Preamps and Amplifiers
for Double Bass

Most piezo pickups require a high input impedance. But most bassguitar amps have only a low impedance input – which may results in a scratchy, thin and brittle sound from the piezo. Therefore, outboard buffer preamps are recommended in order to get the best sound from your pickup.

Get a quick overview on design and features of our preamps at the preamp overview table.

Some amps, e.g. the Phil Jones amps, already have a “piezo-friendly” input impedance of >4 mOhms. - an external preamp may be used, but isn't necessary for buffering.

ANS

Michael Schäfer, the manufacturer of the Bassbalsereit pickups, has designed a very compact preamp/DI for double bass pickups: the ANS Micro DI.
All circuits are built int the XLR adaptor, which is only 8 cm long.

The ANS MicroDi can be used with virtually all piezo pickups. As input it has a the widely used 1/2" jack, as output a XLR (male). The Micro Di runs on phantom power, which needs to be supplied by the amp, mixing console or active DI box.

Due to the compact ize, the ANS Micro DI can be placed very close to the pickup, the signal source. Therefore, the potential loss of signal quality can be reduced to a minimum.

Price: 149,– €*

A second version of the ANS preamp is the ANS Cable DI, which has the preamp built into the XLR plug of a 12 cm instrument cable. Only high quality parts are used: plugs are made by Neutrik, the cable is made by Klotz.

Price: 159,– €*

 

Tech21 Para Driver DI

The Para Driver DI is a preamp+DI-box and can be used either direct to a mixing console or with an instrument amplifier. The SansAmp circuitry eliminates the harsh, unnatural harmonics of piezo pickups, while the Drive control offers some tasteful edge.

The active tone controls can be bypassed by foot switch and offer bass, treble and semi-parametric mid controls.

Price: 249,– €*

• active tone control: bass, sweepable semi-parametric mids, treble
• 4,7 MOhm input inpedance
• XLR + Line out
• Phantom power operable, or utilizes an optional 9V DC power supply or 9V battery (not included)

 

Headway EDB1 2-channel preamp

The EDB1 (Sheer Acoustic Equaliser Direct Blend) is a mega multi-purpose and compact external pre-amplifier box of pro-audio quality. You can completely shape your sound with its five band interactive EQ, switchable input impedance and three way Range Switch which cut unwanted low end tones, below the useable frequency range of the instrument. This cuts body handling noise, unwanted resonaces, feedback and bowing noise. Feedback and other resonance problems may be further tackled by a very effective, broad ranging tunable notch filter and a Phase Reverse control.

Inputs are via Mono Jack, Stereo Jack and XLR, via Two Channels, which enable you to blend in an extra pickup, or Microphone and you can plug into them via one or two standard mono jack leads, a jack lead plus an XLR, or a stereo jack lead.

The Input Impedance Switches on each channel, allow you to optimise the voicing for any of the major pickup types, while a huge amount of extra levels can be applied via the Gain controls and additionally by the Master Volume.

Phantom power is also available to Jack In and XLR Inputs, making the unit friendly for use with quality Condenser Mics and Instruments wired with no battery inside instrument, but with active pickups needing powering.

Outputs are via a balanced XLR D.I. out and a line out Jack. If an earth loop is heard causing hum, you may kill it by pressing the Earth Lift Switch. The two outputs also allow you to split the signal, such as between Acoustic Combo amp for stage monitoring and an out front mixing desk.

EDB-1 can be mounted on its rubber feet, carried with you on the belt clip, or mounted via a mic stand, with an optional bracket. Powering is via two 9v PP3 ( 6F22 ) Batteries, or via plug in DC Power supply.

The “Swiss Army Knife“ for acoustic instrument amplification.

Price: 229,– €*

• Two Channel Mixing option
  (for e. g. two pickups, or pickup + microphone)
• Phantom power option
  (18 V; for condenser mic like e.g. the dpa 4099B or to active pickup system)
• Mono/Stereo Jacks Inputs, XLR input
• Input impedance switchable to optimise various pickup types
• 3 Way "Range" Control selects High Pass Filter (Low cut settings for Guitar, Violin or Bass)
• 5 Band interactive EQ
• Tunable Notch Filter with variable band width + In/Out
• Balanced XLR Line Out ( Mix of 2 Channels ) + Earth Lift Switch
• Jack Line Out in Mono Mix of 2 Channels.
• Battery or External DC Plug In Power Supply
• Low Battery Indicator
• Dimensions L: 138mm. W: 93mm. D: 38mm (D: 43mm incl. low profile knobs)

Download Manual (PDF)

Fishman Pro-EQ Platinum Bass

The Fishman Pro-EQ Platinum Preamp/DI-Box has many useful features for shaping the sound.
Smart: the Pro-EQ has a 3-way power from 9V battery, 48V phantom (from e.g. mixing console), or AC adaptor.

• Five-band EQ precisely shapes and sculpts bass tone
• Feedback-fighting phase switch
• Soft-knee, pump-free, photo-optic bass compressor
• Depth knob (low-cut filter) for big bottom without boom
• Exclusive Voltage Doubler Circuit - stands up to high output active basses
• Easy access battery compartment
• XLR DI (with ground/lift and pre/post switches) for pro-sound & recording
• Tuner/Send output
• 3-way power from 9V battery, 48V phantom or AC adapter (not incl.)

Price: 172,– Euro*

Lehle Sunday Driver Preamp/Buffer

The Lehle Sunday Driver is a high end preamp with a convenient compact format. It features JFET-based circuitry and provides two modes of operation, with selection via a mode selector switch with gold-plated contacts:
"D" stands for Driver; in this mode, the signal is amplified, with absolutely no modification, at the input impedance of 1 MOhm, efficiently eliminating losses on the route through leads and effects; the signal remains strong and clear, retaining its full dynamics.
The second setting "S" - as in Sunday - multiplies input impedance by four to 4 MOhm, bringing out previously inaudible details and, as gain increases, imparting to the bass sound a characteristic and unmistakable warmth that has given this preamp its name - the result is a sound "as mellow as a sunny Sunday afternoon" … Even at a 15dB gain setting, the Lehle Sunday Driver always stays clean and absolutely free of background noise, thanks to its studio-standard signal-to-noise ratio of over -100 dB.
With its broad output range of 20 to 100,000 Hz, the Lehle Sunday Driver, powered by a standard 9V (PP3) battery, can be used anywhere, whether as a buffer for piezo pickups, as a cable driver for stadium and other large stages, in complex effects set-ups or as a recording preamp - and not just Sundays!

Sunday Driver Price: 133,– Euro*

The XLR version has a symmetrical XLR output and a ground-lift switch instead of a line-out.

Sunday Driver XLR Price: 142,– Euro*

Other smart products made by Burkhard Lehle available upon request!

PJB Briefcase

The PJB Briefcase is a really small bass amp. It's not much larger than a briefcase, but due to 100W RMS it sounds as powerful as much bigger amps. With only 13kg of weight, the briefcase is the ideal companion for all double bassists who don't like large and heavy ams. For tone equalization, there's a 5-band EQ und a switchable Compressor/Limiter.
Very special: the briefcase uses two 12.7 cm (5") loudspeakers, what makes the compact design of the enclosure possible. Another very unique feature is the power supply: you can use it with 220V/110V AC, 12V DC or with an internal rechargeble battery (a 12V DC coiled charging cable is included).

The PJB Amps are manufactured by Phil Jones Bass, a division of AAD (American Acoustic Development). Besides bassamps, founder Phil Jones and his 150 employees design and build loudspeakers and high-end products for home-, car- and pro-audio.

Price: 595,– Euro*

• 100 Watt RMS amp
• active or passive input (high impedance, suitable for most piezos)
• Compressor/Limiter (switchable)
• 5-Band EQ
• headphone output, Balanced-line out, Pre-amp out, speaker out
• power supply: either 12 Volt (e.g. from car battery), 110/220 Volt, or built-in rechargeble battery (not included)
• 2 x 12.7 cm (5") full-range bass speaker
• size 17 cm x 37 cm x 40 cm
• weight 12,7 kg
• besides black, "Candy Apple Red" colour is available as option.

further informations: Briefcase manual (PDF)

PJB Flightcase BG-150

The Flightcase’s enclosure contains four 12.7 cm/5” drivers: two facing up and two facing out. A proprietary 5” NeoPower speaker was developed to be powerful and responsive but at a very light weight. Even, balanced tone that projects up and out for consistent, amazing sound - no matter where you are standing.

Coupled with an all new lightweight 150-watt digital amplifier, the Flightcase weighs in at 11 kg only. The input impedance of 4 MOhm and the very effective EQ section with Lo-Bass/Hi-Bass/Lo-Mid/Hi-Mid/Treble controls make The Flightcase perfect match for Double Bass.

Price: 795,– Euro*

• 150W output
• 5 band EQ + limiter
• 2 upward & 2 front facing speakers (4 x PJB NeoPower Type A)
• Active/passive input
• headphone out, DI out, pre-amp out
• Size: 35 x 32 x 40 cm (H x W x D)
  
• Weight: 24 lbs / 11 kg
• Volts: 100 to 240V AC
• besides black, "Candy Apple Red" colour is available as option.

Download Manual (PDF)

PJB Bass Cub BG-100

The bass Cub is the smallest bass combo amp I know. Like the briefcase, it has 100 W power and two 5" speakers, but is much lighter and smaller. Two independent channels can accept two instruments or instrument + microphone. It also has a stereo input for Drum machine or I-pod/MP3 player. Practicing can be done with the 2 internal speakers or headphones.

• 100W output
• 2 channels:
  bass input, suited for piezo pickup (Input impedance 4 MOhm); and Microphone/magnetic pickup input
• 2 x 3 band EQ, limiter, headphone out, DI out, pre-amp out
• additional stereo input (for e.g. mp3-player)
• Size 30,5 x 27,5 x 20 cm (12 x 10.8 x 7.8 inch) W x D x H weight 13.2 lbs / 6 kg
• 2 x PJB NeoPower Type A speakers
• comes with a padded carrying bag

Price: 450,– Euro*

Download manual (PDF)

QCS powered speakers (active loudspeakers)

Clear and powerful sound – the powered speakers by QSC, a manufacturer spezialized in prefesional audio systems, have as much as 1000 W output power and sound great with the double bass.

Two combo XLR and 1/4" TRS inputs accept both Mic and Line Level input while a set of RCA phono inputs allow additional connectivity to portable MP3 players, CD players and line-level mixers. Up to three audio sources can be mixed internally and summed to a balanced output for "daisy-chaining" of multiple units. Separate direct outputs are also provided on each channel for additional output flexibility.

Accessories (optional): carrying softcase, stand. Model K12 available upon request, too.

Please note: active speakers have a low impedance input and no EQ controls, which makes an external preamp necessary for double bass amplification with piezo pickups.

QSC K8

• Inputs: Mic, Line, Cinch (e. g. for iPod or drum machine)
• 1000 W Class D (2 x 500 W)
• 8" cone transducer, 1.75" diaphragm compression driver
• frequency range 61 Hz–20 kHz, max. SPL127 dB
• size 450 x 280 x 269 mm, weight 12.2 kg

Price: 699,– Euro*

QSC K10

• Inputs: Mic, Line, Cinch (e. g. for iPod or drum machine)
• 1000 W Class D (2 x 500 W)
• 10"cone transducer, 1.75" diaphragm compression driver
• frequency range 60 Hz–18 kHz, max SPL 129 dB
• size 519 x 320 x 300 mm, weight 14,5 kg

Price: 799,– Euro*

 

Download QSC product folder (PDF)

 

* All prices incl. 19% VAT, excl. shipping.