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Double Bass Lars Pickup
- Thread starter Earl
- Start date
Yeah I saw that. Maybe I got the last one.
Preliminary report: Received it yesterday. It comes with the instructions in spanish but I figured it out. The first thing I notice is a very low output volume compared to any other pickup I have used. For example with the Traynor SB106: Yamahiko volume 2, Lars 7 to equal the same volume. So this pickup must be used with a preamp that has a lot of gain. You will not be using this with your fusion group, but I don’t think it was intended for that.
Sound: Quite amazing actually. This is the only contact pickup that works at all on my bass and I have tried the Erhlund, Ischell, Schertler and that magnet one. It did not take me long to find one of the sweet spots, basically where they suggest, an inch or so beneath the bass bridge foot. Very natural, almost mic-like sound with zero quack. This is with the Red Eye preamp which also helps. I will try it with the Headway EDM1 later which will provide more gain.
So far I am hopefull. I have two gigs today - an outdoor piano trio and an evening indoor swing dance so I will see how it holds up with drummers. Tomorrow I have a piano duo brunch. By the end of the weekend I should know if it is a keeper or not. I will report back.
Sound: Quite amazing actually. This is the only contact pickup that works at all on my bass and I have tried the Erhlund, Ischell, Schertler and that magnet one. It did not take me long to find one of the sweet spots, basically where they suggest, an inch or so beneath the bass bridge foot. Very natural, almost mic-like sound with zero quack. This is with the Red Eye preamp which also helps. I will try it with the Headway EDM1 later which will provide more gain.
So far I am hopefull. I have two gigs today - an outdoor piano trio and an evening indoor swing dance so I will see how it holds up with drummers. Tomorrow I have a piano duo brunch. By the end of the weekend I should know if it is a keeper or not. I will report back.
I just discovered if I use the XLR out from the Red Eye with a quarter inch adaptor the volume is much louder.
Well the outdoor gig was a bust and the Yamahiko won. The Lars seemed to vibrate with the bass drum and low notes on the electric piano and caused difficult to control low feedback. I guess I need to experiment more with placement of the pickup maybe
It was on concrete so I don’t think so. I have 14 days to send it back so I am going to keep experimenting and putting it in different places on the bass.
Moved the pickup basically over the soundpost for my brunch gig. Played directly into the PA from the Red Eye preamp. I think the sound is much better but there were no drums. Here are two excerpts, one with the Lars and one with the Yamahiko.
Thanks! Single element on the G side. What do you like more about it? The pianist liked the Lars better. He said “more wood”. I said I am 65 give me a break!
I agree with the pianist, the Lars sounds a little more natural. A little more punch to your sound on the Lars clip.
Thanks Francois! Gut a Like Hepcat G/D, Superflexible solo A/E. So What yes. My resonant bass tones broke the glass haha!
Cool, yeah the Yama is a bit clearer and much more versatile as it can go much louder and can have many tone variations depending on which side is used, bridged together etc.. I do think the Lars sounds a little more natural though. I will check out the new position with a drummer tomorrow and we will see if it works better.
