Double Bass I plead INSANITY, yer' Honor...

[Huy Nguyen]

One more post: I dabbled with it and if I put an element back into the E side leg, the C string (E string in 4ths) power is back.

I even took the other element out and it sounded pretty nice with just one element. I would've been happy just with the K1 on the bass leg tbh. It's a very usable and clean sound and not too stringy.
At least on this EUB, I'm thinking the problem is that the holes on the Treble side (G side) is too stringy. So whoever's comments that this won't work bc you can't balance the sound from each element has merit.

However if I put an element on the Bass leg plus one near the top with no element on the treble side, I think this is a strong and good signal that isn't too stringy. I just point the element at the top toward the high strings so it's like at a 75 degree angle. I've compared it with having a 2nd element and not and the differences are marginal. Anybody looking to save some bucks and want this should just get the K1.

Also noted that even a slight nudge on the element can change the sound dramatically and open things up or shut things down.

I'll put the KNA back on and compare the two in the next couple days.

 

[flatback]

dude I guess you took the title of this thread seriously. Someone take the drill outta this guys hands. (Joking) truth is I am the same way. Seems like I grew up thinking Basses and bridges were sacrosanct and that one must just follow what everyone else does....but you cant find anything out unless you try.
Have you twisted those pickups that are not giving you the response? Take the other one out and twist until you get a loud full sound. It may be that you actually drilled into a node and no matter what you are not going to get it to fire properly but, that hasn't been my experience.
Just don't transfer your secret spot drilling to your upright...but you know that already.

 

[Huy Nguyen]

lol yes please I'm a danger to this bass. The Yammie has always been a YOLO thing. I bought it in a YOLO move, altered as such. Always had that history.

Yes I did spend a bit of time twisting the elements to try to improve the balance but it never worked with the high position on the bass side. The rest sound fine. One thing I really like about the twisting with the pickups is that you can play a note and let it ring while you twist it to find the optimum sound. Saves a lot of time. It's how i do it quickly.

The Cleveland stays untouched. If i do anything, it may be to buy another K2 and mount the same config and drill only two holes as I have done now. I don't like the pickups on the treble side.

For now I think this will be my favorite passive config despite the weak C from the top position. It's sticking out a bit rn but sounds the same as when I had it all the way in. That hole's kinda stubborn.

You guys should give it a whirl.

 

[flatback]

I Had a nice gig tonight that I practiced a bunch for during the day. Lately I really like playing a bass line and and then looping it and playing the melody/solo over the top - really tightens up your sense of time and intonation.Also I like to solo along with a track from Drum Genius. Did that all day. Once during the day I plugged in the other pickup, a FC. It was very thick sounding and bass heavy. I noted that when I turn off the amp the K4 sounds more mike my bass does while the FC sounds really bassy and a little electricy (even thru the Redeye). When I got to the trio gig in that somewhat unkind room the K4 was now way thicker in that context (the FC would have been a nightmare)but cut thru sounding great. Lots of bass. I played it straight into the AI Focus/MAS16 and it was an excellent bass sound, very acoustic yet singing in the upper register and easy to play dynamically. Just loving the sound of this pickup.

 

[Huy Nguyen]

You're bad for my wallet Piro lol.

I started recording myself more often and noticing a discrepancy between what I perceive in my playing as being ok and listening back. I'm over that bit about not liking how I sound but being able to be critical about my own playing to work out the kinks. What a better way to do this than with a looper. I have an old Boss RC-20 but springing for a new one that's integrated with my THR.

Yeah i'm impressed with the pickkup and how versatile and easy to dial in a sound it is. For me, the K2 is perfect and might spring for one for the Cleveland at a later date (but just dreading having to put the soundpost back into place should it fall).

 

[flatback]

I also play vibes and I noticed several years ago now, when I was preparing for a bunch of vibes gigs (preparing by looping in bass playing on the tunes and then playing vibes over the top) ...I noticed, in my roll as a vibes player that the bass player (me) sucked. He played too obscure and rhythmically dense and where there should have been a clear moment, a breath to reconnect with the changes, the bass player would lose me the vibist. Freaked me the @#$% out (as a bass player)... (Who does this dumb $#% vibes player think he is?) But It really got me thinking that if (as a bass player) I am losing my(other)self something is really wrong, I am (Bass me) supposed to be supporting this guy. So I set about really trying to please the vibes player dude, really trying to lay it down FOR HIM. What I discovered is that the simpler I lay it down the better everything is for everybody. Now when I lay down a loop track, say, in two to solo over, it is real simple and I find that even my other bass player self (the guy who plays up high with his thumb) appreciates the space in the simply laid down loop. Connecting the loop (on a 32 bar single chorus loop) via your own internal tempo is a beautiful practice, daily... that I wouldn't give up (the looping) for anything. (let alone making a 10 chorus loop)

 

[Huy Nguyen]

Overplay? Us? Naw.

I hear you. In my multiple year hiatus during the pandemic I think I wizened up a little bit but worked on some of my own poopie that now I'm ready to deal with the truth and the fastest way to pick my own playing apart is through recording and slowly working through my s**t. And now connecting it with piano while having to really effing learning the notes on the instrument. Doing it in 5ths really forcing myself not to cut corners. I'm finally learning to do more with a lot less but not getting egoic about doing certain things (like not caring that I suck at bright tempos right now) and just getting my s**t together. It's hard.

Vibes is fun. I totally see it too. You can get away with murder on vibes was the impression I was left with. Meanwhile, it's easy to scruitinize every little bit when it comes to bass. We must be crazy lol.

 

[flatback]

I am updating my little Ditto looper to the Ditto Looper+. This allows you to download backing tracks from the computer. Yurt Rock has looper specific drumloops from Nate Smith and Antonio Sanchez that are absolutely killer. They cost some money but if you listen to them you are essentially playing along with some super sophisticated drum patterns (not something a metronome will do) Sorry for the derail.

 

[Ric Vice]

Antonio Sanchez rules! He played in St.Louis with Pat Matheney, Christian Mc Bride, and David Sanchez it was a revelation.

 

[Huy Nguyen]

I am updating my little Ditto looper to the Ditto Looper+. This allows you to download backing tracks from the computer. Yurt Rock has looper specific drumloops from Nate Smith and Antonio Sanchez that are absolutely killer. They cost some money but if you listen to them you are essentially playing along with some super sophisticated drum patterns (not something a metronome will do) Sorry for the derail.

Looks cool but I was thinking if I was going to go seriously down that rabbit hole I might as well invest in Ableton Live. Anyhoo back to your regularly scheduled programming….

 

[Huy Nguyen]

So I think I just found my new favorite spot and didn't think of doing this until now. So you know how @flatback doubled up two elements with his K4 on both legs and preferred that setup? I just did the same, except i only have two elements for one leg and they're now both on the front & back of the bass side leg and this yields the most consistent smooth sound without making my low C string (I'm in 5ths remember?) weak. As just as he found, I can dial in some air on the front element since I think there's probably some phasing going on.

The sound is like a good bridge wing pickup but not so quacky. I would totally do this on my normal bass.

 

[Huy Nguyen]

Reporting back after a month+ of shedding with the Wilson. Not looking back. Might pickup a second one for the Cleveland. Bridge leg with 2 elements on both sides is the way to go to me IMO. One element is good, two elements is great!

 

[Ric Vice]

I also play vibes and I noticed several years ago now, when I was preparing for a bunch of vibes gigs (preparing by looping in bass playing on the tunes and then playing vibes over the top) ...I noticed, in my roll as a vibes player that the bass player (me) sucked. He played too obscure and rhythmically dense and where there should have been a clear moment, a breath to reconnect with the changes, the bass player would lose me the vibist. Freaked me the @#$% out (as a bass player)... (Who does this dumb $#% vibes player think he is?) But It really got me thinking that if (as a bass player) I am losing my(other)self something is really wrong, I am (Bass me) supposed to be supporting this guy. So I set about really trying to please the vibes player dude, really trying to lay it down FOR HIM. What I discovered is that the simpler I lay it down the better everything is for everybody. Now when I lay down a loop track, say, in two to solo over, it is real simple and I find that even my other bass player self (the guy who plays up high with his thumb) appreciates the space in the simply laid down loop. Connecting the loop (on a 32 bar single chorus loop) via your own internal tempo is a beautiful practice, daily... that I wouldn't give up (the looping) for anything. (let alone making a 10 chorus loop)

Accompanying your doppelgänger can be a difficult, seems like you are the bass man a plan

 

[Povl Carstensen]

Reporting back after a month+ of shedding with the Wilson. Not looking back. Might pickup a second one for the Cleveland. Bridge leg with 2 elements on both sides is the way to go to me IMO. One element is good, two elements is great!

Just to be sure: the two elements are in the same hole, one from the front, and one from the back (on the E side)? I am probably about to try something similar. I have a K2 on my second bass, in the normal position, where it works quite well. On my main bass, where I go for an pretty old school sound, I have an Wood Realist. It works, but I would like to test out if a K1 / 2 in the bridge foot might be better... Thank you.

 

[Huy Nguyen]

Just to be sure: the two elements are in the same hole, one from the front, and one from the back (on the E side)? I am probably about to try something similar. I have a K2 on my second bass, in the normal position, where it works quite well. On my main bass, where I go for an pretty old school sound, I have an Wood Realist. It works, but I would like to test out if a K1 / 2 in the bridge foot might be better... Thank you.

I think i ran it that way for a little while but I think when it came to trying to use the bow amplified it wasn't enough volume or too dark. Currently have it in the top hole E side on the front and then back side E side leg.

 

[flatback]

there are positions and twistings of the pickup (I have noticed) that are both lower in output and better sonic representations and make for nicer amplification. I think when I was first experimenting I thought loudest was best...mostly because it isn't a high output pickup (when I have both the Yamahiko and Wilson going into the Felix the Yama input volume is down around 1 and the Wilson up around 8 for equal volume) and when you twist and find the loudest it is also the most phat. The opposite isn't true either though (low output = good tone) it is an adjustment for best tone, or tone you like somewhere between. I have a K4 with two of the pickups dangling (because I think 2 is really better sonic-ly) but right now I have them both in the traditional placement just about twice as far back on the bridge, more toward the halfway point between strings and back arch then right behind the strings. But I think that bass bridges are extremely resonant all over and that these directional Piezo pickups are pretty capable so there are a lot of good places on a bridge to get similar results (depending on the character of the bass) M2c

 

[Huy Nguyen]

Just to be sure: the two elements are in the same hole, one from the front, and one from the back (on the E side)? I am probably about to try something similar. I have a K2 on my second bass, in the normal position, where it works quite well. On my main bass, where I go for an pretty old school sound, I have an Wood Realist. It works, but I would like to test out if a K1 / 2 in the bridge foot might be better... Thank you.

Just to eliminate any confusion. Both are on the base side.