Double Bass BASSBALSEREIT Pickup

[richhansen]

Anybody have this pickup, and if so, what do you think? Is it worth the big price tag and does it really sound like a microphone? Is it a piezo?

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Thanks

 

[Eric Hochberg]

From the recorded samples, it sounds like a decent bridge PU, but that's about it.

 

[MrSidecar]

... about 8-10 years ago, that was the hottest thing since sliced bread in germany (where it´s made). I had one also, but not for very long. Back in the day, it was said it worked best with an accompanying pre-amp. I analyzed that preamp and all it did was cut out one frequency (can´t remember which), and maybe some impedance adjust- not sure. But the preamp could easily be replicated with a parametric eq.

The biggest downside to this pickup is IMO that it requires this enormous hole (ca. 8 mm) to be drilled into the bridge, and that is something that reminded me of the pickup years after I had switched to something else.

It´s kind of an ok pickup, if you like piezo sounds. But it´s nowhere near "natural" IMO. And most certainly it´s not like a microphone. There´s huge differences in the dynamics of piezos and mics, the ratio of attack vs. decay is completely different, not to speak of the piezo-tendency to have plastic-y highs, lots of finger-on-string-wipe-noise and no air at all.

If you´re brave enough to have this hole in your bridge, fine. (I´d rather leave the bridge totally untouched of anything, be it under the feet, in the wings, in a hole, whatever). I don´t know about today, but back then installing it meant sending the bridge to the maker so he drilled the hole and sent it back. Kinda clumsy.

Best

Sidecar

 

[uprightbass.com]

The company was bought out a couple of years ago by someone who took the design and improved it. It was a fairly good pickup before but it's much improved now. He is described as an avid bassist who runs a electronics company. The upgraded pickup is far better with active electronics, albiet far more expensive.

I still run the microphone, but there is no way that any contact mic/pickup will ever be able to somehow produce the sound of a microphone since that would defy physics. I suppose someone could create some computer to do it, but short of that, the vibration on a surface will never produce the sound that a ear hears.

I like the pickup a lot, but I think the claim of "microphone-like" by any pickup manufacturer is an overused marketing term.

I've used pretty much every pickup that has been ever sold. The BassBalsereit Studio is clean, balanced between arco and pizz, sensitive to nuances, doesn't distort or mud during agressive playing, balanced string to string, and sounds fairly flat across the frequency spectrum. It didn't eliminate my microphone, but I don't expect any contact pickup ever to.

If you have several basses, it's a quick transition to move it to another bass. The tune-ability makes it adjustable to work with a wider assortment of basses.

 

[Francois Blais]

Anybody have this pickup, and if so, what do you think? Is it worth the big price tag and does it really sound like a microphone? Is it a piezo?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Thanks

That link is no longer valid.
Do you have updated info, Lawrence?

Regards,
François

 

[uprightbass.com]

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The post date was wrong on that link.

 

[Francois Blais]

Thanks.
I understand the original (passive) one is discontinued?

 

[Co.]

Look at Invalid Link Removed if you understand German or know Babelfish.

The Passive one is still being produced, but also an Aktive one and the Studio with an even better Signal to Noise ratio. I use the Studio and like it a lot, because it sounds extremely natural (better word than microphone like?). But on some gigs I mix it with a Realist, because I need/want a bit of a pick up sound. I don't use microphones anymore.

You don't need to send the bridge in. You can drill the hole with a drill like the one to drill a cello tuning peg (conical). The hole has to fit perfectly, otherwise the pickup can't have enough contact with the wood, so you have to press it in, but then the sound will be very midrangy and compressed (like with some other pickups).

 

[jonas]

I've an English language overview on the three models available at my website: Invalid Link Removed

 

[William Hoffman]

i see the passive model is still available and it appears to be the basic model that the others are upgraded from.

the passive model requires a preamp, and i am wondering if the F-Deck would suffice. i love the sound of my Realist with an F-Deck, and the Balsereit being also a piezo, wouldn't the F-Deck suffice for it too? has anyone tried the Balsereit with an F-Deck?

 

[jonas]

yes, the passive (original) Bassbalsereit works with virtually every preamp. I use it with the Headway EDB1 on one of my basses.

 

[William Hoffman]

Jonas, what is "improved" about the "new" Standard (passive) Bassbalsereit pickup over the old model?

Also, is the piezo element of the all the Bassbalsereit pickups the same or does the Aktiv or the Studio have a superior pickup element?

What is gained in terms of sound by requiring "balance inputs" as with the Studio model?

If you compare the Standard passive with the high-end Studio model, what difference do you hear? Is it really microphone-like?

 

[John Goldsby]

Hi Jonas, I'm curious who took over the company from Herr Balsereit. I had one of his p/ups from about 15 years ago, but I didn't use it very long.

 

[jonas]

Jonas, what is "improved" about the "new" Standard (passive) Bassbalsereit pickup over the old model?

Besides the more accurate manufacturing of the brass cone, I think it's basically the same.

Also, is the piezo element of the all the Bassbalsereit pickups the same or does the Aktiv or the Studio have a superior pickup element?

No, it's all the same, AFAIK.

What is gained in terms of sound by requiring "balance inputs" as with the Studio model?

it's more quiet. Less noise. And you don't loose signal quality by using long cables.

If you compare the Standard passive with the high-end Studio model, what difference do you hear? Is it really microphone-like?

Well, this depends on what you use for amplification.
If you plug into a Polytone or GK, there's no need for the "Studio" version, IMO. But with more sophisticated amp and cabinet, or for use with FOH/mixing console, the better signal quality of the studio version can make a difference. Actually, the Studio was designed for use with FOH rather than for use with an bass amp (which usually don't have phantom power).
By the way, you can "pimp" the passive version with the "Studio" version’s preamp by using the ANS cable DI. The only difference is the cable length between piezo and preamp: the studio version has the preamp built into the brass cone, directly at the piezo. So you virtually have no loss in signal quality before preamplification.

 

[jonas]

Hi Jonas, I'm curious who took over the company from Herr Balsereit. I had one of his p/ups from about 15 years ago, but I didn't use it very long.

The Bassbalsereit pickups are now manufactured by Michael Schaefer. He was a customer of Willy Balsereit, they became friends and as he has a background in electronics, he started to make the pickups for Mr. Balsereit. Michael also developped the miniature preamp for the pickup, and pickups for other instruments. Since the number of products have grown, he started to use his own company’s name, ANS, for the pickups and preamps, too.

 

[William Hoffman]

Jonas, thanks for your answers. I have a few more questions here about the various models.

In what way is the Studio model superior to the Active? The Studio model will operate only with balanced inputs, but the Active will operation either with or without them. Don't I have more options with the simple Active model?

I use mainly an Acoustic Image Focus III with two XLR balanced inputs and phantom power. Would you agree that I have all of the following possibilities?

• Standard passive + preamp e.g., F-Deck
• Active with phantom power, or + preamp but with amp phantom power off
• Studio with phantom power, or + preamp with amp phantom power off

With the phantom power off, aren't the Active and Studio models just like the passive Standard?

 

[jonas]

Jonas, thanks for your answers. I have a few more questions here about the various models.

In what way is the Studio model superior to the Active? The Studio model will operate only with balanced inputs, but the Active will operation either with or without them. Don't I have more options with the simple Active model?

in this regard, yes.
But technically, a balanced signal is superior (e.g. more quiet) over an unbalanced.

I use mainly an Acoustic Image Focus III with two XLR balanced inputs and phantom power. Would you agree that I have all of the following possibilities?

• Standard passive + preamp e.g., F-Deck

• 
  yes
  

  [*]Active with phantom power, or + preamp but with amp phantom power off

  no, the Active always needs phantom power. And IMO, it's not useful to use more than one preamp.
  

  [*]Studio with phantom power, or + preamp with amp phantom power off

With the phantom power off, aren't the Active and Studio models just like the passive Standard?

No. You don't get a signal at all. The same happens with the fdeck preamp (or any other preamp) with old batteries.

To find out what model meets your needs (and existing equipment) best, you can easily change the models, once you've got drilled the conical hole into your bridge.