Can anyone compare the bassmax to the rev. solo?

[flint]

I've done a cursory search but have gotten no joy.

I currently have a bassmax with the power pack preamp, but am somewhat dissatisfied with the sound. It's too "artificial" sounding to me. Would I be better off with the rev. solo? Does the rev. solo not require a preamp? Do I need to consider the realist?

Mostly I'm looking for more of the woody sound of my bass, without going to microphones. Is that an oxymoron?

thanks
flint

[PB+J]

You didn't look too hard, Check this thread:

New to the amplified upright game

[robgrow]

I own both the K&K Bass Max and the Revolution Solo, and, to me, they are quite different. The Bass Max is a much hotter pickup, however the RS has a much more natural sound and is better overall IMO. Getting the installation just right is very important to getting the best sound with the RS, whereas the Bass Max doesn't seem to be quite as particular.

Edit: Unfortunately I didn't know about the new RSII when I originally wrote this. I have since got one to try. See my follow up post in this thread.

[Eric Rene Roy]

Originally Posted by robgrow

I own both the K&K Bass Max and the Revolution SOLO, and, to me, they are quite different. The Bass Max is a much hotter pickup, however the RS has a much more natural sound and is better overall IMO. Getting the installation just right is very important to getting the best sound with the RS, whereas the Bass Max doesn't seem to be quite as particular.

I don't want to say much here so as not to sound info-mercial-ish, but some recent developements will lead this comment to no longer be true (in regards to the hotness, not the tone! ).

Some Beta testers of the new RS2 can feel free to talk about the results they have had.

More info to come in an official way soon about the upgrades and release date, but not through the boards to keep things fair and within the CUP.

[fish slapper]

Originally Posted by eroy

I don't want to say much here so as not to sound info-mercial-ish, but some recent developements will lead this comment to no longer be true (in regards to the hotness, not the tone! ).

Some Beta testers of the new RS2 can feel free to talk about the results they have had.

More info to come in an official way soon about the upgrades and release date, but not through the boards to keep things fair and within the CUP.

And I just ordered a RevSolo! Oh well, in a couple years I'll get big money for my "RS classic".

[Eric Rene Roy]

well, if you just ordered it...the element is the upgraded unit...but other parts have not been. So...you kinda have the RS2...more to come...don't fret!

[drurb]

Okay, I own a BassMax, a Rev. Solo I, and a beta version of the Rev. Solo II. The following represent MY experiences and MY perceptions, on MY basses.

As noted earlier (in this thread and by me), the BassMax is a "hot pickup" that, to me, always made my bass sound like a giant bass guitar. The Rev. Solo I (the classic) delivers a much more natural tone. In fact, it comes as close to "my bass, but bigger" as I can imagine a bridge-wing piezo coming. No, it is not like using a high-quality microphone in terms of faithful reproduction but a mike is quite impractical for me (and many) for a gig.

The RS-I does have a somewhat lower output that the BassMax but just about anything would! For some, this lower ouput was a problem.

Enter the RS-II. The beta version (and the version you receive if you order now) has a new piezo element. Although I have had only weeks of experience with it, I find it to be a substantial improvement over the RS-I. First of all, the issue of low output is gone! So how does it sound? Well, in my limited experience (and I plan to post additional comments after more experience), it sounds as good as ever!

There is a side benefit to the RS-II over the RS-I. The RS-II does not transmit nearly the level of undesirable infrasonic frequencies that the RS-I did. What this means is that you will not get as much "speaker-cone dance" with the RS-II as with the RS-I. Think of the RS-II as an RS-I with higher level and fitted with a high-pass filter that rolls off the power-robbing infrasonics.

I have noticed that the RS-II has a touch less very low-frequency response than did the RS-I. This is consistent with my description above and is easily remedied (if desired) by a gentle boost of the appropriate band of your amp's tone-shaping circuitry.

I have NOT needed a pre-amp with either the RS-I or RS-II. I have used amps with an input impedance of at least 1 M-ohm and it is just fine.

Finally, as I understand it, the official RS-II will have the new element in addition to upgraded connectors.

My advice: buy one (or two)!

[fish slapper]

I work in product developement/ marketing in dental equipment so I have a pretty good idea where you guys are in the product launch. Actually, I'm amazed you're letting the Beta testers (we call them "field evaluations") blab so much before the announcement but hey, there's a fine line between creating buzz and killing sales of product already in the pipeline.

Actually, whatever comes to my door will be great in evaluating this PUP. Then if I'm crazy about it, at $99 I can order another when the RS II when its released.

I'm okay with being an early adopter. I have one of the first blonde Shen's to reach the US and its been a good move.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by fish slapper

I work in product developement/ marketing in dental equipment so I have a pretty good idea where you guys are in the product launch. Actually, I'm amazed you're letting the Beta testers (we call them "field evaluations") blab so much before the announcement but hey, there's a fine line between creating buzz and killing sales of product already in the pipeline.

Actually, whatever comes to my door will be great in evaluating this PUP. Then if I'm crazy about it, at $99 I can order another when the RS II when its released.

I'm okay with being an early adopter. I have one of the first blonde Shen's to reach the US and its been a good move.

Well, frankly, I'm a bit more informed and useful than a run of the mill beta tester (no I do NOT work for Upton bass!!!). Before I said a word, I checked with Gary and Eric. Anyway, your surprise and your post seem to be based on a number of incorrect assumptions regarding what I understand to be the stage of product-launch and the plan for the RS-II.

I will not say anything further other than to note that you gotta give the "Upton boys" more credit. We beta guys wouldn't be talking unless they had settled on the "final" design and from all indications it is a fine one at that!

[fish slapper]

I guess the reason for my surprise is we are a bit more cautious. Our field testers are not allowed to discuss new products until after the official company announcement. But I also know the reality of "design freezes" and "final design" and know there are "engineering improvements" after a product has been out in significant numbers in real world usage. I have no doubt that you spoke with permission or I'm sure your posts would have been deleted by now.

Based on your and a couple other's advocacy I was willing to put my $99 down to check out the RS. I look forward to what ever is delivered as it sounds like a fine product.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by fish slapper

I guess the reason for my surprise is we are a bit more cautious. Our field testers are not allowed to discuss new products until after the official company announcement. But I also know the reality of "design freezes" and "final design" and know there are "engineering improvements" after a product has been out in significant numbers in real world usage. I have no doubt that you spoke with permission or I'm sure your posts would have been deleted by now.

Based on your and a couple other's advocacy I was willing to put my $99 down to check out the RS. I look forward to what ever is delivered as it sounds like a fine product.

I am guessing that you will be very happy! In the case of the RS-II, freezing the design is largely a matter of settling on the piezo element and the choice of materials that compose the pickup. Sure, the "Upton boys" might change cabling/connectors/damping material along the way but these would be "tweaks." There is a method to their madness. Again, I think you're really going to like the RS-II. I certainly would like to know your thoughts either way. I hope you'll post them.

[Eric Rene Roy]

Originally Posted by fish slapper

...Our field testers are not allowed to discuss new products until after the official company announcement...

Actually all of our dealers have the full details already...this includes what is changed and how it will improve things. I wanted to make sure dealers knew the skinny before the public did. They recieved eMails and snail mails with all of this info. Last thing I want is one of my dealers being surprised.

[fish slapper]

Okay guys, my RS came today so I spent a long evening getting it installed. The fit on my bridge was not even close. I had to do a fair amount of sanding on both the bridge and the "not R" side of the RS. I finally got it in there and got very low output with all treble. So I took a break and then tried again. I noticed that with all the sanding to get it in the slot, it could have better contact on the R side so I put a little shim in to adjust the angle a little. Some improvement on the output and a little better on the tone. I still had to dial almost all the treble out of my Clarus. I tried installing it R side down and got low frequency feedback at all volumes. Any other suggestions?

[bolo]

When you say "adjust the angle a little," I guess that makes me think that perhaps the surface planes of the wing and the leg of your bridge are angled, not parallel. Is that correct?

I had this issue at first on my bridge. It meant on one side of the SOLO it was flush w/ the bridge and making good contact, but on the other side only a portion or a "slice" of the bridge was in contact w/ the pickup. So I sanded the bridge until the two surface planes where the p/u makes contact w/ the bridge were as close to parallel as I could get them. As you can probably visualize, this maximized the surface area of the bridge making contact w/ the pickup on both the top and bottom.

Also, I think there's a minimum width for the pickup itself beyond which you don't want to sand the non-R side any further. I'd have to check my notes, but if you really sanded down the p/u a lot, this might be an issue too.

I know every bass is different, but I get plenty of lows (and even infrasonics) out of my RS "classic." YMMV ...

[carved czech]

Originally Posted by robgrow

I own both the K&K Bass Max and the Revolution SOLO, and, to me, they are quite different. The Bass Max is a much hotter pickup, however the RS has a much more natural sound and is better overall IMO. Getting the installation just right is very important to getting the best sound with the RS, whereas the Bass Max doesn't seem to be quite as particular.

+1

I had both,hated both.BassMax boomy sounding,feedback problems even with preamp, weird sound.RS has low output, acceptable only in my room, not for the stage.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by carved czech

+1

I had both,hated both.BassMax boomy sounding,feedback problems even with preamp, weird sound.RS has low output, acceptable only in my room, not for the stage.

Well, if you've been following the thread, the "low output" issue is history. Are you talking about an RS-II?

[drurb]

Originally Posted by fish slapper

Okay guys, my RS came today so I spent a long evening getting it installed. The fit on my bridge was not even close. I had to do a fair amount of sanding on both the bridge and the "not R" side of the RS. I finally got it in there and got very low output with all treble. So I took a break and then tried again. I noticed that with all the sanding to get it in the slot, it could have better contact on the R side so I put a little shim in to adjust the angle a little. Some improvement on the output and a little better on the tone. I still had to dial almost all the treble out of my Clarus. I tried installing it R side down and got low frequency feedback at all volumes. Any other suggestions?

First, I never needed both surfaces of the bridge to be parallel. In fact, while the wing "tip" was flattened to make good contact with the "R side," the bridge leg still retained its curve.

Bolo is correct that having both surfaces flat can only help and might be required on some installs.

Very low output from the RS-II can be caused by the pickup beign fitted too loose or too tight. If it is too tight, the piezo element will be constrained. In my experience, this does not produce an "all treble" output.

Given that there was room for you to wedge in a shim, I rather think that, perhaps, the fit is too loose. That would be consistent with low output and a "thin" sound.

By the way, did you sand with or against a block to make sure the "non-R" side remained flat?

It is quite true that the RS has to be fit "just so" and is more sensitive to the fit than, say a K&K BassMax that is wrapped in rubber and spongy material. I have always found any inconvenience regarding that shortcoming to be MORE than compensated by the quality of the sound. Then again, I've had Eric Roy fit mine. You should consult with him.

Eric?

[bolo]

Originally Posted by DRURB

First, I never needed both surfaces of the bridge to be parallel. In fact, while the wing "tip" was flattened to make good contact with the "R side," the bridge leg still retained its curve.

Yup, thanks for clarifying. My bridge leg still has a curve too on the outside edge of where the p/u fits in, although I did sand the leg down a little to flatten it out some. You're probably right in that it would seem to be more important that the side touching the "R" symbol (presumably the wing or "top") makes good contact w/ the pickup w/ lots of surface area. I guess so anyway.

I used the RS "Classic" last night on a gig with my old Series I Contra and Contra EX. Even without tweeters, plenty of high end. Actually startled me at first after using the iAMP so much. I was expecting a much more diffused sound from the AIs since they haven't been out on a gig in a while. And the low end was good 'n' plenty. On the Contra's EQ, I had to cut the bass a lot, and I boosted the mids a tad, as I did in the past even w/ the Bass Max.

The Rev SOLO p/u still works great for me, IMO, YMMV, etc., etc.

[fish slapper]

Okay, I went away for the weekend and this let me work on it with fresh eyes and ears. Like Bolo, my bridge has a sloping shoulder so I put in a little wedge shim to bring the R side of the RS square and flush with the wing. I've got the output to about 80% of the BassMax (which I have enough headroom, that can work). The tone still sounds a little trebly to my ears but I found the BassMax too boomy. So maybe I can work on this with the pre-amp.

In retro spect I probably should have had my luthier install this. This project sort of taxed the outside limits of my carpentry skills.

Thanks for everyone's helpful suggestions. I'll let you know how it turns out.

[carved czech]

Originally Posted by DRURB

Well, if you've been following the thread, the "low output" issue is history. Are you talking about an RS-II?

I know the RS output story. I am talking about the older RS, I don´t know about RS-II.