• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass Realist Failure

#41
The way the Realist is constructed, I'm surprised there aren't more failures. The one I saw the guts of (it was dead and had been disassembled by a lutheir) had a couple of brittle piezo elements sandwiched between brass shims without much of any compliant material to protect them. You get good coupling that way, but the elemenst are indeed vulnerable to the stress. There's some material around the elemenst which does take some load. I think the way to make them last is not to fiddle around one your Realist is in place.
 
#42
Ed Fuqua said:
Man, what is it with you cats? Breaking Animas and Realists like there ain't no tomorrow.

I've had a Realist on my bass for I dunno, ten or twelve years now? I can't even remember, I had an Underwood on the last boat gig I did, that was 94. I think I got the Realist when I got back form that, at the same time I bought a bow from Gage. I can try to dig up the receipt, if you need me to.

But no problems whatsoever.
Click to expand...


You BASTARDS! If you hadn't been talking about alla this Realist failure, my pick up wouldn't be broken!

Last night had a gig that I brought an amp to, plugged in started dialing in a sound and -fzzzt - no sound. Oh well after 10 years I would say I got my money's worth....
 
#43
Ed Fuqua said:
You BASTARDS! If you hadn't been talking about alla this Realist failure, my pick up wouldn't be broken!

Last night had a gig that I brought an amp to, plugged in started dialing in a sound and -fzzzt - no sound. Oh well after 10 years I would say I got my money's worth....
Click to expand...

ahahah, mine died last week after 5 years of service. its not really dead, but the output is like 10% of what it was before. whats next Ed? the Animas?:hiding:


Nuno
 
#50
Hi everyone...I've been really happy with my pickup situation since I got my new bass and the new K&K Trinity mic. I was mixing the mic and the Realist pickup, and getting a great sound. A couple of days ago I noticed a loud buzzing coming from the amp every time I turned the Realist on, and now I can't record with the combination any more because of the noise. I believe it's a ground problem of some sort. Anybody else had a similar problem with this pickup? I love the pickup, but I've only had it a little over a year, and if they don't last any longer than that, this could get expensive!

I'd like to contact David Gage if possible to find out if it could be repaired. Does anybody know how to reach him or his shop by email? Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

I too have a realist pickup and I have also experienced the mentioned buzzing problem. I solved it by putting a ground lift on my amp. Now my only problem is that I´m completely reliant on the clubs and venues having real grounded electricity! ...which they fortunately generally have here in Copenhagen. :)
 
#53
No, not that much. I mean when I got home I plugged in and played - arco sounds good and pizz sounds good but I'm standing in my living room, right?
I've got some gigs in April down in Georgia and I don't know what the venue is like so I'm taking the amp. I'll be working with a local group (all of whom I've played with before) and I'll probably use my mic for the concert and the amp for the club gigs. That'll be pretty "real world".

I'll keep you apprised....
 
#56
I think you are going to end up really liking the Full Circle. Its a really good amplified, or acoustic support pickup . I had the Gage pickup on all my basses, but have been gradually replacing them with the Full Circle, as the Realist just dies eventually. The Full Circle weakpoint is the quality of the lead , which on some pickups occasionally breaks( I had one of mine fixed easily enough, whereas I never managed to get a realist fixed).
 
#57
I`m on my second realist-the first lasted about 3 years and when it crapped out i sent it to Gage`s and he sent me a new one. I hope that works again since the second one just quit too, after about 5 years use.

And I`ve had a set of Animas on for 14 months and counting, and I think they sound better now than ever.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back