Realist transducer: drops in volume on certain areas of the neck

[beausejour_boy]

Hello all...

I have a Realist pickup installed under the left-side leg of the bridge on my double bass. As I play up and down the neck (which I do a lot when playing), there are certain spots that just seem to be dead as far as output goes. For example, the "D" not on the 4th (G) string just does not have the resonance that the notes below it do.

If this is a usual occurrence, then I can learn to live with it. But if it is not a common occurrence, then is there something that I can do? I will buy a new/different pickup if necessary. I just want some sort of constant dynamics from my bass.

Thanks very much...

Doug

[fdeck]

Something that happened to me: I never noticed some dead notes on my bass until I tried to amplify it. Then I discovered that the fingerboard had some interesting terrain. It took a trip to the luthier to sort out.

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by beausejour_boy

Hello all...
I have a Realist pickup installed under the left-side leg of the bridge on my double bass. As I play up and down the neck (which I do a lot when playing), there are certain spots that just seem to be dead as far as output goes. For example, the "D" not on the 4th (G) string just does not have the resonance that the notes below it do.

Doug,
First of all remember that what I say may not apply to you're specific bass, pickup, amplifier combination. If the pickup is mounted correctly under the E string side of the bridge, then the output of the pickup should fairly accurately reflect how the bass sounds without the pickup plus some additional presence. All pickups IMHO tend to even out the note to note volume differences that you hear without one.
However, any pickup will tend to "magnify" the acoustic anomalies in a particular bass that you might not hear otherwise. I have a lo frequency buzz that occurs on my A string, that you only hear when you close mic the bass with a condenser. The Realist doesn't emphasize that wolf sound in my bass though. It might be there if I really tried to play loud with an amp, but frankly it would feedback before I could hear the buzz.

Originally Posted by beausejour_boy

If this is a usual occurrence, then I can learn to live with it. But if it is not a common occurrence, then is there something that I can do? I will buy a new/different pickup if necessary. I just want some sort of constant dynamics from my bass.
Doug

IMHO is that when the Realist is losing it's volume throughout the entire range of the instrument then it's time to replace it. If you only have a few notes that don't speak, put a really good mic on the bass and record it to see if you get the same effect, or use headphones to isolate the sound and listen back.
The final thing that you might have to consider is that the Realist, at least to some extent interferes with the transmission of sound from the bridge foot to the top and bass bar. You're particular bass may not like that.

Ric

[bolo]

Originally Posted by fdeck

Something that happened to me: I never noticed some dead notes on my bass until I tried to amplify it. Then I discovered that the fingerboard had some interesting terrain. It took a trip to the luthier to sort out.

Doug, I guess it could be the pickup, but I would think the pickup would perform more consistently than what you described , esp. say on adjacent pitches. And on EB, dead spots usually mean something is amiss with the neck or fretwork.

Also to kind of back that up, I had a recent experience similar to fdeck. I took my bass to a new luthier, and they found problems I didn't even know I had. One was a buzz on the E string in the middle of the neck. I just thought it was my (lack of) technique. They dressed the FB and took care of it. They did some other things too, but now the bass is easier to play and sounds its best.

[beausejour_boy]

Thanks a million to all that relied or took the time to read my post. I am going to follow the suggestions that it may be due to certain dead spots on my neck that I am having this problem.

As I am on great terms with my luthier, I can comfortably approach him/them with this problem. I will make a map of where the dead spots are and perhaps they can do something about them. I need to take the bass in to them to have the action lowered a bit as I had them raise it to get rid of a buzz on the Ab note of the E string, and it is now a bit too high for my liking.

Thanks again to all that replied. Your input is invaluable...

Doug