Piezo Bridge as a stand-alone (fretless)

[RBrownBass]

...opinions?

I know Graph Tech makes some saddles, and Hipshot and ABM have some bridges, but who does it best, and even then, how's it sound? Not looking for a wannabe double (I have a double), but something that would work toward a clean, pickup-free body. I understand that the pre is a necessity, so a knob or two is no problem.

[Jazz Ad]

Graphtech work decently as stand-alone.
If you're looking for a pickup free body, Lightwave is an option to consider.

[Marcus Willett]

Originally Posted by Auriaprottu

I understand that the pre is a necessity, so a knob or two is no problem.

This is not correct, though the option I was going to suggest involves using a passive pickup.

[war_n_peace]

Maybe something like this?

[elros]

You can check out a sound clip of my Benavente fretless using only the recently fitted piezo pickups if you go here. That might help you decide.

[RBrownBass]

Originally Posted by elros

You can check out a sound clip of my Benavente fretless using only the recently fitted piezo pickups if you go here. That might help you decide.

It sounds very nice, Elros- what kind of piezos are it your bass? Nice instruments, by the way.


War_n_peace- those look incredible, and I bet they sound incredible as well. But whatever you've got in them is probably over my budget. The budget hasn't been set yet, but what I had in mind was a simple Fender-style bridge with the Graph Tech saddles or maybe a bridge that was made with the piezos in place, like the ABM over on www.guitarelectronics.com.

Here's the whole story: I contacted a guy who makes guitar and bass bodies with flamed or quilted maple tops at a very low price (I bought one a few months ago and was impressed) and asked him if he would build a rear-routed j-style body in alder with a flat (the body will be contoured in back only), bound flame maple top. It'll be here in a few weeks. Since I've sold all my fretless solidbody basses, I decided that this will be the fretless one. I'll get a Warmoth neck for it and without the magnetic pickups it'll look sort of like a cross between a Bacchus Jazz and a Rob Allen.

I don't have the tools to do much else other than use a bolt-on bridge, so that's what I'm asking about here. It's the easiest way around getting both the look and (hopefully) a nice sound. Worst case scenario, if it doesn't sound good, I'll have someone rout for a J in the 70s bridge position only, drop in a Model J and go with that.

[war_n_peace]

Originally Posted by elros

You can check out a sound clip of my Benavente fretless using only the recently fitted piezo pickups if you go here. That might help you decide.

Sounds Nice...

Are you using a Pick ?

Are you using Roundwounds or Flatwounds?

[teej]

Auria, I've been wondering the same thing for months upon months -- how do GraphTech piezo saddles sound as a stand-alone pickup?

[elros]

The Benavente is fitted with Benavente piezo pickups. That's right, he puts them together himself.
The strings are Warwick SS roundwounds, fingerstyle playing only.
Note that this is clip I recorded just after having fitted the piezo pickups, I still haven't quite learned how to adjust my playing to get the best sound with the piezos.

Also, I do have a Graph Tech piezo bridge on order for my 4-string Warmoth bass, but it seems to be taking some time.... the Norwegian distributor seems to be on vacation or something.

[fraublugher]

rmc and steinberger are two other good stand alones

Mike Dimins mtd chambered has the steinberger

Ken Lawrence uses rmc's

[ToneRanger]

Originally Posted by Auriaprottu

But whatever you've got in them is probably over my budget. The budget hasn't been set yet, but what I had in mind was a simple Fender-style bridge with the Graph Tech saddles or maybe a bridge that was made with the piezos in place, like the ABM over on www.guitarelectronics.com.

If budget is an issue, try these:
www.fittell.id.au/piezo
I've tried them under the bridge of URB, EUB (solid body), cello & violin - all had big warm sound.
Next project is to try a couple under the bridge of a Jazz. What I intend to do is place a couple of these piezo films on the bridge plate, under a shim of wood (say, 1/16" thick) that the bridge saddles rest on. I think this will give more of the 'body' sound than piezo saddles.
Haven't tried it yet because none of my current basses have that style of bridge, but I'm hoping to acquire a Jazz soon.
These pickups only cost about $3 to make, so it's worth experimenting with them.