Double Bass Realist Lifeline users... just how idiot-proof is this?

[SAlcott]

I just played two high intensity hard bop gigs with AES #34, Lifeline pickup, and AI amp. Compliments came from all sides, band and audience.

 

[Kai Sanchez]

Salcott, do you have any experience playing the original copper realist? If you do can you compare them?

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Salcott, do you have any experience playing the original copper realist? If you do can you compare them?

I do. The Lifeline had a more full range sound than the copper Realist, pizz on my bass. The Lifeline volume was more even across the strings, too.

I think the arco was a little more natural with the Realist.

 

[Kai Sanchez]

Thanks Eric. There's a lack of lows that brings out the mids and highs on my bass, so I'm trying to get away from the Full Circle. The short period that I tried the realist it made my bass sound bigger when plugged in, this was a while ago, and I feel I didn't give the realist a fair chance. The full circle sounds ok but a little too electric. I'm using spiro weichs.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

The Lifeline is darker and thumpier than the Full Circle. I think you could say it fits somewhere in between the FC and Realist tone-wise.

 

[Kai Sanchez]

Eric what do you like so much about the schertler that you preferred it over the FC and lifeline?

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Eric what do you like so much about the schertler that you preferred it over the FC and lifeline?

I think it has a more natural, refined sound than the piezos. It is a mic based pickup. It has worked well for me on three basses, so far.

 

[Roger Davis]

I agree that the Lifeline is darker and thumpier but as long as you don't completely rely on the pickup to produce the volume it has an important contribution to make. So, mix a Lifeline and an Underwood through a two channel amp, eq to taste and you have an unbeatable sound. IMO of course.

 

[neal davis]

I think it has a more natural, refined sound than the piezos. It is a mic based pickup. It has worked well for me on three basses, so far.

which schertler are you using, I run a lifeline and a schertler dyn-b on my bass and choose between them for which room I'm using. I love the sound of the dyn-b but I find a lot of the time I'm using the lifeline which just seems to get out the right sound for the room quicker.

 

[shwashwa]

so if you installed 2 lifelines, one on each leg, then you wouldnt need to shave any wood? and then perhaps you could choose which one to use or use both? just a thought.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

which schertler are you using,

I use the Stat B.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

so if you installed 2 lifelines, one on each leg, then you wouldnt need to shave any wood? and then perhaps you could choose which one to use or use both? just a thought.

You may not have to shave wood at all. It really depends on if you can adjust the bridge to where you like it with the Lifeline installed.

 

[Mark Gollihur]

so if you installed 2 lifelines, one on each leg, then you wouldnt need to shave any wood? and then perhaps you could choose which one to use or use both? just a thought.

The only reason you'd need to shave any wood is if you already have your bridge completely "bottomed out" - the Lifeline is only about 1/8" thick, which can be easily compensated for by turning the adjuster on that side of the bridge (only) about 1/2 a turn (or so) to lower that side of the bridge to compensate. You're unlikely to need two of them for string balance reasons.