Check your bridge angle and if the pickup have got some unintended small or intended rotation.
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Double Bass Full Circle life
- Thread starter klem.gote
- Start date
Okay, it sounds like my FC may have packed it in... I'm getting a distorted signal from it now, even though I'm no where near clipping the input level. Is this the problem people have had? Does anyone know if Fishman can repair this? Cheers!
I have had several do this - one on each bass - over the last 15 years. One of them Fishman was able to repair, and the other one I just bought a new one and got on with it. At this point, my plan is to buy a new one when the old one craps out, inquire as to whether it can be repaired and if so send it away, and if I get the repaired one back keep it as a backup.
"Pressure: pushing down on me......"
Both the Fishman and the Realist can fail due to the tremendous amount to pressure exerted by string tension. Realist will generally fail after about 5 years, so will Full Circle's
If you have one that's lasted longer it's likely that their is lower tension on the bridge. Just my take.
Both the Fishman and the Realist can fail due to the tremendous amount to pressure exerted by string tension. Realist will generally fail after about 5 years, so will Full Circle's
If you have one that's lasted longer it's likely that their is lower tension on the bridge. Just my take.
If the Full Circle has four screws on one side of the adjuster disk in general it should be repairable.
If not, forget a repair and think about getting a single sensor Yamahiko.
There is no pressure on the Yamahiko piezo, only bending force which is rather low compared to the pressure at the piezo crystals at the Full Circle.
So the Yamahiko should live a lot longer than the Full Circle (about 20 years or more).
Just get the right thread size.
If not, forget a repair and think about getting a single sensor Yamahiko.
There is no pressure on the Yamahiko piezo, only bending force which is rather low compared to the pressure at the piezo crystals at the Full Circle.
So the Yamahiko should live a lot longer than the Full Circle (about 20 years or more).
Just get the right thread size.
As I've mentioned before, the Yamahiko was the "inspiration" for Fishman's Full Circle. The Yamahiko's design is well thought out
for retaining it's longevity. Early on, the Yamahiko was more expensive than the Full Circle. Over time the Yamahiko has come down
in price.
for retaining it's longevity. Early on, the Yamahiko was more expensive than the Full Circle. Over time the Yamahiko has come down
in price.
But not per year if you look at the expectable lifespan.
Absolutely, I keep trying to get the word out that if you’re willing to save up to get a better quality bass pickup you’ll save money. While I don’t know the details of purchasing the Yamahiko in Budapest, but the difference in price between the Fishman and Yamahiko here in the USA is nominal when you consider the cost of replacing the Full Circle every 5 years.
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Except it's not really every 5 years. In my case, 2 basses, 2 pickups (i.e. - 1 replacement) each, over 15 years, and the current two - the newer models with the screws on top - are both going strong. Add to that the fact that it's very difficult to try a Yamahiko first here in the states, and it muddies the waters a bit.
Yeah, It’s possible to order Yamahiko directly from the manufacturer, luckily the shipping is free, but unfortinatelly the vat and the tax are very hogh here on Hungary, the total cost would be around $430, while the FC is $250 at Thomann.....I am still ......hesitate
That's what I suspected the issue was. Based on Chris' experience with the Full Circle you could get 15 years out of the Fishman. You should listen to Eddie Gomez's demo on the
Yamahiko site, because those are the only sound samples avaliable for comparison. Like you, I would have a hard time choosing because of my experience with the Ehrlund. Unfortunately,
neither the Fishman or Yamahiko sound anything like the EAP does. Fortunately I don't have to play at high volume's. Personally, I think the $99.00 KNB-1 Cremona sounds better than either of
them, but I don't know how loud it will get before feedback.
Sorry, what I was trying to say was that I’ve replaced the Full Circle once on each bass, both times it was the older model without the screws after about 7 years and a lot of use. The current ones have the screws, and both are doing fine. They could fail tomorrow, or they could keep going for years.
I listened the Gomez demo already, and there are some clips in YouTube...yeah the Yamahiko is olso just a piezzo pickup like others, but I hear the E string seems clearer sounding and better attack with it than FC.....
Got it, still, it's not the only pickup that can fail and it has a longer shelf life than the original Realist, based on my experience. On my bass, the Realists would start to loose signal at 4 years.
Agree. I think the original Realist is very fragile and not a pickup I like for a variety of reasons. First and foremost is the sound, but also the fact that the early models dented the top of the bass under the foot, the fact that they tend to start to unravel, the way the wire is attached.... i had one once and while I was not financially secure when it failed, I was also relieved that now I was forced to try something else.
I'd have to try a Yamahiko, if I didn't love my Ebony Adjusters so much. 
I bought the Full Circle when it first came out (can’t remember when that was!) and had to replace it about 2 years ago (how many years would that be? 15? 20?).
I think I'm on my 4th in 15 years or so. That does include, though, the time five kittens we were fostering ate through the lead coming out of the pickup....
