Eden Navigator...anybody have one?

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Ford Van

Ford Van

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I just bought an Eden Navigator. If you have one, how do you like it? It was very well reviewed, and I have just loved all other Eden preamps I have ever heard.

Hold me, I am in debt now! :o $550 for it, and I still need a power amp and speakers! I plan to definitely bi-amp and probably run effects (chorus, distortion, wah, etc...) ONLY on the upper cabinet.
 
While not my favorite, Eden makes nice gear. The older stuff was better IMHO - kinda like SWR (since Fender bought them, they kinda went south). I have several of the Eden pre's for my MTS rig, and they are fantastic!

Sounds like it will be a pretty sweet rig when you get it all put together - I used to run my rig that way, just so I could play anesthesia. :D
 
The Eden Navigator is one of my all-time favorite pres. I have never owned one (yet), but had one for an "extended loan" for a while. It was one of the very few pres I've heard that I prefer with solid state power rather than a tube power amp.
 
SoComSurfing said:
It was one of the very few pres I've heard that I prefer with solid state power rather than a tube power amp.
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So you are saying that you thought it sounded better with a solid state amplifier than a tube amplifier? I could see that preference since it is a tube preamp.

What kind of music where you doing with it?
 
I have an eden head that I have used also just for the pre. Not a navigator, but same idea.

I don't have a lot of advice on settings, that is gonna depend completely on your rig. The one thing I will say, is at least on their EQ section a little knob tweak equals a lot of sonic difference, so be gentle.

As for cabs...
I LOVE Bergantino. I can not say enough about the cabs Jim B. makes. Absolutely wonderful sounding stuff that can kick out a ton of sound, and is really even and smooth from low B up as high as you want to go. A little pricey and power hungry, but built to outlive you, and some of the best customer service you will ever deal with. The HT322 is pretty much the only cab I ever bring to a gig involving a drummer, and I have a little HT112 that goes to anything without drums. He also makes some new versions (the IP series) that have a DSP controlled power amp built in. These things have gotten very great reviews everywhere I've seen.

Power Amps just depend on what you want. Several makers have some pretty powerful lightweight heads now. If you want the classic big balls power, the Crest CA series is as good as it gets. Don't skimp on power for a bass amp or your low end will suffer in a big way. You need a hell of a lot more power to drive bass frequencies than guitar. How much power depends on what cab you are using.

My opinion is to avoid the eden speaker cabs. Reliability is a major issue (speakers are very fragile, for lack of a better word, IME) and their customer service took a MAJOR dive when they were bought out a few years back. I say this as a FORMER owner of an eden cab that had problems, and also as someone that has heard similar stories from others.
 
jonnyc said:
SUV's are bad for the enviroment, Al Gore says so.
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Screw Al Gore. SUV's are bad for the environment though. Plus when you hit that 16 old in his geo metro you'll probably kill him.

I've played an Eden but I forget the model. It sounded great. I like the old SWR stuff too.
 
TravisinFlorida said:
Screw Al Gore. SUV's are bad for the environment though. Plus when you hit that 16 old in his geo metro you'll probably kill him.
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...which is only acceptable if he's dating your daughter....

:D
 
Ford Van said:
So you are saying that you thought it sounded better with a solid state amplifier than a tube amplifier? I could see that preference since it is a tube preamp.

What kind of music where you doing with it?
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Yep. It's one of the few pres I've used (tube and ss) that I liked better with my QSC than with my Boogie. This was through Boogie cabs, as well. When I had my hands on one, I was using it for a modern rock cover band. STP, Audioslave, RATM type covers.
 
I would say that the cabs you are using and the sound you are going for would be a lot more of a variable than the power amp. Not saying that there isn't a difference in sound between poweramps, but, IME, the difference in cabs is MUCH bigger. Of course, your mileage may vary...
 
thewanderer24 said:
I would say that the cabs you are using and the sound you are going for would be a lot more of a variable than the power amp. Not saying that there isn't a difference in sound between poweramps, but, IME, the difference in cabs is MUCH bigger. Of course, your mileage may vary...
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I agree 100%, just commenting that in the rig I normally use - same wireless, effects, cabs, basses, etc - I liked it better paired with SS power rather than tube power. The Navigator had such an inherent "tubey" tone, it just became too thick with my Mesa power. Ceteris paribus, I like the Eden with QSC.
I do agree that Bergie cabs might be a good match with the Navigator. I've not had a chance to hear them together, but I imagine the Eden would be absolutely killer with the NV series if you're wanting a large cab. The OP mentioned something about biamping. A pair of HT112s might be a good way to go for that if Bergantino's aren't too pricey.
To the OP: How large a rig are you needing/wanting? How much power do you think you need, and what are you planning on going up against (guitars, drums, PA support, etc)?
 
SoComSurfing said:
To the OP: How large a rig are you needing/wanting? How much power do you think you need, and what are you planning on going up against (guitars, drums, PA support, etc)?
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And to add to that, what kind of sound do you want? Do you like a warm old school tone? trebly modern sound? do you do a lot of slapping? Do you care if the cab is good down to the fundamental of your E string? a B string?
 
SoComSurfing said:
and what are you planning on going up against (guitars, drums, PA support, etc)?
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Going up against? LOL..... It is all about me!!! ;) It will be PA's, drummers, and guitarists worrying about going up against me!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha*evil like laugh*

I am just going to do a 4x10 and a 1x15 or 1x18. I will run around 400 watts to the 4X10 and at least 600 to the 15 or 18 cab. I may double up on the 15/18 if I am not getting the bottom I want cleanly.

The Navigator is actually just the starting tone. I need something that has a nice balance and can eq to make up for room nodes and pickup weak spots, etc... I will get my basic "rock and roll" tone from it.

What I want to go a bit more "modern" with some bright top end, I will use an eq patch in between the preamp and power amp for the 4x10 to get a variety of different approaches. Distortion. Bright top end, gangly string cheese sound. Etc... Basically, my goal is to always have the low end present, clean, never any effects, probably crossed over somewhere between 80-120Hz, then be able to alter what we can "hear" with the 4x10. Since the band I am in does mostly covers, but is writing originals, we cover everything from old Montrose/Aerosmith, to KingsX, to Foo Fighters. A big variety of stuff! :)

I have heard enough cabs by Eden, SWR, Ampeg, Peavey, etc... to feel comfortable with just about any of them.
 
FV-

There are numerous threads on this over on talkbass.com I'm " joejnyc" over there. Great classifieds. Current fashion over there is for lightweight cabs, so lots of folks are unloading their backbreakers (the stuff you seem to want)

Used eden cabs are pretty cheap-- $300-400 for a 210xlt

Here's my economy dream rig that I recommend to everyone: a old peavey 215, ($200-$250) especially with BW's. Then stick a bigger 210 like the xlt or xst (I'm thinking you'd like the xst more, but they're more dollars and rare used.) on top.

That way you have a manageable rehearsal rig in the 210 and some hugeness to add to it for big shows.

edit: After re-reading your posts, I am sure that you will have plenty of bright top-endy modern sound in your navigator. I have the Eden DC210xlt combo, and There is *plenty* of modern going on with it.
 
i am thewanderer24 on talkbass as well. I very rarely post in the amp section over there anymore, though, as I am absolutely thrilled with my setup and have been for quite some time.
 
SoComSurfing at TB as well. I spend WAY too much time over there even though I haven't changed anything in my rig in the past two years. I do have another Mesa cab on the way next week, though.
 
i spend most of my time over there in technique, general instruction and the couple band horror boards.

I did manage to talk myself into another custom bass a few months ago. Now I just have to keep forgetting to think about it, as I won't get it til probably next february.
 
Well, here it is, racked up with a QSC amp I am borrowing from a friend who doesn't use it until I can get something kick butt! :)

http://www.phoenixlightandsound.com/Bass/rackandguitar.jpg

That is my ESP LTD. I don't mind the bass too much. It actually plays pretty darn good and sounds pretty nice actually! But, I have always wanted a Music Man Stingray, and soon as I get my bi-amp situation hooked up I will be scoring a Stringray.

I scored a Hartke 4X10 XL series cab for $200 the other day off of craigslist! :) I am going to hunt for a good sub and see how the Hartke sounds with it. If it don't cut it, I know I can sell it for what I paid for it and get something else. But the Hartke sounds great with the Eden, and it should all be plenty loud for rehearsals since our drummer uses electronic drums for rehearsals.

The Eden sounded just like I remember every one sounding. Smooth, articulate, and lots of good tone! The eq is VERY touchy! I like that!
 
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