Double Bass Realist Lifeline - Tips on calming excessive midrange

[MR PC]

It's a problem only if you put the Lifeline on the threaded side of the adjuster wheel. If you install it as most users do—on the nonthreaded side—there is no issue with fit, unless you keep your bridge lower than the thickness of the Lifeline. In that case, you can have your luthier trim the bridge leg/foot.

I discussed this with the luthier, he's installed over 100 of these things. I like the sound, but I don't want anything to be interfering with main function of the adjusters, even if it's a .001 chance of creating failure. I'm gettin' crotchety I suppose! Good thing is that I have that Headway, very nice preamp. I had the Band pu which worked well, would of worked even better withe matching pre..but the unsolicited jokes about diapers and "Depends" got old real fast! Must bassists suffer so much just to be heard?

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I discussed this with the luthier, he's installed over 100 of these things. I like the sound, but I don't want anything to be interfering with main function of the adjusters, even if it's a .001 chance of creating failure. I'm gettin' crotchety I suppose! Good thing is that I have that Headway, very nice preamp. I had the Band pu which worked well, would of worked even better withe matching pre..but the unsolicited jokes about diapers and "Depends" got old real fast! Must bassists suffer so much just to be heard?

I just evaluated a Lifeline to see if I'd want one instead of a Full Circle on a new bass. I can't imagine what about it could possibly interfere with the adjuster. It's basically a thin piezo sandwiched between 2 very thin flat plates of stainless steel, no more than about 1.5mm thick all together. As far as mechanical systems go, it doesn't get much more simple than a shim, which is what the Lifeline is.

As for the pickup, I thought it sounded good, but I'm partial to the Full Circle on my other bass.

 

[MR PC]

Yeah, I know, I hear ya. I'm not trying to steer anyone away from the Lifeline, I think it's a great pu. Not for me. As a player I travel to areas with different climates, different styles of music lend them selves to different types of bridge height, and in the event I'm forced to let another player use my bass, I'm sure to quickly jack up the strings as to keep things interesting.
So, even though theoretically it shouldn't be a problem, in my case Newtons Law concerning what can go wrong going will surely apply. On to the next pickup!

 

[lowEndRick]

I was actually quite surprised to see some having issues with a Lifeline and too much midrange. I had the Lifeline installed on a new New Standard Cleveland last year by Arnold Schnitzer. My reference point from previous PUs was the Rev Solo II and the Realist copper. The Lifeline was immediately so much better in the midrange department. I've been thrilled with it. I play through an AI Coda Series IV (often with a 12" Schroeder cab) in small venues, large theaters and outdoor festivals. From habit I typically cut the mids to about 9 o'clock, but more recently I have run it closer to flat and it sounds great usually. I just acquired a restored 1940 Kay with gut strings and also had Arnold install a Lifeline and it sounds great on that bass too. Warmer, more natural, smoother and a lot more volume before any feedback worries than either the Rev Solo II or the Realist.