Double Bass Planet Wing pickup

[Ecojazz]

My bass is a Kolstein busetto travel bass, but it's not an EUB it is a fully carved acoustic instrument with a downsized body. I would never even consider it in the EUB category.

I happen to live close to the Kolstein shop, my bass does not have a removable neck, it did not need to be shipped to me nor did I need the travel trunk. I've owned it since 2011 and the price was WELL under 5k. I don't know the current prices.

I just brought a Kolstein Busetto Travel Bass and played my first gig in a library. I played using the planet wing pickup through an Acoustic image Ten2. I previously played an Eminence 5 string EUB for about two years because of the toll the last two winters had on my carved bass. I love the acoustic tone of the Busetto bass, its very inspirational compared to the Eminence. Right from the start of the concert I was in trouble, i use an K&K preamp on the stand to adjust the settings btw the bow and pizzicato and could not dial in my sound. I thought the battery was going on me as I had the gain up on the pre-amp and the amp. I got a better sound as i concentrated on the low end and i managed to start to enjoy the bass. here are some of my first observations.
1. The Planet Wing pickup sounds very good on the E&A but then it starts losing the volume on the D&G dramatically
2. The difference btw an Eminence and this bass is in the attack. People always complemented me on the sound of the Eminence because it filled the room but it was always like playing an electric bass. The Kolstein Busetto bass attack is a swell/mwah sound like a really good 15k+ bass and i have to adjust my playing style in the future.
3. I was also toying with the idea of putting another wing pickup for the D&G strings....an experience out there

I have to work on my settings. I definitely have to figure out why the preamp volume had to be so high as the piezo sound gets too thin and tinny.

 

[peterpalmieri]

You should try adjusting the element on the pickup as it fits in the bridge. I'd never encountered this kind of problem.

I also Velcro a Fdeck HPF to the tail piece and connect it to the pickup with a pedal patch cable. Gives me the convenience of some onboard volume and HPF without having to reach for the amp.

Good luck with the bass

 

[Ecojazz]

You should try adjusting the element on the pickup as it fits in the bridge. I'd never encountered this kind of problem.

I also Velcro a Fdeck HPF to the tail piece and connect it to the pickup with a pedal patch cable. Gives me the convenience of some onboard volume and HPF without having to reach for the amp.

Good luck with the bass

Thanks for the response. By the way I live in Centerport. I find the tone of the Busetto beautiful acoustically what is you amp/preamp setup.

 

[peterpalmieri]

Thanks for the response. By the way I live in Centerport. I find the tone of the Busetto beautiful acoustically what is you amp/preamp setup.

It's a great bass, I love the tone of it.

Planet Wing - Fdeck HPF - Jule Monique/M700 - Ampeg 210AV - I just broke my AMT S25b (sending it back) but I generally run that to FOH not into my amp. I also use an older GK200mb metal combo when I need something simple. I've tried almost everything Acoustic Image / EA etc. Blending mic and pickup etc. I bought a V4b reissue to use with my electric bass and it's not something I want to cart around for DB gigs but HOLY COW tone for days and those cheap little SVT210AVs, sealed without a tweeter. It opened up my ears to what tubes can do to warm up the piezo,

Your welcome to come by and compare contrast basses and amps.

I'm still using Kolstein strings I know a bunch of guys are using Evah Ps I haven't been motivated to spend the $ although I feel I could use a bit more tension on my E string. And BTW I had Barry add a tiny shim to my pickup/bridge and that seemed to be a positive in terms of the pickup.

 

[BassiklyAC]

Bought this pickup a few years ago as a backup to my B-Band D1 which I've been very happy with for many years. The D1 unexpectedly died on me which I discovered during a recording session the other day. Not a big deal as the microphone that the engineer was using was getting a marvelous sound - no pickup needed.

But I have one of these livestream performances coming up, providing a good opportunity to drop in the Planet Wing and see how I like it. I have an Acoustic Image head so no preamp was needed. Set up the amp and an ACME B1 cabinet and took it for a test drive at home just to make sure I could get even a mildly agreeable sound to get me through the date. As I slowly turned up the volume - with EQ set flat - a warm, rich, slightly punchy sound emerged that was even across the entire range of the bass. Huge relief!

Sometimes things occur that prompt a change that you wouldn't have otherwise explored. This was one of those times that turned out quite well. Excited to hear this PU on the gig the week. If it sounds as good in the context of a playing situation, this Planet Wing pickup is a keeper.

 

[Don Kasper]

Bought this pickup a few years ago as a backup to my B-Band D1 which I've been very happy with for many years. The D1 unexpectedly died on me which I discovered during a recording session the other day. Not a big deal as the microphone that the engineer was using was getting a marvelous sound - no pickup needed.

But I have one of these livestream performances coming up, providing a good opportunity to drop in the Planet Wing and see how I like it. I have an Acoustic Image head so no preamp was needed. Set up the amp and an ACME B1 cabinet and took it for a test drive at home just to make sure I could get even a mildly agreeable sound to get me through the date. As I slowly turned up the volume - with EQ set flat - a warm, rich, slightly punchy sound emerged that was even across the entire range of the bass. Huge relief!

Sometimes things occur that prompt a change that you wouldn't have otherwise explored. This was one of those times that turned out quite well. Excited to hear this PU on the gig the week. If it sounds as good in the context of a playing situation, this Planet Wing pickup is a keeper.

Hi Adam,
Is the element installed on the E wing or the G wing of the bridge?
Just wondering, as my backup is an Underwood (single element) on the E wing. It sounds very good.
(Sorry to hear about your B-Band failure. I found a D-1 about a year ago at a German shop (Thomann?), and bought it as a backup to my current D-1, as I've had some longevity issues over the years with B-Band. (I believe they are no longer in business.)
Thanks.

 

[Roger Mouton]

Bought this pickup a few years ago as a backup to my B-Band D1 which I've been very happy with for many years. The D1 unexpectedly died on me which I discovered during a recording session the other day. Not a big deal as the microphone that the engineer was using was getting a marvelous sound - no pickup needed.

But I have one of these livestream performances coming up, providing a good opportunity to drop in the Planet Wing and see how I like it. I have an Acoustic Image head so no preamp was needed. Set up the amp and an ACME B1 cabinet and took it for a test drive at home just to make sure I could get even a mildly agreeable sound to get me through the date. As I slowly turned up the volume - with EQ set flat - a warm, rich, slightly punchy sound emerged that was even across the entire range of the bass. Huge relief!

Sometimes things occur that prompt a change that you wouldn't have otherwise explored. This was one of those times that turned out quite well. Excited to hear this PU on the gig the week. If it sounds as good in the context of a playing situation, this Planet Wing pickup is a keeper.

Please post your results. A previous post of mine might be in this thread. I bought one a few years back and it had a huge bottom end but was not even overall. Everything went through a Headway and then into an AI Clarus/UL 110 head and cabinet. No amount of adjusting either in the pre-amp or amp made any difference.

 

[BassiklyAC]

Please post your results. A previous post of mine might be in this thread. I bought one a few years back and it had a huge bottom end but was not even overall. Everything went through a Headway and then into an AI Clarus/UL 110 head and cabinet. No amount of adjusting either in the pre-amp or amp made any difference.

Hi Roger,
Will do. I’ll look for your previous post as well.

Hope you don’t mind a humble plug for the show. If you’re so inclined, you can listen in and get a sense of how the pickup sounds “in person”.



The performance will also be viewable post-show on YouTube. I think if you search for Live at ZeroBPM on YT you’ll be taken to the page with all the archived shows.

Cheers

 

[BassiklyAC]

Hi Adam,
Is the element installed on the E wing or the G wing of the bridge?
Just wondering, as my backup is an Underwood (single element) on the E wing. It sounds very good.
(Sorry to hear about your B-Band failure. I found a D-1 about a year ago at a German shop (Thomann?), and bought it as a backup to my current D-1, as I've had some longevity issues over the years with B-Band. (I believe they are no longer in business.)
Thanks.

Hello Don!

The PW is installed on the E string side. I remember when I first got it I had to shave a considerable amount of wood off the bridge wing to accommodate it. Still using the same bridge so it was a breeze just sliding it in this time around.

Regarding the D1, we had a good run for over 15 - 16 years. Not sure what caused its demise - I had used it just a few days ago - but absolutely no sound. Changed the battery, futzed with the wires/connection,...silence. Too bad; thought it was the holy grail of pickups and the search was over.

Interesting thing is that my immediate reaction to the PW is an appreciation for the sheer simplicity and build quality of it without all the wires and components and options of the D1. Felt liberating in a way.

Didn’t know B-Band closed up shop. I had done a search for the company some time ago to see about acquiring some spare parts and I recall finding their website. Holding on to my D1 system anyway. Lots of gigs together.

Stay well.

 

[BassiklyAC]

This seems to be the thread I couldn't find earlier. Somewhere else I replied to a Planet Wing discussion.

In a mood to experiment recently I put a Planet Wing pick up on my carved German factory bass playing jazz through a Clarus III and Epifani 110 cab. I can't get what I want (even sound) out of it.

Playing? The low end is monstrous, clean and clear. Huge sound! I described it to our guitarist as "it's pushing some serious air." That's what it feels like to me. Mids and highs are either weak or hollow however. On some notes there was a real ring to the tone, almost like the pick up was very "microphonic" and close to feeding back. I had read somewhere that if there's a tweeter on the cab, shut it off. It seems to make no difference. Some have used the term nasal to describe certain pick ups or sounds. I don't know if this is "nasal" but whatever it is, it's definitely not desirable in mid to upper register.

Enter a Headway EDB-1. I haven't yet fooled with the notch filter but none of the EQ setting changes made much difference. I had dragged this particular bass out because it hasn't been played in awhile. I believe the p/u is installed correctly. Killer low end! KILLER, but I stayed around the bottom end when playing last night and that gets old.

I fully realize that this p/u may never sound good on this instrument. Anyone have a similar experience?

Apologies if this post gets another pick up thread going. I know how it can excite the gear heads. I'm going to go back to Barry Kolstein's site to do a little more research on this p/u before I give up. FDeck might have something for me to try as well.

Okay, yes. I remember a similar experience when I first got the pickup a few years back myself. That is, plenty of low end but lost a significant amount of presence in the upper register of the bass.

I took this into account when I knew I would have to use it for my upcoming gig and I changed my strings to a lighter tension and more resonant set I had lying around. In this case, D'Addario Helicore Hybrid Lights.

Maybe it was because of less tension on the top or a brighter string sound, but as I ventured into thumb position, I didn’t experience any of the unevenness from my previous experience. I had EQ set flat and didn’t change a thing; which never happens.

We’ll see what a live playing situation reveals but I’m feeling pretty good going in. I just hope my pandemic practice room chops can hold up.

 

[peterpalmieri]

I think the key is to get the pickup perfectly snug in the bridge by sanding or with a shim. Not a job I was good at brought mine to Kolstein’s For adjustment and they were able to set it perfectly. If you are either to thick or thin in sound this is likely the issue.

 

[MLysh]

Yes, the fit's the thing. I've had one on my French-made Hawks for years now. Direct to FDeck, then Doubler.

 

[BassiklyAC]

Please post your results. A previous post of mine might be in this thread. I bought one a few years back and it had a huge bottom end but was not even overall. Everything went through a Headway and then into an AI Clarus/UL 110 head and cabinet. No amount of adjusting either in the pre-amp or amp made any difference.

Played the livestream hit last night with the Planet Wing pickup. Unfortunately the great sound in the practice room by myself (same amp/pickup) did not translate well to a live band setting.

Basically the same issues folks addressed in previous posts came up; all low end, no presence in upper register of the bass, sustain non-existent (all attack, no tone). Got through the show alright but was really working to draw a sound out that would cut through.

Have some time before an upcoming outdoor show to experiment with a few options. I don’t like the thumpy Realist sound or the overly “processed” Underwood type sound that’s all sustain and no attack. Something in between is what I’m going for and which I had with the B-Band D1. (Incidentally, tried to resurrect it one more time when I got home and it really is gone. Company is too).

So, here are my top choices to try in the next couple of weeks:

> Lifeline by David Gage
> Wilson pickup (yes, that one!) but a three element version that puts one each between two strings.
> Schertler STAT-B

Back on the pickup hunt.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

> Wilson pickup (yes, that one!) but a three element version that puts one each between two strings.

Not a good idea, the outer strings will not be well represented because the inner strings go to two pickups, but the outer ones only to one.

 

[Don Kasper]

Back on the pickup hunt.

Adam,
I have a (perfectly fine) Single Element Underwood pickup that you are welcome to try - they sound much better than a 2-element Underwood, IMO. (I would recommend on the E wing.)
I've had good luck using the (single) Underwood with an Fdeck HPF Pre for impedance and phase issues.
Let me know if you're interested. (LA Traffic is not so bad, these days!)
Thanks.

 

[BassiklyAC]

Not a good idea, the outer strings will not be well represented because the inner strings go to two pickups, but the outer ones only to one.

Good point. I’m going to try the Lifeline (being shipped as I write this) and see how it goes. I also ordered a Golden Bullet microphone from Gollihur Music that I’m going to blend with the Lifeline via my old Fishman Pocket Blender that I’ve held on to from my Fishman BP100/Crown GLM days.

It’s funny, I was remarking to a musician friend of mine today that I’ve purchased more gear during the pandemic than I have while I was gigging. Not sure what that means but it struck me nonetheless.

 

[BassiklyAC]

Adam,
I have a (perfectly fine) Single Element Underwood pickup that you are welcome to try - they sound much better than a 2-element Underwood, IMO. (I would recommend on the E wing.)
I've had good luck using the (single) Underwood with an Fdeck HPF Pre for impedance and phase issues.
Let me know if you're interested. (LA Traffic is not so bad, these days!)
Thanks.

You’re a good man, thank you. Have something on the way that I’m going to try. If I strike out again I’ll definitely take you up on that!

Yes, traffic seems a little thinner than pre-COVID days but man, why does Beverly still get jammed after 4:00? Slugging my way to make it downtown for a 7pm hit seems like a distant memory though.

Mem’ries, light the corners of my mind...

...and scene.

 

[Ric Vice]

I think the Lifeline would be much easier to mount and maintain if it has a decent sound. You’re other choices present some challenges.

Drilling holes in a bridge just makes me cringe, so the Wilson isn’t something I’d use. Schertler’s can sound great, but from the chatter here on Talkbass

Installing one and keeping it in place requires time and effort. After spending years working

with a variety of different pickups , I’ve come to realize I know less than when I started

 

[BassiklyAC]

Just a quick update on the pickup front. I have been using the Lifeline with excellent results.

 

[Ric Vice]

I just brought a Kolstein Busetto Travel Bass and played my first gig in a library. I played using the planet wing pickup through an Acoustic image Ten2. I previously played an Eminence 5 string EUB for about two years because of the toll the last two winters had on my carved bass. I love the acoustic tone of the Busetto bass, its very inspirational compared to the Eminence. Right from the start of the concert I was in trouble, i use an K&K preamp on the stand to adjust the settings btw the bow and pizzicato and could not dial in my sound. I thought the battery was going on me as I had the gain up on the pre-amp and the amp. I got a better sound as i concentrated on the low end and i managed to start to enjoy the bass. here are some of my first observations.
1. The Planet Wing pickup sounds very good on the E&A but then it starts losing the volume on the D&G dramatically
2. The difference btw an Eminence and this bass is in the attack. People always complemented me on the sound of the Eminence because it filled the room but it was always like playing an electric bass. The Kolstein Busetto bass attack is a swell/mwah sound like a really good 15k+ bass and i have to adjust my playing style in the future.
3. I was also toying with the idea of putting another wing pickup for the D&G strings....an experience out there

I have to work on my settings. I definitely have to figure out why the preamp volume had to be so high as the piezo sound gets too thin and tinny.

I have a Kolstein Busetto as well, they are quite a step up from the Eminence, which as you probably already know, is laminated instrument with a much smaller acoustic chamber. I used the Planet Wing for a little while and then went with my trusty Ehrlund EAP pickup, which matched well

with both my playing style and gave me the timbre I was looking for. Mine's sitting in my downstairs practice room, until I can gather the funds together to have a new neck made.