Wilson K1 mounted on soundpost

[Bassalova]

I'm usually a man of many ideas, some of them stupid, and some of them brilliant. I got this idea one day: How about mounting a Wilson K1 element into the top end of the soundpost. Lets say, about 0.5 cm away for the top. I've got a Grunert with this singel tailgut plug. The tailgut is now mounted standard style around the endpin, so I've got a free hole for a "pickup jack"

That would look pretty nice I think.
Perhaps it also would sound good.....

What do you think, guys and girls?

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by Bassalova

I'm usually a man of many ideas, some of them stupid, and some of them brilliant. I got this idea one day: How about mounting a Wilson K1 element into the top end of the soundpost. Lets say, about 0.5 cm away for the top. I've got a Grunert with this singel tailgut plug. The tailgut is now mounted standard style around the endpin, so I've got a free hole for a "pickup jack"

That would look pretty nice I think.
Perhaps it also would sound good.....

What do you think, guys and girls?

Basslova,
It's a interesting idea but I think that you should talk to Wilson about it. That pickup was designed to be installed into a bass bridge. Personally, I'd be afraid to drill into the post and risk cracking it for what could be a total failure as a pickup. I'm also not sold in placing a pickup inside the bass. Ampeg and Kurmann both tried the endpin pickup and neither of them are made anymore. Either way I'd talk to a luthier as well to get a handle on sound post do's and dont's

Ric

[bolo]

Yeah Kurmann did the pickup on the sound post thing. Ron Carter used it.

http://www.doublebassguide.com/?p=194

http://www.soundpost.ch/Index_e.html then click on (what else) "bass"

[Bassalova]

The sound shouldn't be much more different than from the Realist, because the placement is almost similar. It's just on the other side of the top, and the sound post is also constantly under pressure. Besides, I believe that Wilson piezos may be of better quality than the Realist, or what do you think?

But I can see there is a risk regarding a crack in the soundpost. I wil talk to my luthier about this.........

[bolo]

I dunno. I could be all wet. But to me I would think the sonic energy (can't think of a better descriptor) sensed inside the bass at the soundpost would be a lot different than what's sensed outside the bass under the bridge foot. Kind of hard to quantify. I'm not a luthier or a techie.

[Bassalova]

On second thouhgt......the realist may be a better choice, because it is placed on the bass side of the top......the soundpost is on the treble side, so the sound would maybe get a midrange caracter.......

[Uncletoad]

Knowing how hard it is to accurately locate and fit a soundpost I'd not be to keen on irreversible experiments that required drilling holes in it lest they fail and another soundpost need refitted.

But if you've tried all the pickups out there and haven't liked them...and are keen to spend a bunch of $ experimenting I hope you post an analysis of your findings. I think it would be fascinating.

[Bassalova]

I haven´t tried all the pickups, but I´ve heard most of them. I think the regular Wilson is too electric in sound: fretless/doublebass........you can´t get that real double bass sound. I recently tried the Realist, but it is a tad too dark and blurry, and could struggle to get trough in a louder band. But it actually sounded pretty good

Pickups that I have owned and used are Underwood, BP100 and Revolution Solo II. Out of these, there is only the underwood that i would go back to. The other two is crap, and I´m selling them for like 80 $ each.

I´m actually considering the single paddle Shadow SH 951, because I think it will sound decent enough, and it is possible to make a mounting bracket on the back of the tailpice for quick removal of the jack.

I´m a fan of clean designs regarding the pickups

I play both Classical and jazz/folk

[Uncletoad]

My two favorite pickups are the Full Circle and the Realist.

I've tried lots of the others and these are the two that do it for me.

Currently both my basses wear Full Circles.

[Bassalova]

I´ve read many comments on the Full Circle.....Seems like it is one of the best out there...... I´m actually considering a bridge with adjusters, so maybe it would be smart to give Bob Gollihur a call and ask for a Full Circle ready bridge blank.

[Bassalova]

Uncletoad....how would you describe the sound of the Full Circle?

[adbass]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

My two favorite pickups are the Full Circle and the Realist.

I've tried lots of the others and these are the two that do it for me.

Currently both my basses wear Full Circles.

ditto.

[adbass]

Originally Posted by Bassalova

I´ve read many comments on the Full Circle.....Seems like it is one of the best out there...... I´m actually considering a bridge with adjusters, so maybe it would be smart to give Bob Gollihur a call and ask for a Full Circle ready bridge blank.

If you didn't like the realist for it being too muddy the next logical step would be to try a full circle. It seems like that would be a lot easier than messing with the soundpost, although as UT said, it would be an interesting experiment.


The full circle has all the depth of the Realist, but it's got a louder output, and gobs more top and middle, making it EQ friendly and punchy. Granted, it doesn't sound as natural as the realist, but that aspect of the realist is lost quickly when things get loud.

I had the same issues with the realist and was sold on the full circle pretty quickly after it was installed on my bass. Even if you don't like the FC you'll be able to turn it around in the classifieds.

IME, IMO, etc etc

I'm sure UToad will have some good descriptions comparing the two pickups.

edit: you could try running both FC and realist concurrently, with one being out of phase. You might be able to get the best of both worlds that way, but personally, I find the FC works and I "ain't gonna fix it if it ain't broke"


edit #2: fill out your profile please!

[Uncletoad]

Well adbass has pretty much summed up my experience as well.

The FC is rich and deep like the Realist with more mids and highs and more "string" than the Realist. As such it's better for higher volumes but less "realistic". Low volume arco is better on the Realist but not enough for me to sacrifice the high volume pizz muscle of the FC.

Fit of the bridge to the table and the Full Circle to the bridge is crucial. Be sure you have some chops before you try to give a go at the lutherie. I sure do and it's tough for me.

If unsure spend the dough on the experienced person. When the FC doesn't work or sounds like crap 9 out of 10 it's poor install.

[jonas]

I know a bassist who has installed a single Wilson element to the bass' top, into the bass bar. I haven't heard his bass, he just told me about this – so I can't say anything about the sound.
But I know from the Kurman soundpost pickup, that it didn't worked so well for bass as it did for violin. You needed to dampen the soundpost with felt. (The Kurman soundpost isn't available anymore.)
The main problem I see is the cable length, vibrating freely in the bass’ body. You need to dampen this.

[Bassalova]

Perhaps it would be better to leave the interiour of the bass untouched. But speaking of Wilson K1........how about mounting it into the bass side leg, like 5-10mm above the bass top. that shouldn't compromise the construction of the bridge leg either. It would be almost the same principal as The Realist, but perhaps even better.......

[Uncletoad]

I don't understand the fascination with the Wilson element.

It's a dead product. I'd move on.

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

I don't understand the fascination with the Wilson element.

It's a dead product. I'd move on.

+1
The only person that I've heard using a Wilson was George Mraz. But , frankly he could play a cardboard box with bass strings and sound fantastic. It wasn't so much Wilson that sounded good it was His bass and his musicianship.

Ric

[jonas]

Originally Posted by Bassalova

Perhaps it would be better to leave the interiour of the bass untouched. But speaking of Wilson K1........how about mounting it into the bass side leg, like 5-10mm above the bass top. that shouldn't compromise the construction of the bridge leg either. It would be almost the same principal as The Realist, but perhaps even better.......

That's the way I prefer to use a Wilson. See http://www.jonaslohse.de/pickups_e.html (scroll down for picture).

[jonas]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

I don't understand the fascination with the Wilson element. It's a dead product.

It's small, it's lightweight, you can mount it in different ways … so I don't agree it's dead at all.