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Double Bass Realist Problems

dkziemann

dkziemann

Dec 13, 2007
483
225
Vienna, Austria
www.dannyziemann.com
Disclosures
Endorsed by D'Addario
#1
Hi Everyone,

I'm sorry, as I'm sure this issue has been addressed before-- (yes, I did a quick search, but I'm going to ask anyways in hopes of more direct answers).

I'm a Junior at Eastman (in jazz bass performance), and have had my realist for about 4 years. Up until 3 months ago, everything with my pickup was sounding great-- full, round accurate sound. When things started to change, it seems like all the focus has been lost and there is NO bottom end whatsoever.

I'm running a 3/4 carved bass with mittel spircores and an Acoustic Image series III combo. I run my amp settings with the bass about 1/2 way up and treble/mids down pretty low. Before you say anything about my amp/settings being the problem, it is NOT the problem. I had my amp serviced by Acoustic Image at the beginning of the tone problem (new woofer, preamp, pink noise test), and it has held up since.

I tried a different bass (but comparable in sound quality; had a realist) today at my lesson through my amp, and the sound difference was amazing. My bass literally sounded like it was half the volume of the other bass. We tried swapping cables, all sorts of tone settings, and the difference was very apparent.


I'm pretty convinced that it's my realist, but I'm unsure if there is anything that can be done. Is there any chance that it can be repaired? I don't have the warranty information with me, but I can't imagine that it would extend for anything past 1 year. I'm in a pretty poor financial situation right now (just like everyone else, I'm sure) so I'm trying to cover all my options. I'd like to stick with the realist and not switch to the Underwood, and absolutely not switch to the Fishman.

Am I basically SOL?
 
#2
Take a look at your bridge - has it started to "lean" a little (usually toward the fingerboard, due to constant tuning up, the bridge can get pulled towards the fb.) You need good, flat contact for the Realist to excel. Plus, you don't want the bridge going non-perpendicular, anyway...
 
#3
Realists seem to last about four years and when they go, they lose bottom end and output. I have one that sounds like you describe.
There was a thread somewhere that indicated compression of the element as the reason for failure. No way to repair. It's a nice sounding pickup.
 
#4
sixandeightstringer said:
Take a look at your bridge - has it started to "lean" a little (usually toward the fingerboard, due to constant tuning up, the bridge can get pulled towards the fb.) You need good, flat contact for the Realist to excel. Plus, you don't want the bridge going non-perpendicular, anyway...
Click to expand...

Went in to my Luthier's shop about a week ago to have him check my soundpost and mentioned the realist issue. The bridge was leaning a slight bit, but even after he moved the sound didn't change.
 
#6
dkziemann said:
Hi Everyone,

........ and have had my realist for about 4 years. Up until 3 months ago, everything with my pickup was sounding great-- full, round accurate sound. When things started to change, it seems like all the focus has been lost and there is NO bottom end whatsoever.


I'm pretty convinced that it's my realist, but I'm unsure if there is anything that can be done. Is there any chance that it can be repaired? I don't have the warranty information with me, but I can't imagine that it would extend for anything past 1 year. I'm in a pretty poor financial situation right now (just like everyone else, I'm sure) so I'm trying to cover all my options. I'd like to stick with the realist and not switch to the Underwood, and absolutely not switch to the Fishman.

Am I basically SOL?
Click to expand...

There is a old thread floating around talkbass where a rep from David Gage fessed up to the issue very honestly. Essentially it says that on certian basses, the Realist only lasts about 4 years. I assume when you're talking about the Fishman you mean the BP-100 not the Full Circle which gets good marks around TBass unless you are doing a lot of bowing with the pickup. Incedentially, there's also a thread on how to make your own DIY pickup like the Realist, it's really amazing how inexpensive the actually parts are, as long as you are technically inclined.

Ric
 
#7
I have my Realist for about 10 years now and no problem. I have two more Realists on my other basses and have never experienced any issue.
Interesting thing is that each Realist sound little different, according to the period in which it was made. The new generation sounds close to the very original version, in the meantime they made some totally different sounding model (bright and very hot), which I didn't like so much.
Anyway, from time to time is good to reposition the pickup a little - just move it slightly aside. My theory is that the pickup dig holes under it's piezo elements and when the holes are deep enough, there is not enough pressure, therefore the sound changes. Just my theory...
 
#9
I just switched back from FC to Realist on my old flatback. As clear as the FC sounds, it has that nasty quack and isn't good under the bow. The Realist is almost mic-like on this bass. Very natural, full and warm. It wasn't working well with the Markbass, but the GK150 is a good match.
I bought this Realist a couple years ago and it has the two round elements.
 
#10
Hello to all,
since some weeks I'm having problems with my sound.
I use a Realist since 2 years and half, and I was very happy with it.
Suddenly my sound changed, loosing bottom and midium/high frequencies as "dkziemann" described...

I tried to work on the bridge, but it was all ok.
I was thinking that the problem was the strings... (that need to be changed anyway...) but I've tried another old set and the sound did not change at all.

So... can you confirm me that the realist could have a so short life...?
I'm really surprised about it...

Thanks in advance to all.
 
#12
In the three years since the above post, the Realist died and I bought the wood version. It's been on over a year and I like it. It sounds like a Realist. I've had two die on me and they go quickly once they sound bad. Check to be sure of the fit and replace it if the fit is good because it's on borrowed time.
 

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