U2start.com | U2 & Guitar Gear: Q & A

Originally posted by anstratdubh1979:[..]

I think there may be a few Bass processors out there. And Boss and Digitech make bass effects. Line 6 makes a Bass Pod. There are some options out there.

Yeah, I know. But since we're low on cash and high on expenses, we're trying to save money however we can right now. The one we have in mind is the DigiTech BP200.

RattleandHum1988

15 years

Originally posted by U2Nick:[..]

Yeah, I know. But since we're low on cash and high on expenses, we're trying to save money however we can right now. The one we have in mind is the DigiTech BP200.

Get jobs

MattG

15 years

Question-

I've got a small garage band thing going on for this coming summer with a bunch of high school seniors that we're doing to play shows are various graduation parties. It's all cover material. Basically, we're not looking to be spending big bucks on gear, as this just sort of a way to play together one last time before we go our separate ways. The gear we've got already on our own is sufficient enough... except for the signer's amp.

It's wayyy too quiet, and when we mix everything and get levels set, etc., the vocals just can't be cranked loud enough to be heard over everything else. We tried turning everything else down, but the drums then overpower it all.

We would have a pretty ideal volume/mix if we could just boost the microphone level a bit. Is this what a preamp is used for? There are some preamps on Guitar Center's website, and I'm thinking about running in there today to pick one up. They're only 30 bucks for what it looks like what we're looking for. Basically, plug the preamp into the setup and crank it just a tad to boost the mic volume. It says it also warms tone, etc., but am I wrong in assuming that this will give us the necessary boost?

Edit: Link
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Behringer-MIC200-Tube-Ultra-Gain-Preamp-182491-i1125225.gc

RattleandHum1988

15 years

That's strange..What kind of speaker is the mic going through? In my band I'm singing into a mic that's coming out of an old fender tube amp, obviously not what its for, but it's my friends old amp he doesn't use and it's plenty loud.

thechicken

15 years

Originally posted by EyesWithPrideB3:Question-

I've got a small garage band thing going on for this coming summer with a bunch of high school seniors that we're doing to play shows are various graduation parties. It's all cover material. Basically, we're not looking to be spending big bucks on gear, as this just sort of a way to play together one last time before we go our separate ways. The gear we've got already on our own is sufficient enough... except for the signer's amp.

It's wayyy too quiet, and when we mix everything and get levels set, etc., the vocals just can't be cranked loud enough to be heard over everything else. We tried turning everything else down, but the drums then overpower it all.

We would have a pretty ideal volume/mix if we could just boost the microphone level a bit. Is this what a preamp is used for? There are some preamps on Guitar Center's website, and I'm thinking about running in there today to pick one up. They're only 30 bucks for what it looks like what we're looking for. Basically, plug the preamp into the setup and crank it just a tad to boost the mic volume. It says it also warms tone, etc., but am I wrong in assuming that this will give us the necessary boost?

Edit: Link
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Behringer-MIC200-Tube-Ultra-Gain-Preamp-182491-i1125225.gc

You can try it, but to me it sounds like a great way to blow a speaker or some other component.
How loud does this amp sound with a guitar?Loud enough?

Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:That's strange..What kind of speaker is the mic going through? In my band I'm singing into a mic that's coming out of an old fender tube amp, obviously not what its for, but it's my friends old amp he doesn't use and it's plenty loud.

Valve amps, or tube amps as you call it, may get louder because they allow the famous valve distortion to happen. It may be very loud and distort just a little bit and only on certain frequencies in a way that it sounds clean and clear to our ears. If course it could be that it is a more powerful amp you are talking about, or with different components, but this "valve phenomenon" do happen.

MattG

15 years

Originally posted by thechicken:[..]

You can try it, but to me it sounds like a great way to blow a speaker or some other component.
How loud does this amp sound with a guitar?Loud enough?
happen.

No, not really. It's a relatively small amp, but going in to a relatively BIG speaker. My plan is to line it up like this and see if it works- if not, I can return the cheap little preamp thing, I checked with the guy from GC, he said it's worth a shot-

Mic into Amp
Amp's Speaker Output into Preamp Input
Preamp's Output into Speaker Input

I bought a different version, too, which actually has a meter on it so you can see when you're reaching potential speaker blow. We'll keep it way below the line to save our asses. But this way, the signal is boosted between the amp's output and the speaker's input- we're not boosting the gain going INTO the amp, causing a blow. We'll basically be overriding the amp's volume and instead leveling off of the preamp's volume knob.

This is all completely experimental, and I have NO idea if it'll work. But we all chipped in for some of this equipment, and we're not risking any of our nice stuff (expensive amps and mics), so there's not TOO terribly much to worry about. If it doesn't work, each of us is out roughly 10 bucks. I can deal with that.

MattG

15 years

Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:That's strange..What kind of speaker is the mic going through? In my band I'm singing into a mic that's coming out of an old fender tube amp, obviously not what its for, but it's my friends old amp he doesn't use and it's plenty loud.

The speaker is an old JBL, half of a PA setup my uncle was throwing away. One speaker blew out, he gave me the other. We're routing it right now, Mic->Amp->JBL, and the amp simply wont turn up loud enough to really boost through the JBL speaker. We're getting sound, it's just not much better than the amp's. The amp is a little tiny 15 or 20 watt amp. All of us have 75s or 90s, for the guitars. Mucccch louder.

MattG

15 years

Tried this out- worked like a charm

AchtungMadchen

15 years

anstratdubh1979

15 years

So first there were a few variations of a Reverse Stryker that finalized with the release of the Warwick Adam Clayton Reverso bass.

Then Warwick made Adam a gold sparkle Streamer Stage II (seen at the Brandenburg Gate show)

...And now... Warwick Adam Clayton Custom Shop Star Bass II (in gold finish).

My guess is that this might take the place of the vintage gold finish Gibson Les Paul Signature that Adam has been using for U2: 360 performances of "Mysterious Ways". Time will tell for certain. And as the tour is 3 weeks away...

Pictures? Certainly!

Specs? Naturally.

Scale: 34" Longscale
Frets: 21 Dunlop 6230 nickel silver
Fingerboard wood: Tigerstripe Ebony
Inlays: Block Inlays, mother of pearl
Neck wood: Flamed Maple
Finish: Triumph Gold High Polish, 3-layered
Pickups: MEC passive Star Bass
Electronics: MEC passive
Nut: Graphite
Bridge: Warwick 2-piece
Strap holders: Schaller Security Locks
Hardware color: Gold

More info...
Warwick Basses Amps & Rock'n Roll

And thanks to Scott Jones for the heads up on this.

thechicken

15 years

Hmmmm now we are talking!
I don't know about the sound, but at least this one looks good and classy.

My guess is that it sounds very bassy and muddy. Great!

LikeASong

15 years

WON - DER - FUL !!!!!!!!!!!

I also do think that it must produce some warm and comfortable tones, I hope he uses it on the next legs of the tour! And great that he has his own new model

U2 & Guitar Gear: Q & A

what they said

did you know

you

forums

U2start