Double Bass double bass pickups

[clarksommers]

can anyone recommend a good upright pickup that evenly captures all 4 strings that doesn't cost a fortune? I currently use a full circle but it doesn't amplify the d and g well. I use garbos on the d and g. Is the shertler worthy of trying out? others? thanks--
clark

 

[zebbass]

Does your basses d and g string sound even with the rest of the bass when you play acoustic? Have you tried the David Gage Realist pu?

 

[drurb]

I hope a mod will move this to Amps, Mics, and Pickups. If you visit that forum, then you will find many suggestions in those threads.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I hope a mod will move this to Amps, Mics, and Pickups. If you visit that forum, then you will find many suggestions in those threads.

Agreed.
IF your bass sounds even across all strings when played acoustically, I don't see why the Full Circle wouldn't work, but pickups are kinda like toads in a well known Disney story. You may have to kiss them all before finding he right one.

 

[coreybass]

I picked up a schertler stat-B about a year ago and I hardly ever use it. The tone is OK, but it is very inconsistant from room to room, setting to setting. I find it hard to dial in quickly and it is very uneven from string to string. I've had underwoods and realists in the past too and while they are very different from each other, I found them much more consitent and easier to dial in quickly. I am currently using the Rev Solo II on both of my basses and have been happy so far. I use it in combination with a small condensor mic.

 

[Mike Arnopol]

I assume that you are the Clark that I know. I'm a pickup maniac and have owned EVERYTHING. I'm an endorser for Barbera and I love his (too expensive) pickup, but it's way too fragile and I'm tired of being in the middle of a tour and having a piezo go out. I'm using a really fabulous electric upright for touring, and I needed a pickup that was durable enough to take on and off every day. I've had a couple of Gage's pickups, but there were so many weird resonances that I gave up on that. I played a friend's ( so so ) bass with a Full Circle. I was surprised how un-Fishman it sounded. So I tried it on my electric upright and it sounded great. My Barbera went out on me ( on my regular bass) and I didn't have time to wait, so I tried the Full Circle on it and really liked it. I'm still using it. One thing is---it's very finicky. If the unthreaded hole is a little bit off, it sounds terrible. There are just a few sweet spots where everything is balanced. It really does behave like a tone control as to where the wheel is rotated to. I use it with an Audio Technica ATM 35 mike which I really believe is the best mike to mix with a pickup. There is another pickup that I'd like to try. I think it is called Aptflex or something like that. It's similar in looks to a Realist, but it uses different technology. ( a piezo film instead of the two small piezo discs) I think it's made in Russia.

 

[Marc Piane]

Hey Clark. Good to see you around. What amp are you using? I used to use a WM12 and while it had a good sound I found that it had a uneven response. I use a GK MB150 now and find the response much more even. I'm not necessary endorsing that amp but rather pointing out that the amp or the eq could be to blame. I don't know what you are using though.

I've been a loyal Realist user for 10 years. I tried the Revolution Solo II on a whim (which I liked in the practice room). I used it on the first set of a gig then I switched back to my Realist during the break to compare. Before I could really analyze the sounds in my head everyone commented on how my sound improved from set one to set two. That answered my question. The Realist won again. Good luck.

btw if you want to try my RS II you are welcome to borrow it. Email or PM if you are interested.

 

[clothsnake]

There is another pickup that I'd like to try. I think it is called Aptflex or something like that. It's similar in looks to a Realist, but it uses different technology. ( a piezo film instead of the two small piezo discs) I think it's made in Russia.

this APT-flex looks a lot like the shadow (nanoflex) nfx pickup... which i still quite like, especially since they are making it a lot more robust these days, and i like anything that sits under the bridge feet rather than sticking to the bridge face or in the bridge wing
the advantage of the nfx... you get two piezo pads... not one and a preamp

 

[Bass828]

I use a K and K BassPro pickup system that comes with a wing pickup and a transducer for each string, plus a preamp. You can get them for $230 and I absolutely love the system. Very even and solid tone.

But that may be too high a price for what you are looking for.

 

[bolo]

I think clink said it best above. Too funny.

It just varies an awful lot based on your bass, bridge, string choice, amp, preamp, tonal preferences, the whole package.

Anyway, in my case, I used the K&K Bass Master Pro for a long time. Now I use a Rev Solo II and I dig it. I demo'ed a Schertler DYN-B and decided not to purchase it, but some people say they get a very natural sound out of it. And on it goes.

A mic sounds better than any of these to me, but is not always workable on its own. So I blend a mic and a p/u.

Anyway, back to the OP ...Here's an all-purpose link that might help, although if you take the time to sift through all the additional info in this forum there is much, much more information on pickups available too. The newbie link as it's called is just a starting point, and some of the threads actually might be a little dated.

Uncletoad had a great post about like the top 5 or 10 things to check if your Full Circle was not performing up to your expectations, but I can't find it now.

Like this one is good, but it ain't the one I'm thinking of.

And another.

And this.

Hm ... maybe this is it.
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Durn. I just reread the OP. Maybe it's the Garbos. Well, maybe Uncletoad's collection of Full Circle tips will be helpful.

 

[Guapo]

I have tried about ten different pickups, all of them piezo and most of them for the bridge. I landed on a Planet Wing, which has a massive buttom but also a very articulated midrange and clear highs.