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Double Bass Easy-On, Easy-Off Pickup?

Steve Freides

Steve Freides

Former Mannes College Theory Faculty
Supporting Member
Dec 11, 2007
2,576
1,508
Ridgewood, NJ
#1
I don't have a ton of experience with pickups because I mostly play unamplified, but I have used a few different pickups in the past, and all of them became basically permanent installations on my bass of the moment.

I don't especially want or need to have a pickup on my bass all the time - anyone care to recommend something that's relatively easy to put on and easy to take off? My experience has been that every pickup wants a jack tie-wrapped to your bass' tailpiece or something along those lines which means it's not really easy on or easy off.

Not trying to whine here, it's just that I need a pickup a few times a year and don't really like having a pickup on my bass when I'm playing classical music. Best solution would be to have another bass, of course. :)

Thanks.

-S-
 
#2
I bought a used Gage SoundClip that is very easy to install and remove. But like all pickups is may or may not sound good with any particular bass. Sounds very mediocre at best on mine.

The input jack of the Underwood I'm using I've installed onto the tailpiece with velcro instead of a zip tie and it's almost as easy as the Gage to put on and take off.
 
#3
Interesting - thanks. My Underwood is older, I guess, having come with a bass I bought second-hand, and it uses a built-in tie wrap. I wasn't even aware of the SoundClip.

I have a SixRounds (read: inexpensive) pickup on one of my basses. The K&K Bass Max sounds like it might be a better version of that, and the blurb on the Gullihur site also mentions ease of switching - right now, I think this my leading candidate. It's also noteworthy, as I get ready to pay college tuition next Fall, that it's about 1/4 the cost of the Soundclip.

-S-
 
#5
I'll post a pic later today of how I've mounted my Underwood. If you're happy enough with the sound it's a dead easy mod.

I was planning to keep it for now as a backup but I'd also sell my Gage if you wanted to try that. I'd for sure try the velcro on the Underwood first though.
 
#6
Steve Freides said:
Interesting - thanks. My Underwood is older, I guess, having come with a bass I bought second-hand, and it uses a built-in tie wrap. I wasn't even aware of the SoundClip.

I have a SixRounds (read: inexpensive) pickup on one of my basses. The K&K Bass Max sounds like it might be a better version of that, and the blurb on the Gullihur site also mentions ease of switching - right now, I think this my leading candidate. It's also noteworthy, as I get ready to pay college tuition next Fall, that it's about 1/4 the cost of the Soundclip.

-S-
Click to expand...
The BassMax and Underwood are both easy-to-remove pickups. I go ahead and tie-wrap the Underwood to the tailpiece - its easy enough to clip it off with a pair of side cutters and install a new one next time you need it.
 
#7
I'm interested in seeing your Underwood installation. I'll post mine after I find some of the pics I took to send to Underwood. I took my Underwood off to test a Planet Wing p/u. When I went to put the Underwood back on the bass I managed to tear the sleeve with the name/logo etc. and decided to just leave it off. It wasn't of much use, torn as it was. The plastic tie, as I recall, had been installed between the name/logo sleeve wrapped around the plastic tubular sleeve surrounding the connector plug. I wrapped 2 new plastic ties around the sleeve surrounding the connector plug and slid a new plastic tie between the 2 ties now on the plastic sleeve. This tie is then used to attach the p/u to the tailpiece. This might make more sense when I can find and post the pics.

Belinda Underwood never replied to my pics so I'm not sure if she got them and/or if they disapproved.
 
#8
IMG_0425.JPG IMG_0426.JPG IMG_0428.JPG
It's just a 6" Velcro cable tie (the nice thick Velcro brand ones not the cheaper thin ones) choked around the barrel jack and then looped through the string holes. The initial choke on the jack in addition to keeping the velcro put also stands the jack off the tailpiece and keeps it from rattling. It works. You do have to make the effort to get it tight though. Loose and it will rattle. An extra wrap around the jack to stand it off the tailpiece more probably wouldn't hurt.
 
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#10
Jeff, this looks very good. Anyone have a link to the velcro strapping for those us unskilled in the art of shopping for anything except a musical instrument? The tie-wrap install does rattle from time to time, sometimes it's just the extra tie-wrap if you're using the one that came with it, which I've always been loath to cut.

-S-
 
#11
Steve,

Any contact-mic style pickup would perfectly fit the bill IMO, at least if you manage to somehow memorize the sweet spot where to mount it. The XLR jack of the Schertler dyn-b sits in the afterlength (although I personally dislike that), and the jack of the Ehrlund can sit in that same thing that comes with a Realist- you know, this little plastic loop attached between ball-end and tailpiece.

Best
Sidecar
 
#13
Steve Freides said:
Jeff, this looks very good. Anyone have a link to the velcro strapping for those us unskilled in the art of shopping for anything except a musical instrument? The tie-wrap install does rattle from time to time, sometimes it's just the extra tie-wrap if you're using the one that came with it, which I've always been loath to cut.

-S-
Click to expand...
These are by far my favorite general use velcro ties for cables.
http://www.velcro.com/products/ties...Ties#/?color=28fac831fb2f460c83615d185f8bbe74
http://www.velcro.com/products/ties...Ties#/?color=28fac831fb2f460c83615d185f8bbe74

The long rolls can be useful too but don't have the hole to feed the tail through and choke the strap onto the cable (or whatever). If you need longer lengths though it's the ticket.
Invalid Link Removed
 
#14
Planet wing pickup is pretty to add/remove. Can sound pretty good depending on the bass. Upton Revolution Solo is the same - just about anything that mounts using pressure in the bridge wing like the Underwood. BP100 is also easy to install and mount but many people hate it's sound.

Regardless, you just have to do the velcro strap trick posted above.
 

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