Congrats on the new Jazz model, Anthony ! - it truly is a beauty. I hope you’ll grow as fond of yours as all the rest of us MK owners seem to be 
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Double Bass MK EUB Megathread
- Thread starter agfrag
- Start date
What strings are you all using on your MKs? I’ve had my MK Jazz about three weeks now, and I love the way it feels, and I love the way it plays…
And it sounds well enough. I can get it to sit in a mix. But I’m not completely satisfied, and I’m wondering if it is strings. I had Mirko set it up with Evan Pirazzi Weich. They haven’t in the past been my favourite string, but I thought the synthetic core might dampen some of the zingy-ness I expected from an electric upright. And Mirko said that they were his preferred string and were used on the YouTube videos, which sound amazing.
I’m, finding both the E string and the G string a bit thin sounding through the piezo. In different ways - the E string lacks bass and fundamental. The G string is a bit quiet, and a bit bright… though I guess the brightness will fade with use, and I don’t otherwise have a problem with it. Curiously, the acoustic sound is good and sounds like it should amplify well.
My acoustic has Spiro Weich with an Oliv G, and everything about it is great. I wonder if I just drop Spiros on the MK, and then at least I have a consistent base to make further decisions from.
And it sounds well enough. I can get it to sit in a mix. But I’m not completely satisfied, and I’m wondering if it is strings. I had Mirko set it up with Evan Pirazzi Weich. They haven’t in the past been my favourite string, but I thought the synthetic core might dampen some of the zingy-ness I expected from an electric upright. And Mirko said that they were his preferred string and were used on the YouTube videos, which sound amazing.
I’m, finding both the E string and the G string a bit thin sounding through the piezo. In different ways - the E string lacks bass and fundamental. The G string is a bit quiet, and a bit bright… though I guess the brightness will fade with use, and I don’t otherwise have a problem with it. Curiously, the acoustic sound is good and sounds like it should amplify well.
My acoustic has Spiro Weich with an Oliv G, and everything about it is great. I wonder if I just drop Spiros on the MK, and then at least I have a consistent base to make further decisions from.
I use spirocore mittels on my MK-Jazz. I do recognise what you said about finger noise to an extent, but what helped (for me) was using a Red Eye Dee-Eye, which I plug into the mic input of my Grace Felix. This, combined with the HPF on my Grace Felix and reducing some of the highs results in an excellent tone (to my ears at least). But mind you: I do appreciate a bit of finger noise, so YMMV etc...
Here is a short clip of my MK-Jazz through the Felix via the Dee-Eye (recorded directly from the DI out of the Felix, no post processing):
Here is a short clip of my MK-Jazz through the Felix via the Dee-Eye (recorded directly from the DI out of the Felix, no post processing):
I use Evah Mediums for my MK Studio and like it a lot. Not as stiff as I expected. I use Evah Weich’s on my DB and next time I change strings, the old Weich’s will go on the MK.
As far as I have tried, Synthetic strings don’t sound right to me. They sound nice itself but get lost in the mix. They are nice for practice.
Both spiro lights and mediums sound nice in the band. Surprisingly, Belcantos sound amazingly nice(only higher strings) on MK even though they sound bad on real upright bass.
Both spiro lights and mediums sound nice in the band. Surprisingly, Belcantos sound amazingly nice(only higher strings) on MK even though they sound bad on real upright bass.
I have been searching for a good preamp for my MK. Then I have found MXR M81 could be a great option for that. I always have been feeling the intonation is unclear in the band. However MXR M81 makes it clear without changing the color of the bass.
it could sound more natural without a preamp but I really liked it. I would love to hear what others think about it.
it could sound more natural without a preamp but I really liked it. I would love to hear what others think about it.
I don't know about your "Hi-Z-Channel", but it might be a question of input impedance.. there are "Hi-Z-Channels" with not a really high impedance and passive piezos "want" high impedance inputs. The MXR M81 delivers 2,2 MOhm as input impedance and that might cause the difference...if you can check out a Felix, try it and change input impedances on channel 1 up to 10 MOhm or on channel 2 up to 20 MOhm and you'll hear the differences...
I don't know about your "Hi-Z-Channel", but it might be a question of input impedance.. there are "Hi-Z-Channels" with not a really high impedance and passive piezos "want" high impedance inputs. The MXR M81 delivers 2,2 MOhm as input impedance and that might cause the difference...if you can check out a Felix, try it and change input impedances on channel 1 up to 10 MOhm or on channel 2 up to 20 MOhm and you'll hear the differences...
Thanks!
This is a Hi-Z channel on JBl powered monitor. I actually have owned a Felix but I could not handle it. I prefer something simple to something can do a lot of things.
2.2MOhm works decent to me. I also have a Fishman Pro platinum, which has 10Mohm input impedance. It doesn’t sound good to me at all.
Pre-gig photo. Testing a new powered speaker (Seeburg x6 dp) with my MK-Jazz. I love this bass!
I dunno much about the Stomp, but I use the Line 6 HX Effects as a pre amp with great success. Depending on the gig (anything from Jazz to Worship hymnal arrangements) I find it pretty easy to dial in any tone necessary.
I will say however, I find it necessary to cut everything above 4khz as much as possible to eliminate the extreme treble response of the piezo pickup. However, I find this true of just about every piezo pickup I've ever met, be it an undersaddle or contact or whatever configuration. I've even used two EQ's in series at times when necessary!
Here's a tip to determine what will work for you EQ wise: Record straight into a DAW without any preamp, then use an EQ in the DAW to shape the tone to what you like, and use that info to adjust your preamp, pedal, whatever, to match.
I use Reaper and it's ReaFir FFT Eq VST to accomplish this. Their FFT EQ is incredible in my opinion and very easy to use.
Hello dear MK users, I will join your club in around 2 month.
I just ordered a MK Studio Up and have one question to you about the assembly of used double bass strings on the MK Bass and the exchange of strings from the MK Bass on the standard double bass.
Does this work either way without any issues or does the slightly different construction causes any issues to the strings?
I just want to be sure I do not damage existing used double bass string by puting them on the MK Bass or viceversa.
Many thanks for sharing your experience.
I just ordered a MK Studio Up and have one question to you about the assembly of used double bass strings on the MK Bass and the exchange of strings from the MK Bass on the standard double bass.
Does this work either way without any issues or does the slightly different construction causes any issues to the strings?
I just want to be sure I do not damage existing used double bass string by puting them on the MK Bass or viceversa.
Many thanks for sharing your experience.
Hi! I own a standard MK Studio bass and not the up version. I might still tell you my experience. I've mounted used Spirocore weich on mine and they're still on since two years without any issue whatsoever.
My experience is super limited but I don't see why it should not work for the up version too.
Enjoy your new bass!
Many thanks for the fast response. It seems that the distance between string holder and bridge is shorter on the MK versus a DB.
So I wondered if the different location of the kink and the higher number of turns on the tuners may cause some different bendings when changing from the MK to the DB.
Having killed a set of Thomatiks flats when changing them from a BG with string through body to a normal bridge. They just have been dead afterward on any bass.
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Hello! I have a weird question to ask that might sound very stupid
I'm torn between a standard Studio (UP) and the more expensive Jazz Version. I was thinking about getting the second one since it seems better overall
But if i undertood correctly the Jazz version has a tonal chamber, so my doubt
I need the instrument to be as silent as possible, so given the fact has tonal chamber it might be louder when "unplugged", so maybe for my needs it is better the cheaper one?
I'm torn between a standard Studio (UP) and the more expensive Jazz Version. I was thinking about getting the second one since it seems better overall
But if i undertood correctly the Jazz version has a tonal chamber, so my doubt
I need the instrument to be as silent as possible, so given the fact has tonal chamber it might be louder when "unplugged", so maybe for my needs it is better the cheaper one?
The Jazz version does not have a tonal chamber either, so I don't think it is substantially louder than the Studio. I only have a Jazz, so I cannot compare them directly, however.
This is older thread, but since the question was asked about EQ'ing an MK bass I thought I'd chime in and someone undecided can get closer to making up their mind. I do have the same MK Jazz model featured at the beginning of thread, but my goal was not as much exploring effects of electronics in the signal path, but rather get the sound as close to ADB as practical for playing jazz. I'm absolutely aware what people mean by the EUB will never sound the same as "real thing", but first of all it does not have to - realize if "real thing" is equipped with anything more than a high quality mic at the distance from it (e.g. if ANY kind of pick up is installed on it), technically it is already no longer a stock "real thing" and quality EUB such as MK series becomes not THAT much different. The MK jazz has got a resonating board, resembling the top deck of an AUB, real AUB bridge and same strings on it. 'Course geometry and resonating properties of of carved bass are different, but even AUBs are made so different from each other that once a pickup is installed, additional difference between AUB's and something like MK bass is frankly a wash. On my MK I've installed additional Krivo magnetic pickup and signals from both, it and stock piezo, are mixed by the Radial Engineering's Bassbone V2 preamp. From there the signal is routed through the compressor for sustain (I needed when Spirocores were on this bass, but no longer used once I've switched to LaBella's N7710 strings), through the HPF into the MarkBass (Little Mark IV) amp. There is also the Artec Bass EQ inserted in the effects loop of the Bassbone - it's set up for a notch within 200-400 Hz range. Attached is a photo of these gadgets velcro'ed to the top of the amp. You'd be a judge on how close this setup sounds to a "real thing" - here is an audio sound bite I've extracted from the video of the gig where there was a chance to play a solo on the MK-Jazz, so it is clearer to hear (and compare). I wonder - would you be able to tell if it's an amplified AUB or not if I would not tell you? (If you're curious, the video/audio was recorded using a small sub-$200 Zoom Q2n-4K video camera).
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I've ordered my MK Jazz with Spirocores, and looking for more acoustic sound, about 3 years ago replaced them with LaBella 7710N's. Since then I've added an EQ so Spirocore's could have sounded better (closer), but I never reinstalled them just to verify. If you're after more sustain, the magnetic pickup will help in this respect as the Jazz model's resonator board causes faster sound decay. This might not be as pronounced on Studio which has bridge mounted pretty much directly on the solid body. If you consider changing to this strings, here's another sample of what you can expect at least from Jazz model (this sound bite played by my bass teacher). Studio must be very close, but I have no way to compare: https://metricmind.com/music/MK_Jazz_sound_sample.mp3
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