Solo Revolution and AI Coda bad sound help

[lyle]

Can some one maybe give me some pointers on getting a warmer sound? I love this amp for my electric but with the solo rev. my upright sounds really nasally and not like my bass. I know it can't be the amp (its an AI Coda for god sakes) I'm running the pickup with the RS facing the bass, which helped but I still don't like the tone. Any tips on the amp, pickup position, other pickup recommendations? Anything would be greatly appreciated.

[drurb]

The 1-Mohm input impedance of the Coda is just what the Rev Solo likes so we can rule that out. Most of the problems with sound with the RS are related to the fit. The RS should be snug in the bridge wing but not too snug. In my experience, "just right" is when you can move it fairly easily with your hand and when it will stay put despite travel, putting on and taking off the case, etc.

There is also a "sweet spot" somewhere right in the middle and it helps to move the RS around (with the gain set low on the amp!) to find it. I recommend making a pencil mark once you do. If your fit is too loose, a single layer of transparent tape over the front or front and back will usually do the trick. My RS sounds best with the "R" facing away from the body of the bass. This allows the bridge wing (which should be filed flat) to press directly against the element (see pic).

Finally, I would use the tone-shaping on the amp. I use the RS with fdeck's HPF/Pre, an EA iamp200, and a Wizzy 12. I'm quite happy with the rig but I've never run it "flat." I find that some tweaking is necessary to get the sound I want (ideally, my bass but bigger).

Hope this helps.

[Dave Whitla]

I can't really add to what DRURB said; he's pretty thorough. What I can add is that I've used exactly that pickup and amp with success. I'm so happy with the sound I'm considering not blending the mic I usually try to use (if the setting allows) to mellow out the pickup sound.

[Bob Branstetter]

I discovered many years ago that there is no such thing as one pickup that sounds great on ALL basses. I've had basses that sounded terrible with almost any pickup except the Gage Realist and I've had other basses that sound absolutely terrible with the Realist. Every bass is different. I tried a RS on several of my basses and ended up selling because I wasn't particularly impressed with the sound. However, the player I sold it to loves it. If you have adjusters on your bass (with 1/4"x20tpi threads), you might try a Full Circle. They are very popular and are easy to resell if you don't like the sound. If your bass is bright, try a Realist.

I'm currently using a Full Circle mixed with an AMT mic through my AI Series III Coda. I'm not thrilled with the sound of the Full Circle by itself, but it does mix well with the mic and I can get a nice acoustic sound at almost any practical volume. Good luck! Some of us have been looking for the "right" pickup for decades and are still looking.

[drurb]

+1 to Bob's observations. In fact, I meant to include a similar statement in my post but I forgot. Indeed, while the RS (or any other pickup) works fine on many basses, there are so many interactions that no single pickup is the right one. In that spirit, I was trying to help the OP maximize his results. In the end, the RS may just not be right for his bass.

[jacochops]

I just picked up my new bass on Sunday, and it was fit with a Rev II. I picked that pickup due to the sound it got on a crappy Florea thinline bass that the school I teach at owns. I had the school bass setup, and when I heard how good it made that POS sound, I figured it was THE ONE. Then I had one installed on my new Shen Willow flatback, and it sounded terrible when I plugged it in. The R was facing away from the belly of the bass. I was definitely dissapointed, so I figured I'd try to flit it upside down with the R facing the bass. BINGO! That did the trick! Very clear, clean, transparent tone with creamy low end.
What the previous poster said about "not every pickup for every bass" is very true...try flipping the pickup around and see if that does the trick for your bass. After I did it, I'm VERY happy with mine!

[MT Spaces]

I mostly agree with Doc Upright and the other folks here. I have a Rev II and a Coda. I have now modified the bass-side bridge wings on all three of my basses (2 Kays and an Epiphone) for the single Rev II that I own (I'm a cheap basterd ). I find that it works best with the "R" facing into the bass in all cases. Slight shifting around of the pick-up can make a world of difference in the sound. You just have to work at it and find "the spot."

I have had some "naselly" sounds at first but found that I needed to loosen the fit just a bit in those cases. I get good, warm (but different) sounds out of all 3 basses with the Coda HPF at 60-70 and the 3 eq knobs real close to flat ..... maybe a little bass rolled off and the mids boosted a bit. The sounds I get really do seem close to what the basses sound like acoustically (until things get real loud). Good Luck Lyle .... Hope you get that fit worked out.

[drurb]

I suspect that whether the RS sounds better with the "R" facing up or down depends on the profile of the wood that is in close contact with the piezo element. The element within the casing is closer to the "R" side than the other. On my bass, the curve of the bridge leg results in a less-uniform and smaller area of contact than does the flattened bridge wing. With the "R" facing away from the body it sounds quite good. Flipped over, it sounds dark and muddy. That's just all part of the bass-to-bass differences and the RS II.

[fingers]

Originally Posted by Bob Branstetter

I discovered many years ago that there is no such thing as one pickup that sounds great on ALL basses.

+1. Or else everyone would still use the original Ampeg pickup.

That's the beauty of the capitalist market. There has to be competition trying to convince you that their product is better than what you have.

[Bob Branstetter]

Originally Posted by fingers

+1. Or else everyone would still use the original Ampeg pickup.

That's a really sickening thought!
(I had one when I started playing)

[Jake deVilliers]

Gee Bob, you must be really old!

[MT Spaces]

Originally Posted by drurb

I suspect that whether the RS sounds better with the "R" facing up or down depends on the profile of the wood that is in close contact with the piezo element. The element within the casing is closer to the "R" side than the other ....

Yep Doc .... I took that all into account. I decided to make my bridge-wing flat-filing work even more long, arduous, and fine-tuned by working mostly on the curved bass-side hip of the bridge rather than the easy-route outboard-side. Much slower and more wrist, eye-ball, and hand work but I think it pays off ... I actually didn't take much off the Rev II wood-wafer at all. I mostly flatted out the inboard bass-side bridge curve and left the little square of the outboard bridge wing close to original .... Except to make sure all was parallel for a good, even, tight-ish fit. I have no clue if that's right ..... but it worked for 3 different basses ..... "R" symbol facing inboard ..... without dickin' much with the Rev II wafer itself . And I really like the sound .... no quacky, honkey, nasal deals there ... Very minimal AI Coda EQ knob-turnin' .... Something I can deal with and count on when I set-up quick.

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

Gee Bob, you must be really old!

Hey Jake .... Which Bob you addressing here ?? I just had my 57th on May 24th.

Must be me yer talkin' to ... Cuz' Bob Branstetter ain't old. I'd like to meet him sometime. He is still young at heart, knows how to fix and finish double bass stuff, play upright bass stuff thru amp stuff ..... And ..... Best Of Alll .... He don't put up with No Guff from Nobody here at TalkBass.

Not to mention ..... He knows how to run one them Apple i-Touch / i-Think / i-Ponder/ i-Groove ..... Gizmos ..... Whatever them dang things are called ..... Bob knows how to run one and I don't !!

[clink]

Originally Posted by Bob Knebel

Not to mention ..... He knows how to run one them Apple i-Touch / i-Think / i-Ponder/ i-Groove ..... Gizmos ..... Whatever them dang things are called ..... Bob knows how to run one and I don't !!

Although Bob's got twenty years on me, he's got more electronic know-how than anybody I know. Pretty smart cat.

He's one smart old man .

[MT Spaces]

Originally Posted by clink

Although Bob's got twenty years on me, he's got more electronic know-how than anybody I know. Pretty smart cat ... He's one smart old man .

Dang Clink .... I live AlongWays from you .... You practically live right next door to Bob Branstetter .... No Fair . I agree .... Bob's a Smart Young Feller and if you keep listening to what he has to say ... You too can be Schmart. Just foolin' ... I know BassManure when I hear it and you seem to know yer Manure pretty well too !

[drurb]

Originally Posted by Bob Knebel

Yep Doc .... I took that all into account. I decided to make my bridge-wing flat-filing work even more long, arduous, and fine-tuned by working mostly on the curved bass-side hip of the bridge rather than the easy-route outboard-side. Much slower and more wrist, eye-ball, and hand work but I think it pays off ... I actually didn't take much off the Rev II wood-wafer at all. I mostly flatted out the inboard bass-side bridge curve and left the little square of the outboard bridge wing close to original ....

Thanks for the detail. This fits with my suspicion. You worked to flatten the hip and placed the "R" side right against it (face down). My wingy-deal was flattened and the "R" is placed against it (face up). Makes sense!

[Gearhead43]

Lyle, I think I know what your problem is.

You bought the "Rev Solo II", when you should've bought the "Underwood".

[lyle]

thanks guys for the insight, I'll keep tinkering with this set up.

[MT Spaces]

Originally Posted by Gearhead43

.... I think I know what your problem is .... You bought the "Rev Solo II", when you should've bought the "Underwood" ...

Good Try G-Head .... However .... I'm not sure I agree with you when a guy like Lyle already has a Rev II and a Coda.

If someone really wants a p-zoh pick-up that deals nicely with (i.e. rejects) nasty infrasonics from a doublebass and doesn't want to buy a buncha other pre-amp, filter, eq, yadda-yadda electronic gizmo sh%t .... Then I think a Rev II direct into an AI Coda is just swell. It works like a mutha for me on 3 different basses so don't give me no Carrie Underwood sales-pitch . The Rev II should and will work great for Lyle once he gets a handle on the bridge fit of the pick-up .

[MT Spaces]

Originally Posted by drurb

Thanks for the detail. This fits with my suspicion. You worked to flatten the hip and placed the "R" side right against it (face down). My wingy-deal was flattened and the "R" is placed against it (face up). Makes sense!

You are very welcome Doc . When I'm done with abuncha of filing of the curved bridge hip to make it flat ..... Then pretty much the whole Rev II wafer is flat against the hip facing the bass ... lots of solid contact and I can move it ever-so-slightly to get different sounds depending on what I'm looking for. I am not relying on the outboard small-squared-area side of the bridge wing at all for sound .... it is mostly just a pinch-point for firmly holding the pick-up. I'm totally convinced the real sound and vibrations come from the big-flat-area I create on the bridge hip on the big wood facing the bass. But .... I could be wrong ... Wouldn't be the first time I was wrong .

[drurb]

Originally Posted by Bob Knebel

I'm totally convinced the real sound and vibrations come from the big-flat-area I create on the bridge hip on the big wood facing the bass. But .... I could be wrong ... Wouldn't be the first time I was wrong .

Doesn't matter too much why-- the point is that what you did works! It sounds like a really good approach.