Double Bass Monitor Speakers & Mic/Pickup

[DoubleMIDI]

The best arco pizz compromise is somewhere in the bridge leg.

I dislike the Realist too. The APTflex (discontinued) was better, I like the Shadow SH965-NFX better than both. Has an impedance buffer built in. Battery adapter can rattle, but a bit of (rubber) foam inside stops that. Just carry a few spare batteries with you (in case you forgot to disconnect the cable to the battery adapter for a longer time). But still a bit weak pizzed.

A bridge wing pickup is rather often too harsh and bright with the bow, but punches through in pizzicato.

In the bridge leg:
A) adjuster pickups:
Yamahiko (single or double) or Full Circle
The Yamahiko is better and more durable but might need some work on the bridge. Single would do if the strings are equally well represented with the Realist.
B) insert into a hole in the bridge leg:
ANS (former BassBalsereit) or Wilson K1. The hole needed for the ANS is much larger than for the Wilson K1. Hole needs to be made by a luthier because it is conical. Cello peg reamer for the ANS, Wilson tool for the K1.

If you do not need to play arco amplified a bridge wing pickup works. Underwood, Shadow SH-950/951 or one of the pickups mentioned before. But more string sound (direct) and less body.

For a contact mic I like the AKG C411 with an AKG B29L. But more risk of feedback than with the bridge mounted piezos and you need to find a good spot on the top. Better go with the bridge leg pickups or a Schertler Stat-B.

 

[Ric Vice]

By all accounts, the Schertler Stat B was and is a very well designed electrostatic pickup. It has been around for quite sometime. Stat-B’s do require a good deal of maintenance on the cork’s that hold it in place because over time they degrade and loosen over time. That’s why I went with the Ehrlund EAP because although it’s a piezo film pickup it’s timbre is similar to a contact microphone on my bass, is less prone to feed back, and has more volume than most microphones.

 

[Gregmak]

Thanks everyone.
Here's an update: I just ordered the cremona KDB-1. Le'ts see how it will sound. I'm not a fan of the piezo's but in the situations that I play in a mic is out of the question. Small boomy bars with a lot of people making noise. I just need to hear myself, that's all I care about.

The coda with realist or SM58 works when I play on good stages with decent acoustics. I can get a pretty good sound. But I do also need to buy a new combo amp or a cabinet for these noisy places where the coda just sounds like mud. I need to be able to elevate the cabinet, maybe even to ear level.

So, I really want a MAS 18 but like I said the shipping and taxes will ruin me. If I get a mas 18+tweeter thats 950 dollars, say shipping is 100 dollars. tax here is 24%. So that's 1426 dollars for a cab...

What are my other options? I need to find something in the 500-700 range. Maybe 800 if it's really worth it.

I already have the Coda S4 so I could use the coda amp, but I do prefer to buy a combo and not carry extra parts.

 

[Gregmak]

On another post, some people mentioned the Peavey Max 208?

 

[Paul Arkell]

How about a gentler 1x10 bass Array?
https://www.thomann.de/gb/genzler_bass_array_ba10_2.htm

 

[elmer]

UK is still in EU. I´d like to try the UK made Barefaced Super Midget or their 1X10. They have got good appraisals here in Talkbass.

 

[Ric Vice]

On another post, some people mentioned the Peavey Max 208?

Once again since, we did a round on the Peavey 2x8, the BAM 200 and BC 208 came out. You should read through that thread. It’s a exceptional amp and cabinet that’s very reasonable and super compact.

 

[Ric Vice]

The Markbass Nanomark 300 is also a very nice amplifier.

 

[Fredrik E. Nilsen]

Once again since, we did a round on the Peavey 2x8, the BAM 200 and BC 208 came out. You should read through that thread. It’s a exceptional amp and cabinet that’s very reasonable and super compact.

Also, the Elf from Trace Elliot is a good alternative. Both the head and the cabs (1x10 or 2x8).

 

[Fredrik E. Nilsen]

UK is still in EU. I´d like to try the UK made Barefaced Super Midget or their 1X10. They have got good appraisals here in Talkbass.

I have only played them shortly for a few songs, but they sounded fine to me. Very light and convenient.

 

[Ric Vice]

Also, the Elf from Trace Elliot is a good alternative. Both the head and the cabs (1x10 or 2x8).

Fredrick,
Since the compressor/limiter on the Elf is tied to the volume circuits I just am not as enamored with the ELF for DB. It also has the Trace Eliot tone palette, baked into the EQ section. It wouldn’t be my first or second choice behind the TC Electronics BAM 200 or Markbass Nanomark 300. Just my take however.

 

[Fredrik E. Nilsen]

Fredrick,
Since the compressor/limiter on the Elf is tied to the volume circuits I just am not as enamored with the ELF for DB. It also has the Trace Eliot tone palette, baked into the EQ section. It wouldn’t be my first or second choice behind the TC Electronics BAM 200 or Markbass Nanomark 300. Just my take however.

I hav only tested the Elf a short period (never tried the TC). With my Headway EDB2, I could get a good sound from it.

 

[juusokasperi]

UK is still in EU. I´d like to try the UK made Barefaced Super Midget or their 1X10. They have got good appraisals here in Talkbass.

I have the 1x10 and like it a lot. It does color the midrange, so if you're looking for 'as natural as possible' the Super Midget would be better. The 1x10 is just so small and convenient to take to gigs with public transportation that I opted for it. It's a nice plus too that it sounds great on electric bass.

 

[Gregmak]

Thanks for the recommendations. I think I will go ahead and order the Super Midget in a couple of days

 

[Ric Vice]

I hav only tested the Elf a short period (never tried the TC). With my Headway EDB2, I could get a good sound from it.

That makes total sense, since you are essentially Tone Shaping a Double Bass with EDB-2's EQ section by putting the EDB-2's EQ section the Elf's limiter and EB focused tone shaping.

 

[Gregmak]

Update!

the KDB-1 pickup is here. Installed it in less than 2 minutes. I’m at a gig now and it sounds pretty good! Sure it sound like a piezo but the response is very flat and my bass sounds even throughout the strings. The realist sounds like crap. Muddy lows and no definition on the G string. So right now I’m super happy with the kdb-1. I’ll report back when I play some more gigs.

I might not need a new cabinet now since the sound is focused as clear. I’ll let see in the next few days. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[elmer]

Nice to hear! I also like it´s practicality, power and the ease of installing it! And the price of course On which side did you install it? I was able to cut the overly trebly output by installing it to the E-side bridgefoot. Try different placements, every bass is different.
Some people have reported of got good results with tube preamplifiers. I would like to try one in order to tame down the piezo quack of the KDB-1.

 

[Reiska]

@elmer Meä elmeeni, where did you get yours? I`m happy with my mic only system I have now but would like to get a backup piezo for the possible loud gig.

 

[RattleSnack]

I also got KNA pickup recently, and like it very much. My ply DB sounds pretty natural, signal is strong and without noise. Instalation was simple.

 

[Gregmak]

I installed it on the G side and it's very well balanced. My ply finally has presence. I'm going to just leave it on the G side. My realist had 0 presence, just muddiness.