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Double Bass pickup guestion

#21
On occasion, the RS II sounded great on my bass. The amplified tone was very natural and acoustic. In the end, it seemed to be too much effort so I went with the Full Circle and have never looked back. I've also briefly experimented with a Realist. While the Realist sounds fantastic on my bass at low volume, it turns to mud at higher volumes.

Although the Full Circle doesn't give me the best tone I've ever gotten, it is very consistent, is nearly immune from feedback and I've never sounded bad when using it.
It won't improve my playing, but not having to worry about gear is a step in the right direction.
 
#22
I have to echo the positive comments on both the K&K BassMax and the Revolution Solo II

Both units transmit clear, accurate reproductions of the instruments' true acoustic tone. And this wasn't using an acoustic-specific amp, but just straight into a Gallien-Krueger 1001RB, more suited of bass guitar amplification.
 
#23
blufolkman said:
Just getting started playing bass (upright). Played a couple of gigs with a mike and had feedback problems. New sound man too I think. Playing mostly bluegrass and country. Whats a reasonably good cheap pickup to get started with. Any suggestions??
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Hey blufolkman,

Upton Bass (www.uptonbass.com) has a fine pickup called the Revolution Solo. Not too expensive, and great tone. Suggest you check it out.
 
#25
Try the Full Circle! I don't mean to diagree with any of the previous posters- different results will be found on different basses- but the full circle is one of the best if not the best at handling feedback. In my opinion that is half the battle. I have used the realist and the bass max and a few other pickups that mounted in the wing of the bridge and the full circle is by far the best for my bass, which is somewhat similar to yours, an old American standard ply that the New Standard copied most of it's design from. Once it is installed you will never look back and you can still add a pickup like the Revolution Solo (which I have not tried) if you find you are looking for something different. I have to say that the Bass Max was a horrible match for my bass so I'd definitely steer you away from that. Good Luck, and welcome to the pain in the arse that amplifying URB is.
 
#27
bassbuddy said:
I have a ply, and have gotten good results with the Bass Max...

I tried the Realist, but found it sounded too dark on my bass, and had something of a mid-bass honk - called it my "foghorn" sound! I mention this only because I've heard several players comment that the Realist didn't work well for them on laminated basses, but sounds great with a carved top.
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winston said:
I was about to post almost the same thing. I have a big-sounding plywood bass (New Standard Cleveland). It came with a Realist and I could never get rid of the boomy bass or dial in clear highs, even with a preamp. Got a BassMax which has much of the oomph of the Realist, with a nice dose of clarity. "Forgiving" is a good description--not 100% perfect tone, but very easy to dial in a 90% tone quickly 95% of the time.

...Tried an Underwood-with Pirastro Jazzer strings it gave me the best amplified pizz & arco tone I've had but didn't like their acoustic tone, and didn't like the Underwood when I changed strings.
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i am used to the Realist as a pickup on my carved bass but am now looking for a pickup for a plywood. does anyone have any recommendations? i take if from a number of comments in this and other threads that the Realist is not generally the best choice on many plywood basses. some have said the Underwood, others like the Bass Max or others. what's your experience, plywood players?
 

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