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Double Bass Realist noise going direct

B

Birdbass

Jul 31, 2005
13
0
Portland, ME
#1
Hey all,

I recently installed a Realist, and have been quite happy with the results when using my amp as a standalone. However, there have been a few instances where I have tried to go straight from the pickup to a PA, or through a DI to the PA, and it always results in a loud electric buzz in the signal, making it basically useless. I do not have this problem when using my amp. I've read many people raving about how great Realists are going direct without a preamp, so I'm wondering if anyone else has encountered this problem. Any recommendations? Thanks!
 
#3
Birdbass said:
Hey all,

I recently installed a Realist, and have been quite happy with the results when using my amp as a standalone. However, there have been a few instances where I have tried to go straight from the pickup to a PA, or through a DI to the PA, and it always results in a loud electric buzz in the signal, making it basically useless. I do not have this problem when using my amp. I've read many people raving about how great Realists are going direct without a preamp, so I'm wondering if anyone else has encountered this problem. Any recommendations? Thanks!
Click to expand...

Birdbass,
Personally, I've not had very good luck sending the Realist FOH. In sometimes the DI doesn't have a high enough meg ohm load but that's usually not the case as even the Country Man an adjustable input impedance.
The Realist, IMHO has such a hot signal into the P.A. that it's hard to EQ and the timbre that you get into an amp is quite different than what you get into the house. I've had much better results sending a mic like the AMT or DPA 4099 FOH and just running the Realist into the amp onstage.
Others, may have had better success, but to my ears with my bass the sound of the Realist into the P.A. isn't the sound I'm looking for. It could be that the copper foil shielding around the Realist is compromised just enough to cause the problem.

Ric
 
#6
Thanks for the input. I also have never been one to like the sound of a pickup direct, and have been leaning towards a preamp for precisely the reasons you all have mentioned. Seems like the best bet to protect my tone, and the signal. It would be nice to have the option to go without though, even if just for emergency use only, so I might have to get the pickup checked out. Rather annoying since it's pretty new and I take care of my stuff...but nothing about the instrument is ever easy, right? That's why we all play!
 
#7
Birdbass said:
Thanks for the input. I also have never been one to like the sound of a pickup direct, and have been leaning towards a preamp for precisely the reasons you all have mentioned. Seems like the best bet to protect my tone, and the signal. It would be nice to have the option to go without though, even if just for emergency use only, so I might have to get the pickup checked out. Rather annoying since it's pretty new and I take care of my stuff...but nothing about the instrument is ever easy, right? That's why we all play!
Click to expand...

Birdbass,
From my experience, adding a pre amp will help a little, but the sound of the Realist is what it is. I ran it through a an Avalon U5 for a recording session once and it was an vast improvement over the signal alone, but not worth writing home about. If you want to protect your tone, then my recommendation would be to get a mic for those situations where you want to run FOH into the house. You can get a AMT used pretty reasonably these days even with the tailpiece mount, or a ATM that's even less expensive. Realists work much better into an amplifier for medium volume gigs. Just my opinion.

Ric
 
#9
Birdbass said:
Ric,

A DPA is also on my wishlist. Any experience with those?
Click to expand...

Birdbass,
Actually, I'm using a Ehrlund pickup these days for both amp and FOH, I do own a DPA 4099 it's the best mic I've ever used on my bass. Very accurate reproduction and great off axis rejection, with the new bass mount it positions nicely on my 5/8th's Mirecourt Bass. I ran it through a Headway EDB-1 into the amplifier, but it was pretty tricky to use with the amplifier sitting on the floor. Several TB er's have had good success running it into a QSC k10 on a pole mount.

Ric
 

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