• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass Which amp for blending mic and pickup?

juusokasperi

juusokasperi

Nov 1, 2007
83
76
Helsinki, Finland
#1
Hello!

I'm currently looking into getting a new amp. At the moment I'm using a MarkBass LMIII into a Barefaced OneTen but would like to get an amp that can blend two signals and supply phantom power. My bass is equipped with the Full Circle pickup and I also have a Troll mic with FEThead. So far I've been looking into either the EA Doubler II and AI Clarus SL-2. Especially the Clarus SL-2 seems promising - the Troll has quite a bit of low end so a good HPF would be nice. One option would also be going the preamp route with Headway EDB-2, but I think I'd prefer an amp so that I wouldn't have one more item to carry. I would test for myself, but no store here in Finland has the AI or EA products so unfortunately it's not really possible..

I'm looking for opinions, and especially if someone has used both the Doubler and the Clarus and can compare them that would be great. I'm also open to other suggestions if you think there's something better out there.
 
#4
juusokasperi said:
Hello!

I'm currently looking into getting a new amp. At the moment I'm using a MarkBass LMIII into a Barefaced OneTen but would like to get an amp that can blend two signals and supply phantom power. My bass is equipped with the Full Circle pickup and I also have a Troll mic with FEThead. So far I've been looking into either the EA Doubler II and AI Clarus SL-2. Especially the Clarus SL-2 seems promising - the Troll has quite a bit of low end so a good HPF would be nice. One option would also be going the preamp route with Headway EDB-2, but I think I'd prefer an amp so that I wouldn't have one more item to carry. I would test for myself, but no store here in Finland has the AI or EA products so unfortunately it's not really possible..

I'm looking for opinions, and especially if someone has used both the Doubler and the Clarus and can compare them that would be great. I'm also open to other suggestions if you think there's something better out there.
Click to expand...

I just played through a EA Doubler II and that amp is incredible. It has a variable phase shift, which isn't avaliable on any other bass amplifier. The new power section gives it more "heft" for lack of a better word.

The voicing of the EQ on each channel is specifically taylored for DB (Channel 1) or EB (Channel 2) and you can hear that difference. It also has a DI with a mic connector. I haven't had the opportunity to use

the Clairus SL-2 yet, but Rick Jones' amps and service are without question first class.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: juusokasperi and rickwolff
#6
Ric Vice said:
I just played through a EA Double II and that amp is incredible.... The voicing of the EQ on each channel is specifically taylored for DB (Channel 1) or EB (Channel 2) and you can hear that difference. It also has a DI with a mic connector. I haven't had the opportunity to use

the Clairus SL-2 yet, but Rick Jones' amps and service are without question first class.
Click to expand...

Interesting. Channel one mids are at 600hz and channel 2 at 800hz. I always use channel 2 for DB and channel 1 for electric. Seems to work best for me that way. Maybe I'll have to try again...

I love both my Doubler and Focus 2. Great amps!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chris Fitzgerald
#7
Eric Hochberg said:
Interesting. Channel one mids are at 600hz and channel 2 at 800hz. I always use channel 2 for DB and channel 1 for electric. Seems to work best for me that way. Maybe I'll have to try again...

I love both my Doubler and Focus 2. Great amps!
Click to expand...

That's something I also remember about the Walter Woods MI series amplifiers. Walter for what ever reason, decided to voice the Channel 2 EQ for Double Bass and Channel one for Electric Bass, which is kind of counterintuitive. So

most of us forgot that the amp was setup that way and used Channel 1 for Double Bass. Some players actually preferred it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Eric Hochberg
#8
Ric Vice said:
That's something I also remember about the Walter Woods MI series amplifiers. Walter for what ever reason, decided to voice the Channel 2 EQ for Double Bass and Channel one for Electric Bass, which is kind of counterintuitive. So

most of us forgot that the amp was setup that way and used Channel 1 for Double Bass. Some players actually preferred it.
Click to expand...

Sounds to me like a strong argument for sweepable mids (at least 'semi' parametric). I don't understand why more amp manufacturers don't employ this.
 
  • Like
Reactions: travshorts
#9
Ric Vice said:
That's something I also remember about the Walter Woods MI series amplifiers. Walter for what ever reason, decided to voice the Channel 2 EQ for Double Bass and Channel one for Electric Bass, which is kind of counterintuitive. So

most of us forgot that the amp was setup that way and used Channel 1 for Double Bass. Some players actually preferred it.
Click to expand...

When I had mine, I used channel two for DB. I ended up using an Alembic F2b pre with it for a while. Never got a sound I loved with the straight Woods.
 
#10
rickwolff said:
Sounds to me like a strong argument for sweepable mids (at least 'semi' parametric). I don't understand why more amp manufacturers don't employ this.
Click to expand...
I have the WW "Sweeper", with sweepable mid and parametric low/high. The preamp is coloured though imo (in neutral), and the two channels different from each other. So I go straight into the effects return from my preamp, gives me a cleaner, more dynamic sound (and less knobs to fiddle with!). I know it is almost blasphemy, but...
 
#11
rickwolff said:
Sounds to me like a strong argument for sweepable mids (at least 'semi' parametric). I don't understand why more amp manufacturers don't employ this.
Click to expand...

Walter incoperated the sweepable midrange in the Electroacoustic series.
before that, he set the amp’s midrange very wide and allowed you to boost or cut the bass and treble by 10 db. That preamp is very sensitive, just slightly turning the tone controls yeilds a dramatically different timbre. Just my take.
 
#13
mikeln said:
Another vote for Euphonic Audio Doubler - either the original (which I have used for years) or the new version Doubler II.
Works great with my full-circle/mic setup. (or electric bass / double bass if you are in that situation). Very lightweight with plenty of power. Easy to carry. Great sound and tonal options.
Click to expand...

Agreed,
I guess if I were buying one now, I'd get the new one. It has more headroom and a real DI.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back