Hi Guys,
I have an Idea, how about if we design a versatile bass preamp?
Probably this preamp should have 3-4 Parametric EQ ( BASS-MID-TREBLE / BASS- MID BASS-MID HIGH- TREBLE), MID SCOOP/ SLAP Button. WE also can Vary MID CUTOFF, Bright/Ultra Low Switch, If Possible, add some Compressor.
Now, Let's talk about First STage of this Preamp.
Using FET?Or OPAMP? in buffer/inverting?
Let's build together this bass preamp, awaiting your opinion.
Thanks😀
I have an Idea, how about if we design a versatile bass preamp?
Probably this preamp should have 3-4 Parametric EQ ( BASS-MID-TREBLE / BASS- MID BASS-MID HIGH- TREBLE), MID SCOOP/ SLAP Button. WE also can Vary MID CUTOFF, Bright/Ultra Low Switch, If Possible, add some Compressor.
Now, Let's talk about First STage of this Preamp.
Using FET?Or OPAMP? in buffer/inverting?
Let's build together this bass preamp, awaiting your opinion.
Thanks😀
So, basically, if I hook it up to an standard amp (see gainclone), I would have what is called a "bass amplifier"? Like the one I hook to my big speakers cabinet for playing bass?
It would be very interesting to made one for my bass 😀
It would be very interesting to made one for my bass 😀
That's all that's inside my bass heads - a preamp and a poweramp. A single gainclone won't go very loud, probably not even enough for stage monitoring in most cases as they're <60W.
But keep in mind that ours are REAL watts, not those high comercial numbers. We use to overspec the PSU, use big heavy transformers, put big capacitance or even regulated supplies (I use one). And the main chip with a good bypass and a short signal path.
All of this paired with 2 cabinets of high efficiency and power, and a high enough preamp signal.........and I think you are ready to wreck 😎
On stage, 200W for a bassist is the minimum, as it s not even enough to
sound as loud as the guitarist s 50W amp s...
2 X 200W should do it...
I've never tested a pro amp that measured under spec (some MI stuff is a bit exacggerated, but not all), I'd rather have a SMPS rather than lug weight around due to silly audiophile excessiveness in the PS and considering the processing and EQ that's often involved in getting the tone you want, 'short signal path' means nothing.
Oh, and years of experience tells me that 60W is nowhere near enough except for very small pubs with low allowable SPL.
As Brett has already said, guitar and PA use real RMS watts (as do any decent HiFi gear as well), it's only cheap junk and in-car stuff which uses wildly exaggerated specs.
There are various 'gain clone' type bass combo's about, 60W is enough for sensible playing - even in large rooms, where the PA should be doing the power anyway, the combo is only monitoring.
But this depends heavily on the size of the place where you are playing, how many musicians are, what style of music are you performing or what level of loudness are you willing to achieve.
Brett, I agree with you that is not needed any of the inconvenients of the audiophile reasons, so better go with an SMPS. buying an SMPS you can solve it. And don't need the diode bridge and smoothing caps.
For playing when you are practising, is OK because you dont have to carry it.
BTW, I play alone at my home the bass, and have it connected to the input of an EMU 0404 USB (high impedance instrument input, nice preamplifier). Then it goes to a gainclone with a regulated supply and big caps, 300va transformer. Then to my big boxes.
It sound really really good, I can't complain at all despite the fact that I can only control the tone of the sound by the instrument's onboard pot. Maybe too much pure and audiophile for me to really like it. That's why I need a bass preamp 😀
Even if you had just the preamp you could DI in to the venue PA? I think that should be a big consideration in to the design (though saying that I have a Hartke 3500 head powering 4x10" and 1x15" cabs)
How much power? How dynamic is your playing. Its more about headroom than volume. You start playing slap and the peaks go thru the roof. So to avoid clipping you either peak limit or have lots of spare power.
Sure, but then you put the requirement for monitoring back to the stage monitors, which with few exceptions, suck at reproducing BG well enough for this purpose, and most smaller venues/rigs don't have sufficient capability to give the bassist a dedicated mix. IEMs can help, but not if the bassist cannot hear themselves adequately in them.
Well, i did talk about my own experiences.
Usualy , five musicians ,i.e , drums/bass/keyboards/guitar/singer,
with musics relying heavily on the bass and drum grooves, jazz , funk
reggae and their likes.
In a trio rock band, the bassist still need enough power, as the
guitar and drum generaly play quiete loudly with sustained high
level sound.
You are right, wahab.
Also remember that per each time you double the power, you're getting only 3db more. So a 200W amp compared to a gainclone (68W) would sound "only" like 4 or 5 decibels louder.
Also remember that per each time you double the power, you're getting only 3db more. So a 200W amp compared to a gainclone (68W) would sound "only" like 4 or 5 decibels louder.
I agree, so assuming we are talking about the same thing, do you want the DI to simply be a flat, clean buffer that bypasses any onboard signal processing and simply provides a separate +4 balanced output?
If so, then we are at this point so far;
BG - input buffer/gain stage - (signal processing) - balanced o/p to poweramp
---------------------------- {split} (before VC) clean bypass to FOH.
Now, what signal processing and feature do people want?
The power argument is irrelevant as this is a PREAMP thread.
As a slight aside, if I were to start playing out again, this would be the sort of rig I would build for myself;
- good preamp
- any rack FX units I need
- good lightweight pro poweramp such as Yamaha P7000S
- wideband speaker system such as the 15/6/1 fEarful
- all of the above would fit onto a standard removalist's hand truck so I don't have to carry it anywhere.
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At least two parallel outputs is nice as well, because most separate poweramps are stereo, AND adding speakers is way more efficient than adding watts.
It's amazing how few (or none) commercially available preamps have two parallel outputs, a host of send returns, a crossover, multiple di outs etc. etc. but to connect to your power amp you have to go messing about with an Y-lead.
Also, a transformer coupled out which you can "push" a little to get some saturation would be nice as well. I'm not into tone controls, a standard Fender stack is fine, but YMMV.
Those fearful speakers look great, I did see the coming about a while back, that's also the design they had Carvin make in a limited series, right? Apparently, the passive crossovers where something of an achilles heel.
It's amazing how few (or none) commercially available preamps have two parallel outputs, a host of send returns, a crossover, multiple di outs etc. etc. but to connect to your power amp you have to go messing about with an Y-lead.
Also, a transformer coupled out which you can "push" a little to get some saturation would be nice as well. I'm not into tone controls, a standard Fender stack is fine, but YMMV.
Those fearful speakers look great, I did see the coming about a while back, that's also the design they had Carvin make in a limited series, right? Apparently, the passive crossovers where something of an achilles heel.
It would be cool to have not only 2 inputs (low and high) for
the bass , but also a third input to connect a rythm machine, as
it s a good thing to mix the bass and the drums for home training.
The third input should not use the same path as the bass signal.
An independant 2 or 3 pots baxandall would be adequate, but then,
this would inflate the requirements.
the bass , but also a third input to connect a rythm machine, as
it s a good thing to mix the bass and the drums for home training.
The third input should not use the same path as the bass signal.
An independant 2 or 3 pots baxandall would be adequate, but then,
this would inflate the requirements.
Maybe that could be an optional module? That could indeed come in handy, also in the studio, so you can make your own monitor mix.
Another one could be a high quality headphone amp (not just an opamp or LM386 per channel, but something nice).
Another one could be a high quality headphone amp (not just an opamp or LM386 per channel, but something nice).
Greenboy found a Carvin cab that was excellent performer for the money, then began experimenting with better drivers in the same general 3 way format, and that begat the fEarful range.
Agreed, a useful function both for practice and for some small gigs, eg girl and guitar support in small venues. It's really only an opamp and pot, so not hard to include.
The more I think about this a bunch of modules might be the way to do it, a bit like the fEarful cabs, so people can mix and match what they want and need and create a pre that suits their requirements.
So what features do people want?
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