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Double Bass Frustrated with my Amplified Sound
- Thread starter kirkm24
- Start date
Ha! I like the analogy. And I like the Underwood very much, having used it as my first choice for thirty years now, although I'm happy to use both wings as Don intended. I've got four, across one ply, two carved and a Kolstein Travel, all of which sound great. The advantage (to me) of that pickup is that it gives a bright sound that can be eq'd down to something manageable. Better IMO than a dull woody PU that stays dull.
I was using a 10" Wizzy for small gigs, which worked as long as the bright middle was eq'd out. But in doing that some of the attack was missing. Mike A's 'envelope'. Then last week I gigged my new Crazy 8. I used a Clarus and the band was four rhythm and four front, including a bari, in front of an audience of 100 plus. The 8" speaker held its own and it could have taken even more volume still. And it didn't need any eq'ing - it was all flat. This one's a keeper.
Now the strange thing is that I'm the fourth owner of that speaker in UK, including a very good 'as seen on TV' young player. Presumably it didn't suit the other three for one reason or another. But what PU's/amps/basses were they playing? All of which goes to show that there never will be a one size fits all in the world of bass amplification.
Or, one man's cornflake is another man's shredded wheat.
Nice! Also like shredded wheat now...again.
I've used Underwood PUs for over 30 years! Have them on all 3 of my basses.
Also have tried blending with microphones, different amps, speakers, used EQs, etc.( mostly Fishman)- all get a good sound.
Lately going straight into most of my amps & using the amp EQ.
Last year was about to try a different PU- twice the $, which would probably sound great also.
Called Lemur Bass Shop to inquire about the new Gage clamp on PU & a few other-more expensive PUs.
The salesmen told me that Stanley Clarke just bought 2 Underwoods to take on a tour.
Ended up getting another Underwood.
FYI: Just recorded on a Jazz Quintet CD - the engineer couldn't believe the strong signal.
We all still keep looking for the magic for our sound. Lately mine is different speakers.
Good luck.
I've used Underwood PUs for over 30 years! Have them on all 3 of my basses.
Also have tried blending with microphones, different amps, speakers, used EQs, etc.( mostly Fishman)- all get a good sound.
Lately going straight into most of my amps & using the amp EQ.
Last year was about to try a different PU- twice the $, which would probably sound great also.
Called Lemur Bass Shop to inquire about the new Gage clamp on PU & a few other-more expensive PUs.
The salesmen told me that Stanley Clarke just bought 2 Underwoods to take on a tour.
Ended up getting another Underwood.
FYI: Just recorded on a Jazz Quintet CD - the engineer couldn't believe the strong signal.
We all still keep looking for the magic for our sound. Lately mine is different speakers.
Good luck.
Well I installed the Bass Max today and it is +1,000% better than the Realist. I used it with and without the F Deck and it sounds better in both circumstances but much better with the Fdeck. The Realist just must be a poor match for my bass.
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
It might sound like silly BS that comes from the TB BG side, but I have to say that the VT Bass pedal works great as a DB preamp (with piezo pickups)...
I got a DB that came with a pickup/preamp set and didn't try it until couple days ago. The pickup is a sort of an underwood knockoff (piezo that goes under bridge wing, E string side). Plugged in, sounded terrible. The preamp was just plain bad, even the pickup straight to mixer sounded better.
So I decided to give a try using the VT Bass as a preamp. Worked great! Good EQ tweakability helps a lot.
I got a DB that came with a pickup/preamp set and didn't try it until couple days ago. The pickup is a sort of an underwood knockoff (piezo that goes under bridge wing, E string side). Plugged in, sounded terrible. The preamp was just plain bad, even the pickup straight to mixer sounded better.
So I decided to give a try using the VT Bass as a preamp. Worked great! Good EQ tweakability helps a lot.
Yes! Not in person, but my friend Fabio Dwyer recorded a blues album few years ago and Andy was his drummer in most tracks. I did 1 track on piano and lead voice on 2. We didn't meet but we did end up in the same record.
Now I wonder how did you make the connection?
I am going to chime in here
-1 for realist. I tried a few different versions over the years. Not only do I think they sound mediocre, but the formula seems to change every few years. Plus they are NOT durable. Every one I used (like 3 I think) broke where the wire meets the element. The repair done at the shop was only a bandaid, and they failed again.
I use an Ehrlund on my bass- I know they don't work for everyone- and a K&K bassmax if I need a bridge pickup. Those are durable and go on and off real easy. And they're cheap. I have found that the K&K sounds even better if I dial back the bass on the amp. It cleans right up.
-1 for realist. I tried a few different versions over the years. Not only do I think they sound mediocre, but the formula seems to change every few years. Plus they are NOT durable. Every one I used (like 3 I think) broke where the wire meets the element. The repair done at the shop was only a bandaid, and they failed again.
I use an Ehrlund on my bass- I know they don't work for everyone- and a K&K bassmax if I need a bridge pickup. Those are durable and go on and off real easy. And they're cheap. I have found that the K&K sounds even better if I dial back the bass on the amp. It cleans right up.
Now I wonder how did you make the connection?
Andy is from Chicago and we were room mates back in 1973. We did an album together called World Thing in 1976 and another in 2003 called Future Tense.
My friend Fabio (guitar player) told me he was from Chicago. We recorded in different studios so I didn't get to meet Andy in person. Do you know if Andy is still living down here in Brazil?
I was wondering how would you link me and Andy, just to notice that my location is listed on TB. Nonetheless, such a small world, isn't it?
