Author Topic: Avalon U5 (Read 141 times)

spose · « **on:** March 06, 2009, 09:09:03 AM »

greetings
I just picked up a Avalon U5 DI
is anyone using one with their Alembic bass? How are you using it? I was thinking of using the summed mono out from my DS5 power supply into the U5. If I love this, I may just get another one so I can run both signals from my Series bass.
Does anyone use the amp input section?

this baby seems nice, I will be using it in the studio this month.

any tips at all?
thanks!!

spose · « **Reply #1 on:** March 06, 2009, 09:24:40 AM »

oh..my current rig is

Series bass -DS5- Alembic F1X into GK RB1001 into two mesa cabs(2x10 & 1x15)

wayne · « **Reply #2 on:** March 06, 2009, 11:20:52 AM »

I've used the U5 a couple of times and it sounded .... like a bass running through a U5. It did not sound like my Alembic.

I wish you better luck than I had.

I use one of 3 options for DI (in order of preference): F1X, Little Labs RedEye, Radial JDI.

C-Ya..........wayne

spose · « **Reply #3 on:** March 08, 2009, 07:48:33 AM »

really?
wow..okay. I'll be tring the U5 this week in the studio. I know I love my tone direct into the console without a DI. I tried the DI from my F1X and there was too much noise and the signal was weak.
I'll report back on the U5.

thanks for the reply!

briant · « **Reply #4 on:** March 08, 2009, 01:35:49 PM »

I will eventually buy an Avalon U5. I used one when recording an album with a band I'm no longer in. The best thing about the album was the bass and drum tone... but that's another story and entirely too off topic for the sake of this thread.

Listen to Tiptoe here:
http://www.myspace.com/lateseptemberdogs

While I think that was the worst song that made the album that bass tone is tasty. It's my JPJ into an Avalon U5 with some minor compression and EQ added later during mixdown.

FWIW - the rest of the songs on that myspace site were also recorded with the Avalon U5 but the basses were not an Alembic. If I remember correctly most of the rest are a Mike Lull M5. Maybe An Angel might have also been a Stingray 5... but I honestly can't remember. Those recording sessions were a long ass time ago. I do know for certain that all the songs I played on a 4 string were the JPJ.

benson_murrensun · « **Reply #5 on:** March 10, 2009, 01:29:31 PM »

I love my Avalon U5. The headphone sound is great. The pre-selected EQ curves are very usable. I don't think I ever had my Alembic plugged into it, though. It was probably with other basses. I have not used the speaker in, so I can't say if I like that circuit.

llobsterbass · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2009, 10:08:02 AM »

My buddy had a U5 as the bass DI in his studio for years, and everything sounded great through it, including my Orion. But the Orion sounds great all the time!

edwin · « **Reply #7 on:** March 16, 2009, 06:37:42 PM »

I like it OK, but I think my Groove Tubes DITTO sounds a lot better.

Edwin

krystoof · « **Reply #8 on:** March 16, 2009, 11:38:03 PM »

I have the tube preamp the Brick from Groove Tubes, and it sounds soooooooo much better than the U5, much more simple, and so much more efficient!!! :-)))

thebass · « **Reply #9 on:** March 17, 2009, 01:43:43 AM »

I tried the U5 to record with my Orion-5 fretless. Without the EQ presets it is as clean as you can ever get, almost as if it is not existing in your signal path. If you like that, then the U5 will work out great for you. But in the end I preferred the Universal Audio LA-610 to record my tracks.