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Double Bass Amplification suggestions for young bassist, please!
- Thread starter bassist6
- Start date
I am just anal. I come from a classical background where even having a bow quiver would get you raised eyebrows. It is a very small, lightweight device. I doubt it reduces the acoustic volume noticeably. Certainly less than any bridge wing pickup I have ever used.
Haha... I "grew up" as a classical player as well. I got over it.
My bass proudly wears my pickup and a quiver when it makes sense. They're part of the jazz badges of honor (although I'd prefer never to need amplification).
Well possibly, although I've never found it to a problem. Lay the bass on a bed, loosen the strings, lift up the E side foot and put the Realist under. Make sure the bridge is aligned and tighten to pitch. I just feel that the Realist is one of the eaiest pickups to get a good sound quickly with. YMMV.
AMJBASS said:
This is a lot more hassle than just popping a bassmax or rev solo out of the wings lot no? I have never used a realist but I understand it is more feedback prone than other pickups. Is that your experience?
Engedi 1,
Really, wow that's a rather harsh judgement these days! There are a couple of St. Louis Symphony players that have pickups installed on their basses. One uses an Ehrlund, the other has/had a Realist. I'll have to peek at their basses the nextime I'm attending a concert. Maybe they take them off when their performing. I studied 6 1/2 years with a classically trained player, and I wouldn't trade that experience for the world, but I've used a quiver forever, and frankly I don't give a hoot what other section players think.
Just my take though. In a professional orchestra you have to "go with the flow" I guess. The reason I rarely take the Ehrlund off, is that by repeating that process, over and over, again, you're more likely to have problems with the pickup, cable and jack, unless you are extremely gentle. I've found that the Realist is far less prone to damage,if you just leave it on as well.
Ric
Ric
Well, truth be told, I leave my quiver on 100% of the time, and haven't played in a classical setting in many years! Maybe I need to reconsider removing my Ehrlund after each gig. I certainly want to baby it so it lasts as long as possible as a new one ain't exactly what you would call cheap.
I will add that I would be extremely surprised if pro Symphony players left a pickup on their bass during orchestral performances. I was very close to the phoenix Symphony guys when I was in college and pay a lot of attention when I go to the Nashville Symphony now, and I have never noticed pickups on their basses during concerts (or quivers). But in the jazz and pop worlds where most of us live, anything goes.
And (Ehrlunds and) Realists are not bridge wing pickups, which are much easier to remove than anything under the bridge foot or in an adjuster.
For a rehersal I wouldn't like to remove bridge foot pickups, but for a medium important performance I would. Also if the conductor want to have the pickup removed at rehearsals close to a performance.
For a rehersal I wouldn't like to remove bridge foot pickups, but for a medium important performance I would. Also if the conductor want to have the pickup removed at rehearsals close to a performance.
I just wanted to thank all of you again for your help! I just purchased a used Behringer BX1200 today from Guitar Center for only $75! Luckily we live near a large store that carries the Bass Max as well as other double bass pickups that we can try. I greatly appreciate all of your suggestions!
