Upright Bass Amplification

[shandydash]

Hi

Anyone got any advice on amplifying an upright bass... Just moved to upright from 'the plank' and I don't think my SVT2Pro is really suited to it. Any suggestions. Internet searches are drawing blanks.

Cheers

[Tom Capasso]

"Amplifying an upright" is a broad topic. You've got the entire path from mic/pickup, on-board (or near-board) preamp, amplifier, and speakers. And most URBs are used in more quieter circumstances than bass guitars (or they have a PA to support them).

 

You mentioned your head. I'm not sure that it's suited or not. It wouldn't be the first thing I replace, though you will have to spend some serious time readjusting your thinking about EQ.

 

Many URB players use combos (not necessarily low power, just not a stack). It seems to fit their vibe and playing circumstance.

 

Others will chime in, but let me be the first to point you to gollihur.com. Bob sells equipment spanning the signal chain, and has some educational material mixed in. I'd start there.

 

Thanks

Tom

[tnb]

A lot of the uprite guys use some pretty highbrow sh*t.

 

Acoustic Image and Walter Wood (no website and zero advertising) are 2 favorites. I know a few guys using Epifani and Euphonic Audio gear. The GK 200MB combo has kept a lot of players happy for years. A friend of mine gets great results using an Ampeg B-15 combo.

 

 

 

[Bob Gollihur]

You'll find that most "bass guitar" amps tend to have a native sound, and often the EQ available (like "Enhance" knobs and the like) are designed to achieve a more electric sound. Their nature is not always best for URB and other acoustic instruments, where IMHO I want to hear the instrument, not the amp.

 

There are some makers that have a design spec aimed at acoustic instruments or a more linear sound, like some mentioned here. It's not only acoustic players, but many electric players who are find choosing their own EQ and sound more desirable than a more generic tone.

 

The other factor to consider is input impedance. If you are using an outboard preamp that satisfies the URB pickup's impedance matching needs, it's not a concern. The reason I mention it is that most bass guitar amps don't have the ultrahigh impedance input levels that piezo pickups want to see. I have two entries in my Upright Bass FAQs that address that: one called "Do you need a preamp?", the other "OHMS & IMPEDANCE from the INPUT perspective". Both are in my list of Upright Bass FAQs

[SteveC]

I think your choice of pickup/mic/whatever and EQ play the biggest part. I will echo looking/talking to Bob G. I used a K&K BassMax pickup that worked really well through an Avalon U5. Kinda spendy, but as tnb said, a lot of upright guys have a lot of pretty hi-tech gear.

 

Of course some don't use anything, which works if you are inside with an acoustic or very soft trio or quartet. I don't know how those guys did it with big bands in the old days.