normally do. My tone was a little bit better, but not quite what I want.

That will always help with rooms that over emphasize low frequencies. I have one Auditorium where I literally put my QSC K8 up on a speaker stand, because that's where it sounds clear and articulate. You can't really judge your tone in that kind of setting, you just have to get something workable so you can comfortably play the engagement.

Like I said previously, I am happy with my Acoustic tone, I just can't seem to replicate it electrically. I am going to look into a preamp. Eventually strings as well. The problem with strings is they are so expensive that if I don't like it i'm stuck with $150 strings that I don't like.

I truly do not think that adding an additional pre-amp, will make it easier to get the tone you're looking for, since it just makes things more complicated, and prone to user error. An additional pre-amp. in front of either the Woods or Ampeg is redundant IME IMHO, so if you can't get the sound you're looking for, with either the Woods, or the Ampeg, ( I just can't imagine that's really the case.) then it's time to look at something else. The Pre Amp on a Walter Woods, is probably the best their is for DB. It has the ability to totally roll of the bass, low mids, high mids and treble. You shouldn't be having these problems at all.
I've worked through that problem by trying used sets of strings of the TB classifieds that are in relatively good shape. The cost of doing so is far less than experimenting with a new set of strings each time.

Also, I wanted to add that I also have a Ampeg 115 cabinet that I have played out of with my Walter Woods and Ampeg amps. The 15 is too boomy. I was considering 2x10's possibly as well. Thoughts?

I've played through several 115's with my older Walter Woods and I'd have to agree that the sound was less than optimal compared to 2X8's and 112's with horns. I'd suggest a 112 rather than a 2x10, and apparently you already own one.



Ric