Double Bass New review up, Krivo!

[Adam Booker]

Hey guys! Just did a review of the Krivo for my blog. Here's the youtube link. Use headphones or good speakers for best effect.
Very Respectfully,
Adam Booker sends...

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Great review! My one critique is that my grade 3 kangaroo shoes had some pretty serious velcro on them, so probably best not to assume wimpy kangaroo velcro. Other than that, well done!

BTW, what was the Peter Erskine app you started to mention before you cut away in the beginning?

 

[MR PC]

OoooH, nice review. I like the part when the blue lights go on, that says it all. Electricity!

 

[Ortsom]

Thank you for the excellent review!
The sound from a magnetic PU has quite a different character (reminiscent of a fretless EBG), and it's up to the player to decide how & to what extent that should be used in the mix, but it sure is another fresh crayon in the toolbox, and a very usable one too. It can fill a void left by other PU systems.

Wrt arco, I suspect the hexagonal (adjustable) pole pieces cause lateral variability in the magnetic field, resulting in lateral sensitivity of the pickup, so that arco works (in the sense that you get a substantial output). But particularly arco sounds quite synthetic, and quite distant from the acoustic sound of your bass, I would guess. But that too can have a place.

Another advantage of a magnetic PU could be that it is less sensitive to the instrument. That means lower feedback sensitivity, and also that you should get largely the same sound if you were using any other instrument with the same PU & strings. This is so because the PU only responds to the movement of the strings in the pickup's magnetic field, and only a fraction of the instrument vibes feed back into the strings (particularly arco).

 

[Adam Booker]

Thank you for the excellent review!
The sound from a magnetic PU has quite a different character (reminiscent of a fretless EBG), and it's up to the player to decide how & to what extent that should be used in the mix, but it sure is another fresh crayon in the toolbox, and a very usable one too. It can fill a void left by other PU systems.

Wrt arco, I suspect the hexagonal (adjustable) pole pieces cause lateral variability in the magnetic field, resulting in lateral sensitivity of the pickup, so that arco works (in the sense that you get a substantial output). But particularly arco sounds quite synthetic, and quite distant from the acoustic sound of your bass, I would guess. But that too can have a place.

Another advantage of a magnetic PU could be that it is less sensitive to the instrument. That means lower feedback sensitivity, and also that you should get largely the same sound if you were using any other instrument with the same PU & strings. This is so because the PU only responds to the movement of the strings in the pickup's magnetic field, and only a fraction of the instrument vibes feed back into the strings (particularly arco).

Exactly.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Adam - can't remember if you have experience with the Full Circle or not, but if so would love to have your take on how the Krivo compares soundwise. Also about whether it can be easily mounted on a borrowed/rented bass when traveling, especially internationally.

 

[rickwolff]

Adam - can't remember if you have experience with the Full Circle or not, but if so would love to have your take on how the Krivo compares soundwise. Also about whether it can be easily mounted on a borrowed/rented bass when traveling, especially internationally.

Chris, I also have a Krivo and, yes, it can be mounted on a borrowed or rented bass. You would just need to have a piece of the 3M Dual Lock tape* to attach to the one which remains on the pickup and you would put that piece on the bottom of the fingerboard of the borrowed bass. It could be removed afterwards but note that the adhesive is VERY sticky (therefore able to securely hold a relatively heavy pickup). I don't expect it would be wise to 'reuse' the dual lock after removing it.

*unlike 'velcro' the Dual Lock is the same on both sides (no top or bottom). If you just carry an extra strip with your Krivo you'd be all set.

3M 1" x 3" 2X Dual Lock SJ3550 Type 250 VHB Black Reclosable Fastener In/Outdoor | eBay

 

[Adam Booker]

Adam - can't remember if you have experience with the Full Circle or not, but if so would love to have your take on how the Krivo compares soundwise. Also about whether it can be easily mounted on a borrowed/rented bass when traveling, especially internationally.

I have used the FC. The sound was great, until I needed to adjust bridge height. Northern Minnesota is hell on instruments due to extreme cold and humidity issues, and I'm very particular about string height.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I have used the FC. The sound was great, until I needed to adjust bridge height. Northern Minnesota is hell on instruments due to extreme cold and humidity issues, and I'm very particular about string height.

Me too, but what's a half turn between friends? I'd rather have to go a little further and have the string slightly too high but get that gut punch sound than have the string too low and wear padded gloves all night. Fast chops have never been/will never be my thing, so if I have to play a few less notes after an adjustment, I can just enjoy the brass knuckle sound that that extra half turn gave me - "throw fewer punches, but inflict greater damage per" is fine with me!

But the Krivo is very intriguing, and I will definitely look into it further, even if only as an option for those rare preposterously stoopid loud festival stages that I find myself on once or twice a year. These are the only time the Full Circle can really frustrate me.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

But the Krivo is very intriguing, and I will definitely look into it further...

I don't think a magnetic pickup will work with the Thomastik Dominants you prefer. I use synthetic core strings too and I know it's not an option for me.

- Steve

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I don't think a magnetic pickup will work with the Thomastik Dominants you prefer. I use synthetic core strings too and I know it's not an option for me.

- Steve

Interesting. So it's all about the core, and the metal wrap won't register on the pickup magnets?

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

Interesting. So it's all about the core, and the metal wrap won't register on the pickup magnets?

From Gollihur Music:

"It's also important to note that you must use strings with considerable magnetic (ferrous) content in their core (not just their windings) in order to use a magnetic pickup like the Krivo."

- Steve

 

[bassmanbrent]

Dominants worked for me when I tried the Krivo. They likely have less output than steel strings would but I was able to gig with that set up...

 

[rickwolff]

Dominants worked for me when I tried the Krivo. They likely have less output than steel strings would but I was able to gig with that set up...

Helicore Hybrid Lights work fine with my Krivo. When I tried putting the Evah P. on the A String it was MUCH quieter and I had to raise the pole WAY up to compensate. But the HH work fine.

 

[Mark Gollihur]

I've heard people say they have made Zyex strings work as well, and they are synthetic core. But I'm hesitant to recommend any string that doesn't have a steel core, as the results can be inconsistent.

 

[Ric Vice]

I don't think a magnetic pickup will work with the Thomastik Dominants you prefer. I use synthetic core strings too and I know it's not an option for me.

- Steve

My Clevenger EUB has a custom Bartolini magnetic. When I switched from Tomastic Spirocores to Evah Parazzis there is no signal on the D,A, and E strings.

Ric

 

[lurk]

I have used the FC. The sound was great, until I needed to adjust bridge height. Northern Minnesota is hell on instruments due to extreme cold and humidity issues, and I'm very particular about string height.

I think you may have a misconception about the full circle. You can play with your adjusters all you want. On my bass, the FC turns easier than the adjuster it replaced. You need to unplug the mini jack if you're cranking more than a half turn, but that's easy.

 

[Adam Booker]

I think you may have a misconception about the full circle. You can play with your adjusters all you want. On my bass, the FC turns easier than the adjuster it replaced. You need to unplug the mini jack if you're cranking more than a half turn, but that's easy.

Oh I know that. I think you underestimate what -20 does to instruments. Also, the different position gives a different tone. I was only satisfied with one particular spot and a particular string height. Inconsistency throws me off. Tone is money.

 

[bassmanbrent]

Dominants worked for me when I tried the Krivo. They likely have less output than steel strings would but I was able to gig with that set up...

Crap! I misspoke. I'm pretty sure, now that I think about it, that there were Zyex on my bass at the time. Sorry for the lack of grey matter.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

The FC is very sensitive to small turns, but should not be sensitive if you do exact full turns (on both adjusters). If one full turn is too much, an exact half turn or quarter/three-quarter turn might work similarly well. There are four piezo crystals in the corners of a square inside the adjuster disk, that's the reason for the variation inside a quarter turn.