Double Bass Which Pre-amp would you use?

[Ric Vice]

For less than a Felix, an alternative is a used two-channel AI Focus or Claris amp: Both channels will take mic or piezo, both channels have high-enough impedance for piezo, both channels have 48V phantom power. The amps also include a DI and a nearly forever warranty.

Agreed, I think the Headway EDB-2 is a great little Pre Amp.

Ric

 

[silvertone]

I would have gone with a Claris but I've already got a Phil Jones Double Four and a big Electric rig and just didn't see the point in another amp when the Felix could augment all my other amplified music making configs.

 

[Ric Vice]

I would have gone with a Claris but I've already got a Phil Jones Double Four and a big Electric rig and just didn't see the point in another amp when the Felix could augment all my other amplified music making configs.

Similar story here, I decided to go with a modular setup vs a bass head. If I have a issue with the Preamp or the Power Amp they can be sent out to be serviced separately.

Ric

 

[Mark Gollihur]

Could I use a small mixer instead of a preamp? I'm looking into the Felix but for that amount of money, there should be some other option. No?

If just using for a mic, then sure. It would work fine. It wouldn't have bass- or acoustic-specific EQs, features, or feedback tools, but it would do the job!

 

[lowfreqgeek]

A question about the Headway; I borrowed an older one from a friend to try with my Full Circle a few years ago, but I couldn't attenuate the signal enough to not overdrive the front end of the piezo channel. Is this still an issue with the Headway?

I'm using a Realist on my bass now, but it's output is easily as hot as the Full Circle was. I'd like to try one again, but not if it's sensitivity is so high that my Realist overdrives the input stage.

 

[Ric Vice]

A question about the Headway; I borrowed an older one from a friend to try with my Full Circle a few years ago, but I couldn't attenuate the signal enough to not overdrive the front end of the piezo channel. Is this still an issue with the Headway?

I'm using a Realist on my bass now, but it's output is easily as hot as the Full Circle was. I'd like to try one again, but not if it's sensitivity is so high that my Realist overdrives the input stage.

LFG,
IME, the EDB-2 addressed that problem. I've owned both versions and even had the EDB-1 modded to
solve that issue and IMHO the EDB-2 sounds great.

Ric

 

[lowfreqgeek]

LFG,
IME, the EDB-2 addressed that problem. I've owned both versions and even had the EDB-1 modded to
solve that issue and IMHO the EDB-2 sounds great.

Ric

Thanks, Ric. I believe it was the EDB-1 that I tried. It sounded good as long as I barely touched the strings, but it was unusable in any kind of performance setting. I'll have to try the EDB-2 now. Any idea if the phantom power is sufficient for an AMT S25B? I assume so, but...

 

[Ric Vice]

Thanks, Ric. I believe it was the EDB-1 that I tried. It sounded good as long as I barely touched the strings, but it was unusable in any kind of performance setting. I'll have to try the EDB-2 now. Any idea if the phantom power is sufficient for an AMT S25B? I assume so, but...

LFG
Not sure, I believe the phantom for the AMT supplies a full 48v. The EDB-2 only provides 18v. It's enough to power up the DPA 4099B, but I never tried it with my ATM S25B.

Ric

 

[lowfreqgeek]

LFG
Not sure, I believe the phantom for the AMT supplies a full 48v. The EDB-2 only provides 18v. It's enough to power up the DPA 4099B, but I never tried it with my ATM S25B.

Ric

I have the AMT Studio Preamp, which can run off a 9V battery, so I bet it's ok with 18V.

Thanks!

 

[Ric Vice]

I have the AMT Studio Preamp, which can run off a 9V battery, so I bet it's ok with 18V.

Thanks!

Seems right, I forgot about that battery in the preamp, I haven't had mine out in quite some time. Might be best to contact AMT and ask them if the SP25B will run at 18v.

Ric

 

[Kristian]

What about using a magnetic pickup with a preamp, would the signal be to hot?

 

[Mark Gollihur]

What about using a magnetic pickup with a preamp, would the signal be to hot?

Shouldn't be; most preamps have input (gain) levels that you can adjust to compensate for the varying levels of output of the pickups you're using. Even various piezo pickups can have varied levels of gain - for instance, a "stick on" or "clamp on" piezo pickup (like a BP100 or a Double Big Twin) usually has lower output than a pickup that is under pressure (like a Bass Max, Revolution Solo, Full Circle, Realist Lifeline, etc.)

 

[Kristian]

Shouldn't be; most preamps have input (gain) levels that you can adjust to compensate for the varying levels of output of the pickups you're using. Even various piezo pickups can have varied levels of gain - for instance, a "stick on" or "clamp on" piezo pickup (like a BP100 or a Double Big Twin) usually has lower output than a pickup that is under pressure (like a Bass Max, Revolution Solo, Full Circle, Realist Lifeline, etc.)

Ok! Thanks!

 

[Ric Vice]

Shouldn't be; most preamps have input (gain) levels that you can adjust to compensate for the varying levels of output of the pickups you're using. Even various piezo pickups can have varied levels of gain - for instance, a "stick on" or "clamp on" piezo pickup (like a BP100 or a Double Big Twin) usually has lower output than a pickup that is under pressure (like a Bass Max, Revolution Solo, Full Circle, Realist Lifeline, etc.)

Weirdly enough, the Realist, Realist Lifeline, Revolution Solo and Underwood sound great at a 1 meg ohm load. The BP-100 and the Full Circle benifit from a 10 meg ohm load.
Don Underwoods patten was a factor in the design of the Fishman. It covers the design of a dual element wing slot pickup.

Ric