URB Pickups and Effects

petersenbass · #1 01-30-2008, 09:28 AM

I love the sound of a acoustic bass.

That out of the way... for one project I'd be using a variety of effects on the URB: envelope filter, chorus, overdrive, and maybe a bass micro synth.
I already use a chorus with my URB. My URB is a chinese model that is pretty nice for the $500 I paid, and it came with a builtin mic and jack.
Do I have to use a magnetic pickup for some effects or will a decent piezo style work ok?

What other mag pups are out there besides the Scahller?

Will a Barcus Berry work well with effects?

I was thinking of blending the builtin mic with a magnetic pup or a Barcus Berry. I'm looking for minimal feedback. (of course)

Thanks in advance

bolo · #2 01-30-2008, 09:35 AM

Magnetic vs. piezo should not matter.

bongomania · #3 01-30-2008, 09:38 AM

IME the best thing is to put some sort of buffered pedal in between the piezo and any other effects, in order to correct the impedance relationship between them. That buffer could be "just a buffer" like a small preamp circuit, or it could be a compressor, or an EQ; something ideally that you'd leave on all the time. Some pedals have a buffered bypass, so you'd get that benefit whether the effect was switched on or not, but I'd still recommend using something that you'd leave on which could provide a cut or boost in your signal level between the piezo and the other effects.

petersenbass · #4 01-30-2008, 09:45 AM

Where can I find a Biesele pickup?

petersenbass · #5 01-30-2008, 09:49 AM

Nevermind about the Biesele...I saw they're $400.

Thanks for the advice. I'm running my URB's crappy builtin mic into a Aphex Punch Factory -> Boss CEB -> SWR Workingman 12. The setup sounds so so at low
stage volume, I get feedback at medium volume and up.

bolo · #6 01-30-2008, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petersenbass

What other mag pups are out there besides the Scahller?

Here's something you may not have seen. I don't have any experience with it. The thread starts out DIY but if you get to the end of the thread I think you can just order one from jflojazz.

bongomania · #7 01-30-2008, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petersenbass

I'm running my URB's crappy builtin mic into a Aphex Punch Factory -> Boss CEB -> SWR Workingman 12. The setup sounds so so at low
stage volume, I get feedback at medium volume and up.

Then IMO you need to address the feedback problem before adding any more effects.

bolo · #8 01-30-2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petersenbass

Will a Barcus Berry work well with effects?

I could be all wet, but I'm not sure it'll work well under any conditions. It's an older design I believe. There are better sounding p/u's available nowadays I think.

petersenbass · #9 01-30-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Then IMO you need to address the feedback problem before adding any more effects.

Well, the feedback problem is becuase there is a cheap mic design inside of the bass. The URB has a mic in the body with a jack on one side of the body and a vol/tone on the other side. Any pickup upgrade will be better than that.

petersenbass · #10 08-01-2008, 12:40 AM

Well I have the jflojazz pickup installed correctly, I got a preamp mounting kit fomr Bob Golliher, and mounted a Fishman Pro-EQ Preamp on my tailpiece.

I like the sound I'm getting,and there is no feedback at all of course. I'm still getting a little buzz. I can EQ the hum/buzz out pretty well, but I lose some sizzle. I guess It can't be grounded any better. Overall I'm happy...anyone have any tips to tame the buzz?

Barcza · #11 08-01-2008, 04:52 PM

For use I think the best to use a clear sounding pickup, Barcus Berry and Fishman will works ( I'm not shure in Schertler and Realistic). An electric upright sometimes could works better with effects than acoustic. In very rarely I used boss DD-3 delay and Reverb with acoustc upright, with Fishman full circle I didn't feel I need buffer preamp, but the effect pedals could be various input inpadence, as far as I know all the Boss pedals has 1 Mohm.

mr.hughes · #12 08-21-2008, 04:28 AM

I put my upright (using a K&K Bass Max/ K&K preamp setup) thru a Barge Concepts VB.Jr Effects Loop pedal (with the effects in the loop) and gotten far better results than if I had just gone straight into the effect. I think it's the buffers used in the Barge pedal that really help. The effects pedals (BassBalls, Boss Chorus, Boss Octave) all seemed to respond better and have a more usable range of effect.

Barge Concepts are great pedals made by great guys. I don't work for them and I'm not endorsed by them - just a very happy customer.