Arco pickup?

[Jordi Carrasco]

Im about to buy my first pickup and have been so for a while now. I realize I will be doing lots of pizzicatowork (Like 50/50 arco and pizz). I wonder: What stuff is good for arco?

[Ric Vice]

From my direct experience I would have to say that the Realist is one of the bests pickups for bowing. On some basses, it will only last for 4 years before you have to replace it. It's dosen't last forever. You have to replace it eventually.

Ric

[Jordi Carrasco]

Well, is the realist good for pizz? I am thinking of buing a k&k bassmaster pro. anoyone has any experiense of the system?

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by Jordi Carrasco

Well, is the realist good for pizz? I am thinking of buing a k&k bassmaster pro. anoyone has any experiense of the system?

It's pretty brash for arco compared to the Realist.

If Arco is your main thing the Realist is at the top of the heap. It's connection to the top gives it the edge for Arco.

Pizz is great on the Realist until you get real loud.

Second to that would be the Full Circle.

[bribass]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

It's pretty brash for arco compared to the Realist.

If Arco is your main thing the Realist is at the top of the heap. It's connection to the top gives it the edge for Arco.

Pizz is great on the Realist until you get real loud.

Second to that would be the Full Circle.

+1 on that opinion.

I could add that all my Realists have been lasting just fine.

I've had one on my German bass since 1999, one on my Prescott bass since 2003 and one on my Eminence EUB since 2000. All without breakage problems. You just have to handle them gently if you remove the bridge ever.

Also I have played at loud volumes w/ them all without too much feedback problems.

[fingers]

+1 to Brian +1-ing Uncle Toad.

Too bad my arco chops suck. I've got the right pickup for it.

[Jordi Carrasco]

I checked at gollihurmusic and he seames to think that the K&K Bass Max is a good arco pickup. also he says the realist has not much detail and string, and really dont want a "boomy" pizz sound.

Maybe I should blend a realist with some other pickup?

Or maybe just purchase a K&K Bassmaster pro?

any opinions?

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by Jordi Carrasco

I checked at gollihurmusic and he seames to think that the K&K Bass Max is a good arco pickup. also he says the realist has not much detail and string, and really dont want a "boomy" pizz sound.

Maybe I should blend a realist with some other pickup?

Or maybe just purchase a K&K Bassmaster pro?

any opinions?

I have both of those pickups. On my bass the Bassmax is very brash arco where the Realist is warmer and more natural. You do get more string sound with the Bassmax than the Realist if that's what you are looking for. Heavy string sound arco can be a PITA though.

The Realist can get boomy on some basses pizz especially at higher volumes. However I thought you asked for primarily an arco pickup and not a pizz or double duty pickup. Sounds like what you really want is a good arco and pizz sound with the same pickup. There will always be compromises if you want double duty because no one pickup will get you both perfectly.

If you want double duty without boom try a full circle. The Arco is much more even and round on the full circle and the pizz warmer and punchier than the Bass Max on my bass.

Fwiw my bass wears a Full Circle and I carry a realist as a backup. The bassmax lives in a drawer with all the other expensive pickups I don't use.

Remember YMMV. Every bass and player is different. We can't possibly know what's right for you. Get what you think is best and report your findings.

[bolo]

Jordi, there is a similar thread here too in case you haven't seen it yet.