How do I keep a BP100 on?

ipbassist · #1 09-06-2006, 07:12 AM

I got a Fishman BP-100 pickup for my upright. But it just wont stay on! You know those two clips that are meant to hold the plates in place? They keep coming off? Is this normal or am I doing something wrong?

I've filed the bring flat where its meant to be. If I play around with the clips for a while and get everything in the right place it sounds grand. But it keeps slipping and then things sound bad.

Anybody any ideas?

**Francois Blais** · #2 09-06-2006, 11:42 AM

Before you put on the brass clips, tighten them a bit.
Also please note one clip is supposed to be bent wider than the other. This one goes on the E side of the bridge, which is thicker.

Ric Vice · #3 09-06-2006, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ipbassist

I got a Fishman BP-100 pickup for my upright. But it just wont stay on! You know those two clips that are meant to hold the plates in place? They keep coming off? Is this normal or am I doing something wrong?

I've filed the bring flat where its meant to be. If I play around with the clips for a while and get everything in the right place it sounds grand. But it keeps slipping and then things sound bad.

Anybody any ideas?

The clips are supposed to be lined with felt. If it's missing or
worn inside the clip that would also cause a problem. They used to
manufacture the clips out of better material then they do now. The new ones aren't as flexible.

Ric

jtlownds · #4 09-06-2006, 11:52 AM

I believe that Fishman recommends glueing them to the bridge with hot glue, and not using the clips.

jimclark68 · #5 09-07-2006, 06:22 AM

Double-stick poster tape (the thin stuff) works well, too.

mje · #6 09-07-2006, 08:23 AM

And a friend who worked for Larry Fishman in the early days suggests superglue.

junglebike · #7 09-07-2006, 02:01 PM

The one on the school bass I practice on is attached with small black binder clips, with the silver "handles" removed. Hope this makes sense.

ipbassist · #8 09-08-2006, 02:35 AM

If it was glued or taped into place that would be great and ease my mind.

Could I really do that? Like Double sided sticky tape between the plate and bridge? Or glue between? Would that affect the sound?

Trevorus · #9 09-08-2006, 02:48 AM

Nothing better than duct tape!

jtlownds · #10 09-08-2006, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ipbassist

If it was glued or taped into place that would be great and ease my mind.

Could I really do that? Like Double sided sticky tape between the plate and bridge? Or glue between? Would that affect the sound?

Check Fishman's web site. They used to have a Q&A section (I haven't visited that site in a long time) that is where I saw that they recommended attaching the pickup to the bridge with a hot glue gun. I would think that double sided tape would tend to insulate the pickup from the bridge, and reduce the output. I don't think that glue would have a negative affect, however.

mje · #11 09-08-2006, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtlownds

Check Fishman's web site. They used to have a Q&A section (I haven't visited that site in a long time) that is where I saw that they recommended attaching the pickup to the bridge with a hot glue gun. I would think that double sided tape would tend to insulate the pickup from the bridge, and reduce the output. I don't think that glue would have a negative affect, however.

Double stick tape would probably be thinner than a layer of hot glue.

Roger Mouton · #12 09-08-2006, 11:39 AM

I haven't noticed anyone asking if you're bridge has a curved (rounded) top. Those BP 100 elements need to be placed on a flat surface. My bridge top is curved. My luthier said to place them on the bottom side of the bridge which is flat. He stated that it shouldn't make a difference. Fishman argued with me on that one. I don't use it anyway because I generally don't like the sound of it on my bass.

jtlownds · #13 09-08-2006, 11:59 AM

The only double sided tape I have ever seen was pretty thick (carpet tape), so I don't know how thick that stuff is. I also don't see why putting the pickup on the back side of the bridge would make any difference. I also think that anything that would change the sound of the BP100, IMHO would be a good thing

jimclark68 · #14 09-08-2006, 12:40 PM

You do need to make sure the surface is flat. The good thing about the tape is that you can try positioning the pickups in different places on the bridge to find the best sound. I did use the flat side of the bridge, which did not seem to make much difference. I found that the tape still had plenty of adhesion left even after moving the pickups around several times. I can't comment on the relative aspects of glue vs. tape, other than the tape did not seem to affect the output. As I mentioned before, I am talking about very thin tape vs. the thick, cusiony double-stick tape. I found it at Lowe's hardware and it's made by 3M; I'm pretty sure it's called poster tape.

ipbassist · #15 09-11-2006, 06:02 AM

From Fishman Service & Support site:

Joe's Tech Tips

Alternate BP-100 installation

To all BP-100 owners that have lost a Felted U-Clip, there is an alternate method of attaching the pickup to your bass bridge. Since the U-Clips can be a tough item to locate at your local Fishman dealer, you can use a standard hot-melt glue gun and glue stick as a temporary or even permanent solution. Make sure you have a nice flat surface area on the bridge to affix the pickup. A sanding block is the best tool for this. Once the area is sanded flat, apply a liberal amount of hot-melt glue to the back side of each element and affix to the bridge. Remove any excess glue and use a clothes pin (or the remaining U-Clip) to hold it in place until it dries. Once dry, you’re all set. To remove the pickup, just heat it up slightly with your average blow dryer and it will come right off.

I'll give it a try!

robgrow · #16 09-11-2006, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ipbassist

From Fishman Service & Support site:

Joe's Tech Tips

Alternate BP-100 installation

To all BP-100 owners that have lost a Felted U-Clip, there is an alternate method of attaching the pickup to your bass bridge. Since the U-Clips can be a tough item to locate at your local Fishman dealer, you can use a standard hot-melt glue gun and glue stick as a temporary or even permanent solution...

I'll give it a try!

There was a post about this here awhile back. Someone tried it and said it worked very well and even substantially improved the sound of the pickup. Smoother sound, less finger noise, etc.

I'll just repeat it's very important the bridge surface the pickup elements will be mounted to is absolutely flat and clean. Check with a straight edge and clean with alcohol (very carefully). Small things will make a big difference here.

ipbassist · #17 09-18-2006, 03:25 AM

Well I tried it! And you know what? I dont want to keep it on at all anymore! I've had enough of it. It sounds awful. Surely theres a better pickup out there rather than having to mess around with this thing!

**Francois Blais** · #18 09-18-2006, 06:49 AM

What are you plugging it into? (your profile is empty, a good occasion to fill it in...)
When you plug a piezo into a low impedance input, the tone becomes thin, bright, brittle.
The input impedance needs to be 1 Megohms minimum.

JimmyM · #19 09-18-2006, 07:18 AM

ipbassist, you are correct. The BP-100 is by far the worst sounding pickup I have ever been forced to use on a rental. I can't believe that people still use them. My personal favorite is the Clef Revolution Solo II, available at Upton Bass. Easy to install, very resistant to feedback, doesn't require a preamp, sounds great, and inexpensive compared to most pickups.

robgrow · #20 09-18-2006, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ipbassist

Well I tried it! And you know what? I dont want to keep it on at all anymore! I've had enough of it. It sounds awful. Surely theres a better pickup out there rather than having to mess around with this thing!

As Francois mentioned, load impedance is particularly important with the BP-100. 1 meg is is absolute minimum, and higher is better, although there are indeed better pickups. I'll second JimmyM's recommendation of the Revolution Solo II.