BP100 Vs Bass Max

Racsen · #1 12-18-2006, 02:38 AM

I searched but couldn't find useful information for me.At this time in my country there is only bp100 at 190$.But I think I could buy bass max http://www.urbbob.com/.
I know a little about bp100 from Stanley Clarke sound but don't know anything about bass max. The sound that I want is closer to acoustic sound more body than string.Anybody can tell me about bass max ? I read about it at urbbob. but It will be useful if I can hear sound samples.

Note: Sorry about my English , I'm doing my best

bolo · #2 12-18-2006, 05:07 AM

After reading the online help text, I am not sure if the "Advanced Search" function I used is limited to Supporting Members or not. But I searched this forum for "bass max" (in double quotes), and got hits on 316 threads. So I think there is lots of useful information here (understatement). I hope you can find what you're looking for.

The Newbie links (here and here) for the Bass Max do seem kind of sparse compared to how much I've read about it here overall. Just an observation. I'm sure it's not easy to constantly try and keep them updated.

The main Newbie links page is here.

Enjoy.

Jake · #3 12-18-2006, 10:31 AM

I've never used a Bass Max, but I would vote for just about anything over a BP-100. I've heard the nasal Fishman and I'm suprised they still sell it. I remember reading an article where Ron Carter was pointing out that those clips seriously mute and change your acoustic tone.

armybass · #4 12-21-2006, 08:25 PM

I had both and much prefer the Bass Max. The BP 100 was very harsh but that was about 15 years ago. They may be quite different today.

AZNBassist · #5 12-24-2006, 07:39 AM

I don't know much about the Bass Max (having never owned one), though I'm sure (All Hail) Bob Gollihur at www.urbbob.com could tell you a lot more about the Bass Max pickup. However, like Jake, I would suggest any pickup over the BP-100. The bass at my school has a BP-100 and IMHO and personal experience playing through that pickup, that it is the most god awful pickup I've ever seen. I believe you said you're looking for a sound that's is closer to acoustic sound of the bass than string? Well, the BP-100 will give you the opposite of what you want. Way too much string detail and very trebly, trying to roll of the treble with EQ only results in a very boomy sound. And unlike a magnetic pickup (which people say doesn't give a "sounds like my bass, only louder" tone), the BP-100 isn't very feedback resistant. Other people may have different experiences with the BP-100, but from what I have experienced, I would recommend anything but the BP-100.

Ric Vice · #6 12-24-2006, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racsen

I searched but couldn't find useful information for me.At this time in my country there is only bp100 at 190$.But I think I could buy bass max http://www.urbbob.com/.
I know a little about bp100 from Stanley Clarke sound but don't know anything about bass max. The sound that I want is closer to acoustic sound more body than string.Anybody can tell me about bass max ? I read about it at urbbob. but It will be useful if I can hear sound samples.

Note: Sorry about my English , I'm doing my best

Racsen,
If you can purchase pickups from Bob then I would seriously
consider the Full Circle or the Realist. I don't think that the Bass Max is the sound that you are looking for. If you search the threads on Talkbass you will find one that plays the sounds of different pickups. This URL will take you to a pickup comparisom website http://www.thedoublebassworkshop.com...kup_sounds.htm

Ric VIce

Ale · #7 12-24-2006, 02:56 PM

Haha , im one of thoose 1/1000 who actually really likes the BP100 , ive tried Wilson , Full Circle , Realist , Bass Max .
I like the moore electric round singing sound , think early john patitucci or NHÖP , and when using the BP100 with a Fishman preamp , cutting all treble , it sounds amazing.
Though for acoustic sound , i would not pick any of thoose , i would go with the realist.
The BP100 is very string sounding , so its not really what you are looking for. It has a lot to do with its placement off course.

smonkey957 · #8 12-25-2006, 01:43 PM

The BP100 feedbacks likes theres no tomorrow
If you don't have to deal with a loud enviroment the BP will do ok for you

greitzer · #9 12-25-2006, 02:15 PM

Ric -- thanks for posting that link to the pickup comparison page on the Double Bass Workshop site. Very interesting to be able to hear one right after the other like that.

Mr. Eastman · #10 12-25-2006, 04:03 PM

Yes indeed
Very good info on those pickups...Thanks

Racsen · #11 12-25-2006, 11:13 PM

Yes, I'm thankful for that link too. Is Bass Max sound like Underwood?

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #12 12-25-2006, 11:22 PM

I use the Fishman Full Circle now, but before that I used a custom version of the Bass Max which had a Bass Max element on both sides of the bridge. Here's a sound clip of a live recording of that pickup through an EA iAmp800. Given the choice between those two, I'd choose the Bass Max 10 times out of 10.

Marc Piane · #13 12-26-2006, 08:27 AM

I vote neither.

I used the BP100 when I first started with absolutely no success. I've heard guys get a decent sound but I never could.

I good friend of mine swears by the Bassmax but I don't really care for his tone. Very electric. It sings and cuts through really well but lacks depth and wood imo.

I've tried several others and always come back to the Realist. I can just plug into my amp (gk-mb150) with almost no eq and play.

Ric Vice · #14 12-26-2006, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greitzer

Ric -- thanks for posting that link to the pickup comparison page on the Double Bass Workshop site. Very interesting to be able to hear one right after the other like that.

Chris Fitzgerald actually found this site a while back. When this post
came up I was able to find it. He gets the credit and finders fee.

Ric

bolo · #15 12-26-2006, 09:18 AM

Right you iz Ric. Credit goes to Chris and to univac, jr. I am happy to just keep recycling and promoting it too.

Here is the whole thread where it originally surfaced on TB I believe. IMO the whole thread too is also worth reviewing, for context and comments.

BTW, I was very satisfied with my dealings with the fellow at The Double Bass Workshop, FWIW.

Is there a link to this puppy on the Newbies / FAQ page yet? (Danko gets credit for that idea, not me - See the last post in the thread).

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #16 12-26-2006, 10:56 AM

Credit schmedit...I can't even remember who told me about that page. EDIT: D'oh! it was univac, of course...

If anyone ever has a thread or link that they think should be added to the FAQ thread, send me a link along with the topic/proposed title of the thread and I'll add it in there.

Racsen · #17 12-26-2006, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

I use the Fishman Full Circle now, but before that I used a custom version of the Bass Max which had a Bass Max element on both sides of the bridge. Here's a sound clip of a live recording of that pickup through an EA iAmp800. Given the choice between those two, I'd choose the Bass Max 10 times out of 10.

Nice sound , this is just bass max sound , right?
But you say there are 2 bass max pickup mixing, what is the difference with using one bass max?

And one more question

What are you using for amplication?

Note: Chris thank you so much I have learned too much from your posts ..

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #18 12-26-2006, 11:17 AM

Hi Racsen,

That was using just the "Double Bass Max" for as far as I remember. The amp at that time would have been a Euphonic Audio iAmp800 with either an EAVL208 for a cab, or two Falk Audio 1x8 cabs. The difference in using two Bass Max elements (and a blender) is that you can control the balance a lot better between the E and G strings. The Bass Max does tend to sound more "electric-ish" than the Full Circle to my ears, mainly because it is such a bottom heavy pickup. If you end up with a Bass Max, I'd reccomend getting some kind of high pass filter in the signal chain somewhere to get some of the subsonics out of there, as the low end can get pretty thick with that pickup. Also, for whatever reason, I always found the Bass Max sounded like crap on plywood basses, but I could always manage to get something halfway decent out of it on a carved bass. Another option would be to mix whatever pickup you choose with an inexpensive dynamic mic, which would give a little bit more of a "wood" kind of tone to the overall mix while bolstering your G string volume a bit. There'a a thread in the FAQ/Links sticky about this that has soundclips. Good luck!