best double bass pickup in $200'ish price range...

jebo · #1 07-11-2009, 11:34 AM

I don't know much about double bass pickups and I need to buy one. I was checking some out at a local string store yesterday and the one that think I'm gonna get is the gage realist, but I have no way of actually hearing what it sounds like. I have heard though that you get better tone out of a pickup that gets placed under the foot of the bridge (which is why I think I'm gonna get the realist).

the store also had...
-underwood bass pickup
-fishman full circle (which I cant use because apparently my bridge can't accommodate adjusters)
-fishman BP-100
-shadow bass pickup

any recommendations that arn't on this list? which one of these is the best/what are the differences in sound?

Michael Glynn · #2 07-11-2009, 12:29 PM

Is this "string store" just selling the pickups, or would they help install them, too? If the latter, see if they will let you try out all of them in the store with your amp. The Realist is definitely a great pickup, and might be considered the "best" out of your options, but for some people the Underwood or Shadow might work better. You never know, even the BP-100 might sound good on your bass.

salcott · #3 07-11-2009, 12:50 PM

Who told you your bridge can't accommodate adjusters? The Realist is a fine pickup and can be installed by anyone with minimal skill and a bit of common sense. If you don't have access to a proper luthier, that would be the way to go, IMO.

fingers · #4 07-11-2009, 02:23 PM

Let me save some time here.

The Realist is the best... no the Full Circle... no you idiot the Bass Max... are you crazy everybody knows the Underwood... what? the RSII by far... guys, hands down the Shadow...

Ok, now that's out of the way.

I use the Realist for 95% of my gigs. Great on some counts, awful on others. Nice thumpy sound. Great with a bow. Just ok at higher volumes. Starts to lose the 'magic' when turned up. I use a BassMax for some singer-songwriter gigs at some bigger rock clubs. More electricy tone but 'fatter' with less feedback issues.

Every pickup I've ever used has strengths and weaknesses. What are you looking for?

tito mangialajo · #5 07-11-2009, 02:54 PM

stay away from bp-100!

tha bassmasta · #6 07-11-2009, 03:07 PM

Stay away from Fishman. The Revolution Solo pickup is a great pickup in my opinion (it's what I use). As is the Realist (great past expiereience with it). My main point I want to get across though....STAY AWAY FROM FISHMAN!!

clink · #7 07-11-2009, 03:10 PM

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS THE BEST PICKUP. All pickups have certain characteristics which may or may not be desirable on a particular bass. Do a search here and educate yourself.

I happen to think the Realist is the most 'realistic'

of the half dozen or so ones I have tried. It captures a nice, accurate or darker tone at low to medium volumes. It works better on carved basses than plywood. Dunno why.
I tried it on two plywoods and an Upton Hybrid and it wasn't good at all. The Realist isn't much fun on really loud gigs, but I've done loud big band gigs fine.

One pickup that works well on all types of basses is the Full Circle. It is a safe bet.

audiotom · #8 07-11-2009, 07:31 PM

I have uprights with fishman, full circle and realist

I like the full circle most - it has great tone, the realist is nice too

obcorm · #9 07-11-2009, 08:23 PM

Anyone tried the new Vektor? Much easier to install and I've heard good reports of the old one. I'm thinking of getting one to try out. Bit over $200 though

fdeck · #10 07-11-2009, 10:06 PM

The best thing to do with a budget of $200 is expect to spend that much on multiple pickups minus what you get for selling the ones that you don't like on your bass.

Once you are released from pickup hell, then you have your choice of getting sent to string hell or rosin hell.

bassCanadabass · #11 07-11-2009, 10:09 PM

bp-100, and underwood are awfull (I've owned both). I'm currently using a realist and loving every minute of it!

fdeck · #12 07-11-2009, 10:33 PM

Something about spiro's, underwood, and plywood. Works great for me. Maybe it should be called the Underplywood.

jebo · #13 07-12-2009, 08:52 AM

thanks for the help everyone.

I play pizzicato exclusively. Mostly Jazz. I do NOT play any arco at all. & The bass is a czech Strunel w/ a spruce top, maple sides and a plywood back. Hopefully that will help you help me ; )

does anyone have experience playing the realist on a similar bass to this? I know clink said it doesn't sound great on plywood basses.

I apparently can't get the full circle installed because my bridge cannot accommodate adjusters. A tech @ the store I went to told me that, but he mostly handles violins @ the store I think. Their bass guy was not around. So I should prob take it somewhere else for a second opinion.

robobass · #14 07-12-2009, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jebo

I apparently can't get the full circle installed because my bridge cannot accommodate adjusters.

This is highly unlikely. You will sooner or later want adjusters on your bass anyway, so you should probably get them sooner so the FC can be among your choices (I haven't tried one myself, but have the impression I would prefer it to any of the others on the list). It should not be hard to find someone who can install adjusters.

jgbass · #15 07-12-2009, 11:02 AM

I have found the Realist has worked fine for me. However, this summer I have been playing in a big band and they have supplied a large amp which just does not sound good and is not even made for DB. The A string has too much volume in comparison to the others and the tone is not right with little bottom. But, with my smaller GK head and Wizzie 10 I get a great sound that tends towards a a lot of bottom.

In this case, I think it has more to do with the amp not the Realist pickup and I am going to try using a pre amp for this problem or another amp if the pre amp does not solve the problem. We are going to be doing an outside gig, so that is another can of worms too as far as sound. It may sound great outdoors.

The point is: how your bass sounds depends on so many factors incluidng the amp used, the bass, the strings, the room, the loudness needed, the quality of the cable, your particular technique in playing, and probably a lot more.

You can try a pickup in a store, but the real test is going to be how you sound at various gigs and rehearsals in different settings. And, if it is not the right sound, it is not necessarily totally a pickup problem even with the different characteristics of pickups.

Jake deVilliers · #16 07-12-2009, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fdeck

The best thing to do with a budget of $200 is expect to spend that much on multiple pickups minus what you get for selling the ones that you don't like on your bass.

Once you are released from pickup hell, then you have your choice of getting sent to string hell or rosin hell.

String hell please, with extra maple syrup!

Kirkowitz · #17 07-12-2009, 01:20 PM

I played for a few years with the K&K bass max. It's a solid pickup. I recently (last year or so) switched the the Revolution solo pickup....it sounds much better on my bass than the K&K, more open at the top end. Same ballpark price-wise too.

jrlynch · #18 07-12-2009, 03:15 PM

i'm fond of the planet wing. stupidly easy to install and move from bass to bass.

Johnny Atomic · #19 07-12-2009, 03:35 PM

You're very lucky to have a place that has more than one pickup in stock. Most only have a BP100, and that's the worst pickup on the planet. It's screechy, feeds back, and has no low end, or at least it was on my basses, and i tried mounting it every different way till sunday.

Personally I like and use the underwood.

Johnny

pickerpete · #20 07-12-2009, 04:24 PM

I went with the Revolution Solo II pickup. Reason: Price (about $135.00 post paid) and very easy installation on any bridge. I couldn't be happier with the sound--warm, stringy and if I want, plenty of bottom.