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Double Bass Realist LifeLine

#261
There are better pickups than the copper Realist for the same position. Think about a Shadow SH-965NFX or an APTflex.

Seems like the Lifeline has a problem. Probably a contact failure somewhere. If you are lucky it is only inside the plug (I hope you can open it and look for a short or a disconnected cable). If not you might be able to open the part at the pickup where the cable is connected and check the cable for a contact break and if you find one replace the cable. (Be very quick when soldering, piezos don't like heat!) But if you just purchased it, try it a last time on a different bass with one-piece adjusters and if it doesn't work there too, send it back as a dead on arrival item.
 
#265
How is the Lifeline compared to the copperhead Realist? Is it less dark and muffled? more transparent hopefully? and how is it compared to the Full Circle?
Really want to know since the Lifeline will be installed on my new bass. I think I can still cancel this week and choose another pickup. I like the transparent sound of the Full Circle (have that one on my other bass) and don't like the dark sound of the original Realist.

I also play a lot of arco soloistic stuff. Also do loud fusion gigs so it has to handle feedback well.
 
#267
My luthier told me sound wise the Lifeline was somewhere between the old Realist en the Full Circle. Gollihur music states somewhat the same on their website.
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I didn't have the chance to try this pickup so it will be a bit of a gamble on how it reacts on my bass. He also said it handles feedback a little better than the original Realist since it is placed under the wheels. Comparable to the Full Circle feedback wise. The closer the pickup is to the body the more feedback was his argumentation.

Have tried about 4 pickups before on my other bass and liked the Full Circle the best. Didn't like the copperhead Realist because of it's muffled unclear sound.
 
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#269
DownLow said:
That's a possibility. In all honesty the Fishman Full Circle on my carved bass gives an even response arco/pizz. I'm looking for a replacement pickup option for my Eminence, and I'm not convinced a Full Circle would be a good match.

So the question still stands. With the Lifeline, is there a big volume difference arco vs pizz.
Click to expand...

Hey, have there been any updates on your search? I am thinking to give a lifeline a go just as a "secondary" backup pickup for the eminence bass..
 
#271
Les Fret said:
ok thanks. That's helpful. How would you describe the sound of the Stat B compared to the Full Circle? and also feedback wise?
Click to expand...

I find the Stat to be more natural sounding than the piezos. When I switched to it from a single element Underwood I felt it was more refined sounding. Preferred it after using the others in this thread. I haven't had any more feedback trouble with the Stat than with any other pickup I've used, usually no trouble at all, including very loud fusion music.
 
#272
Just my 2Cents; I use a Full Circle blended with a DPA mic bass mic. To my ears it sounds great. Usually I favor the mic and blend in a little of the Full Circle. However, ultimately your PU as well as your string choices are kind of a secondary considerations. I've heard great players play with many of the PU's mentioned in this thread and they all sound great. Although these things certainly can help you, your technique, your hands, your instrument and the amount of time you are willing to put into developing a good acoustic sound matter far more than your choice of PU's or strings.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :cool:
 
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#273
@Treyzer: agreed that the acoustic sound is in the fingers. But for live purposes I don't think is pickup is secondary consideration. Even very professional players can have a very bad amplified sound with the wrong pickup. Not all big name players sound great amplified.

Eric Hochberg said:
I find the Stat to be more natural sounding than the piezos. When I switched to it from a single element Underwood I felt it was more refined sounding. Preferred it after using the others in this thread. I haven't had any more feedback trouble with the Stat than with any other pickup I've used, usually no trouble at all, including very loud fusion music.
Click to expand...

ok thanks. I always thought a contact mic was much more sensitive to feedback than a piezo....
Even with a piezo I have feedback problems in loud fusion let alone with a contact mic.
 
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#274
Treyzer said:
Just my 2Cents; I use a Full Circle blended with a DPA mic bass mic. To my ears it sounds great. Usually I favor the mic and blend in a little of the Full Circle. However, ultimately your PU as well as your string choices are kind of a secondary considerations. I've heard great players play with many of the PU's mentioned in this thread and they all sound great. Although these things certainly can help you, your technique, your hands, your instrument and the amount of time you are willing to put into developing a good acoustic sound matter far more than your choice of PU's or strings.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :cool:
Click to expand...


um... kinda...

Your equipment really does and can define your tone and sound aside from your "fingers" etc..

I'm still looking for perfect examples.. but here is some greats and -

1. first video is on good equipment and listen to the clarity..

2. second video is another master on not so good equipment (amp SWR etc..) and (listen how nasally thin it sounds mid range..)


I've heard both of these masters live and they have had very different "tones" than the ones here on videos due to the equipment available at the time of when I saw them... not huge differences but enough for me who is sensitive to the "sound"/Tone of the instruments/speakers.

the Main point though is - Is the LIfeline clear or which pickup will allow a clarity with a good warm tone.. if played through high-expensive equipment that allow the clarity to come through.. like high-end speakers etc.. (notice the epifani Esperanza plays out of..)

- My choices right now are the Lifeline and regular Realist pickup.. perhaps they are the same.. but one totally depends on how the bridge foot sits and the other appears to totally depend on the pressure of the bridge-to-wheel allowance..

- at this point, I can't install anything inside the bridge for a pickup.. (i'm trying to use the lifeline as a backup/secondary tone if the regular realist gives me issues with the way it has to sit perfectly on the foot and bass top evenly etc..)


I'll probably find better video examples for you to hear after I post this .. but here for now..


1.


2.
 
#275
In the most recent posts I see the same conclusion I came to after trying nearly everything - FC

Other than my RE-20 it's seems the most functional and cosistent

I just noticed CM has a California Blonde SWR with a cab below it or a riser. Have one right across the room from me. They work well although I replaced the stock driver with an Eminence - solid upgrade cause the amp is nice.
 
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#276
Late in the 2nd video you can see that Christian McBride is using a Copper Realist under the Bridge Foot on the E side. Can't tell what Esparanza is using. Her rig does sound pretty nasal to my ears. Her voice sounds wonderful! I see a mic in front of Stanley's bass and I think he's still using an old Fishman BP100 although I'm not 100% sure. These three players have very different approaches and techniques. For me, very hard to compare. I've seen Christian McBride live and heard him on a number of different videos. Both his playing and his sound always sound great to my ears.

The Lifeline and the Realist are both David Gage products, Guess you'll never know until you play them or try them on your particular bass with your live set up; amp speaker box and so on and so forth.

For my money, Christian McBrides acoustic tone, both pizza and arco is more complex, nuanced and meatier than either Esparanza's or Stanley's. Big difference regardless of amp, strings or PU. Guess that's what makes the world go round.
 
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#277
Right, so I have :

K&K bassMax
Fishman 100 (can't find it right now though! - lost in the room)
Realist
and a AMT S26i mic..


I'm about to buy a Lifeline.. (but it sounds like its just another realist.. but on the adjuster wheels of the bridge- which I want because I don't like the idea of "offsetting" the actual foot that touches the basstop.. I seem to have trouble setting it and I will be setting it many times.. I travel and this bass is the Eminence and it will come apart and have to be setup many times..

This may have been fixed but the realist seems very flimsy and can be very difficult when you move it/bend it many times.. and that's unfortunately the point of this bass that I'm using.. a travel bass!

(which i'm going to have to setup a few times when I fly with it. etc.. detach the neck/setup the bridge again.. all that fun loving stuff.. - ideas on how to set the bridge perfectly each time?? its gonna be a pain.. but i do it anyway..)

Can you see a guy with an ear problem or a anal paranoid personality and never gonna find a tone he's happy with here.. ha.
 
#278
Good examples there from Stanley Clarke and CMB and ES. You made my point. It's in the fingers, you have to have a good acoustic tone to begin with but gear matters a lot when you want to amplify your bass and gig on loud volume. I like the tone Stanley is having there. He doesn't always have the best amplified sound but this sounds really good. Nice pizz growl and good arco sound. This is the clear sound I am after. I don't the like the sound of Esperanza's amplified bass. For me that is way too much low end.

Christian McBride almost always has a good amplified tone. But he is well aware of how to amplify his bass and finding the right gear to accomplish this. This doesn't count for all famous players.
 
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#279
Well, Bassfacer, I'm far from an expert on these things. My La Scala is a Neck Off and I've traveled with it successfully. I use a Full Circle PU and it has worked well. The DPA is also very easy to set up and with the EA doubler, everything has been neat and easy. I think the Lifeline is a step up from what you're using, but I'm not very familiar with the Eminence EUB. Ah the joys of searching for a good live sound! Best of luck. At least the Lifeline is not overly expensive and it's probably your best option.
 
#280
Les Fret, the strange thing is, at least for me, the BP100 never sounded good on any bass I had. Some people love that PU. Stanley has his thing and he's stuck with it for a long time. His sound/approach always reminds me of the jazz fusion era. It truly works for him.

For my taste, CMB has a great sound. One that is closer to what I want to hear. Live, he seems to use a Realist, a PU I don't particularly like but I still love his sound. Must be the way he plays. :cool:
 

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