Yes. I worked out the technique acoustically first. My first teachers Steve Matthews (electric) and Bob Bowen (upright, RIP), both stressed to make the strings and the instrument itself vibrate and sing their best and make whatever is coming out of the output jack the best possible so you have the best possible signal to start with.
With the U-Bass you need gear that has a very high impedance input, and the ability to deal with the upper mids that cause the unnatural finger pull-off noise this pickup transmits. I've tried several things. Here's the best:
1. F-Deck + SFX red dragon: The red dragon has an amazing tone knob that perfectly tones the highs down to compensate. Max's B3 pedal has the same tone circuit and a mid scoop (which would probably also be a benefit) but I have not tried that pedal).
2. LR Baggs Para-EQ. Perfect form factor, sounds very tight and very strong and thick, you have to turn the knobs pretty far, but it sounds wonderful.
3. Fishman Pro platinum EQ. Works very well especially on a budget.
4. Preamp (like F-Deck) + VT bass or Sansamp BDDI. These boxes have the ability to scoop high mids very well. You just need a high impedance preamp before it to solidify the lows. The VT gives warm OD that can vintage up your attacks. I used the VT on the U-Bas til I found the red dragon.
5. Get lucky with a good rig. A rig that is polite in the upper mids naturally (Aguilar, my next foray with amps), Genz, Acoustic Image, are good. I actually found a couple GK models pretty controllable, surprisingly.
First, get the F-Deck, then play your Ubass and F-Deck through lots of rigs to find what sounds right to you.
