So I've got this old plywood bass that does me pretty well. And about a year ago, I saw a good deal on a realist, so I picked that up. I've played in combos and big bands with this setup, and it's been satisfactory. What I'd like to do is start playing my upright in my rock quartet. The problem is, some of our songs are really dang loud, and when I turn myself up loud enough to match my band, the realist feeds back like crazy. (The amp i'm using is an SWR super redhead with a Goliath III extension cab) Which leads me to my question: what is the ideal pickup for playing very loud pizzicato?
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Double Bass Ideal Pickup For High Volume
- Thread starter Robot Freak Out
- Start date
The Stringcharger (by Pierre Josephs) or any other magnetic pickup works best for this. I used to have one, and I used it in insanely (stupidly, pointlessly) loud situations. You can eventually get so loud that it will feed back, but the threshold is way way higher than that of the Realist or an Underwood or, god forbid, a microphone. Doesn't sound like a bass, but no pickups do at those volumes.
The obligatory Arnold Schnitzer public service announcement: Sound pressure levels that high cause hearing damage, so don't even think about not wearing earplugs...
The obligatory Arnold Schnitzer public service announcement: Sound pressure levels that high cause hearing damage, so don't even think about not wearing earplugs...
Johono5 said:
Man, I can't hear you, we're rockin' too hard!
Seriously though, thanks for the tip. I'm gonna check this stuff out.
Revolution Solo. I've cranked that puppy up loud hooked to an SWR SM-500 with a 4 x 10" and had nary a feedback problem, even right in front of it. Won't saying it won't feed back, but you'll have to really work at it.
Hey there, I've used the Barbera pickup for several years and absolutley love it for louder gigs. I've even run it through an insanely loud rig -- Aguilar DB 680, Crown K1 amp, SWR 4x10 & 2x10. Yes, it will feed back at some point, but not like the clip on or wedge-type piezos. I currently have a Fishman Full Circle which proves itself nicely on quiet-medium volume jazz gigs and am saving the bread for a new bridge and a updated Barbera.
I did NOT like the Pierre Josephs one bit. Awful sound -- even through decent EQ's and preamps. Yes, it's magnetic...but if I were to add a pickup to the end of the fingerboard again, I'd consider building and mounting some real electric bass pickups -- like EMGs or my favorite, Bartolinis. Good Luck!
I did NOT like the Pierre Josephs one bit. Awful sound -- even through decent EQ's and preamps. Yes, it's magnetic...but if I were to add a pickup to the end of the fingerboard again, I'd consider building and mounting some real electric bass pickups -- like EMGs or my favorite, Bartolinis. Good Luck!
I like the Beisele magnetic pickup-- you can turn it up insanely loud before feedback, you can adjust individual string level, and you can blend it with a piezo (if you buy the model wwith the preamp). You can also attach it to any bass ! It definitely sounds "electric", but blending it with a piezo really helps it sound more natural.
Chef
In Memoriam
Barbera: for $500 it better work better than two of everything else on their best days, and then some...
Does it?
Does it?
If you want a natural sound at high volumes, the best on the market IMO is the Schertler Stat B. You can crank it up pretty loud and it sounds wonderful. Lots of bottom and definition.
I think the Barbera is certainly worth the $500...Yes, it can sound thin -- like any piezo system. However, it avoids the dreaded mid-range "clack" of the clip-on types. It amplifies extremely well and sounds decent on recordings. I use an Aguilar DB 924 18volt external pre with the Barbera and it sounds righteous through almost any amp. I'd love to try the Besiele...but it looked so frickin' big in the ad I saw (don't like things weighing the end of the fingerboard down). I've also heard good things about the Schertler. Is the Stat B the little guy that attaches to the body or F hole of the bass?
Right -- just checked out the web page -- I was thinking of the DYN B...the Stat B looks pretty cool too...anyone else have experience with these?
I use the DYN-B and have used the STAT-B. At the volumes you are talking about, I don't see any point in getting them. You have to forget about having a natural sound. I would use an Underwood or a magnetic as was already suggested. You can crank up the volume on the Schertler stuff but it will at that point sound like an Underwood.
bassame said:
I have both, but I don't think you can definitevely say that. On a PA system with lots of headroom and good eq, I can get unbelievably loud with the Dyn B. The caveat is it needs power. You go through a cheap 200w PA and it will sound horrible at loud volumes.
The Stat isn't as natural, but I've found it more tolerant of high volumes/ low headroom while still sounding pretty darn clean. I keep it around for the 2-3 times a year I do a loud or big band gig.
I've used a Barbera on one bass, and a Wilson on another, and had good results. A friend had a plywood with an EMG precision pickup on, and he got the loudest I've ever heard an acoustic bass, and it didn't cost half as much (won't work an nylon [or gut strings] though, unles they are wound on a metal centre).
Is a Barbera worth twice as much? I dunno because I dont have another pickup to compare it to, but I am still waiting for Tombowlus to give us his A/B test of Barbera against Revolution Solo. A Barbera has no need of a preamp, in fact it sounds better without one, so that evens up the cost a bit against a pickup that does need a preamp! I guess it would be fair to say it's not twice as good as most others, but it suits me for a broad spectrum of musical genres, it is very resistant to feedback, and as stated above, has a nice midrange, which is where many pickups fall down.
Monte said:
I agree with you Monte. I guess what I'm saying is that when the band gets that loud, no one can hear your "natural sounding" bass anymore. The only way to be heard, is to have that midrangy honky sound.
