Double Bass Original Foil Realist vs. Wood Realist?

[James Gibson]

Has anyone used both available versions of the Gage Realist? I'm interested in what comparisons can be made between the two. I currently use the wood version, but a friend of mine uses the foil version, and I'm starting to get envious of his tone.

James

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Are you envious of his acoustic sound? If so, you need his bass.

 

[James Gibson]

I am actually leaning towards his amplified sound, which is why I'm asking about the difference in pickups.

I used to prefer an amplified tone with a lot of detail, like Gary Peacock, let's say. The wood Realist I use does that pretty well. Now I'm starting to want more a big, warm, fat lower presence for the whole band to stack on top of.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

I was just trying to say that what you like in his sound is a combination of his bass, amp, technique, and that pickup. Your bass may sound completely different with the same pickup, amp, etc.

 

[bssist]

The realist is a simple pickup to install/remove. Why don't you and your friend swap for a short time to compare the differences from bass to bass?

 

[jonas]

My experience is that the Wood Realist has a more mid-rangy sound. The output level is hotter, too.

 

[Ric Vice]

The realist is a simple pickup to install/remove. Why don't you and your friend swap for a short time to compare the differences from bass to bass?

I used a foil Realist for about 10 years. I had to replace it after about 4 1/2 years when the first one started to loose signal and sound weird. They are very easy to take on and off, just make sure that you have enough tension left on the strings to keep your sound post in place. I actually had one drop out once when I re-installed the Realist. Most likely, it was user error, however. I used a Realist because it produces a better arco sound than the other pickups in it's price range IMHO. Lately I've found a more suitable option for my bass, strings, amp, and speakers, as I'm now using the Ehrlund Pickup and Pre-amp. For some reason I thought you were using the Ehrlund as well James. I would think that the differences between the two Realists would be pretty subtile at best. Bob G says that, if the foil Realist sounds like Vanilla, then the wood Realist sounds like French Vanilla, but then I really prefer French Vanilla. it tastes better to me. I heard the Realist sound clip recently and thought it sounded just like the Realist.

Ric

 

[James Gibson]

Ric, I do have the Ehrlund, but I'm having real trouble getting a working sound with it - placement on my bass, EQ on the amp, etc. Both pickups are currently installed on my bass, but I definitely end up using the Realist more.

I'll have to see if I can get my hands on a friend's copper Realist for a period of time to try it out.

 

[James Gibson]

Update: All of the following should be taken with "on my bass" etc.

My Wood Realist started acting funny; Sometimes the bridge foot would shift, (after changing strings or just in transit) and produce a crackling sound through the pickup. It should be noted that the sound and output level of the pickup through an amp hadn't changed once this issue started, just the possibility of my bridge foot being in the wrong place, 1 time out of 100. Also, the top portion of the wood on the Realist had become to un-laminate slightly, on the broad side of the bridge foot between the bridge and fingerboard, like a small crack had developed in one of the wafers of wood. I figured this was a good opportunity to A/B the pickup vs the original model. Again, I hadn't noticed any loss of output or change in the sound of the pickup compared to the day I installed it.

After my gig, I set up my amp (EA iAmp 800 into a Wizzy 12 M-Line) and ran the Wood Realist into the disengaged EQ. I marked where my bridge stood, because my bass has been feeling exceptionally great to play on for months now, and installed the foil version of the pickup. I ran the new pickup through the disengaged EQ on the amp and immediately noticed the output is way hotter. I've always had to turn my preamp section into the neighborhood of "5" (12 o'clock) to get a full signal into the EQ section, but the new pickup requires me to go to only 2 or 3.

The sound is what I was really interested in. With the EQ totally disengaged on both pickups, the foil version yields much more of a full-bodied, warm, "classic" double bass sound. This is exactly what I was looking for, as I needed to turn the "Lo" knob up about 50% to get anywhere close to that with the wood version. I now understand what Bob Gollihur means when he describes the warm, woody, double bass "from a distance" sound of the Realist on his website. The Wood version always gave me a somewhat brittle sound with a lot of finger noise.

I've yet to try this slight change on a gig, but I'm looking forward to it!

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I bought a wood Realist today. The Realist has always been a good sounding pickup for me, but I've also used a Full Circle. The Full Circle has that wire coming out of the adjuster which always bothered me and I'm worried about damaging it so it's back to the Realist. My old copper one died.
So, between the copper version and wood I decided on the wood one, mainly because it shouldn't put the nasty dent in the top of my bass. I have a theory that the dent is one reason that Realists change response with time. Often a little repositioning corrects things. Also, the wood version seems to grip the top and foot better than the copper one which can move around a bit.
My initial impression is that the wood version sounds very similar to the copper but it may be just a tad warmer. It doesn't have any of the upper midrange piezo harshness that I've noticed with the Full Circle either.
I like it.