Double Bass Fishman BP 100 with a Realist Super Docking Station

[peskatore]

Has anyone tried a Fishman BP 100 with a Realist Super Docking Station? Or, if you use a BP 100, do you have a favorite preamp? Or do you use it directly into an amp?

I know this pickup isn’t very popular these days. On the right bass and in the right hands, it can be very musical

 

[Sam Reese]

I've been experimenting with my BP 100 lately, since I got it back from a decade or more loan. I have a couple Fishman Platinum Bass DIs from yesteryear and set the EQ to what the manual suggests to pair it with the BP 100. Compared to the Lifeline, it is very present with an edge. I've decided to keep it in my "emergency gig bag" in case the Lifeline dies. I do have a Docking Station, but the Lifeline goes thru it. I think an EQ (preamp/EQ) would be more sensible with the BP 100. Do you have the pickup?

 

[peskatore]

I've been experimenting with my BP 100 lately, since I got it back from a decade or more loan. I have a couple Fishman Platinum Bass DIs from yesteryear and set the EQ to what the manual suggests to pair it with the BP 100. Compared to the Lifeline, it is very present with an edge. I've decided to keep it in my "emergency gig bag" in case the Lifeline dies. I do have a Docking Station, but the Lifeline goes thru it. I think an EQ (preamp/EQ) would be more sensible with the BP 100. Do you have the pickup?

I do have the pickup. Like you, I’ve had it for a while and am trying to rediscover what it’s about. It sounds good going through my studio interface straight in. Was wondering about real world experiences with people using it on gigs with amps. I also have the docking station on a bass with a Full Circle going through it. Would be easy enough to put the BP 100 on that bass and see what’s up

 

[Sam Reese]

I played a gig with it a month or so ago. No problems. Go for it!

 

[Rebop]

The BP100 works best with a preamp. When I'm slapping a bunch I use the old Fishman pro platinum. If I'm playing more of a jazz gig and want a darker sound I use the K&K pure xlr.

The most important thing is how you mount it. I like to put both elements together and wedge them in the wing of the bridge with some cork or felt. Once you do that, to my ear it sounds the best.

 

[bass player 53]

If you want to take a bit of a $100 chance, there’s an original Model B
preamp on Reverb. It’s apparently located in Korea, but so what.
I don’t live in Korea, and have no
affiliation.

 

[peskatore]

The BP100 works best with a preamp. When I'm slapping a bunch I use the old Fishman pro platinum. If I'm playing more of a jazz gig and want a darker sound I use the K&K pure xlr.

The most important thing is how you mount it. I like to put both elements together and wedge them in the wing of the bridge with some cork or felt. Once you do that, to my ear it sounds the best.

View attachment 7493720

Interesting. Do you think it sounds similar to an Underwood?

 

[Ric Vice]

If you're interested in the Fishman Model B Preamp shot me a P.M. I just happen to have one. That said as long as the pre does 10 Meg Ohm You're probably good to go. While a Fishman BP-100 is similar to the Underwood it is not the same because of how and where it mounts on the bass. Don Underwood was a engineer/designer at Baldwin Piano's and on the team that developed the pickup system for the Baldwin Electronic Harpsichord, which was a piezo system. Fishman simply copied his design but since Don had the patten on the dual element bridge wing pickup they had to mount it differently.

 

[Francois Blais]

The BP100 works best with a preamp. When I'm slapping a bunch I use the old Fishman pro platinum. If I'm playing more of a jazz gig and want a darker sound I use the K&K pure xlr.

The most important thing is how you mount it. I like to put both elements together and wedge them in the wing of the bridge with some cork or felt. Once you do that, to my ear it sounds the best.

View attachment 7493720

Cool!
I need to try this configuration with my old BP-100, thanks!

 

[Rebop]

Interesting. Do you think it sounds similar to an Underwood?

Not at all. I think the bp100 is quite a bit brighter in a good way.