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Double Bass Aptflex Pick up (from Jonas Lohse) review

#23
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#25
jonas said:
It's definetely not an APTflex, but a Realist copy.
Click to expand...

After looking at pics on Jonas' web site I can see that the Ebay pu is NOT and AptFlex, but FYI the Realist AND the AptFlex both have their wires attatched to the short side.

BG
 
#26
Just wanted to chime in and report my experience with the APTflex + Eminence Bass combination.
My main instrument is the acoustic bass, I come from classical studies and teach doublebass in a Music Academy in Italy.

Since last year I've been playing with famous Indian percussionist Trilok Gurtu's band on a regular basis, so I needed a handy instrument to carry along, possibly something good-sounding (even if bowed), small, rugged and dependable. I chose the Eminence, and I never regretted my decision ever after. Actually, I found that in certain musical situations like this one, it's even better than the real thing: a faster attack, more presence, a slightly faster fingerboard...

I used to amplify the Emi with the good old Realist + a microphone mounted under the bridge (only for a little bit of "acoustic" highs, especially with the bow), until I had a chance to test the APTflex.
I was able to make a direct comparison, as I changed the PU halfway through the recording process of our next CD (ok, no plugs here... if someone wants to know about it, just ask me!), so it was easy to hear the differences, say, in a new line punched in over an old track. Everybody in the studio immediately could hear the difference, in a word I could say everything sounded less "plastic" or "piezo", there was more air, more bottom end, and more dynamics, too.

So I've got nothing but good things to say about the APTflex, at least about what's my experience with it and the Eminence.
Sooner or later I'll give it a try on the acoustic, too (which, as for now, is fitted with a Fishman Full Circle and an AMT mic).

And, no, I don't work for any of the above mentioned companies! ;)
 
#27
Trilok... way baddass . I just love that cat. Must be a blast to play with him.
I am finding that I am using the Aptflex in problematic rooms, like where the stage floor is wood or other situations where my normal settings for the FC (High Pass at around noon) still dont get me clarity. I have to EQ it a lot (I use the #2 curve on the U5 which cuts mid range pretty sharply) but it really responds to EQ and changes from a brite midrangy pick up to a warmer but very present and totally usable sound. Some Pick ups you just can't roll off enough of the upper mid muck but the Aptflex really matches well with the Avalon U5/ Focus III brick. And while you can definitely get it to sound crappy, it can sound better then many of the other offerings. (on my bass)
 
#29
flatback said:
Trilok... way baddass . I just love that cat. Must be a blast to play with him.
I am finding that I am using the Aptflex in problematic rooms, like where the stage floor is wood or other situations where my normal settings for the FC (High Pass at around noon) still dont get me clarity. I have to EQ it a lot (I use the #2 curve on the U5 which cuts mid range pretty sharply) but it really responds to EQ and changes from a brite midrangy pick up to a warmer but very present and totally usable sound. Some Pick ups you just can't roll off enough of the upper mid muck but the Aptflex really matches well with the Avalon U5/ Focus III brick. And while you can definitely get it to sound crappy, it can sound better then many of the other offerings. (on my bass)
Click to expand...
I just played a gig last night and on the last set decided to play thru the aptflex cause I haven't for a while. It sounded really really good. Totally clear and pure sounding and not at all brittle. Of course it was going thru the U5 but I was truly amazed at how good it sounded in context. In my studio the Full Circle sounds much fatter, but on the gig this thing sounded really excellent.
 
#30
Hey Piro,

Are you still using this pickup? I need a descrete pickup for a new project. I liked the sound of the realist that I used to own, but I didn't enjoy the lumpy surface. I've heard some sound clips of this pickup and it sounds similar.

Do you have any further thoughts or experiences or have you dumped it for something new?

I'd be curious as to how you are getting along with your Vektor mic as well.

Thanks in advance,
-JK
 
#31
My FC is crapping out again...that wire at the pick up gets caught on something (the bag?) anyway I put on the Aptflex this morning...it is way brite, (straight into the Focus I have to roll off all the mid and treble) but into the U5 (with eq setting 2) it sounds very very good. I know I've said this before, but it does...still like the FC better though...
 
#32
played a great gig last night, horn trio in a little cafe in Sausalito where the sound often gets muddy...I used the Aptflex all night and it was fantastic. I really dug the sound...
Here's the thing though, it sounds great thru a U5 but unusable (to me) straight. I didn't mix it with the mic (I will tonight) and I was really digging the sound, very clear and fat.
Some of these pick ups like the Aptflex seem to me to be kind of a raw signal, one that really needs to go thru a mid reducing preamp. If you do you can get a great sound, if you don't you may think the pick up is useless. The FC is kind of like that too, I don't really dig the sound unless it is thru the U5 (or mixed with a mic)
The Aptflex into the U5 had an excellent tone.
 
#33
flatback said:
Some of these pick ups like the Aptflex seem to me to be kind of a raw signal, one that really needs to go thru a mid reducing preamp. If you do you can get a great sound, if you don't you may think the pick up is useless. The FC is kind of like that too, I don't really dig the sound unless it is thru the U5 (or mixed with a mic)
The Aptflex into the U5 had an excellent tone.
Click to expand...

The aptflex has no dampening material around the sensor like other pickups (the underwood has some kind of rubber inside, the Realist uses foam layers, etc ...). Therefore, any sound adjustment has to be done electronically with the amp's or preamp's EQ. I mostly play a Zadow amp with parametric mid EQ, which is great to eliminate the unwanted mids – whatever pickup I use. But other amps like the AI Contra II or the PJB Briefcase work fine with the APTflex for me, too. It probably depends on the bass, too.
 
#34
jonas said:
The aptflex has no dampening material around the sensor like other pickups (the underwood has some kind of rubber inside, the Realist uses foam layers, etc ...). Therefore, any sound adjustment has to be done electronically with the amp's or preamp's EQ. I mostly play a Zadow amp with parametric mid EQ, which is great to eliminate the unwanted mids – whatever pickup I use. But other amps like the AI Contra II or the PJB Briefcase work fine with the APTflex for me, too. It probably depends on the bass, too.
Click to expand...

ya know Jonas that is just how it sounds too. This kind of undampened design may work better too because for example the Aptflex responds very well to EQ. Better then a lot of other pick ups that may already have some kind of frequency dampening. I like the idea of eq ing with a good preamp rather then rubber or silicone anyway.
Its too bad someone cant just snag the #2 EQ setting from the Avalon and put it in a small box...(they even provide a graph showing the curve)
 
#36
The bridge on my Eminence needed to be replaced. One of the adjusters was broken and I found the action too low. Because I found the Realist to sound a bit mid/piezo-like on many occasions I decided try the APTflex with the new bridge. I was inspired by the CD Arkeology with bassist Stefano Dall'Ora, who uses an eminence with this pickup on this recording with a very good result. The eminence on this recording doesn’t sound like an amplified URB but has a different sound with a unique acoustic character (which also differs from a mic-ed URB!).

So far my experiences with this pickup on the eminence are very positive:

The pickup is much thinner than the Realist and has a flat/even surface, which make it fit better under the bridge-foot. The pickup sits evenly on the top and is not bumpy like the Realist.

The APTflex sounds much more even across all frequencies and requires less EQ to sound good than the Realist. To me the APTflex does not sound bright. With the Realist I had to cut a bit more treble and a lot more mids. No need to boost bass. The APTflex sounds OK direct into an AI Coda with all EQ flat. Further EQ-ing according to personal taste (or room/situation) instead of trying to make the pickup sound acceptable. I still cut mids but not to get rid of piezo-mids but to get the tone I like.

On a rehearsal with loud drummer I played via a Fishman pre-amp into a PA system. Excellent sound with very little EQ-ing (some cutting of mids).

The eminence with an APTflex sounds more acoustic to me but with its own character. More like an acoustic eminence bass instead of like an amplified “normal” URB.

It has a more volume than my old Realist. Less gain required to get the same volume.

Like the Realist, good for arco.

Nice even sound from low E to thumb-position.

For scientists amongst you: I did not do the control experiments, which would be trying the APTflex in combination with my old bridge and the Realist with the new bridge. The new bridge has more wood left on the string side (higher action), is overall thicker and has two functional bridge adjusters.

Cheers,
G
 
#37
I keep coming back to this pick up when I am in a tight spot. Been playing it continuously for several weeks now and I'm really into it. this pick up does well what the underwood has always done kind of badly: it cuts thru all kinds of spectrums of sound so you can hear yourself really well. the tone can be warm (i eq'd well) but always has this clear clean definition that sounds kind of like the FC with the HP filter cranked up, but with better balance. I've been thinking it is kind of like shooting raw files on a digital camera: the raw signal from the pick up really needs filtering with eq but if you have a good eq it can be a better sound then having the pick up buffered and dampened.
Too bad it aint more popular.
 
#38
Piro,
I think the Euro exchange rate and the hassle of paying VAT tax and then applying for a tax refund is a big pain for most. I would love to try one but the hassles involved aren't worth it yet. Maybe when my current Realist dies or I (or a friend) take trip to Europe.
-J
 
#40
Hi Alain,

I ordered both the new bridge and the APTflex from Jonas Lohse. It's a standard Eminence bridge. However, when I had the bridge fit to my instrument the luthier left some more wood than my old bridge had, making it both thicker and longer. I'm not exactly sure how this affected my sound because my old bridge was broken and I changed from Realist to APTflex.
 

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