Double Bass Acoustic Image/Realist?

[jon3673]

Sam,
As I have said in other settings, I sort of came in through the back door on the Acoustic Image amp, but am convinced that it's the best. I started out using the AI Coda and thought that it was perfect until I tried the Ten2 on a gig. I'm now converted!
My original working upright was a fully carved 4/4 size and I tried just about everything on the market, but felt that everything colored my sound. The Fishman BP100 clamp on pickup was much too heavy and dark on the low end. I finally settled on the Underwood pickup, because it had less distortion than anything else I could find. It gave me the most natural sound.
Two or three weeks ago I tried the new Fishman Full Circle and was amazed at how natural my sound is now. I mean the amplified sound that I now get is exactly like my acoustic sound, only louder!
So, I now amplify using the AI Ten2 and the Fishman Full Circle. This is the best combination that I have found.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

back in the 70's and early 80's I was using an Underwood like every one else. I never felt that I was getting enough "thump". You know--that very legato amplified sound. I had switched to the Fishman BP100---a lot of guys hated it but the problem with that pickup was that it was near impossible to get it properly mounted.

I heard Eric at a gig and I knew he was using an Underwood. But he was getting a really strong attack. Kindof like the Barcus Berry but with a good sound and decent sustain. The only thing the Barcus did well was initial attack.

Anyway, I looked at his bass and noticed that the G string side of the pickup was just hanging there. He just had the E string side in place! And it sounded great. I took an Underwood and cut off the E string side, grafted some extra cable and put a jack on it. Sounded great!

But by then I was using a Wilson. And then Barbera. I loved the Barbera but it just kept breaking. Then I switched to the FC.
If I could find a pickup that had the initial attack of the Realist and the tone/sustain of the FC---I'd be thrilled!

I now own two 'Underwood' pickups because I cut mine the same way and soldered the jack from an old Realist onto the G string side but using it on the E side. I've been using a wood Realist for a couple of years but it's now off the bass because the single Underwood element sounds fantastic. Realists have always sounded weak and wooly on the E string and don't work well at high volumes. The Underwood doesn't sound good into anything below 1k but the 10k input of the original Clarus is really nice. I'm very happy with my sound.

 

[Don Kasper]

I now own two 'Underwood' pickups because I cut mine the same way and soldered the jack from an old Realist onto the G string side but using it on the E side. I've been using a wood Realist for a couple of years but it's now off the bass because the single Underwood element sounds fantastic. Realists have always sounded weak and wooly on the E string and don't work well at high volumes. The Underwood doesn't sound good into anything below 1k but the 10k input of the original Clarus is really nice. I'm very happy with my sound.

Greg,

You're "Preachin' to the Choir", my brother.
Thanks.