Double Bass New to the amplified upright game

[JJd2sc]

I've been playing double bass for about 7 years now, all orchestral. I have decided it would benefit me to get a pickup for it to enhance my other styles of play. I checked the sticky at the top with the FAQ, and it was a little overwhelming. I have a budget of $120 or so dollars. The only cabinet i have is an ampeg 4x10 used for my bass guitar. What pickups in my price range offer a good sound for an upright pickup newbie? Thanks a ton, and sorry if this is discussed a lot.

 

[PB+J]

the revolution solo from clef music is in your price range, so is the bass max. You'll probably like the rev solo better. I didn't like it on my bass, but many people really love it

Amping the big bass is not easy

 

[mje]

The basic K&K works very well and ius half the price of most of those other pickups. And let's not discount the use of a microphone- see Chris F's item in this forum. Lots of good discussion there.

 

[larry]

If you only need a little volume boost, I'd use a mic. If you need a lot, the Revolution Solo pickup is a good bet.

 

[JJd2sc]

the revolution solo from clef music is in your price range, so is the bass max. You'll probably like the rev solo better. I didn't like it on my bass, but many people really love it

Amping the big bass is not easy

What are some key differences between the rev solo and the bass max?

 

[PB+J]

The rev solo is (I think) a piezo crystal surrounded by spruce. It sits in the bridge wing. The bass max is a piezo crystal set in a rubber capsule. Italso fits in the bridge wing.The bass max has a fat, big sound that on my old ply bass was always tubby and thumpy.. The rev solo had (to my ears, on my bass) a drier sound, more articulate but also more nasal and kind of crispy.

A lot of the sound of pickups--a huge amount--depends on your bass and your pllaying style. The rev solo sounded terrible on my bass, but it's a very popular pickup and I've heard it sound great on other people's basses

 

[bolo]

The rev solo is (I think) a piezo crystal surrounded by spruce. It sits in the bridge wing. The bass max is a piezo crystal set in a rubber capsule. Italso fits in the bridge wing.The bass max has a fat, big sound that on my old ply bass was always tubby and thumpy.. The rev solo had (to my ears, on my bass) a drier sound, more articulate but also more nasal and kind of crispy.

A lot of the sound of pickups--a huge amount--depends on your bass and your pllaying style. The rev solo sounded terrible on my bass, but it's a very popular pickup and I've heard it sound great on other people's basses

+1. Using words to describe sound, tone & timbre is ... often challenging (for me anyway). But I think PB+J did a nice job here! I've used both of these p/u's.

The Bass Max was not excessively "tubby & thumpy" on my bass, and it worked well for me for a long time. But my experience is like what like PB+J said, namely that the Rev SOLO is more crisp sounding (in a good way) on my bass. More "precise sounding" might be a better description (but there we go with the language thing again). YMMV.

On a bass that is rather thin sounding on its own, the BassMax might work better at fattening up the sound.

I would also add that the fit of the pickup in the wing slot (how it is positioned, how snug or how loose) can make a really big difference. So unless you get lucky and like what you hear right off the bat, plan on taking your time and experimenting to get the best sound by getting the "right" fit that best suits your bass and your tastes.