Double Bass Noob, need a pickup

[xander8280]

Honestly don't wanta spend more than 60/70bucks on an upright pickup. For 80 bucks I could get one for my electric. My upright is a fiberglass old beat to crap 3/4's size. Used to be in the Detroit schools in their band. Has "3" stencil spray painted on it on each side and Detroit Edu Dept. carved in the back. So yeah.

 

[Sam Evans]

Not a lot available in that price range. Maybe one of the cheaper Shadow pickups. That's all I can think of off the top of my head ...

 

[bssist]

I assembled a few peizo pickups that worked fairly well with elements purchased from DigiKey. I have heard of guys buying drum triggers cheap on ebay and using them for pickups. Would be similar to a "six-rounds" which I also bought as my first pickup. I think it was about $30 then and worked almost as well as the ones I built myself.

I've got a K&K Double Big Twin I will ship out for $75 shipping included if you want it. I originally purchased it from [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. It works just fine but I have the Realist now so I no longer use the K&K.

 

[meandering]

Honestly don't wanta spend more than 60/70bucks on an upright pickup. For 80 bucks I could get one for my electric. My upright is a fiberglass old beat to crap 3/4's size. Used to be in the Detroit schools in their band. Has "3" stencil spray painted on it on each side and Detroit Edu Dept. carved in the back. So yeah.

If you are new to string bass, one of the first things to do is forget about comparisons to electric bass. They are played differently, sound different, and, yes, the costs involved can be very different. My question is: you don't "wanta" spend more than $60/70 or you can't? If you can't, that's one issue. If you don't wanta, then you should considered sticking with electric.

A decent pickup (underwood, gage, fishman) can travel to a new bass should you choose to upgrade. In my experience, buying a cheap pickup is not worth it. If you are good with electronics, instructions were posted here a while back to build your own. If i remember it was similar to the gage pickup.

 

[xander8280]

I see, I play both and electric alot more. For my jazz gigs I'd like to do half my set with upright, but need to volume of my amp

 

[bssist]

If you are good with electronics, instructions were posted here a while back to build your own. If i remember it was similar to the gage pickup.

I must not be that good with the search. Can you send me a link to that thread?

Thanks.

 

[bssist]

I'd like to do half my set with upright, but need to volume of my amp

That's exactly what I'm doing. I built a simple a/b that plugs straight into the amp and I have my bg straight in to "a" input, my realist in to a fishman pro plat in to "b". I set my relative volumes in advance and then make a quick change between tunes with the push of a button on the a/b.

 

[meandering]

I must not be that good with the search. Can you send me a link to that thread?

Thanks.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f4/how-make-piezo-pickup-212443/

or

An Inexpensive Pickup for Upright Bass or Cello

and if you want to make your own preamp...

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f4/how-make-piezo-preamp-212647/

 

[Marc Piane]

keep an eye in the classified section. Things always pop up in about that price range.