4ropebottom

Thanks Rev and Bassbod. Good input. Basically, I play almost exclusively double bass, and I play jazz and folk-rock about 50/50. Nothing high volume at all, typically relatively small venues. My primary objectives in amplification (a necessary evil): 1. Retain the woody, natural sound of an upright bass. Nothing that sounds "processed". 2. Light, small, and trouble free. Does not require a separate preamp. Etc.

Very helpful, Gentlemen. Since I play 95% to 99% upright, it sounds like this may be a great amp. I have a GK MB 150 S that I've used for about 10 years with the MBX112 extension cab. I've enjoyed it, but the MB 150 appears to be going on the blink. I will try to get it repaired, but I'm looking for a second amp to decide which I like better as a primary amp. Any opinions on using this EA with the GK MBX112 extension cab? Rated at 100W at 8 ohms (the cab)

Anyone ever used this amp? Thoughts?

Fattgoogle: you bear an uncanny resemblance to Scott LaFaro! I'm strongly considering buying a Full Circle pickup. I've heard lots of really good things about those re: sound and feedback. What bass are you playing?

bassace - there's no high pitch problem. It's a low to low-midrange "foghorn" sound when I take my fingers off the strings or set the bass down. When I'm playing, it's a little of both, but primarily the unusual echo and overtones that makes it hard to distinguish the note that is being played, and sometimes even sounds a bit like two notes at once.

Thanks Clarky. Tried the amp placement...not much luck. Did put a towel under the tailpiece - helped a wee bit. Going to try the fishman next, and possibly a Full Circle pickup, because the Realist sits on the top, and the top of this bass is very resonant. Had another guy tell me that rolling up the towel between the bridge legs worked much better than under the tailpiece....

I have an old Fishman pro-EQ platinum plus. Will that do it? Or do I need more bands to find the right one, yet leave some sound?

[b] I recently sold my German hybrid Eberle and bought a Shen. Unamplified, the Shen is a superior instrument with a much better sound. However, I'm having some serious problems with the feedback on this instrument. I use a Realist through a GK MB150 with matching extension cab. I'm actually considering a magnetic pickup because of it - I always said I wouldn't do that, because I want it to sound like an upright bass. But one can't go to gigs not knowing whether you will be able to dial in a sound that is full, balanced, at an acceptable volume without feedback! AARRGHH! Anyone have advice?[/b]

[quote name='spencer.b' timestamp='1361925331' post='1993319'] I use the dpa with a qsc k10 powered speaker on a stand, having it up on a stand is the key to getting enough level before it feeds back, I sometimes put the mic thru an amp and it sounds good but does feedback if you try and crank it [/quote] Spencer.b: how do you eq the powered speaker?

Timbass - thanks so much. Very helpful. I wasn't aware that a microphone worked through an amplifier - Good to know. I wonder whether only certain amps have the right circuitry.

Interesting post Tim. Most of the jazz players I know are against magnetic pickups because they can make the double bass sound like an electric bass. But for you, mixed with the microphone, it apparently works! Where does you microphone go? To the PA? Or an onstage amplifier? In other words, what is your entire signal path?

Thanks everybody. Interesting information. Spencer.b - do you run that microphone into a stage amp? Or only through the PA?

Anyone use a microphone that attaches to the double bass? If so: - which one? - do you use the microphone only? Or do you mix the signal with a pickup? - volume of the band? any insurmountable feedback problems?

Isn't the Westbury bass made by the Eastman company? If so, they are decent basses for the price. Before buying, check out a Shen 150 Hybrid...about $2300 in the US at Upton bass (marked down from 2600). That would be closer to 1400 to 1600 pounds, plus shipping. I have played them both side by side. Prefer the Shen .

[quote name='geoffbassist' timestamp='1356087128' post='1906576'] Great rig! I used the GK combo for years and you still can't beat it for weight and size. With the extension it sounded even better. I also love obligatos and often think about revisiting them. I think they sound great when they are new. Also lovley under the bow. A lot of people didn't like the string roll but I actually quite liked it. 5-8 mm is a great string hight and I'm guessing it means your bass is set up really well. Are you happy with the Shen? [/quote] Yes, I love the Obligatos, and I switched to them originally because they do bow beautifully. But then I found that I also loved the very traditional pizz sound too. All my bass work, including this set up, is done by Robert Ross, a master luthier here in Colorado area. He makes his own basses, which are incredible, but alas, beyond my budget. I have been very happy with the CK set up when combined with the extension cab. It was only adequate prior to getting the extension cab, but that cab boosts the power to 150W and also adds a lot of room on the low end. The cab is 12 pounds, and the combo is 35 pounds, or something. Can't beat that. I like the Shen a lot. I played it in Robert's showroom and was amazed at the punch and round openness of the sound for a new factory bass. And especially at that price point! The craftsmanship is very nice, and of course Robert did a great job with the set up on the nut, bridge, and scooping the fingerboard. He also, as a standard practice, upgrades the endpins and modifies the tailpiece, which helps. The bass which is really amazing to me is that Eminence portable. Check out the youtubes of Marc Johnson playing his with John Abercrombie, or Esperanza Spalding, who also frequently travels with one. It is not an EUB. It is a fully acoustic bass, with the exact same construction, only a reduced size body. But it is fully acoustic - soundpost and everything. Wonderful invention for the traveling bassist that can be placed in its flight case in the overhead compartment of the airplane!

[quote name='4ropebottom' timestamp='1356048294' post='1906341'] Ha! Thanks Geoff. I guess I should give the answers to my questions for myself - didn't think of that! 1. Jazz, World, Folk-Rock 2. 5 - 8 mm 3. Obligatos - I keep going back and forth between these and the Evah Pirazzis. Last 2 sets have been Obligatos. 4. Realist (Gage) 5. GK MB150S with matching extension cab. 6. My main bass is now a Shen 3/4...I've only had it for about 3 weeks. I had a German Hybrid that I really liked for about 10 years. I sold that and a Fender jazz and bought the Shen. (I have an all original 62 P bass, and a fretless jazz too, but I haven't played electric in about 8 years. I keep them for sentimental and investment reasons. One day I'll sell the 62 P bass and my current bass and use the funds to buy my ultimate upright.) I also own an Eminence portable acoustic bass made by a luthier in Minnesota. I keep it in Florida for gigs down there - I'm down there a few times a year. [/quote]

[quote name='geoffbassist' timestamp='1356015953' post='1905759'] ...what's your bass set up 4ropebottom? [/quote] Ha! Thanks Geoff. I guess I should give the answers to my questions for myself - didn't think of that! 1. Jazz, World, Folk-Rock 2. 5 - 8 mm 3. Obligatos - I keep going back and forth between these and the Evah Pirazzis. Last 2 sets have been Obligatos. 4. Realist (Gage) 5. GK MB150S with matching extension cab. 6. My main bass is now a Shen 3/4...I've only had it for about 3 weeks. I had a German Hybrid that I really liked for about 10 years. I sold that and a Fender jazz and bought the Shen. (I have an all original 62 P bass, and a fretless jazz too, but I haven't played electric in about 8 years. I keep them for sentimental and investment reasons. One day I'll sell the 62 P bass and my current bass and use the funds to buy my ultimate upright.) I also own an Eminence portable acoustic bass made by a luthier in Minnesota. I keep it in Florida for gigs down there - I'm down there a few times a year.

[quote name='geoffbassist' timestamp='1356001166' post='1905448'] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]1. Shows,Jazz,BigBands.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]2. 6-9mm[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]3. Evah [/font][/color][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][color=#282828]Weichs[/color][/font] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]4. Full Circle[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]6. Acoustic Image Clarus and Euphonic Audio 12" Wizzy Mline cabinet.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Welcome to the site 4ropebottom.[/font][/color] [/quote] Thanks Geoff! I've got to check out those AI amps...seems a lot of players on this site like them. What kind of bass are you playing?

[quote name='mtroun' timestamp='1355932468' post='1904674'] Looks like I'm winning on string height. You can get addicted to raising your bridge, especially if your bass sounds bigger and better the higher you go. [/quote] Looks like that! By the way - I checked out those Paul Bryant basses on the web. BEAUTIFUL instruments. Being in the USA, I hadn't heard of them. What do they generally go for, if they are in good shape?

[quote name='mtroun' timestamp='1355849753' post='1903648'] I'm probably going to get an Oliv for my G, I have used Evah Pirazzi with Oliv in the past and Obligatos on my teacher's bass. I'm also considering Anima or even plain gut. Love the Spirocores, they're just a tad too bright! [/quote] I didn't think about the Oliv - that's a great idea. Pricey strings, though.

[quote name='fatback' timestamp='1355848419' post='1903619'] Some folks use an external preamp, perhaps a two channel one as a mixer, but the Doubler does allow for the minimum of kit. [/quote] Thanks Fatback. So, with a preamp/mixer you can plug a mic into most any amp?

[quote name='mtroun' timestamp='1355846435' post='1903587'] 1. What style of music do you play most often on double bass? Jazz 2. Given that, what string height do you use for each string? Roughly 13mm on the E to 8mm on the G 3. What brand/model of strings do you like? I use Thomastik Spirocore Mittel, but I'm planning on changing the G string soon as I find it a bit bright. 4. What double bass pickup? David Gage Realist, again would like to swap it for something else, in this case a DPA 4099B 6. What amplification? Mark Bass CMD 121P combo. I also have a Yamaha DXR10 powered speaker that I'm intending to use as my main amplifier when I'm using a microphone-only setup. Bass is a Paul Bryant Soloist model. [/quote] Thanks Mtroun. You may want to try Obligatos or Evah Pirazzi for G, and maybe G and D, and then Spirocore for the rest. Many have found this a delightful combination. Of course, Charlie Haden has often used gut for G and D, and Spirocore for A and E. For me, that transition is a bit too stark.

[quote name='fatback' timestamp='1355838615' post='1903388'] That's the idea. The Doubler has a mic channel with phantom power etc. I can mix it to taste with the other channel hopefully keeping it just below feedback level and boosting up on the piezo side. I've no idea whether a mic will prove worthwhile, but, let's face it, you have to have some piece of expensive kit to lust after or life would be pretty dull. [/quote] I've been wondering about using a mic in an amp for a long time. Thanks for the post revealing that it can be done. I don't know much about the electronics side of this thing. So, I gather that, in order to do it, you have to have an amp with a channel especially designed to accommodate a mic?

[quote name='fatback' timestamp='1355768204' post='1902524'] I wanted steels so i could use the mag pickup in a feedback emergency (which hasn't happened yet). We can be a pretty loud band. Also, I'm inclined to play melodic lines (can't help it ), and the spiros sing very nicely up the dusty end. Love the Doubler. Super light, totally reliable so far and completely transparent sound. When I used to play the bass guitar as well, the twin channels made everything really easy. Don't do much of that now, but I do fancy trying a mic / piezzo combination when funds allow, so looking forward to that. [/quote] Are you going to put both the mic and the piezo into the amp??