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Double Bass David Gauge LifeLine

PBrown

PBrown

Apr 28, 2009
163
16
43
Billings, MT
www.basstony.wordpress.com
#1
I recently bought a new bass and with it the David Gauge LifeLine. I played it at a gig last night for the first time and It was so much different than my Fishman Full Circle--I liked it but I had a hard time dialing it in perfectly and the output volume was a lot lower as well. It took a lot of treble and mids to get any clarity out of my ClarusIII head and accugroove cab (all of them…I was maxed out!). I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this and what you did/do to get the best sound out of this thing. I haven't monkeyed with it much and maybe I was expecting the plug in and play ease of the Full-circle. Damned expectations. Thanks for any help. P
 
#4
I have a nice bass (a Bryant) that's always been a problem to amp - although it has a sweet acoustic tone. I have added a Lifeline to the Underwood that's fitted and have mixed them through a Clarus 2. The result is very satisfying. The Underwood by itself is harsh and middly, whereas the Lifeline is dark and woody. One brings the other out and I would recommend that others try this route. After having had a FS I'd never have one again after it broke on the first gig. No PU deserves a second chance.
 
#5
The reason your Underwood sounds harsh is because it needs a 10 megohm buffer pre to equalize the signal. Many players don't know much about working with Piezo's.
Something simple like a Fishman low end pre or the Fdeck pre would make a world of difference.
You might be a bit harsh with your pickup opinion. Sort of cutting off your nose to spite your face. You might be robbing yourself of great possibilities.
 
#6
PBrown said:
...David Gauge LifeLine... I liked it but I had a hard time dialing it in perfectly and the output volume was a lot lower as well. It took a lot of treble and mids to get any clarity...
Click to expand...

I'll dare ask the stupid question, and please pardon me for doing so, I mean no offense.

Is the pickup installed on the threaded side of the bridge adjuster, or the solid post side? The pickup needs to be under the full pressure of the strings, so it goes on the side of the bridge that has the non-threaded post.

I did once take a call from a customer who got the pickup with a bass, and who reported similar problems with the pickup. In asking questions, I realized that it had been installed on the threaded side, and the previous owner had just turned the adjuster until it was under some pressure. In this way, he got some sound, but it was lousy tone and very low gain.

At the risk of offending, I'll ask if perhaps your pickup might be incorrectly installed as well...(?)
 
#7
Mark Gollihur said:
At the risk of offending, I'll ask if perhaps your pickup might be incorrectly installed as well...(?)
Click to expand...
No offense taken and I was hoping you might chime in on the thread. I have checked that and it is installed correctly. After gigging with it a few times I am starting to dial it in--I have the volume issue figured our and I am getting to the clarity I want. The pickup is such a different Eq than my Full Circle so it is taking a bit of adjusting--I thought it would all just fall right into place quickly and I am not very patient. Also, my new carved bass is totally different than my Kay and I have to take that into consideration. Playing on the Life Line at lower volumes sounds fantastic arco and pizz, and makes my feel real good inside. It's the gigs in loud rooms, crowds, and with louder players is where it is posing the difficulties. Thanks everyone for your input!
 
#8
Mine is installed on the non-threaded side, and I am facing the same lower output issue, but I'm trying not to consider it a problem, at least so far.
To achieve a more usable output I'm using the LR Baggs Para Acoustic DI, setting Gain on the half and Volume by 70%. Then I get the same output as Revolution Solo II or Fishman BP100, which I was used to.

Other weird thing: it does not matter what P10 cable I plug, with LifeLine the cable is acting like a mic. The cable is definitely picking a lot of the external sounds, even when the gain is really low (amp or DI/preamp). Some times things are getting boomier and suppose that's the reason, but I don't know how to address it. It does not happen with Rev Solo II BP100.

Besides it: LifeLine gives me the best arco sound, really natural, and pizz is thump (for good), add adding some (a lot of) highs can turn into a more modern sound, cutting nicely in the mix.
 
#9
Mark Gollihur said:
Is the pickup installed on the threaded side of the bridge adjuster, or the solid post side? The pickup needs to be under the full pressure of the strings, so it goes on the side of the bridge that has the non-threaded post.

I did once take a call from a customer who got the pickup with a bass, and who reported similar problems with the pickup. In asking questions, I realized that it had been installed on the threaded side, and the previous owner had just turned the adjuster until it was under some pressure. In this way, he got some sound, but it was lousy tone and very low gain.

(?)
Click to expand...

Hi Mark,

I intentionally have installed my Lifeline (which I got from you) on the Threaded side of the post. I snug it down and it sounds Great! This way I can just turn my adjusters up a bit to remove the Lifeline and put in on my other bass without loosening all the strings and removing the bridge (I don't make the switch often but it is very easy to do it this way.)

I just recorded a gig tonight and the pickup sounded great (as always). If you're curious, I could upload a clip.

All the best,

Rick Wolff
 
Last edited:
#10
rickwolff said:
Hi Mark,

I intentionally have installed my Lifeline (which I got from you) on the Threaded side of the post. I snug it down and it sounds Great! This way I can just turn my adjusters up a bit to remove the Lifeline and put in on my other bass without loosening all the strings and removing the bridge (I don't make the switch often but it is very easy to do it this way.)

I just recorded a gig tonight and the pickup sounded great (as always). If you're curious, I could upload a clip.

All the best,

Rick Wolff
Click to expand...

Here is a clip from the gig last night:

I am really happy with the sound I'm getting from my bass. It's a Shen 7/8 flatback 'Gemunder' with Spiro Mittel E and Helicore Hybrid Lights on A, D and G. A Lifeline pickup ON THE THREADED SIDE OF THE BRIDGE POST, played through a Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 8T set flat but with the HIGH frequency pre-set on. Recorded by by my Zoom Q2HD low the low pass filter ON (that took out some 'rumble' and room noise).

I really like the big Woody sound I'm getting. Now if I could just do something about all those wrong notes!
 
#11
B String said:
The reason your Underwood sounds harsh is because it needs a 10 megohm buffer pre to equalize the signal. Many players don't know much about working with Piezo's.
Something simple like a Fishman low end pre or the Fdeck pre would make a world of difference.
You might be a bit harsh with your pickup opinion. Sort of cutting off your nose to spite your face. You might be robbing yourself of great possibilities.
Click to expand...

Oo-er I've just seen this - from May! I do know about working with piezos and wouldn't think about using one without a buffer: I use a Fishman Pro eq. Fishman make great products but their FS is a bit of a let-down reliability-wise. I'm not the only one to have suffered but I acknowledge that their are others who rate the PU highly. Some have noses and some don't.
 
#12
It seems so hard for me to find a pickup on my bass that sounds good, that I wouldn't want to discount any pickup that works. lol I also think the Pro EQ is a great piece of gear.
Since my pickup is facing down at the top of the bass. I get less string and more body sound. When comparing the LifeLine and the Full Circle, we found the two pickups had a rather similar tone but the FC had more low and high extension.

It still amazes me how different the same pickup can sound on different basses. Especially older carved basses with their own personality.
 

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