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Double Bass Full Circle output?

D

Dudie

Apr 26, 2004
145
0
55
Sweden
soundcloud.com
#1
Just bought a bass with a full circle pickup installed. Loved the sound from it but when straighten upp my bridge and raised my strings i suddenly lost output! I'll have to crank up my amp to almost double the volume that i used to do and the sound is a bit muddy. The bridge is now straight and i cant see anything wrong with the pickup.... Anyone know whats wrong or maybe have had the same experience?

Thnx!
 
#2
It's probably not fitted properly. It has to be making intimate contact with the wood. If you tilt your bridge forward just slightly it should make a difference. The FC is actually really hard to fit perfectly. What you can do is when the bridge is off take an old adjuster, cut a (perfect) 1/4' hole in a piece of say, 180 grit sandpaper and use an adhesive like 3m Super 77 to glue it to the surface of the adjuster that contacts the wood. Drill a hole in a 2x4, put it on a table, and put the threaded side in the hole. Apply pressure making sure that the bridge is perpendicular and rotate the adjuster to make sure that the contact area is sanded so that there is perfect contact. I bet that when you take off the bridge and look at the underside of where the FC contacts and you will see (the spots where it contacts will be pretty dark) that it is only contacting in a few spots. Carefully sand the center area to make sure that it isn't raised in that spot.
 
#3
Thank you!!
I dont think its wrong installed. Its a Cleveland and i think the guys at New Standard know how to install a Full Circle ;) It also worked well when i bought it but when i raised my strings about 3mm the problem started. The bridge was also a bit tilted so i straghted it up. Is it so sensitive for changes? I can play with it but i must use a preamp to get the sound i want, sadly for me since im a "plug &play" guy ;-/
 
#7
Dudie said:
I'll do that, but i think it will be hard to se any wrong with it. What i can see its all straight and looks ok.
Click to expand...
Ok. I've found it sounds better with the wire pointing straight up or straight down parallel with a line drawn through the center of the length of the bass. Where is yours?
 
#9
Uncletoad said:
Ok. I've found it sounds better with the wire pointing straight up or straight down parallel with a line drawn through the center of the length of the bass.
Click to expand...

This is interesting, and looking back on it, there may be something to it. Technically, though, looking at the design with 4 crystals inside the wheel, it *should* sound the same on the inside flat parts of the bridge as well. But I'm not sure it does... I'll check on that tonight and see if I notice a difference in sound/output.
 
#10
Chris Fitzgerald said:
This is interesting, and looking back on it, there may be something to it. Technically, though, looking at the design with 4 crystals inside the wheel, it *should* sound the same on the inside flat parts of the bridge as well. But I'm not sure it does... I'll check on that tonight and see if I notice a difference in sound/output.
Click to expand...
It should, intellectually I get that, but on both my basses it never seems to sound right anywhere else.
 
#11
clink said:
The fit must be so tight as not to allow a sheet of paper between the adjuster and wood. A poor fit will cause the problem you have described.
Click to expand...

This can be the problem. When i first got the bass the bridge was tilted forward against the fingerboard and caused a bigger gap and a bigger contact-area, if you know what i mean. Then i sounded great! Now when everthing looks ok with the bridge there is a small gap between the pickup and the bridge. I will post some picture of it later, now i must hurry to a gig :)
 
#12
The pickup is designed so that when you change the position of the adjuster wheel it will change the sound from full to sort of hollow. Rotate the adjuster wheel and the sound should change.
Also, the sound improves dramatically if you use some sort of preamp (I'm using the Fishman Platinum) before you plug it into your bass amp. It's just a better impedance match.
 
#13
Here are som pix :)
 

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#15
Two things.

That wheel and the bridge above it must be in contact all the way around. That's either an installation issue or and adjustment issue. See if you can move the bridge top to sit flush with the top of the adjuster wheel all the way around.

Secondly that wire sticking out that corner is gonna sound pretty bad. Point that wire straight up or straight down parallel to the neck and then see what you get.

Fix both of those issues. If it still sounds bad a transducer in the pickup is broken and the pickup wheel should be replaced.
 
#17
notabene said:
Yes, I think so. It looks as though the hole in the upper part of the bridge might not be deep enough. Quick fix.
Click to expand...
If it's bottoming out on the upper hole it might be better to file a touch off the top of the adjuster wheel for such a small space rather than risk the bit chatter that might throw off the hole in for the adjuster wheel.
 
#18
Dudie said:
Can that small gap be the problem?
Click to expand...

That's definitely your problem. The bridge needs to be removed and the recessed hole for the upper pin bored a little deeper so that the pickup has full contact. Your luthier might check the leg of the bridge for smoothness and flatness while he's there.

Then orient the wire as Phil suggests and get playing! ;)

Good luck, Jake
 
#19
It looks like the bridge was originally drilled for bigger adjusters and now has metal inserts. I would bet there is a metal sleeve in there that is too long for the hole. That needs attention. It's hard to believe any luthier would let that out of the shop.
Inserts are fine if done right.
 

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