• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass Bridge foot pickups and patent issues (split from Realist/treble foot thread)

seamonkey

seamonkey

Aug 6, 2004
14,916
6,315
UNITED States of America
#1
Ric Vice said:
T-Bal
Johnas Losse has these pickups on his website. They look very interesting.

Invalid Link Removed


Unfortunately, I don't know anyone that has one, and there's
the whole Euro thing to contend with.
Click to expand...

Ned Steinberger owns the patent on any pickup under the bridge foot,

Type in 6,018,120 in the quick search at:
Invalid Link Removed
 
#2
seamonkey said:
Ned Steinberger owns the patent on any pickup under the bridge foot,

Type in 6,018,120 in the quick search at:
Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...


yes, but this patent says "piezo". The APT-flex uses electret film instead of piezo. Electret film is a new finnish product, also used for BBand-pickups.
BTW, I'm not the maker or inventor of this pickup, I just sell them.
 
#3
jonas said:
yes, but this patent says "piezo". The APT-flex uses electret film instead of piezo. Electret film is a new finnish product, also used for BBand-pickups.
BTW, I'm not the maker or inventor of this pickup, I just sell them.
Click to expand...

Hey Jonas, did you A/B the realist and the APT-flex?
How does it sound the APT?
thanks

NUNO
 
#4
jonas said:
yes, but this patent says "piezo". The APT-flex uses electret film instead of piezo. Electret film is a new finnish product, also used for BBand-pickups.
BTW, I'm not the maker or inventor of this pickup, I just sell them.
Click to expand...

Jonas,
Does the APT-Flex have a warranty? Is it actually made in Finland?
How durable are they?

Ric Vice
 
#5
jonas said:
yes, but this patent says "piezo". The APT-flex uses electret film instead of piezo. Electret film is a new finnish product, also used for BBand-pickups.
BTW, I'm not the maker or inventor of this pickup, I just sell them.
Click to expand...

I'm no lawyer, but this pickup would probably fall under an improvement or modification of the original patent. I hope a licensing agreement has been worked out. They look interesting.
 
#6
This Russian pup looks just like the concept from pick up the world. I just pulled my PUTW out and instead of putting it under the foot I taped it to the table of the bass (it is made to go under the E foot an is a piezo film like this Russian pup)
It actually sounds pretty good.
If you want to try a film piezo, Pick up the world is in colorado and they make great little linebooster/impedance matching preamps and blenders.
the cables from the pup are pretty microphonic though...
 
#7
Ric Vice said:
Jonas,
Does the APT-Flex have a warranty? Is it actually made in Finland?
How durable are they?

Ric Vice
Click to expand...
The sensor material is made in Finland, but the pickup assembly is made in Russia. They are quite durable, much less damagable than piezo film sensors.
 
#8
flatback said:
This Russian pup looks just like the concept from pick up the world. I just pulled my PUTW out and instead of putting it under the foot I taped it to the table of the bass ...
the cables from the pup are pretty microphonic though...
Click to expand...

The electret film needs much pressure; just taping it to the body won't work. But unlike piezo film, it hasn't the disadvantage of microphonic cables.
 
#9
jonas said:
The sensor material is made in Finland, but the pickup assembly is made in Russia. They are quite durable, much less damagable than piezo film sensors.
Click to expand...

Have you had the opportunity to do an A/B comparison between
electrect film and a peizo film transducers? I'm certainly not expecting you to name any specific product. I was just wondering, generally, how piezo film transducers compared tonally to electret film transducers in terms of frequency response and accurate reproduction. From what I can gather from your website and posts. Electret film transducers are thinner and more durable. Are there any other favorable characteristic's?


Ric
 
#10
From another thread....
seamonkey said:
Ned Steinberger owns the patent on any pickup under the bridge foot,
Type in 6,018,120 in the quick search at:
Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...
Thanks for the link. Bit of a dodgy patent, that one. All credit to Ned for putting his name on the idea first, but people were putting piezos under bridges long before he thought of it. I figured it out for myself before I ever saw a Realist because it's blatantly obvious that's where you'll get the best drive for a piezo.

The patent says "A musical instrument of the violin family which has a piezo-electric pickup installed under the foot of the bridge which is supported by the bass bar."

Interesting...
Would a solid-body instrument without a bass bar be exempt?
 
#12
ToneRanger said:
From another thread....
Thanks for the link. Bit of a dodgy patent, that one. All credit to Ned for putting his name on the idea first, but people were putting piezos under bridges long before he thought of it. I figured it out for myself before I ever saw a Realist because it's blatantly obvious that's where you'll get the best drive for a piezo.

The patent says "A musical instrument of the violin family which has a piezo-electric pickup installed under the foot of the bridge which is supported by the bass bar."

Interesting...
Would a solid-body instrument without a bass bar be exempt?
Click to expand...

I wasn't able to find any German or European patent so far, so I believe that there's only this american patent by Steinberger. So beside all other questions (piezo or elektret, bass bar or not ...), the protection by patent covers only the USA, and not Europe.
BTW: when I searched the patent database, I was surprised what silly things are worth a patent. Even bass cases, or bass case shoulder straps ... unbelievable!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back