Double Bass K&K Pickup Help

[FoamieOmie]

I'm trying to install a K&K pickup and the gap on the bridge us to wide. I've read that either a shim of wood or a piece of cardboard is suggested but I'm not sure which us best to use. If wood, what kind? My bass is an Engelgardt with the bridge it came with on it. I think it's maple (?!) Any help would be geatly appreciated!

 

[Stephen Edwards]

Is it a K&K Bass Max? If so, I used an old sax reed I had lying around, and it works well.

 

[FoamieOmie]

I think, I got it used from a friend. It's this one:

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I don't have any reeds around. What's the advantages to wood over cardboard (which K&K suggest)? Also, does the shim go on the side towards the strings, or the side towards the bass it self? Sorry, but I'm new to installing pickups.

 

[Francois Blais]

You can even try a popsicle stick if the gap is big enough. (or sand down a piece of the stick)

 

[FoamieOmie]

So the type of would doesn't really matter I guess. Also, does the shim need to be as large as the pickup or just as wide as the bridge itself?

 

[Gearhead43]

So the type of would doesn't really matter I guess. Also, does the shim need to be as large as the pickup or just as wide as the bridge itself?

Either way will work, the Bass Max is a pretty easy fitting pickup. Get it in there finger-tight and you're good.

 

[FoamieOmie]

Ok, so what I used for now is 2 circles cut out of a Kurt Vonnegut coaster. You know, one of the thin cardboardish kind like they have at bars. I put one on either side of the pickup and it fit nice and snug. Does it matter that one is on either side or would I be better served having them both on one side or the other where one side of the pickup touches the bridge? I plugged it in briefly for a test into a Pignose Hog-30 (since it was handy) and the pickup works fine. I'm not too sure about the tone yet because 1) it's going through an 8" speaker, 2) I didn't run it through my Fishman Pro EQ II yet, and 3) I couldn't crank it up too much as it was late and the family was asleep. I have a gig Sunday at a fest so I'm sure to get a good test then. Any thoughts?

 

[shwashwa]

if it were me id want the pickup making contact with the bridge wood on one side or the other, so i'd put both shims on the same side. you may want to experiment with which side the pickup actually touches, the wing or the leg. it could sound slightly different, and you may prefer one over the other.

 

[Jonyak]

I just grabbed a piece of walnut out of my firewood pile, split a piece off, sanded it down until it fit. works great!

 

[Dave Irwin]

I'd avoid cardboard or anything that dampens vibration. I thought the sax reed idea sounded pretty good!

Dave

 

[RHayton]

Several years ago I went to a local hardwoods retailer and bought a 1x6 piece of hard maple about 8 feet long because I can use it for a bunch of small projects. for the K&K pickup I sliced off a piece a little less than 1/4 inch on the band saw, then used a belt sander to thin it down to fit the bridge wing and pickup. I figure the harder the shim, the more it will transfer the vibrations. I use the shim on the string side of the bridge wing.

 

[Sam Reese]

It is important not to wedge it too tight. I broke one and had to send it back for repair a while ago.

 

[Gearhead43]

The Bass Max is pretty forgiving about how it's installed.

The Bass Max has a semi-hard foam between the two piezos that can compress a bit, and then expand so it "settles" in to the fit of the bridge wing. Pretty cool design which makes it easy to fit.

I use thin self-adhesive maple veneer, found at many hobby stores, for fitting pickups. You simply cut out little squares with scissors, and then stick them into the bridge wing slot, or pickup, to shim for the right amount of tension.