Underwood Pickup - Piezo Question

pdbass · #1 04-07-2007, 04:29 PM

After a rather painful gig last night using a REALIST pickup, I think I might be ready to move on. It was HIGH volume from the start (thanks to the guitarist--and also thanks to the house mic that picked up his bottom-heavy sound AND my bass, as well). A little MUD for everyone--but I digress. . .

So, I threw on my Underwood PU for the 2nd set and it just sounded like CRAP. This is a PU I really used to love. It excelled at giving me that presence, that little mid bump so that I could be heard in the middle of an ensemble. I used to like to use it at low to mid volumes to just make the sound of my bass blossom. I also miss being able to take it off for classical work and the like. I miss how QUICK it was, as well. It seems like if the room isn't completely quiet, I'm really digging in on that REALIST to get my pitch up to my ear to be heard!

Anyway, my question is what happened to my Underwood?! This is a pickup that delivered the same things through the amp regardless of the instrument. There was fundamental, punch, bottom, clarity. Does this pickup tend to lose these things over the course of, say, 10 years? Has anyone else on the board found the sound of their Underwood PU worse over a long period of time? (Although most of you might find it awful right out of the box

) I haven't really been able to get a good sound out of this PU for a while now--laminated or carved. It's completely mid-heavy, slow developing, and devoid of any kind of PUNCH. I'm aware that piezo crystals tend to lose some of their effectiveness over time--should I buy a new one? Will a brand new Underwood sound completely different--or is this the excuse I've been looking for to get that FULL CIRCLE installed on my instrument?

drurb · #2 04-07-2007, 06:46 PM

Regardless of the reason, it sounds like your Underwood is no longer useful to you. You mentioned that you value the ability to remove the pickup for classical work. Of course, the Full Circle won't do much for you there. All of this sounds like good reason to get a Rev. Solo. It's removable and, at least on my basses, has sounded great.

greitzer · #3 04-07-2007, 06:49 PM

I've had my Underwood for five years, and I haven't experienced any change in its performance.

If you think back to when you used to like the Underwood, were you using the same amp back then? Same type of strings? Or have you changed them (amp in particular).

Also, is there any chance that having the Realist under the bridge foot would affect the vibration that the Underwood is picking up, so it wouldn't sound the same with the Realist on there? Just a thought.

Jaromir · #4 04-07-2007, 07:12 PM

I can think of two possible reasons:
1. Fit of the Underwood pickup - is it really well fit in the wings?
2. After getting used to hear the sound of Realist, maybe a little muddy, but quite natural and acoustic, the sound of Underwood becomes unacceptable. Just an idea...

jsbarber · #5 04-07-2007, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greitzer

Also, is there any chance that having the Realist under the bridge foot would affect the vibration that the Underwood is picking up, so it wouldn't sound the same with the Realist on there? Just a thought.

I have heard Bob Magnusson play a number of times with both the Realist (arco) and Underwood (Piz) with an A/B switch. Having the Realist there doesn't seem to cause any issues with his Underwood sound, which is phenomenal by the way. Of course that's not to say that PD's is not causing a problem, only that it doesn't have to cause a problem...

Jim

superman · #6 04-07-2007, 10:01 PM

I learned a good trick from Billy Linneman who was the staff bass player at the Opry for 40+ yrs, He takes off one side of the Underwood pickup. It gives the bass lots more punch..To me when you use both sides of the Underwood its like useing 2 mics that are out of phase, and cancels out the precussive force of the note. I've used the same method for 15yrs or so, and wouldnt think of going back to useing both sides.I have also use a Realist, but I find it lacks in punch and seems to be weak on the higher notes up the G string.I have seen some basses that work best with the Underwood on the bass side, but most basses I ever had it works best with it on the treble side of the bridge,, give it a try,,

Wilbyman · #7 04-08-2007, 07:19 AM

Hey Paul-

I use an Underwood with an AI amp. The sound is full and fat. I bought an LMII to check out and it was not a good fit with the Underwood. It sounded just as you described. Very thin without any body or punch. I would attribute your experience to the LMII. It might work better with a higher impedance preamp before the amp or a different PU. The Underwood is definitely a part of my sound so I have to work with it.

Will

tornadobass · #8 04-08-2007, 08:40 AM

If you take a look at the specs, the LMII has too low of an impedance for a piezo pickup...only 500k ohms. That will likely make the pickup sound thin and clanky.

LMII specs

I've wondered why they went with that spec when most amps are using a target of 1meg ohm, which is okay for a piezo.

Try a buffer preamp with the LMII and Underwood...that should improve the tone.

Jason Hollar · #9 04-08-2007, 09:25 AM

Whaddup PD?!

I'm curious to hear if you ever liked that Barbera on your other bass?

I've gone through a BP-100, an Underwood, and a Realist and disliked them all.

I do have a Full Circle as my "built in" backup pup. It pales in comparison to the Barbera though in terms of output, tone, clarity, etc., but it's still much better than those others IMHO.

There are lots of great opinions on the Revolution Solo...maybe that would be a good upgrade (and similar style/fit) as the underwood. I've considered one of those as yet another option. That plus my AT 35 mic...I'm trying to see how many frickin wires I can have hanging off my bass!!!

Good luck brahhh.