Double Bass Pickup Recommendations

[Pcocobass]

Hey fellow bass friends,

I'd like your advice about pickups.

I currently use a Realist (which is about 6 years old and definitely on its last leg) with an AI Focus 2R and Epifani cabinet.

I'm looking for a pickup that will give me a nice even sound across the board, as well as have the more acoustic properties of the Realist, without a very processed tone.

I know this is a broad question, but any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks!

Peace,
Pete

 

[Marc Piane]

Why not get another Realist. I have them on both my basses and have yet to find one I like better.

 

[Monte]

My solution so far has been H Clamp with a good mic. I've never been happier, and I took my Schertler off my bass a few weeks ago. I have now played on cramped stages, loud, soft, and everything in between and it works very well. I won't be going back to anything like a pickup in the near future.

 

[greitzer]

...I currently use a Realist (which is about 6 years old and definitely on its last leg) with an AI Focus 2R and Epifani cabinet...I'm looking for a pickup that will give me a nice even sound across the board, as well as have the more acoustic properties of the Realist, without a very processed tone.

Pete -- I agree with both of the previous posts. I've tried a few pickups and none of them give you the "acoustic properties of the Realist without a very processed tone"...except the Realist.

For me, sadly, my Realist crapped out after a year, but other TBers (like you) have had long-lasting experience with them.

Microphones can provide a great sound but they're hard to work with in many situations, although I know some have been able to make 'em work.

 

[Monte]

Microphones can provide a great sound but they're hard to work with in many situations, although I know some have been able to make 'em work.

This is the part I just don't get. I've heard this numerous times here.

With the H Clamp positioning a mic that has reasonable off axis rejection VERY close to the top of the bass, I have not encountered anything that would qualify as "hard to work with".

If you have a big acoustic sound and a PA or powered speaker to work with, I just don't see the potential problems. I have been playing a very loud gig where even the drums are mic'd standing an arms length from the hi hat and as long as I don't set up directly in front of the monitors, I have not encountered feedback and I can get stupid loud whilst maintaining nothing but acoustic sound.

Granted, close mic'ing is not the be all end all and I would never do it in the studio, but it is miles ahead of any pickup.

 

[jrlynch]

to be fair, working with a mic *is* a challenge, particularly in any high volume situations. i do think a mic sounds better, but it is certainly more work than simply running off a pickup. i prefer the sound of a mic, but the planet wing sounds respectable ... and works.

depends on the gig.

and whether anyone would notice, besides me.

that squealing sound is feedback.

jeff.

 

[Mark Perna]

I've had just the opposite response. I've never gotten a close-mic'd sound that I've liked at all. I've tried the H clamp with various dynamic mics in various positions. I've tried the AMT mic all over the table. Everything I've tried has been markedly inferior to a pickup. On the other hand, I've heard guys get great sounds with just a mic so maybe it is my bass or just me.

I've also never liked the Realist. As with the microphones, I've tried it on numerous occasions on all of my basses and always end up taking it off within a week or two. It always subtlely but still noticeably affects the acoustic sound of my bass. I lose a little volume, power and low end. As soon as I take it off, the volume, power and low end come back. I suspect it dampens some of the vibration transmission through the bridge into the body. I doubt if anyone else would notice it but I do and it drives me crazy. I now stay away from under bridge foot pickups.



mark

 

[Monte]

to be fair, working with a mic *is* a challenge, particularly in any high volume situations. i do think a mic sounds better, but it is certainly more work than simply running off a pickup. i prefer the sound of a mic, but the planet wing sounds respectable ... and works.

depends on the gig.

and whether anyone would notice, besides me.

that squealing sound is feedback.

jeff.

Sorry, I don't agree that it is more work. That gets repeated often, but just not my experience. I know what feedback is but as long as I'm not in line of the monitors/ Speakers, I just don't get any. And loud is definitely what my Thursday gig is.

For me it has been easier than a pickup, and I've been doing this a long time and have had a lotta pickups. With the mic I plug in the mic cord and set the level.

Now if I was playing through a bass amp, yeah I might see problems. I don't and haven't for a long time. Full range only, either through the club PA, my Bose PAS, or a Schertler powered speaker. I guess I should have qualified that earlier, because I don't see mic through a bass amp as being an elegant solution. Maybe that is where all the problems are coming from.

 

[Monte]

And just to reassure myself that there are more out there than just me that make this work on every gig, I believe Brent Nussey, David Kaczoworski, and Lynn Seaton, all who are around occasionally, have done without pickups for a long time.

 

[Monte]

I've had just the opposite response. I've never gotten a close-mic'd sound that I've liked at all. I've tried the H clamp with various dynamic mics in various positions. I've tried the AMT mic all over the table. Everything I've tried has been markedly inferior to a pickup. On the other hand, I've heard guys get great sounds with just a mic so maybe it is my bass or just me.



mark

What have you played your mic through? Have any of those mics had a bass rolloff switch to get rid of bass proximity effect, a common problem of close mic'ing?

My AKG C3000 with the rolloff engaged has sounded great whether it is a $200 Fender 4 channel PA or a really nice mixing board.

 

[Marc Piane]

I look at it as tools in the toolbox. I don't think a mic or a pickup for that matter are the 'best' for every situation. I also think it can be limiting as far as the gig you can take if you are not 'ready for anything'. Sometimes I play without an amp, sometimes mic only, sometimes a mix (mic to pa/pickup to amp), sometimes pickup only. I have yet to find one setup that works for every gig. I have been playing long enough that I can gauge what I need before I leave the house. The bottom line is I want my sound to support the band whether it is a piano duo in a hotel bar or a rock band in a big outdoor venue.

 

[robgrow]

Hey fellow bass friends,

I'd like your advice about pickups.

I currently use a Realist (which is about 6 years old and definitely on its last leg) with an AI Focus 2R and Epifani cabinet.

I'm looking for a pickup that will give me a nice even sound across the board, as well as have the more acoustic properties of the Realist, without a very processed tone.

I know this is a broad question, but any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks!

Peace,
Pete

Although I liked the older Realist, the new version sounds less than great to me. I had a recent vintage Realist on my bass, but didn't like it at all. I replaced it with a Fishman Full Circle, and it works for me on my bass. Of all the pickups I've tried, the FC is also the most even across and up and down the fingerboard.

 

[Jaromir]

Speaking from the position of a listener - when I listen a bass player using only mike, I usually have this impression:
At first I appreciate the nice, natural acoustic sound. After a while I notice that on ballad, the bass is almost TOO loud, while on a louder (usually faster) tune the bass gets lost.
I think the drawback of using a mic only is the complete lost of dynamics. All you strive for is to be heard at all, while with pickup you definitelly loose some of the acoustic quality of the sound, but you can play with dynamics. And the overall mix is much more ballanced.
Just my observation...

 

[bolo]

Pete, whatever you decide, you make a great sound. I really enjoyed visiting your myspace page, the music and the pics of all the greats.

If you like your old Realist, I wonder if David Gage could "recondition" it? Like robgrow said, the newer ones apparently don't sound the same.

 

[Marc Piane]

I have a new Realist on one bass and an old one one. They are definitely different but both have strengths and weaknesses.

The main thing is the newer one has a bit more edgy of a sound but is much more feedback resistant.

 

[bolo]

I have a new Realist on one bass and an old one one. They are definitely different but both have strengths and weaknesses.

The main thing is the newer one has a bit more edgy of a sound but is much more feedback resistant.

That's good to know. Similar to what you said, seems like both the pickups I use have their strengths and weaknesses. I have a Rev Solo and a Planet Wing. There are things I like and dislike about each.

IMO the H-clamp works as advertised. For me running a mic into my amp has its limitations (mostly limited by me, my technique and my bass), but it can be real sweet under the right conditions.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

And just to reassure myself that there are more out there than just me that make this work on every gig, I believe Brent Nussey, David Kaczoworski, and Lynn Seaton, all who are around occasionally, have done without pickups for a long time.

I won't speak for David or Brent, but I'm pretty sure Lynn still keeps a Realist on his bass in addition to the Beta 56 he's got crammed under the bridge. When I heard him here about a month ago, my recollection was that he sent the Beta to the house and used the Realist for stage volume. I'm not positive of this, but that's my memory. Whatever he did, he sounded great, as always.

While I'm here, I'll agree with Robgrow and throw in my .02c for the Full Circle as being the most even tempered pickup I've run across. I like it fine at low volumes by itself, but like it even better blended with a mic. I posted a thread with soundclips of it and various mics a while back. What those clips don't show, however, is the sound of the pickup as it comes through the speaker, or through the mix of an actual group, so take 'em with a grain of salt.

 

[Monte]

Speaking from the position of a listener - when I listen a bass player using only mike, I usually have this impression:
At first I appreciate the nice, natural acoustic sound. After a while I notice that on ballad, the bass is almost TOO loud, while on a louder (usually faster) tune the bass gets lost.
I think the drawback of using a mic only is the complete lost of dynamics. All you strive for is to be heard at all, while with pickup you definitelly loose some of the acoustic quality of the sound, but you can play with dynamics. And the overall mix is much more ballanced.
Just my observation...

Wow, no offense, but this makes no sense to me. How can a mic be worse on dynamics than a pickup?!? With a mic, all the dynamics are in the hands. A mic will only put out what you put in it, which is why I don't recommend a mic only unless you get a big acoustic sound already.

 

[Pcocobass]

Wow guys, thanks for all the feedback.

You have all peaked my interest now in experimenting with mics. What about mic/pickup blends, as some mentioned before? I wonder what kind of sound that would get me through my amp? Would I have to use two cables (one from the mic and one from the pickup) and blend them through my two amp channels?

I've also heard great things about the Full Circle, as some have mentioned. What's the deal with the H Clamp? I don't know anything about it.

Anyone have experience with the AMT (Applied Mic Technology) or Barbera Transducers? This is the setup Rufus uses.

Thanks dudes....

 

[bolo]

Wow guys, thanks for all the feedback.

You have all peaked my interest now in experimenting with mics. What about mic/pickup blends, as some mentioned before? I wonder what kind of sound that would get me through my amp? Would I have to use two cables (one from the mic and one from the pickup) and blend them through my two amp channels?

I've also heard great things about the Full Circle, as some have mentioned. What's the deal with the H Clamp? I don't know anything about it.

Anyone have experience with the AMT (Applied Mic Technology) or Barbera Transducers? This is the setup Rufus uses.

Thanks dudes....

Pete, I am just a part-time pro as outlined in my profile. But I can speak to some of these things, as can others I'm sure.

The H-clamp clamps to the side of your bass and let's you use whatever mic you want, up to a certain weight limit. Here's a picture of mine. And here's the whole thread that it came from. There are other threads if you want to search. Bob Gollihur sells them in the U.S. now, and here's the company that makes them, ExplorAudio.

I have an AMT too. I think it works as advertised too. Here's a picturewith some soundclips.

Running a mic into the PA seems to work great. In my case, running it into my amp is cool but I have to be careful about where I stand relative to my speaker to avoid mic feedback, and I can go much louder (unfortunately) with a pickup.

I use a two channel AI Focus head and blend a pickup and a mic. I used to use a D-TAR Solstice to blend them into a one channel head. Yeah you run two cables off your bass.

You make a great sound, and need to be heard!