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Double Bass Anyone useing Wilson K1 PU?

#4
A little off topic but I have wondered about a K2 with one pickup in each leg. I use the Yamahiko right now which is similar...what interests me about a K2 would be the control you could get adjusting two piezos that are kind of...side address... The Yamahiko as close as I can tell is omni directional (the piezo is in the adjuster shaft but does not change sonic ally if you turn the wheel. I had a K4 in the early days and I found the piezos to be very directional and so you could kind of tune what part of the vibrating bridge you wanted them to listen to. I had mine drilled in the traditional way behind each string but I had the luthier set them considerably farther back in the bridge. I don't know if that was a good idea or not back then the amps sucked so bad it's hard to tell. But I think bridges have all kinds of direct, reprercussive, muted, etc vibrations happening and being able to dial them in seems like it could work pretty well. That said the Yamahiko is the best pickup I have tried both in engineering/build and design. Very versatile. But The K1 in the E leg should sound good.
 
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#5
I tried one element in each leg but there wasn't any benefit, it's just sounded worse.
One under each string sounded even worse. Best sound, for me, is one element in the bass foot as close to the top as possible. If I need more mids, I put it in a hole in the middle of the leg. Next step is to turn it until it sounds as good/even as possible. Third step, eq etc.. :)
 
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#7
Kristian said:
I tried one element in each leg but there wasn't any benefit, it's just sounded worse.
One under each string sounded even worse. Best sound, for me, is one element in the bass foot as close to the top as possible. If I need more mids, I put it in a hole in the middle of the leg. Next step is to turn it until it sounds as good/even as possible. Third step, eq etc.. :)
Click to expand...
How mutch output has the one element?
 
#8
flatback said:
Yeah K1 close to the top. Ill bet that sounds pretty good. What about one like that and one up nearer the strings?
Click to expand...
I never tried that.
My small bass with the different holes is in for repair right now but I'll try when I get it back. The hole closest to the top sounds more "natural" however so I doubt that you would like to mix it with something unless you really have to.
 
#9
It fits well for my bass, output ist enough even without a preamp, nice range of sound options by rotating the cell in the bridge.
Wilson K1.JPG
 
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#10
F3D03449-3D34-4977-B675-476A70879CC9.jpeg
2DA82401-1B75-4E67-A76A-428245341EEE.jpeg
I have a K4 on my EUB. I first installed it in the recommended location under the strings and then, like @flatback, I experimented with installing it in the “Yamahiko” position
The stock K4 position has a strong “string” response. On the EUB, that means it sounds like a fretless electric bass. Moving the elements towards the feet give it a bit more of a woody sound.
Which sounds like an improvement to me. Either way, the EUB still sounds too “electric” to me.
 
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#11
@Maple, did you try to put only one element into the bridge? Only one can sound best, because with more than one element there will always be phase cancellation going on, possibly resulting in a thinner and weak sound.
@Barcza, you are right, the Wilson K1 sounds great in the lando music pickup comparison on soundcloud

I guess it´s a good choice. Easy installation, lightweight and unobstrusive are more good arguments for this pickup.
 
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#12
@Matthias Hacker - I did try 1, 2 and finally 4 elements. I liked the 4 setup best. Because the pairs are butted together in the same hole and aligned in the same direction, they don't seem to have phasing problems. As far as I can tell, the two elements in the same hole just increases the sound response at that spot on the bridge. I would have probably been happy with the sound of just two elements but leaving two dangling didn't seem like a good solution. My complaints of the EUB are really just that it isn't a double bass. Even with its matching geometry and decent sound, it doesn't compare to the feeling off playing the real double bass.
 
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#13
Maple said:
View attachment 3458401 View attachment 3458402 I have a K4 that started out on my DB. I replaced it with the Yamahiko and installed it on my EUB.

Like @flatback, I experimented with installing it in the “Yamahiko” position
The stock K4 position has a strong “string” response. On the EUB, that means it sounds like a fretless electric bass. Moving the elements towards the feet give it a bit more of a woody sound.
Which sounds like an improvement to me. Either way, the EUB still sounds too “electric” to me.
Click to expand...
Hou prefer the Yamahiko on the acoustic bass now?
 
#17
Yes. I tried the Full Circle too (and many others ;)), it has a little more output compared to K1, but the main difference is another sound character, hard to describe. In addition, it certainly differ from one bass to another.
Sorry, this statement doesn't help much to make a choice :cool:.
 
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#19
I am about to have a K1 installed, and and seeing how folks recommend going as close as possible to the top (i.e. towards the base of the bridge foot), I wonder: has anybody stuck their k1 *under* the bridge adjuster screws (provided you have an adjustable bridge), or does it need to go above? Thanks.
 

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