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Double Bass POLL: Which pickup do you use?

Which pickup do you use?

  • Total voters
    181
#41
HDIDDY,
Absolutely, have been considering two different types of protection for two different problems. Problem number 1.(ample grounding) Procurnig a two foot extension for the end pin to drive into the loca bandstands and tack welding an 1/8th inch thick piece of copper bull wire to it to ground the whole mess. Problem number 2. (theft) .38 snub nose disguised as an AMT belt pack. Hmmmmmmmmmm, just might work.
All seriousness aside, "all hail" Bob has been helping me with the set up and I'm glad of it since I lack the expertise to set up something like this. Just got the mic today and everything you fellas have said about it is true. Clarity, warmth, faithful reproduction of one of Ahhhnold's finest. Thanks again Bob for all your help!
Jim
 
#42
I've been trying a variety of pickups with my American Standard (Realist, Polytone, BassMax) and keep going back to my Underwood. It sounds the most natural and even. Realist...kind of dead on the E string, Polytone...hey it was the original brass thingy...and BassMax...ummm...it maxxed the bass.

That said, the single BassMax on my BugBass does fine, if a bit too deep on the E string and a bit bright on the G string.
 
#43
Jonas J said:
I use the SD Systems PU-4 pickup. I also have the LCM 100HL mic and the BS-2 blender/preamp box (from the same manufacturer), but I never use it as the blender box distorts the signal very audibly (regardless of output level). I actually get a better sound with the pickup directly into my AI Contra, than using the whole setup with pickup, mic and blender/preamp.

I'll buy a new blender/preamp some day, so I can use the mic. Any recommendations?
Click to expand...

I also have The SD mic, pickup and blender. I use the microphone without the pickup, using the blender to power the mic. This also gives me a convienent volume control.

I am disappointed that the BS-2 does not function well as a blender. In fact, the control must be set at almost all piezo to get any pickup in the blend. I read somewhere that applying phantom power to a pickup will weaken the signal. I wonder if this is what happens with the design of the BS-2?
 
#44
I have tried just about every pickup under $200. None of them works in every situation. I use the Realist for lower volume gigs and the Underwood for higher. I keep both installed. Every pickup I've tried has its pros and cons. Frankly I am sick of worrying about it. I just want to play music.
 
#45
ctxbass said:
I am disappointed that the BS-2 does not function well as a blender. In fact, the control must be set at almost all piezo to get any pickup in the blend.
Click to expand...

I don't have this problem, my BS-2 balances the inputs OK, but the resulting sound is far from satisfying (as mentioned in previous post). It seems as SD Systems have some quality problems with the BS-2 preamp. I've quit using mine, going into shopping mode soon... :hyper:
 
#49
briananderson said:
Subs tend to shake and vibrate stages and send it right up through the endpin. Kaboom!
Click to expand...

I wonder about this too. Lotsa bigger clubs have their subs under the stage. I've tried all the feedback solutions (nerf ball behind the tailpiece, muting string afterlength) and while it helps with howling feedback, I still have a problem with strange overtones and resonances. Truth be told I play at these places very infrequently but I do it enough that any suggestions would be welcome.
 
#50
I've been using a Knilling Bucharest carved-top for a road bass. I use a Fishman BP-100 in conjunction with an Audio-Technica Pro-95 clip-on condenser mic. Both signals are run through a Raven Labs MDB-1 for a blend, then go into a SWR California Blonde, with a SWR 2X10 ext. cab. I now have a much better relationship with drummers!

Jeffery Dunn
Nashville, Tn.
 
#51
briananderson said:
I've been using the B-Band statement system. I've had few problems and many compliments from engineers.

I wonder if anyone has come up with a way to deal with hollow stages at high volumes? Subs tend to shake and vibrate stages and send it right up through the endpin. Kaboom!
Click to expand...

I've always been intrigued by the B-Band system--having footswitchable pizz/arco settings is real handy.

I played a loud gig where there were 2-18" subs on each side of the stage, plus monitors + my amp onstage. A Fishman Platinum Bass EQ/DI saved my @ss. I dialed out the real lows with the high-pass filter, flipped the phase switch, and used a bit of compression to even out levels. When playing DB at high volumes you're gonna have to sacrifice some tone. In a situation like this I probably know how to get a better sound for the room than the soundman so I sent him a post-EQ signal. By varying my location onstage and muting unplayed strings, I was able to get really loud without feedback.

Maybe an Auralex Gramma platform (folx use 'em to decouple speaker cabinets from the floor) would help, too..
 

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