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Double Bass Fishman pickup on my upright

F

Funksterbass

Guest
Apr 27, 2014
9
1
79
#1
Sometime back I bought on ebay a Fishman PD-100 pickup. Being used, it came with no instructions. It was fairly obvious how it would mount: use the included clips to attach the pickup discs to the bridge. Well, it kinda worked. Sounded pretty bad, though- absolutely no bottom end. But the clips kept popping off, a combination of too thick bridge and non-parallel surfaces. And feedback was certainly more than I had bargained for, though I’ve assumed that’s just in the nature of an amplified acoustic instrument. But since my gig use for it didn't develop as much as I’d hoped, I kinda put the matter aside. I’ve continued to use the instrument for recording, and I am extremely pleased with how it sounds. It doesn’t have the volume of the better German basses, (it’s a Chinese Christopher) but that’s not a consideration in the studio.
Lately I’ve had a little more gig demand for it, so I’m re-visiting the pickup issue. Since the clips haven't worked very well, I’ve tried securing the PU discs with hot glue. The sound isn’t any improved, but at least they’ve stayed in place.
In desperation, I have read the manual found online at the Fishman website. I see that they recommend sanding the bridge to appropriate thickness. On this bridge, that’s a lot of sanding, and would not in itself make the surfaces parallel, which seems necessary for the clips to work.
Since a fair amount- 3/16”- of wood needs to be removed to make them fit, it could be done neatly with a chisel, though the bridge needs to be removed to do that safely and neatly.
But if I’m going to that trouble, wouldn’t it work maybe just as well or better if I located them under the bridge itself where the bridge rests on the top of the instrument? Seems neater, safer, less trouble, less obtrusive, and reversible.
Enquiring minds need to know.
 
#2
Honestly, rather than going to all that trouble, it would probably be better just to get a better pickup. The ceiling on the BP-100 isn't that high. For about $100 you could get a Kremona DB-1, which is easy to mount on just about any bass, fairly idiot proof (even i could figure it out!) and sounds way better than a BP-100.
 
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#5
I recently A-B’d my BP-100 with my Vic model B.
The Vic was the clear winner. It’s pretty similar to a K&K single element. Have you tried paper clips? The big binder type.
Clip on and remove the handles. Works well.
 
#12
I strongly recommend NOT to mount the BP-100 discs under the bridge foot.
They are not built for a high load on them and might be damaged. Also they will rise the bridge, reduce the contact area with the top etc.
I have read that using them as a bridge wing pickup works a lot better than in the intended position. The rubber coating might damp higher frequencies that a pickup built for the bridge wing does not get, but that or clipping it to the top at the f-hole might be the best idea if you want to keep the BP-100.
A different pickup might be the better solution.
 
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#14
I wholeheartedly agree with Chris, the BP-100 is a "variation" of the original Underwood pickup with a different mounting system. The clips that Fishman uses to mount the pickup elements act like a mute for your bridge. So, I agree with getting the KNB-1. I can't speak to the Vic's personally the K&K isn't a great sounding pickup to my ears. Just my take, however. Every bass is different.
 
#15
Sorry, but I wouldn‘t say that the BP-100 is a variation of the Underwood.

Both use piezo ceramics, but the BP-100 uses thin piezo disks at a fraction of a mm thick whereas the Underwood uses a ceramic disc that is about 2 mm thick.
Also piezo discs are mostly bending sensitive whereas bridge wing ceramics are mostly pressure sensitive.

This makes a big difference.
 
#17
I never had this problem with BP-100. It not the most “natural” sounding pickup but pretty troublefree, currently I use when I play loud bands....
I recomend to install as you can see in the Fishmans manual!
Try to clean the pickups surface and bridge contact points with alcohol before install, place the disc very close to the string but avoid to contact with the strings directy, and try to make as mutch pressure with the clips as possible!!!
 
#18
DoubleMIDI said:
Sorry, but I wouldn‘t say that the BP-100 is a variation of the Underwood.

Both use piezo ceramics, but the BP-100 uses thin piezo disks at a fraction of a mm thick whereas the Underwood uses a ceramic disc that is about 2 mm thick.
Also piezo discs are mostly bending sensitive whereas bridge wing ceramics are mostly pressure sensitive.

This makes a big difference.
Click to expand...

According to Don Underwood, Fishman wanted to make a Wing-slot pickup, but Don has the US patten on a dual wingslot piezo pickup. So Fishman came up with the BP-100. You are correct about the differences in design.
 
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