I have used the Krivo without any preamp, and it certainly works without one, but having a decent pre in front of the pickup really helps boost output. I also find some basic tone-shaping helpful.
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Double Bass Krivo first impressions
- Thread starter raskalnickoff
- Start date
I've done a few gigs with my Krivo now, and won't be going back to piezo (although I keep it mounted as a backup). With the synthetic covered Eurosonics it is not loud, but until I find better strings it's just a matter of boosting the gain more on my amp.
I have used Daddario helicores and Jargars with my Krivo. It has less output by far than either of my P basses. I just use different gain settings. It has never been a problem
Before decent Piezo pickups were developed, there weren’t any great pickups for Double Bass, now there are I did my stint with the four element magnetic pickup designed and built by Paul Tonnenges who was a luthier in the Northwest U.S. IME there have been no significant improvements in magnetic pickups for Double Bass since Martin Clevenger had Bartolini design and build a magnetic pickup specifically for the Clevenger “Keyhole”EUB. While I respect folks who swear by their Krivo’s IME it’s just a big bass guitar pickup. Just my take.
What pre-amp have you used with your Krivo? I love mine but I think I need to get into some more sound options. My buddy has a cheap P-bass pickup hot glued to his bass, and the output is way clearer and thumpy-er than my Krivo.
The initial location of the pickup using the knurled knob is critical. The height of the pickup pole pieces will yield more gain after getting the pickup situated "just right". I have fiddled with this a whole bunch and it matters.
Your experience with your buddy’s pickup doesn’t surprise me. The Krivo is pretty low output compared to a typical P-Bass pup. I think it’s a consequence of the “unpotted” design that is supposed to be more microphonic and pick up more of the natural sound of the instrument, although I am no expert.
I’m using a Radial Bassbone OD. I’ve also had good results with an older Fishman Pro-Platinum Bass DI. Typically I blend it with a copper Realist pickup.
I agree experimenting with positioning the pickup and pole heights is really important to getting the most out of the Krivo. This is kind of a tedious and annoying process but I think it’s worth it.
DISCLOSURE - I’m sort of an endorser of the Krivo and received an updated one at dealer pricing once.
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Tonight I did everything "wrong"....
Instead of taking the 1870s Hawkes, at the last minute I grabbed my polished ALCOA.
Instead of a fancy piezo, I used the Krivo pickup.
Instead of my hipster palm sized class D acoustic bass amp, I grabbed my big Thunderfunk 550.
I forgot my trendy preamp pedal, so I used a 12' cord into the amp and then used the built in tube pre-amp.
Instead of a hipster modern lightweight cab, I grabbed a 20 year old ACME B2 that weighs as much as my German Shepherd.
Yet, with all of those "mistakes" that go against all of the every day advice we get (and give) here, I had the best amplified sound I've had in years with all of 10 seconds effort....
Instead of taking the 1870s Hawkes, at the last minute I grabbed my polished ALCOA.
Instead of a fancy piezo, I used the Krivo pickup.
Instead of my hipster palm sized class D acoustic bass amp, I grabbed my big Thunderfunk 550.
I forgot my trendy preamp pedal, so I used a 12' cord into the amp and then used the built in tube pre-amp.
Instead of a hipster modern lightweight cab, I grabbed a 20 year old ACME B2 that weighs as much as my German Shepherd.
Yet, with all of those "mistakes" that go against all of the every day advice we get (and give) here, I had the best amplified sound I've had in years with all of 10 seconds effort....
I have done this as well, and at no point in my adjustments have I found a sweet spot where the bottom end isn't too loud and the top end cuts through. To be fair, I have far from the average stage setup in that I am directed to be very loud and clean yet cannot run an amp on stage. It sounds "ok" usually, but I want to take a step closer to it sounding "good". If I can get power on the stage (no guarantee) will try my SansAmp pedal with it this weekend.
If you were my neighbor, I'd let you try my Avalon U5/ART 31-band EQ rack rig to see if you could EQ out the "too loud" and bring up the "cuts through". That's what I use at festivals where I have the luxury of a sound engineer.
I know that we all want “my bass only louder” but at least for rock n roll, all that matters is that you are loud enough. Playing Fenders, I spent way too much time and money in search for the perfect tone, then bought a 30 foot cord and walked out into the tables. I heard “thump, thump, thump”. I’ve since been through a lot of gear for various reasons, but I truly realize that I’d be fine if I was still using an old Peavey combo. (If I was still strong enough to carry one)
Edit: my Thompson ply sounds marvelous all by itself, amplified at a gig, it sounds “good enough”
Edit: my Thompson ply sounds marvelous all by itself, amplified at a gig, it sounds “good enough”
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
I’ve had two basses through the shop with these and was surprised at how good they sounded. Although the pickup didn’t preserve the acoustic nature of the basses, it was fairly warm and very respectable.
I had a similar amplification experience last month. I was on tour in France and had to go play a festival in Oregon about 36 hours after getting back. Before I went back to the airport I forgot to change out the 240v EU power cable for my power supply to the US 120v one. My preamp/ DI takes 15v center polarity power (which unsurprisingly no one had on hand), so I wasn’t able to use it.
I couldn’t blend pickups so I plugged my Krivo into my octave pedal and then into an old GK 800RB + 4x10 that was provided for me. I thought it sounded great, albeit a little p-bass-ish. My bandmates also commented on the huge, warm sound. I love moving about with my little markbass combo but maybe I need to earmark more van space for a big rig. It just worked so well.
Last night I took out a different bass, different head, and a different pickup...Guess what...it still sounded just like me!
I literally spent three minutes to open up a bridge wing & mash in a Vic's model B, as I was running 1/2 hour late. A soon as it made contact, I stuffed the bass in the bag and headed out the door....and grabbed my Krivo as a backup.
Well....DAYUM!!!!!.....first impressions are that it was the best $50 I've spent on a pickup since Reagan was president & I bought a beat up 1959 PAF! LOUD, articulate, tons of bottom but with very good balance, and...it sounded like me....
I literally spent three minutes to open up a bridge wing & mash in a Vic's model B, as I was running 1/2 hour late. A soon as it made contact, I stuffed the bass in the bag and headed out the door....and grabbed my Krivo as a backup.
Well....DAYUM!!!!!.....first impressions are that it was the best $50 I've spent on a pickup since Reagan was president & I bought a beat up 1959 PAF! LOUD, articulate, tons of bottom but with very good balance, and...it sounded like me....
I have 2 Krivos and the dual-lock isn't good enough. I've replaced all of it with with the next heavier version. Case #1, the Krivo dropped off the bass in transit on my Upton. Case #2, the Krivo dropped off my Czech flatback during a gig last week...just plain dropped off. I don't have time for that chit. The good thing was I was using my Lifeline. The original dual-lock ain't good enough for "the road". I have my suspicions why, mostly a friction breakdown due to multiple "shakes" both on the road and playing.
Bass wing on my old American Standard rat rod Wednesday night.
With a K & K I find better balance if it is on the treble wing. The bass wing tends to get too muddy.
With the Vic's, the treble wing makes for a balanced response but does not get me very excited- just a good pickup for a fair price; like I turned up a high pass filter. But... when I mount it under the bass wing, the bass is HUGE and the rest of the sound is still reasonably balanced.
With a K & K I find better balance if it is on the treble wing. The bass wing tends to get too muddy.
With the Vic's, the treble wing makes for a balanced response but does not get me very excited- just a good pickup for a fair price; like I turned up a high pass filter. But... when I mount it under the bass wing, the bass is HUGE and the rest of the sound is still reasonably balanced.
Invest in a Biesele magnetic it's the pickup the krivo wants to be trust me you won't look back each string has a volume control phase switch if you want to blend it with a piezo the best
