Revolution I Solo/little sound?

bill spangler · #1 01-09-2007, 01:46 PM

I recently purchased from a TBer a used revolution PUP. It fits very, very snugly and square into the wing of my bass bridge. The problem is that it produces almost no sound unless the lead cable is in contact with the bridge also. When I tap the PUP with my finger while it's uninstalled, it does supply a good loud thump.

Does anyone have a suggestion?

robgrow · #2 01-09-2007, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill spangler

I recently purchased from a TBer a used revolution PUP. It fits very, very snugly and square into the wing of my bass bridge. The problem is that it produces almost no sound unless the lead cable is in contact with the bridge also. When I tap the PUP with my finger while it's uninstalled, it does supply a good loud thump.

Does anyone have a suggestion?

From your description, it sounds like the fit is too tight. Contact Upton Bass at 860-536-7555 or Sales@UptonBass.com, and I'm sure they'll be glad to help you get your Revolution Solo installed and working properly.

hdiddy · #3 01-09-2007, 02:39 PM

or read this forum and look for the RS threads. There's a ton of information. Sounds like it's time to break out the sandpaper and start going to town.

bolo · #4 01-09-2007, 07:12 PM

Bill,

Contacting Upton like robgrow said is a great idea. Their customer service has been excellent IME. They are definitely the experts.

However, if you still have questions, you can send me a PM too if you like, and I can send you my contact info. I have fit 3 SOLOs on the same bridge, so I might be able to help out too if you like.

drurb · #5 01-09-2007, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill spangler

I recently purchased from a TBer a used revolution PUP. It fits very, very snugly and square into the wing of my bass bridge. The problem is that it produces almost no sound unless the lead cable is in contact with the bridge also. When I tap the PUP with my finger while it's uninstalled, it does supply a good loud thump.

Does anyone have a suggestion?

The fit on the RS has to be "just right." To loose and not enough energy will be transmitted through to the piezo element. Too tight and you will compress the piezo element and inhibit its vibration. It sounds, as others have pointed out, that it is too tight. You should be able to move the pickup in the slot with your hand but the pickup should not move by itself in normal use. Check out the installation instructions here. You can also do as others have suggested and contact Gary or Eric at Upton bass. Eric usually does the fitting. He's done all three of mine. That's one of the perks of living within driving distance. It's also the case that if I tried to fit it myself, I'd make a mess.

bill spangler · #6 01-10-2007, 07:43 AM

Thanks all;
I read through the instructions at Upton's site & they do emphasize a snug fit. It does make sense that 'too snug' would restrict the needed vibration of the enclosed piezo element.

So I guess it's sanding-fit-sanding-fit trial by error.

bolo · #7 01-10-2007, 01:22 PM

Yup, just go little by little, w/ the sanding-fit-sanding-fit thing and be patient. I think it was worth the time & effort in my case.

Hope it works out for you too.

drurb · #8 01-17-2007, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Boisen

I had the same problem with mine. I couldn't get the fit just right. I finally found that installing it sideways with the wire coming out of the wing slot parallel to the floor was the only way to get any sound from it. The sound is better than any other wing slot mounted pickup I've tried in so far (Underwood, Bass Max) but this pickup is a pain to install.

- Steve

I suspect that the surface of your pickup and/or the bridge wing "tip" was not sanded evenly. Just a guess.

Steve Boisen · #9 01-17-2007, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drurb

I suspect that the surface of your pickup and/or the bridge wing "tip" was not sanded evenly. Just a guess.

You're probably right, but there's not much I can do about it unless I get a new RS or have mine "reconditioned". The wing slots were a little funky on my bridge to begin with. I tried to get the E string side slot more even but I did not have much to work with. The RS seems to work fine installed sideways so I'm just going to leave it this way. I have the jack attached to the E string while the jack for my Realist is attached to the G and I'll A/B the two pickups on my next few gigs which utilize two different amps and vary widely in volume requirements.

- Steve

bill spangler · #10 01-19-2007, 11:27 AM

Well I think I have the thing properly fitted. I sanded & installed & listened repeatedly. Finally there was a point where the PUP seemed to 'open up' and the volume increased greatly.

Here are my impressions on a solid wood non-pedigree but 1860's bass.

Jazz pizz,it sounds more like my bass than anything else i've used. (+)

Arco, it sounded thin and nasally 'til I changed its position slightly and then it sounded pretty good. However, then it didn't sound near as good arco. (o)

On my gig last night, I didn't have any feed back problem at all, and the drummer did get pretty loud. (+)

On the same gig, for the 2nd set, I used my Shadow with a single element. The Shadow gives a much hotter signal. (-)
The Shadow doesn't sound quite as natural pizz, but it works better arco.

Bottom line, i'll use the Revolution in quiet situations & use the Shadow for louder applications.

Thanks for the tips!!

Joe Smithberger · #11 02-22-2007, 05:14 AM

Thanks to all who contributed to this thread. I shaved down my Rev Solo (since I have been using a magnetic lately) and tried it again. It was like sombody turned up the volume. I wrongly assumed that snug was good. It is...but not too snug.

pjleo · #12 02-22-2007, 11:03 AM

You may be better off speaking with upton bass via telephone.
I have not received any reply to my e-mails.

uptonbass · #13 02-23-2007, 11:18 AM

pjleo

Can I ask where you contacted us? What I mean is...did you use the form on our site via your browser or was it a direct email? Barring someone just not doing there job, I need to look into this and make sure its not a server issue on our end! We have a great staff that love their jobs, I hate to think that any customer would slip though the cracks. You can email me directly at gary@uptonbass.com or Eric who is the head of the RevSOLO production at eroy@uptonbass.com

Thanks, ill look into this

Gary

pjleo · #14 02-23-2007, 04:56 PM

Gary,
I believe it was thru your website, but it could of been direct e-mail to the address at your website. I no longer have the letter.
It was 2-3 months back. When I get time I will try again.
If I do not get a response I will contact you at the address you have indicated. Thank you for your concern.

pjleo

quee · #15 03-01-2007, 01:20 PM

Inspired by this thread I tried moving my rev solo II about and listening to each position.

The best result on my bass was turning the pickup over so the marked side faced down.
When it was facing up I got a harder, toppier tone direct from the strings.

Facing down gave more of the body of the bass. Sliding it further into the wing was a bit like the effect of moving mic position giving a slightly more acoustic sound as it moved in.

Another benefit was a more even string balance.
In it's original position (up and centred), the D and G sounded a bit thin and the E was huge.
Try experimenting by moving the pickup about while listening on a good set of headphones, then you can hear mostly pickup.
Have a wiggle you'll be surprised what a huge difference even a millimetre of movement makes to the sound.
I'm really pleased with the results.

cheers Quee