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Double Bass ARRRGG! Barbera craps out...again!

Jason Hollar

Jason Hollar

Apr 17, 2005
3,565
3,849
Pennsylvania
#1
I can't stand it!

I've been a long time Barbera user. I had quite a few problems with my first Barbera bridge pickup crapping out...so I bit the bullet and eventually got another one.

This one has worked faithfully for over a year now. I've made darn sure not to bump the bridge at all. I even bought a $7 rubber bass mute that covers the bridge during transit. Kinda like a big honkin' bumper guard!

Problem is, the sensor under the G string has stopped working properly. I noticed it while playing through my amp today in preparation for some upcoming gigs. The problem was confirmed by gently tapping over where each string meets the bridge. The D, A, and E strings all gave a loud thunk, while the G string side was dead quiet. I could also tell by looking at the meters on my Eden Nav. The G string was clearly not registering like the others...

So, having learned from past problems, I planned for this day by also having a Fishman Full Circle installed. I've had the Barbera go down on a couple of gigs you know...what a drag not to have the low E string amplified!

Since I was home, I was able to swap out the Barbera bridge with the regular bridge I had fitted to the instrument -- which I used as a template for the Barbera bridge.

I won't be out of a pickup on a few of my upcoming jobs...but it won't be my favorite setup.

Gotta tell you, I love the way the Barbera sounds. This is just getting old having to tear down the bridge setup and crank 'er back up.

Plus it's yucking up my Obligatos...I noticed some windings on the strings coming loose over the bridge due to the swap. Now I have to consider a new set of strings too?

Rats.

Granted, Rich @ Barbera is good about turning things things around...but what a pain in the bum. He said the new models were constructed more reliably than his older versions and that he was correcting this problem with better materials. Either way, it'll most likely be another $50 plus shipping and several weeks down time to get it fixed.

Anybody else had this problem? Or am I the only one with a bad case of bass bridge gremlins?
 
#2
Sorry man, I feel your pain. I had a Barbera on for a year or so before one of the sensors went. I really liked the Barbera too. I took it to Gage for a new bridge and David told me that piezos have a short half life...ie they dont last forever and thats why he made his pick ups user friendly and affordable. I didn't really dig the realist, but remembered about piezos and couldn't see spending 5 bills on another Barbera.
 
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#3
boy that sucks.

I've got the Barbera pus on my Messenger EUB. It was a huge improvement over the old Highlander system that came with the bass 14 years ago. I've loved the sound of the Barbera on this axe but I also take a lot of precautions. I fly a lot with this bass and wedge a piece of foam between the roll bar and the bridge and have another piece wedged between the strings and the body in front of the bridge, that way when I fly the whole bridge is protected on top and front. But this of course doesn't help if baggage handlers decide to drop the flight case onto the tarmac from the plane.:bawl:
 
#5
I wouldn't discourage you from ordering one. I frickin' love the sound...best pickup I've tried yet.

It seemes to match much better with "regular" electric bass amps like SWR, etc. Plus it sounds quite good direct through the board.

It's just a fragile bugger. Wish I knew what was going on that makes these things fail so easily.

I should note my first bridge was sent back on two occsions for repair. Granted, I was there when someone accidentally kicked my bridge (in a small studio session) with a loud whack!

The second time was during a cross country transport when I had my bass packed up on a moving truck.

However, I can't say for sure what happened this time around. I adjusted the bridge slightly, by lowering the action a bit and also moved the bridge back a few mm to keep my scale length accurate.

Sent the bridge back yesterday -- we'll see what happens.

My advice is, if you buy one, have a backup bridge and "clip on" pickup handy in case of emergency.
 
#6
One bit of advice: Dont be tempted to move the bridge back and forth when it is under tension. on a normal bridge this can be done a bit, to straighten it but with a Barbera there are 2 piezos for each string grafted right where the tension is very high. If even one of those piezo crystals (which are brittle and fragile) crack, there goes the show. I think, Jason, that you are right to use that mute and take extreme caution.
Yea I really liked the Barbera. In fact I still use the fantastic mounting system for the 1/4 plug on my FC. It is one of the hottest pups too. The fact that there are two sensors for each string gives it a different kind of sound. But the down sides (bridge replacement, locked into set up) are pretty drastic.
 
#7
I have debated getting a Barbera for a while. I am glad I didn't get it earlier since I had a new fingerboard and new
bass bar put in. I had to have work done on my bridge. I know the sound reproducton is what I am looking for. A friend of mine has it and loves it. We have the same views of pickups and sound. I am worried about the brittleness of it. Interesting about the Full Circle. It may sound good, but I think it is the ugliest, cheapest looking thing. Why did they use a white wire? I am not far from Barbera so if I do get one, I will go directly to him. I'll have him do the tracing so it is correct. I have heard of people getting the "copy" and it's not exactly correct.
 
#8
Yeah, I had him install the holes for the Full Circle from a template I sent, and one of the holes isn't quite right as a result.

If you could go and supervise the installation prep, that would be killer.

Don't get me wrong -- I'm not knckin' Rich Barbera and his work. I think this has just become a really inconvenient expense for me.

Flatback...I may have indeed moved the bridge under partial tension. That's insane though. How are you supposed to sure up the bridge from time to time? Loosening the strings the whole way throws everything off.

Dperrott...yeah I guess they don't make any black wires that particular length for the Full Cirlce! ;^ )
 
#9
dperrott said:
Interesting about the Full Circle. It may sound good, but I think it is the ugliest, cheapest looking thing. Why did they use a white wire? I am not far from Barbera so if I do get one, I will go directly to him. I'll have him do the tracing so it is correct. I have heard of people getting the "copy" and it's not exactly correct.
Click to expand...

Jason Hollar said:
Dperrott...yeah I guess they don't make any black wires that particular length for the Full Cirlce! ;^ )
Click to expand...

I've been thinking about putting some black heat sink over it.
Funny...... I said something to my wife about that ugly white wire, and wondered why they would use it. She asked if any other pickup used white wire and I couldn't think of any.
And she said:
"You dummy, it's for product recognition. You see a bass player with white wire and you know what kind of pick-up it is"
Yep, she a smart one!:smug:
 
#10
I got a different answer from the guys at Fishman when I called to have mine repaired. They said it was all that was available for that grade or style or whatever and then suggested painting it. I put black tape around it and cut it close...It aint great but better then white. I've never seen a whire that come only in white... I like the one Barbera uses that is braided metal (same on the Vektor) and inconspicuous.
 
#12
Yea man try it thru a high end eq like the Avalon U5 it is stellar. Especially with the threads up (body sound emphasized) and some highs rolled off. The U5 gets rid of all the electric-y stuff. I'll bet the Barbera sounds purty good thru it too.
 
#14
Any of you guys have a Barbera bridge you wanna get rid of?
My Bill Merchant Vertical Bass has one of the piezo elements down. the issue is the soldering on the crystal which dries out and detaches. That's the main problem with piezos-- how to solder wire onto its ceramic. So, barbera stuff gets old and soldering gives out. I am looking to just replace one element and will be good to go. Anyone?
 
#15
You can try to use silver dust in a liquid as sold in electronics stores for the repair of PCBs. But make sure it only stays where it should otherwise you might do a short circuit with it. I use a toothpick to apply just a very little bit of it.
For soldering a piezo you need to be very quick, because the piezo can be damaged by the heat.
You might try to use the silver paste/liquid as a glue and press it together over night. If it doesn't hold together, apply some silver, let it dry and quickly try to solder the wire onto the silver coated part of the piezo.
 
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#17
tombowlus said:
I have had no problems with my Barbera bridge, and mine was used pretty darn hard and gigged over several states for years.

Tom.
Click to expand...

I know this is old, but it would be interesting to get an update..every guy I've known with the Barbera has loved the sound until it fails..and with the Barbera it seems like the failure rate is much higher than it is with other piezo systems. It's the pu system most talked about for failing IME.
 
#18
I was an endorser. My favorite pickup. Until after my 3rd bridge. Just couldn't count on it. Rich was great but I always had to carry a spare pickup----it would eventually crap out. Haven't used one for 8 years. Too bad---great sounding pickup
 
#19
ive had them on 3 of my basses. every one crapped out at least once, one crapped out several times. it's off all of them now except my beater bass, but i dont even really use it. i use a wing pick up on it. one of these days when i get around to it im going to just pull it off that bass too. the bridge is very thick with the barbera, and i'd bet i could get more acoustic sound out of this particular bass if i put on a normal bridge.
 
#20
MR PC said:
I know this is old, but it would be interesting to get an update..every guy I've known with the Barbera has loved the sound until it fails..and with the Barbera it seems like the failure rate is much higher than it is with other piezo systems. It's the pu system most talked about for failing IME.
Click to expand...

I must have gotten lucky. I don't play my Kay as much as I used to, but for 7 years or so, it got tossed about and carted across a 5-state area pretty much every weekend, and it still works great.
 
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