• 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 WorkingPro 12

B

Bassalova

Nov 16, 2008
88
0
#1
Has anyone tried the new SWR WorkingPro 10/12/15?
I see from the specs that it has 3.9 Mohm input impedance. That will suit a piezo pickup very nice, compared to regular bassamps which usually has 0.5 Mohm impedance.

So it should sound quite nice with a double bass, don´t you think?
 
#2
Bassalova said:
Has anyone tried the new SWR WorkingPro 10/12/15?
I see from the specs that it has 3.9 Mohm input impedance. That will suit a piezo pickup very nice, compared to regular bassamps which usually has 0.5 Mohm impedance.

So it should sound quite nice with a double bass, don´t you think?
Click to expand...

This is a great upright and electric amp, probably the cheapest/best doubling amp out there. I had excellent luck using one with a Realist for a long time.
 
#3
I also owned one for almost 2 years, but it just didn't cut it for me, volume-wise. It sounds good, but definitely not as good when pushed a little. It really excelled on drummer-less or low-volume gigs on both electric and acoustic bass. I got rid of it, eventually, because there seemed to be better, lighter, louder options out there.
 
#6
I have an old WM12, and it does a pretty darned good job when I run my basses (DB & slab) through my SansAmp Para. The WM12 is a heavy, boxy thing, but that's probably why it's got such a good low frequency response for a 12... it's a big, deep cab for a 12.

I'm pretty interested in checking out a WP12 at some point. They're not really identified with the cream of the crop for DB, but their price is a whole lot friendlier than that stuff tends to be. the WP12 looks a little less bulky, and the wedge/monitor shape & function look to be pretty handy. I could whine that it's only 6 lbs. lighter than its predecessor, but I've got a nice, sturdy folding hand cart for schlepping amps now! :D

If I can find one at a local music store I may have to lug my DB in to check it out someday...
 
#7
yes, pdbass, I'm talking about the brand new one, with wedged monitor design. I've tried both of the old ones. The Norwegian Academy of Music had the very old ones with the funny design, and they worked pretty fine, though I think they had the normal input impedance that is like 0.5 Mohm. I think the Mark II was likewise, but this new WorkingPro has 3.9 Mohm input impedance (according to SWR's website), which makes the piezos more responsive and the sound gets more even and balanced. Just wondered if anyone had any experience playing double bass on these new ones. I think the new wedged construction is ideal for double bass, because you gets the sound right behind your back and up to your ears instead of getting the sound rumbling into the back of the bass, which also creates phase problems.
 
#9
Pdbass.....what alternatives do you mean to be better than the WP?
If you mean Markbass and such, I can agree, but they are more expensive though. And I don't think they feature the same high input impedance that the WP has.
 
#10
Yes, I'm referring to the Markbass 1x12 combo and even the GK-MB 150 combo. The GK can be pushed a little, and cuts through much better, IMHO. The Markbass sounds good for DB and damn good for EB. The input impedance is not optimal for most pickups, though. It would be wise to use a preamp with certain piezos, but IMO, it's the best sounding, doubling amp--hands down.

I got rid of the WorkingPro 12 because it just didn't cut it for me at anything above a medium volume. It sounds good, but at louder volumes just seems to bury itself in the mix--tilted back or straight up and down. The GK (and more so the Markbass) give me that presence a lot more, in a smaller, lighter, louder package.

IMHO.
 
#13
I´ve got a second hand Fishman Platinum Pro Bass at hand for $150, but am a little concerned ´bout the 10 Mohm impedance. I´ve not got much experience with Fishman preamps and similar products, but I feel that 10 Mohm is a littlebit too much: the piezo sounds too soft in my opinion.
Radial has got this DI with variable input impedance up to 3.9 Mohm. But Radial is expensive though.......

Any of you guys have any experience with the Platinum bass preamp?
Some reviews I´ve read tells that it is noisy........
 
#16
Bassalova said:
I´ve got a second hand Fishman Platinum Pro Bass at hand for $150, but am a little concerned ´bout the 10 Mohm impedance. I´ve not got much experience with Fishman preamps and similar products, but I feel that 10 Mohm is a littlebit too much: the piezo sounds too soft in my opinion.
Click to expand...

As far as I know, the higher the better, but you can simply solder a 3.9Meg resistor on the input jack, inside your Fishman preamp, if you really want less than 10M.
3.9M in parallel with 10M would give 2.8M.
 
#18
Francois Blais said:
As far as I know, the higher the better, but you can simply solder a 3.9Meg resistor on the input jack, inside your Fishman preamp, if you really want less than 10M.
3.9M in parallel with 10M would give 2.8M.
Click to expand...

Hmm...my physics knowledge is not up to date. But you migh have engineer knowledge for what I know :)

Do you think it would work by soldering a resistor on the leader inside the plug of a jack cable? Making sort of a "piezo-cable"! I don't think it would be necessary with 9V battery like preamps have, 'cause it gets part of the circuit.
What say you?
 
#20
Cool, Francois! Do you know where to find such parts of good quality? Allparts? What´s the size of a resistor like this? Will it fit inside a jack plug?

It´s funny that f.i. Planet Waves or similar companies haven´t though of this: "Piezo Cable". The market is existing, both double bass pickups and acoustic guitars.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back