Double Bass KNA UP-1 on DB

[Povl Carstensen]

So I tried the UP-1 on my bass. A handy, small thing. Sound is useable. A bit of piezo quack, and a bit rubbery bass. When you eq the quack out, you feel there is a bit missing (know that feeling?). Not very high output.
BUT it hums. There is a noticable 50hz hum. The cable close to the pickup is very microphonic, but I think that is vibrations picked up by the pick up.
The verdict is, I am sticking with my mic (partly visible on the picture). Allthough the UP-1 will go a bit higher before feedback, and probably cut a bit better in a mix. But the hum is a deal breaker. It bugs me, because I am surprised, but I am not going to send it back to Madrid to explore whether I got an defective one. Perhaps I will try shortening the cable at a point.

 

[Francois Blais]

Hum with a piezo pickup?
Possibly a connection problem.

Did it come with putty or other adhesive material?

 

[Ric Vice]

Povl,
Well you gave it a shot. I have several pickups that simply didn’t sound that great. That’s why when the Ehrlund EAP sounded so incredible on my bass I was very pleased with its exceptional response, timbre, and small, non evasive footprint.

 

[Povl Carstensen]

Hum with a piezo pickup?
Possibly a connection problem.

Did it come with putty or other adhesive material?

Yes, and it is not a problem I have with other piezos on my gear. So, it it could be the supplied cable..
Yes it came with putty and two round doubleside adhesives.

 

[Francois Blais]

Thanks.
Did you try both the putty and double-sided adhesives to compare the tone?
I’m ordering an AP-1 which is very similar I heard.

 

[Povl Carstensen]

Thanks.
Did you try both the putty and double-sided adhesives to compare the tone?
I’m ordering an AP-1 which is very similar I heard.

I did not go that far. Just took a little putty. But great, perhaps you can post your findings here?

 

[Francois Blais]

Of course!

 

[Povl Carstensen]

Of course!

The best sound to me was somewhere below the E side foot, but inside the bass bar

 

[Ric Vice]

The best sound to me was somewhere below the E side foot, but inside the bass bar

That’s the same area where the Ehrlund EAP produces the best sound
on my bass with one slight difference. Mine is on the outside of the bass bar. My bass has a very distinct swirled knot in the wood, that surrounds the entire area where the pickup sits. I’ve always wondered if that’s why the EAP sounds so full and loud on my bass?

 

[Francois Blais]

Thanks.
Did you try both the putty and double-sided adhesives to compare the tone?
I’m ordering an AP-1 which is very similar I heard.

Got it today.
Judging from the picture here, the AP-1 is much bigger, seems about 2 or 3 times more, with some kind of oblong shape.
Will try it in the next days anyway...

 

[GypsyBilly]

Anyone else try the KNA pickups? I need something serviceable but cheap…

 

[Up and Away]

Anyone else try the KNA pickups? I need something serviceable but cheap…

I have used the KNA DB 1 on two basses(both ply) for jazz and and bluegrass and it is loud and works well and has been used on lots of gigs straight into my amp or the PA and EQ from there. No problems but you have to play around a bit to find the sweet spot and the right pressure in the bridge wing just like any pickup that goes into the slot.

 

[Martin Beer]

Anyone else try the KNA pickups? I need something serviceable but cheap…

I'd echo the post above; the KNA DB-1 (the bridge wing model) is a decent dependable option. It sounds like a bridge wing piezo, but it's a good one.

 

[lurk]

On my bass played by me the KNA was the ugliest I've ever tried. Worse than the old Barcus, Polytone, Fishman BP, etc. I really tried. I bought it because others have posted wonderful sounding clips on here. You just never know. At least you won't be dropping a lot of money. If you can afford it I'd recommend the Gage Lifeline or Fishman Full Circle. When my Lifeline dies I'm going to pop for a Yamahiko and see what's up.

 

[Earl]

On my bass played by me the KNA was the ugliest I've ever tried. Worse than the old Barcus, Polytone, Fishman BP, etc. I really tried. I bought it because others have posted wonderful sounding clips on here. You just never know. At least you won't be dropping a lot of money. If you can afford it I'd recommend the Gage Lifeline or Fishman Full Circle. When my Lifeline dies I'm going to pop for a Yamahiko and see what's up.

Same for me on two different basses. Could not get a usable sound. Currently using the Bassbalsereit which I am liking even better than the Yamahiko.

 

[Kingcatkev]

Have used the KNA DB1 on one gig so far and it was just okay. Other people were happier with my sound then I was. Have only had it about a week and haven’t had a chance to really try to dial it in.

Have a Tonedexter coming and gonna see how it does with that as well.

 

[Francois Blais]

Wing piezo pickups are sometimes tricky to dial in.
A preamp with proper input impedance is also recommended.

 

[Kingcatkev]

So I spent some time with the KNA DB-1 today. I got a pretty good sound with it. Tweaked the placement just a tad. Changed some things up on my amp. The bass a mid 50s American Standard and a GR 800 cube combo. It’s a lot less quacky now and could get some decent volume with out feeding back. Oh and was using old Fdeck hpf pre amp. Version 1.

 

[flatwound251]

I have a KNA DB-1 on my 1930 Juzek DB, and play it through an old MXR 10 band equalizer into an Amepg SB-12 amp. The sound is fine for small live gigs. For recording, I go direct with the KNA and also use a Shure SM-57 mic on a boom.

 

[rickwolff]

I'll add my favorable experience with the KNA DB-1. It actually sounds so good, that for live applications I don't bother with anything else (such as a microphone).

I use the 'Genzlihur' Acoustic Pro amp and I have found that by cutting the mid-range at around 600 hz (Both mid-range knobs set to about 10 o:clock) it virtually eliminates the piezo quack.