Clips: Relaist v. dyn-b

[PB+J]

I recently got my bass back from some major repairs and have been breaking it back in. I decided to dig out the Realist I haven't been using and compare it to the Dyn -B I've had on there for a few years. So here are the clips--recorded simultaneously

Bass is a Shen SB 200 (the 7/8 willow flatback) strung with Velvet Blues. Recording was direct into an Apogee Duet using Apple's Logic Pro. NO eq or any other processing applied. Bad playing is all me!


http://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/magic/dyn-b2.mp3


http://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/magic/realist.mp3

My first thought is that the Realist sounds much better than I remembered. It's smoother and deeper, and a very useable sound live. The Dyn-B sounds more like my bass, but honky--it needs some mid eq.

Also since this bass has come back from the shop I've been feeling that it sounds much brighter than it used to. Could be my imagination, could be sound post positioning, or the aftereffects of having the top come off

[PB+J]

Oops! Can someone please fix the thread title?

Also I think this clip confirms what a lot of people say--the realist makes a bright bass sound darker.

I think I need a soundpost adjustment

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by PB+J

I recently got my bass back from some major repairs and have been breaking it back in. I decided to dig out the Realist I haven't been using and compare it to the Dyn -B I've had on there for a few years. So here are the clips--recorded simultaneously

Bass is a Shen SB 200 (the 7/8 willow flatback) string with Velvet Blue

PB+J
To my ears the Dyn-B sounds very nice and the Realist is pretty funky sounding. On your bass I'd stick with the Schertler. It's more articulate and has a better tone quality. IMHO.

Ric

[PB+J]

Yes, I'm sticking with the Dyn-B, I just posted this for anyone looking for a pickup comparison

The Dyn-B has always worked well for me, on this bass. It's a little honky and live i usually notch out the mids around 800

[bassist14]

i like the realist and the dyn-b for their arco-sound.
can you make a recording with the same setup with arco?
that would be great!

[PB+J]

Originally Posted by bassist14

i like the realist and the dyn-b for their arco-sound.
can you make a recording with the same setup with arco?
that would be great!

I'm going to have to decline--it exceeds my capacity to embarrass myself! I'm really bad with the bow, and the Velvet blues are really hard to bow, not a good combination. I just tried it and got such nasty scrapy sound that I can't post it.

I will say that the realist was once again smoother, but the Dyn-B was more natural sounding. Something about the realist makes everything sound the same. With the Dyn-B, since I don't have good control of the bow, changes in dynamics were really pronounced, and out-of control-overtones were much more noticeable. With the Realist, everything has a more compressed and generic sound. If I were being asked to bow something live, I would want the realist installed, as it would cover up my poor bowing

[bassist14]

thanks.
i understand.

[AMJBASS]

Agreed about the DynB being a little bit honky. Its better than a pickup, but still not quite as good as a Mic. Definitely sounds good with a bit of EQ though. It also depends a lot on the bass of course.