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Double Bass Listen up and guess! Realist Vs Full Circle

Which pickup sound did you like better?

  • The first one.

    Votes: 58 52.7%

  • The second one

    Votes: 26 23.6%

  • Mmmmm, Carrots!

    Votes: 26 23.6%
  • Total voters
    110
  • Poll closed .
#83
Tbeers-

I checked your profile to see what amp you are using (I use the coda so I know exactly what you're dealing with there).

I used to use the Fishman Pro Platinum EQ with my Coda, but I have found that the AI pre-amp and Notch or High Pass filters have come to be just fine. I switched back to doing this originally because of weight (I carry the amp in a bag on my back) but was quite pleased with the sound I could get with the filters.

With that said, if you really want a pre-amp I could strongly recommend the Pro Platinum EQ (the bass one, obviously). It did me well when I did a small tour with an honor big band I was in and used the amps that the venues provided and I still use the pre-amp when I'm playing some of my music and want to use my computer for noises(I plug it into the amp also. DI out of the pre-amp into the phantom power channel on the Coda and computer into the 1/4 inch jack).

So all in all I used to use the fishman, I still like it, but don't think that you need one with the AI gear because in combination with the FC, it's great.
 
#85
jazzbassnerd said:
Tbeers-

I checked your profile to see what amp you are using (I use the coda so I know exactly what you're dealing with there).

I used to use the Fishman Pro Platinum EQ with my Coda, but I have found that the AI pre-amp and Notch or High Pass filters have come to be just fine. I switched back to doing this originally because of weight (I carry the amp in a bag on my back) but was quite pleased with the sound I could get with the filters.

With that said, if you really want a pre-amp I could strongly recommend the Pro Platinum EQ (the bass one, obviously). It did me well when I did a small tour with an honor big band I was in and used the amps that the venues provided and I still use the pre-amp when I'm playing some of my music and want to use my computer for noises(I plug it into the amp also. DI out of the pre-amp into the phantom power channel on the Coda and computer into the 1/4 inch jack).

So all in all I used to use the fishman, I still like it, but don't think that you need one with the AI gear because in combination with the FC, it's great.
Click to expand...
Actually I'm currently using a Woods MI-100 8 into a LDS 2x8 3-way cabinet, which sounds pretty good. I guess the Fishman preamp would be worth looking into, though. Thanks for the advice.

Justin, you're on!
 
#86
I have the fishman platinum bass eq, and I've a/b compared it, with the realist and the rev solo, to my favoriter preamp, the Avalon U5. The U5 has a ton of clarity and reproduces everything. The fishman is much better at dialing out the most objectionable parts of the piezo sound. The downside is it makes my bass sound more like an electric bass. The Avalon adds a lot more "air' and a lot more finger noise. The avalon gives me a much more "acoustic" sound. The fishman gives a more electric sound. I'm trying to decide which I like better for live work. Probably the Avalon and a good eq unit would be ideal...more gear to lug...
 
#87
PB+J said:
I have the fishman platinum bass eq, and I've a/b compared it, with the realist and the rev solo, to my favoriter preamp, the Avalon U5. The U5 has a ton of clarity and reproduces everything. The fishman is much better at dialing out the most objectionable parts of the piezo sound. The downside is it makes my bass sound more like an electric bass. The Avalon adds a lot more "air' and a lot more finger noise. The avalon gives me a much more "acoustic" sound. The fishman gives a more electric sound. I'm trying to decide which I like better for live work. Probably the Avalon and a good eq unit would be ideal...more gear to lug...
Click to expand...

That would be called a 737SP I guess ;) !
 
#88
I actually liked #2 much more than #1 to be honest; I just like the clarity better...

What's funny is that I have both a underwood and a realist installed on my bass...and my realist does not sound like that! I'm going to record both of them today like the original test and see what I come up with.
 
#89
I knew the FC was the first one right away. I've heard plenty of board recordings of mine to spot it. I have both pickups and the realist seems to vary more bass to bass and the full circle seems to have a frequncy range that is pretty consistent. Also, the FC seems to add a little bit more of a compressed sound that is easy to spot. I prefer the FC to the realist, but I haven't felt the need to outfit all three of my basses with one since the Realist does a good enough job on my Kay and Czech-ease. My Pfretzschner (carved factory shop bass) has the Full Circle.

I would reccomend a Fishman Bass Pro-EQ platinum for the Full Circle. It's simple, small, plenty of EQ and can go on phantom power if needed. I also have a Solstice and it is overkill sometimes unless I am using it to drive a poweramp. It does a much better job than the Fishman preamp at driving a poweramp like my Focus SA.
 
#90
Steve Boisen said:
I've heard other people say this which strikes me as odd becuase the Realist has the lowest output of any piezo pickup I've used. Quite a bit less than the Underwood or Bass Max. BTW I purchased my Realist in 2004 which is after they made changes to the piezo element (the previous element was larger and sometimes left indentations in the top of the bass).

- Steve

Link Removed
Click to expand...

Ok, now I am going back through the thread to read responses. The realist has changed over the years IMO. The one on my Czech-ease is a lot hotter than the older one on my Kay. It also has more top end than the older one. The newer realist has a hotter output than my Full Circle and is closer in sound to the full circle, but with a little more in the mids. Maybe they have changed it since 2004.
 
#91
musicman5string said:
I actually liked #2 much more than #1 to be honest; I just like the clarity better...

What's funny is that I have both a underwood and a realist installed on my bass...and my realist does not sound like that! I'm going to record both of them today like the original test and see what I come up with.
Click to expand...


well, I did that this morning, and realized I don't like either pickup that much, but regardless, my realist does not sound like yours, and I have the feeling it was either installed improperly or it has shifted and gotten out of place over time. Maybe I did something to it last time I changed strings; I don't know.

My Realist sounds hollow and awfully bassy, with a pronounced mid range honk. Both of the test full circle and realist pickups sounded clear.

Looks like I'll be going to David Gage this week.

Btw alex, what strings did you use?
 
#95
zombie_thread.jpg
 
#99
Rvl said:
Yeah please repost them
I have a Realist and bought a Fishman but havent decided if I want to go through all the trouble to have it installed

Thanks

Robert VanLane
Click to expand...

Hmm.... well it looks like it's up to you the try both and record them and post them for all of huebassity...

It's been so long since the thread was posted in the first place that I don't remember what either really sounded like. I do know that this thread helped me go with a K&K Bassmax though, which I'm still really happy with.
 

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