Double Bass Fishman pickup

[Steve Freides]

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The above, Fishman BP 100, is what I borrowed for a show I just played - Sondheim, mostly pizz but some arco, and this pickup made the arco stuff sound much louder than the pizz, to the point where I turned the amp off for extended arco sections and had to play "piano possibile" arco if the amp was on.

A few questions:

I don't gig much and don't have a lot of need for a pickup. If I were to offer something to the person who lent this pickup to me (it's their spare and they don't use it much, if at all), what's a fair price? It works fine but I get the feeling it's far enough from the current state of things that it's probably not worth a great deal and maybe my money is better spent on something newer.

My amp is an AI Contra. I didn't use a preamp - would one have helped?

I'm not changing amps, but I'd consider a different pickup and/or pickup/preamp combo - recommendations for general playing (some pizz, some arco, deals equally well with both) appreciated.

Thanks in advance from someone new to this instrument.

-S-

 

[anonymous02282011]

There are some standard choices: Fishman Full Circle, David Gage's "realist", the K&K products. I can only recommend the Full Circle and the Realist; in my experience, they were a vast improvement of the Fishman BP-100.

 

[bolo]

Here's a recent thread with some good info if you haven't seen it yet.

 

[bolo]

If your Contra has a high-low impedance button at the input jack, the BP-100 will probably sound better on "high".

 

[Kevin Hsieh]

50 dollars.

I hate the BP100 by the way. It's way too sensitive, must be installed perfectly in order to squeeze a decent tone out of it. It'd be better just to sack it up and buy some of the new gear. There's most likely some old pickup that some cat doesn't need floating around on TB Classifieds.

 

[Steve Freides]

Re: high-low impedance, yes, I do have that button, although I never knew until just now what it was for! I'll try it both ways, and thanks.

Thanks, also, for the pointer to the other thread - I will have a look at it shortly.

-S-

 

[Johnny Atomic]

Haven't hated on the BP100 lately, SO, yuck yuck, ick, stinky stinky poo poo.

No sir, don't like it.

 

[Steve Freides]

Anyone care to comment on the Original Six Rounds? It's cheap, and I've found mention of it only, no comments pro or con.

TIA.

-S-

 

[Kevin Hsieh]

i think if you do some searches, you'll notice some mention that these look homemade...

 

[Carl Johnson]

Knuckle down and get a realist. It is hands down the best pickup out there.

They wear out over time, but until then they sound great.

 

[bolo]

There are some standard choices: Fishman Full Circle, David Gage's "realist", the K&K products. I can only recommend the Full Circle and the Realist; in my experience, they were a vast improvement of the Fishman BP-100.

The Rev Solo too is pretty popular I think. I used the Bass Max and their Double Big Twin too at first. I also demo'ed a Schertler DYN-B like 2-3 years ago maybe. I settled on the Rev Solo (I and then II) not long after that as the best match w/ my bass and my tastes. YMMV ...

Getting the best fit for optimal tone w/ the RS was an iterative learning experience for me, but I dig the warmth and "pluck" and shape of the sound I can get with it. And other bassists have commented on its clarity out in the room thru my rig.

 

[Steve Freides]

i think if you do some searches, you'll notice some mention that these look homemade...

I don't care what it looks like, only what it sounds like.

-S-

 

[christ andronis]

Knuckle down and get a realist. It is hands down the best pickup out there.

They wear out over time, but until then they sound great.

I don't know. I've owned a Realist, which I liked, but have now had a Full Circle on my bass for about 3 months. I have to say, i like it a lot better because of the clarity. I've had several comments from guys I've played with who've remarked on how woody my bass sounds (well....DUH!!). Now, in all fairness, at the same time I switched pickups I also switched to Velvet Animas and, at least on my bass (a carved Christopher), they sound excellent. I'm also not playing real loud (using an AI Contra II) so that may or may not have anything to do with it. I guess the bottom line is how does it sound to you.

 

[SAlcott]

I have the Full Circle on my Merchant Vertical bass, and I've gotten lots of comments on how "woody" it sounds. I use a Clarus SLR and a WZ 110. If I use a house amp with no high impedance input, I use the Fishman BII preamp, with excellent results. I also have the FS on my LaScala, but haven't played out amplified yet.

 

[Carl Johnson]

christ andronis - I don't know. I've owned a Realist, which I liked, but have now had a Full Circle on my bass for about 3 months. I have to say, i like it a lot better because of the clarity.

That's funny, I'll have to give it another try. I have a Full Circle sitting in a draw that someone gave me. I used it but I thought it was kind of dead. Maybe I did'nt give it a fair test.

I do think the fishmann is funky; it can work if you use a pre-amp but it is a looonnngggg way from the realist. Back when the BP-100 was my only pickup, I preferred playing acoustic even if my fingers peeled.....

 

[SAlcott]

Be sure you raise the adjusters so there's about 1/16" clearance between the wood and the wheel/pickup as per the setup instructions. It makes a big difference IMO.

 

[Kevin Hsieh]

I don't care what it looks like, only what it sounds like.

-S-

the implications of homemade also mean possible production issues. on ebay the six rounds and other cheap piezo pickup solutions make look great, especially in your position where you rarely use amplification, buying something that looks like some techie threw together some piezo and copper wiring could potentially be unsatisfactory.

a lot of the guys here are mentioning these big companies for a reason. they've been proven to work and are still working.

best of luck in your search.

 

[christ andronis]

That's funny, I'll have to give it another try. I have a Full Circle sitting in a draw that someone gave me. I used it but I thought it was kind of dead. Maybe I did'nt give it a fair test.

Also check the wire in different positions as the sound changes a bit if you turn the adjuster. Mine is good with the wire top left corner of the bridge foot (top being furthest away from the top of the bass)

 

[Steve Freides]

the implications of homemade also mean possible production issues. on ebay the six rounds and other cheap piezo pickup solutions make look great, especially in your position where you rarely use amplification, buying something that looks like some techie threw together some piezo and copper wiring could potentially be unsatisfactory.

a lot of the guys here are mentioning these big companies for a reason. they've been proven to work and are still working.

best of luck in your search.

Kevin, I hear what you're saying. My only frustration is that I can't find anyone who is saying _anything_ about these, be it good, bad, or indifferent. I'd just like to hear an opinion or two from someone who's actually used one of these, although for $30, maybe I should just get it and try it for myself. Sounds like I might be able to convince someone around here to spend that kind of $ to put it under the tree ...

-S-

 

[Carl Johnson]

Steve,

If you’re playing through a AI Contra why the heck would you want to cheapen your sound with budget pickups. But if you must spend your money and experiment; I'd be interested in your thoughts on the pick-ups.

I checked out their site http://sixrounds.com and to tell the truth they seem kind of flaky. Although they are endorsed by “Boneyard Brian” I’d have to get more info on them to make me interested. They look kind of like rewired piezo doorbell buzzers… could be wrong, but there it is. The mounting system turns me off, looks like a mush generator.

Hey the BP100 when used with a preamp is OK, offer your bud $50 and see if you can get a second-hand preamp. I know you can make your own for something like under $5 with parts from radio shack and a design you can download.

Good luck, if you get the sixrounds please post your review.