Double Bass Fishman Full Circle - Bass or Treble side?

[Ampig]

This question is a little late, since I just installed mine on the treble side, but I'm curious about what other TBers prefer. I really hate to change it, because the soundpost dropped on the first install and it was a bitch getting it back in place without a soundpost tool. There were no tonal recommendations in the installation manual that I downloaded.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

I haven't tried it on the treble side, but on my bass and another one I know, the Full Circle sound good on the bass side. Might depend on the soundpost position too. A single pickup in the treble bridge wing sounds bad on my instrument. On on the bass side or both are OK.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

It's designed to go on the bass side. I tried mine on the rebel side years ago just out of curiosity, then immediately moved it back to the bass side.

 

[Ampig]

It's designed to go on the bass side. I tried mine on the rebel side years ago just out of curiosity, then immediately moved it back to the bass side.

It would have been nice if that information was included in the manual.
It's still my mistake for not asking here first....
If I decide to move it to the bass side, is there a trick to keep the sound post in place during string removal?

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Luthiers usually place a bag of buckshot or something similar on the post while the bass is on it's back. I use a 10 lb barbell weight wrapped in a towel whenever I remove the bridge. I like to lay the bass on a bed when working on it since I don't have a bass bench.

 

[Povl Carstensen]

On a flatback at least, it can help to have the back of the bass resting on a pillow under the sound post, so a bit of pressure is applied from below. I do that anyway.

 

[Earl]

Does it sound good on the treble side? I have a Yamahiko which is similar to the Full Circle and I installed it on the treble side and it sounds great. When I used bridge wing pickups in the past they always sounded better on the treble side on my bass. But every bass is different.

 

[Ampig]

Does it sound good on the treble side? I have a Yamahiko which is similar to the Full Circle and I installed it on the treble side and it sounds great. When I used bridge wing pickups in the past they always sounded better on the treble side on my bass. But every bass is different.

It sounds good on the treble side, but might it sound better on the bass side, if that's what's recommended?

 

[Earl]

It sounds good on the treble side, but might it sound better on the bass side, if that's what's recommended?

As Chris said it is recommended on the bass side so now that you know what it sounds like on the treble side, try the bass side and see which you prefer.

 

[Treyzer]

I like to lay the bass on a bed when working on it since I don't have a bass bench.

Wow Chris, quite a unique seduction method!

 

[flatback]

THe Yamahiko is different then the FC in that the pickup is in the shaft of the adjuster not the wheel like the (FC) this makes a treble side pickup sound way different. On my bass where I have Yamahikos on both sides and the ability to send them to separate channels, both sound pretty good....however I just took the treble side pickup off and put it on another bass (now both are on the bass side).. Is the sound better with two? It can be for sure (with the Y) but I think the bass side is all anyone needs. Everything else can be like too much frosting on a cake....doesn't make the confection any better and in fact can ruin it.

 

[B String]

Do you have it installed with the pickup on the string side or the body side? I had mine installed on the bass side, with the pickup resting on the bottom part of the bridge feet. The threaded part is on the top. Not how I originally wanted it but it sounds fine and records well. I might mount on the treble side if I had a very big, dark sounding instrument.
You might want to try a 10 megohm buffer pre to give it a little more body and lows in the sound, depending on your amplification. Ultimately..... If you like it and you're happy, its perfect!

 

[Ampig]

Mounted thread side down

 

[B String]

Mounted thread side down

So with threads down mounted on the treble side of the bridge, that should be naturally favor the highs. With a dark bass this could be great. Or if you like it..... its perfect!

 

[Ampig]

It's an Engelhardt EM-1. Maybe dull would be a better tonal description.

 

[Ampig]

FYI
Email response from Fishman support.
"You can install it on either side. The bass side will give a bit more warmth to the tone, the treble side will add more brightness. If you need further help, let me know.

Thanks, Derek"

 

[Josh Kneisel]

It's designed to go on the bass side. I tried mine on the rebel side years ago just out of curiosity, then immediately moved it back to the bass side.

Not trying to get off topic, but I have the Gage Lifeline and I have been debating whether to move it from the bass side to the treble side...or possibly run a full circle on one side and the lifeline on the other because I feel like my higher range notes (especially on the g string) don't get picked up as well as I would like... thoughts?

 

[Ampig]

I'm getting good note definition on all strings in all positions installed on the treble side

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

@Josh Kneisel I don't have any experience with the lifeline, so I couldn't say. As for running both, some people report phasing issues when running pickups on both sides, but I don't know if this would be the case if the two pickups were of the same type. All i know is that I've been happy with the FC for years now. Curious to try it with a ToneDexter type circuit, but... heading out to gig in about 20 minutes, and sound isn't one of my worries.

 

[statsc]

@Josh Kneisel I don't have any experience with the lifeline, so I couldn't say. As for running both, some people report phasing issues when running pickups on both sides, but I don't know if this would be the case if the two pickups were of the same type. All i know is that I've been happy with the FC for years now. Curious to try it with a ToneDexter type circuit, but... heading out to gig in about 20 minutes, and sound isn't one of my worries.

Despite my ToneDexter "courtship," I too have been very happy with the Fishman Full Circle for years.