Double Bass Gollihur/ Genzler collaboration

[66 Fender Jazz]

Happily reporting satisfaction with my new Bass Acoustic Array Pro, purchased from Mark Gollihur. Both he and Jeff Genzler provided terrific support and product knowledge BEFORE the sale, which is impressive and representative of the pair. Anyone else with user feedback on this nicely-featured, 2 channel combo amp? Interested to hear impressions of others.
(it's a splendid insurance amp, paired with my Acoustic Image Coda S4 Plus). The Gollihur projects very nicely- differently from the down-firing AI, 10".

 

[Ric Vice]

The Genzler- Benz Shuttle series were great amps. The Bass Array Pro benefits from those amps and the Genzler Acoustic Array.
That cabinet design with the linear array reproduces the bass frequency range smoothly. Are you using a microphone? What gigs are you using it for?

 

[DuluthDank]

If I ever felt the need to upgrade my Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 10t, it would be to one of these array combos.

 

[66 Fender Jazz]

The Genzler- Benz Shuttle series were great amps. The Bass Array Pro benefits from those amps and the Genzler Acoustic Array.
That cabinet design with the linear array reproduces the bass frequency range smoothly. Are you using a microphone? What gigs are you using it for?

No microphone. A KNA DB-1 pickup has proven to be reliable on my Juzek upright. Working in several combos with mic'd guitarists, small kit drummer + vocalist, another involving sax and trumpet + the aforementioned. Small inside venues; DI'ed through FOH system for outdoor gigs.

 

[Michael Drost]

I use it with a Full Circle and DPA. Have for years. Great amp, great customer service. Pole mounting is a must in my neck of the woods.

 

[Ric Vice]

No microphone. A KNA DB-1 pickup has proven to be reliable on my Juzek upright. Working in several combos with mic'd guitarists, small kit drummer + vocalist, another involving sax and trumpet + the aforementioned. Small inside venues; DI'ed through FOH system for outdoor gigs.

Interesting,
I’m a lifetime convert to the Dual Channel Amplifier. I got comfortable having one with my first B-15N. The Walter Woods MI-100-Came next
Now I use a GR Bass AT Cube Acoustic. I have microphones (Remic Green D5400LB and Remic D5400.red. I rarely use them.

/

 

[Pings Bass]

I spied this on the golihur site the other day, looks cool but seems like more than I need. Curious how you use a dual channel amp. Mic + piezo? Or is it for doubling?

 

[66 Fender Jazz]

I spied this on the golihur site the other day, looks cool but seems like more than I need. Curious how you use a dual channel amp. Mic + piezo? Or is it for doubling?

All for doubling- frequent EB application in small venues. This gives me ideas as I additionally yet have my 1st pickup, a Fishman BP-100, mounted on the bass.

 

[Ric Vice]

All for doubling- frequent EB application in small venues. This gives me ideas as I additionally yet have my 1st pickup, a Fishman BP-100, mounted on the bass.

I would urge you to save your pennies and eventually invest in a different pickup. I installed one on my bass years ago. The Fishman BP-100 was by far the most nasal and harsh sounding pickup I’ve ever used. It was virtually impossible to EQ the pickup for a decent tone. Just my take. IMHO you will never able to get the sound that the EQ section on the Gollihur/Genzler Accoustic Array is capable of reproducing with that pickup Once again just my take.

 

[66 Fender Jazz]

I would urge you to save your pennies and eventually invest in a different pickup. I installed one on my bass years ago. The Fishman BP-100 was by far the most nasal and harsh sounding pickup I’ve ever used. It was virtually impossible to EQ the pickup for a decent tone. Just my take. IMHO you will never able to get the sound that the EQ section on the Gollihur/Genzler Accoustic Array is capable of reproducing with that pickup Once again just my take.

Thanks Ric and I have to agree with your ear, nose and throat assessment of the Fishman. As old school as they get.

 

[Ric Vice]

Using the Fishman BP-100 with the felt lined clips they provide actually acts like a mute on the bridge. At least that’s the effect it had on my bass. Some folks glue the piezo discs directly to the underside, which seems like a way to gunk up a perfectly fine bridge. Just my take however.

 

[Bruce Calin]

There are any number of cheap bridge slot pickups that will be much better than the Fishman until you decide if you want something more sophisticated.

 

[66 Fender Jazz]

There are any number of cheap bridge slot pickups that will be much better than the Fishman until you decide if you want something more sophisticated.

As I am altogether too nervous. inexperienced about any bridge disassembly involved in mounting a pickup, I am staying with the bridge slot KNA DB-1, simply because it works. Seems I'd be smart to remove the originally mounted Fishman BP-100 system, which never occurred to me to do. A comment was made about the Fishman 'damping' bridge vibrations. Only replacement I would entertain would be a wedging sort of installation.

 

[turf3]

I'm certainly no pickup expert, but to me the wedging-it-into-the-slot, just tight enough, not TOO tight, sounds a lot more prone to net getting it just right, than something like the Full Circle or Realist where you just set the pickup in place and the consistent force of the strings does the work.

 

[Ric Vice]

While neither is ideal, I used an Underwood for close to 10 years and it never fell out or sounded bad into my Walter Woods MI-100. The Realist (Copper Foil) was definitely harder to set up , but I had my luthier do the install. On my bass through a Walter Woods the BP-100 sounded thin and nasal. Just my take however The Realist Life Line and Fishman Full Circle are the choice of many jazz bassists, unfortunately many music stores still >offer the BP-100 as a less expensive alternative to the better choices available.

P.S. I have it on good authority that the reason the BP-100 isn’t a wing slot pickup is that Eon Underwood had the U.S. patten
on a double wind slot pickup, so Fishman had to use the “clip to the top” which mutes the bridge.

 

[Mark Gollihur]

There are any number of cheap bridge slot pickups that will be much better than the Fishman until you decide if you want something more sophisticated.

The DB-1 pickup from KNA (Kremona North America) is around $100 and SUPER-easy to install, and it works great - neutral and easy to get a very decent sound; they are available at lots of bass shops.

 

[Bruce Calin]

I'm certainly no pickup expert, but to me the wedging-it-into-the-slot, just tight enough, not TOO tight, sounds a lot more prone to net getting it just right, than something like the Full Circle or Realist where you just set the pickup in place and the consistent force of the strings does the work.

You're making it sound more complicated than it is. You don't have to take anything apart or do a lot of tweaking to get a decent, usable sound. Shim it with a piece of paper or something else thin and you're good to go. It won't be MBOL but it's quick, easy, and decent. If the slot is too narrow a little rasping or trimming with a knife gets it going. I've used many different pickups over the years and have come to the conclusion that the simple single- element bridge slot pickup is as good as anything for reliable functional bass amplification. Others may differ.

 

[66 Fender Jazz]

I would urge you to save your pennies and eventually invest in a different pickup. I installed one on my bass years ago. The Fishman BP-100 was by far the most nasal and harsh sounding pickup I’ve ever used. It was virtually impossible to EQ the pickup for a decent tone. Just my take. IMHO you will never able to get the sound that the EQ section on the Gollihur/Genzler Accoustic Array is capable of reproducing with that pickup Once again just my take.

Thanks for your input. I went ahead and removed the Fishman from the bridge. If I was more confident in disassembling the existing adjustable bridge to install a nicer, modern pickup I would. Cannot risk not having a working amplifiable bass, with weekly gigs and no nearby capable assistance.

 

[Ric Vice]

I completely understand. In the Past, I’ve always have luthier do the initial installation on a new pickup. That was in the days of the first Underwood’s and Realist. Nowadays the Realist Lifeline and Fishman Full Circle are designed to be more “plug and play”. If you could find another bassist who’s installed one themselves and willing to help you out that’s a possible solution to the first installation. Once you have the funds to purchase one. Just a thought. The TB classifieds often have Lifelines or Full Circles for sale used if you wish to save a few bucks.