The Realist, help?

[apd758]

I just got my Realist pickup in the mail today and after installing it, I plugged in to hear it and it sounded like a grunge pedal when I plucked hard. Any ideas?

[Bijoux]

It happened to me too.
I took mine back to the local store, and got a new one online. So far so good. But the first one I got sounded great and then after a week it sounded like what you have described.
I hope that will not happen with the new one.
I also got a used one, which I traded for my RS II, and it's the old model, and I am not sure if it's because it's old, but it has about half the output of the new one.
On the brighter side, I had to play a couple of big band gigs with only a mic in front of the bass. And it sounded pretty good, in fact I got a lot of compliments from the guys in the horn section, which BTW means a lot! they never talk to me! lol

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Be sure it fits perfectly.

[deste]

I just tried a borrowed realist on my db (a century-old one with a very dark sound) and through the GK it sounded... well, I don't know...
Very acoustic-like, both pizz and arco, but totally lacking of attack (impossible to play swing along with a drummer), and with a looooow output. I tried it live, straight through a di box to the PA system, and the sound engineer looked absolutely disgusted.
I don't know, as I said.
But I think i'll go back to the old underwood combined to the condenser for jazz combo gigs, and to the condenser only for acoustic gigs.

[Bijoux]

Originally Posted by deste

Very acoustic-like, both pizz and arco, but totally lacking of attack (impossible to play swing along with a drummer),

huh? well, at first I was not gonna say anything, but at the same time I can't resist. maybe I just don't understand what you are trying to say. But I think this is funny.
I think you should be able to play swing with the drummer, even without a pick up.
So needless to say, ... oh well, i guess I need to say... 'the swing is not on the pick up! lol
Anyway, I thought it was funny because I imagined myself going to the music store;
"hey I am looking for a pick up, but it's gotta have some swing in it"
or better yet, me going back to the music store;
"yes, please I need to return this pick up"
"Yes, of course sir, what seems to be the problem with it"
"well, this pick up has got no swing!" LMAO!

[Gary Lynch]

Mics rule

[T-Bal]

My Realist started distorting recently, after about a year. I'm pretty sure the signal is so hot that it's overdriving the amp's input. I suspect that it took a while for the bridge and strings to settle in to the point where it's a super tight fit which is why it didn't distort at first. The signal is now very hot and loud at the lowest volume setting. When I feather the strings it sounds fine, but even a moderately strong attack causes the distortion. I tried adjusting the HPF all the way up with no success.

I have a little K&K box from Bob G. that is made for the Golden Bullet mic. It takes the 1/4" in and converts it to XLR out to the amp. I take the XLR into my Focus, using phantom power. This eliminates the distortion. However, the sound is changed dramatically. There are more highs and mids than I can get rid of.

Is there a device which can attenuate the signal of the Realist without changing the character of the sound? Maybe even a special patch cord with a built in volume - I know they make these for headphones.

I think this is one of the drawbacks of the Realist - the volume varies greatly depending on how much pressure is on it. Once it's in there, you can't really adjust it. I have one on another bass, and while the acoustic output is similar, the signal to the amp is not anywhere near as strong.

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by T-Bal

...........Is there a device which can attenuate the signal of the Realist without changing the character of the sound? Maybe even a special patch cord with a built in volume - I know they make these for headphones...............

Weird,
I've had three different Realist and I've always gotten pretty much the same signal level out of all three of them. I do think that the older ones sounded better, but then they could damage the surface of the top, they changed the element so it wouldn't put those two dings underneath the bridge foot. If you try to crank the Realist it will definitely distort, but I don't think that's what you're talking about. I'm considering trying an APT Flex because it's thinner.

Originally Posted by T-Bal

I think this is one of the drawbacks of the Realist - the volume varies greatly depending on how much pressure is on it. Once it's in there, you can't really adjust it. I have one on another bass, and while the acoustic output is similar, the signal to the amp is not anywhere near as strong.

It also degrades on some basses after about Four Years of use. The folks from David Gage told us that in a thread we did several years ago.

Ric

[Bijoux]

Originally Posted by T-Bal

My Realist started distorting recently, after about a year. I'm pretty sure the signal is so hot that it's overdriving the amp's input. I suspect that it took a while for the bridge and strings to settle in to the point where it's a super tight fit which is why it didn't distort at first. The signal is now very hot and loud at the lowest volume setting. When I feather the strings it sounds fine, but even a moderately strong attack causes the distortion. I tried adjusting the HPF all the way up with no success.

I have a little K&K box from Bob G. that is made for the Golden Bullet mic. It takes the 1/4" in and converts it to XLR out to the amp. I take the XLR into my Focus, using phantom power. This eliminates the distortion. However, the sound is changed dramatically. There are more highs and mids than I can get rid of.

Is there a device which can attenuate the signal of the Realist without changing the character of the sound? Maybe even a special patch cord with a built in volume - I know they make these for headphones.

I think this is one of the drawbacks of the Realist - the volume varies greatly depending on how much pressure is on it. Once it's in there, you can't really adjust it. I have one on another bass, and while the acoustic output is similar, the signal to the amp is not anywhere near as strong.

I think you should contact David Gage. I've had 5 Realists so far over the year in 3 different basses. what you have described doesn't sound like anything I have personally experienced. If after a year you achieve the supposedly "perfect fit" and then the pick has too much output, I think something is wrong with it. I was experiencing distortion with mine after having it for about a week. and they exchanged it for a new one. the problem is gone for now. I am hoping it will stay this way now.
good luck.

[deste]

Originally Posted by Bijoux

huh? well, at first I was not gonna say anything, but at the same time I can't resist. maybe I just don't understand what you are trying to say. But I think this is funny.
I think you should be able to play swing with the drummer, even without a pick up.
So needless to say, ... oh well, i guess I need to say... 'the swing is not on the pick up! lol
Anyway, I thought it was funny because I imagined myself going to the music store;
"hey I am looking for a pick up, but it's gotta have some swing in it"
or better yet, me going back to the music store;
"yes, please I need to return this pick up"
"Yes, of course sir, what seems to be the problem with it"
"well, this pick up has got no swing!" LMAO!

Hi Bijou.
Perhaps my english is not so good, so my words may have sounded funny. Needless to say that I meant "the lack of attack and high frequencies makes hard to blend with the sound of cymbals when playing jazz". Needless, of course. Sense of humor is usually very appreciated in pro bassists, especially in those who like to be respected by horn players... ;-)

Anyway, my ears (much better than my eyes...) don't like too much the realist, and I think I'll give it back to its owner (unless he'll sell it at a very low price).

Saravà!