Double Bass Revolution SOLO Pickup Reviews

[Bruce Lindfield]

Bruce,

Have you tried it with your amp yet?

I hate Christmas!!

My business goes mad, there is no spare time and if so, this is used to buy gifts for family and friends! And all the people I usually play music with, are the same ...

It should get back to normal now - but last Friday I managed to strain my back and now I can't lift anything or do much at all without being in agony!!

 

[PB+J]

I've had this pickup on my bass, a 7/8 Shen flatback, for a while now, since I got the bass, and I have to say i really dislike it. I keep trying to get a good sound with it, but all I get is piezo quack and string noise and a cold, unacoustic sound. There's a thump that gets in the way of the note, and it's really boomy as well. I've tried moving it around, I've tried different preamps (Raven labs PMBI, Sans amp paradriver, Avalon U5)--I usually run it into the avalon, which worked great with the full circle I had on my old bass. All I get with the rev solo is nasty thump, string noise, and piezo quack. I really hate it, and I've been trying to deny that for a while becasue the reviews on it are so good. Maybe I just installed it badly, but there's a good tight fit--snug but easy to move. The bass is a fully carved bass with a really nice acoustic sound, none of which comes through.

I didn't try the full circle on this bass, but I can't live with what this thing sounds like. Am I doing something wrong?

 

[Huy Nguyen]

just curious: do you have any output issues with the pickup? Do you have to turn up loud to hear it?

 

[drurb]

I've had this pickup on my bass, a 7/8 Shen flatback, for a while now, since I got the bass, and I have to say i really dislike it. I keep trying to get a good sound with it, but all I get is piezo quack and string noise and a cold, unacoustic sound. There's a thump that gets in the way of the note, and it's really boomy as well. I've tried moving it around, I've tried different preamps (Raven labs PMBI, Sans amp paradriver, Avalon U5)--I usually run it into the avalon, which worked great with the full circle I had on my old bass. All I get with the rev solo is nasty thump, string noise, and piezo quack. I really hate it, and I've been trying to deny that for a while becasue the reviews on it are so good. Maybe I just installed it badly, but there's a good tight fit--snug but easy to move. The bass is a fully carved bass with a really nice acoustic sound, none of which comes through.

I didn't try the full circle on this bass, but I can't live with what this thing sounds like. Am I doing something wrong?

Have you tried flipping it over in the bridge wing?

 

[TroyK]

I've had this pickup on my bass, a 7/8 Shen flatback, for a while now, since I got the bass, and I have to say i really dislike it. I keep trying to get a good sound with it, but all I get is piezo quack and string noise and a cold, unacoustic sound. There's a thump that gets in the way of the note, and it's really boomy as well. I've tried moving it around, I've tried different preamps (Raven labs PMBI, Sans amp paradriver, Avalon U5)--I usually run it into the avalon, which worked great with the full circle I had on my old bass. All I get with the rev solo is nasty thump, string noise, and piezo quack. I really hate it, and I've been trying to deny that for a while becasue the reviews on it are so good. Maybe I just installed it badly, but there's a good tight fit--snug but easy to move. The bass is a fully carved bass with a really nice acoustic sound, none of which comes through.

I didn't try the full circle on this bass, but I can't live with what this thing sounds like. Am I doing something wrong?

I had the same experience and think I posted elsewhere, but I've tried not to rain on this thread's parade. I had it on for a while and took it to rehearsals, where it got universally shat upon by those that I play with. I A/B'ed with my Realist and quickly went back to the Realist.

I won't say that it was just terrible, but it sounded like a bridge wing pickup to me. Some people like that sound, I don't happen to, definitely not "my bass only louder". I fit it carefully and tried it mounted both ways and in a few different positions.

I want to like something better than the Realist without going to a mic or spending a mint, but I haven't found it yet. I'm curious why reviews are so different, but it could just be what people are listening for.

-tk

 

[PB+J]

I also don't want to claim anyone else is wrong, just that it's not working for me. It's plenty loud, but woofy and thuddy and clacky. I've got it in what I think is the best postition and I've found a setting on the avalon that works; if I turn the tweeter off on the cab it's not too bad but I'm always fighting it

 

[Huy Nguyen]

I'm curious why reviews are so different, but it could just be what people are listening for.

I think it has to do alot with how your bridge wing is shaped. IMO, if my bridge wing was completely flat on both sides that contacted RS, I probably wouldn't get a very good sound. And since everybody's bridges are shaped slightly different, it could explain why we get so many varying results. Eventually, there would have to be several people out there, maybe like yourself, who just couldn't make it work for their basses.

I mean, look at the fact that you have to sand the pickup by hand down to the right width. That in itself would make it really hard to consistently similar results between users and basses.

 

[TroyK]

I think it has to do alot with how your bridge wing is shaped. IMO, if my bridge wing was completely flat on both sides that contacted RS, I probably wouldn't get a very good sound. And since everybody's bridges are shaped slightly different, it could explain why we get so many varying results. Eventually, there would have to be several people out there, maybe like yourself, who just couldn't make it work for their basses.

I mean, look at the fact that you have to sand the pickup by hand down to the right width. That in itself would make it really hard to consistently similar results between users and basses.

That actually makes a lot of sense to me. When I was dreaming of it, I had this vision of a nice custom fit to my bridge. When I was fitting it, I realized that the edges of my bridge wings weren't parallel to one another, so it wouldn't fit consistently on both sides. I used the provided sand paper and a small, smooth sanding block. Sanded in tiny increments, tried it, sanded, tried it, until I was sure I had the optimal fit.

-tk

 

[drurb]

...
I won't say that it was just terrible, but it sounded like a bridge wing pickup to me. Some people like that sound, I don't happen to...

Well, I think this more a matter of variance in fit and interaction with the bass than personal preference. On my bass, it does not sound at all like a typical bridge-wing pickup. It produces the most natural acoustic sound I've experienced short of a microphone.

I want to like something better than the Realist without going to a mic or spending a mint, but I haven't found it yet. I'm curious why reviews are so different, but it could just be what people are listening for.

-tk

See above.

 

[AMJBASS]

I like the sound of the Revolution Solo for the most part. The only real problem I have is that I am getting a lot of sub frequencies coming out and it it is working the driver in my Acme way too hard.

 

[Larry Holloway]

I received my Revolution Solo a fews days ago & spent over an hour making a 'perfect' fit. My bridge is set up for an Underwood. I was very meticulous & sanded it to 5mm using calipers. It comes at 7mm. I bought it from Upton Bass. When I spoke to Eric, he mentioned it was made thick enough to sand down to Underwood thickness. Instructions say don't sand below 4mm.
As hdiddy said: "It has a lot to do with the way your bridge wing is shaped". The sound I got was very natural and more centered than the Realist I tried a few months ago. I also preferred it to my Underwood, but it lacked the volume output I require.
Even though it's been sanded, I did list it in the classifieds. I'm just trying to cut my (GAS) losses. Otherwise it will end up in my string drawer.

 

[Huy Nguyen]

Ok, now I can compare it to a mic. I picked up an ATM-35 from a fellow TBer. The RS comes very close to the mic in the lower register. But it's still too anemic in the upper registers for me.

The ATM is full bodied through and through. Every little nuance I like comes out. But it doesn't have the oomph that a pickup like the RS does. The RS definitely has more output than the mic does tho - much more it seems.

Still, I prefer the mic to the RS. Sorry guys. I'm thinking about mixing the two so I might have to shop for a blender soon. I'd reinforce the sound of the mic with the RS. I've only played the mic in my studio so I haven't really dealt with feedback onstage and bleed from other players. Still, the RS is the best pickup I've owned so far. I'm done buying pickups/mics for now.

 

[EvanGregor]

you can see a picture of them here
http://www.planetwaves.com/Pcablesdetails.aspx?ID=1

the male end must be slightly shorter or fit differently with the circuit breaker there, though this is the first pickup of various pickups/ebs i've used with a problem. obviously not the biggest drawback in the world, but i like these cords because i can switch between electric/acoustic without people having to mute if it is a sound system thing or turning down amps etc.

I have not seen one of these planet waves cords before, but had a customer have a similar problem with it. His planet waves cord actually damaged the connector to the point where the internal points of the RS adaptor broke.

Can you tell me what it so different about these planet waves plugs?

 

[EvanGregor]

Anyone else have an issue with the G string being especially soft with this pickup? i lose a lot especially around the D-F area which usually projects really well, and it's definitely a drag.

maybe this is typical of a wing pickup because it's on the E side? although i used a bass master pro before, that pickup blends with piezo's under each string so i got a nice string to string balance, and the realist didnt have this problem. thanks for any advice

 

[Randy Ward]

I have not seen one of these planet waves cords before, but had a customer have a similar problem with it. His planet waves cord actually damaged the connector to the point where the internal points of the RS adaptor broke.

Can you tell me what it so different about these planet waves plugs?

eroy
That right there is enough for me to give my planet waves cables all away. I have three without the mute switch thingy. all work fine on the realist and BG. They don't seem to make contact with the RS 1/4 adapter.
I think the problem is the "8 compression springs" described on the page that edge83 listed. Been using cables with Belden connectors and no problems.

you can see a picture of them here
http://www.planetwaves.com/Pcablesdetails.aspx?ID=1

the male end must be slightly shorter or fit differently with the circuit breaker there, though this is the first pickup of various pickups/ebs i've used with a problem. obviously not the biggest drawback in the world, but i like these cords because i can switch between electric/acoustic without people having to mute if it is a sound system thing or turning down amps etc.

 

[Ric Vice]

Well Folks,
When it comes to fitting a pickup, I have to hand that over to my trusty luthier. I'm not one to go carving on the bridge or sanding down the wood on a pickup that I payed @$100.00 for. I'm looking forward to trying it out on a gig soon, but since the bass in in for it's yearly checkup I won't see it for a few days. I'll be practicing on my wife's bass until mine is ready.

Ric

 

[stockbass]

I've just installed the rev on my new bass (see thread http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=219396).

First I tried it on my second bass, a 19-century bohemian full scale bass with spirocores. The instrument is dark and a little veiled but even and a good player. I have a realist on that bass which works really well. It's very true to the characteristics and works fantastic with the bow - which is important for me. On that instrument the rev. didn't workl. The sound was colored in a bad way and not very strong. The bow sound was not ok.

But on my new bass the rev. works much better (I'm playing in my living room, direct in a gk 150). I have not yet tried to find that sweet spot that has been spoken of here on this thread. The sound is much more true on this bass. Compared to the wilson pu I must say that initially I find the rev. a bargain. The volume is perhaps 50-70 percent of the wilson, but not a real problem. It has more air than the wilson and is not nearly as compressed (don't know if that's good or bad). It will be interesting to see how it works with the bow and in live situations. Will post a follow up on that.

/TD (who still thinks that the realist is better a better match than wilson or the rev.)

 

[bob denard]

Hi everybody,
Reading this thread and others on TB i decided to change my FWF pickup for a RS. I bought in a shop in London almost two months ago and had it installed this week by a luthier.
I'm not pleased with the sound ; although it has a bit more clarity and is not as caricatural as my previous pickup, it is still quite nasal and boomy and far, far away from a mic. I tried flipping it and it sounds a bit better with the R facing the strings.
I read in this thread the fit should be snug but not too tight. The luthier installed it pretty much the same way he did with the other pickup, which i think is quite tight : if i try to get it out by pushing with my index finger alone, it resists and then move by, say, 3 or 4 mm. As for the shape of the wing slot, i can't really tell as the pickup is tight and can't move at all in its slot. The luthier did not touch the RS and only sanded the bridge.
Could that be the source of having a bad sound ? Do you think i should file the bridge or the RS some more ?


Thanks everybody for your opinion !
Cheers,
Bob

 

[bolo]

Bob, I would experiment with moving the pickup around ever so slightly, and check out a variety of positions in the wing slot if you haven't already. IME you don't always necessarily get the best sound when it is perfectly square in the slot.

[ EDIT: I would recommend using a sharp pencil and tracing the outline of the bridge wing on the p/u itself first. Then you can always go back to your original position after experimenting. ]

Try it off center. Try spinning it so it looks like a diamond instead of a square (i.e. 45 degrees). Try the "R" symbol facing the strings, then facing the table. The possibilities are ... a lot. When you hit a real sweet spot, you will almost undoubtedly hear the difference. That's been my experience anyway.

The question of how snug and how much to sand is the real tricky part. I am on my second RS now, because I simply sanded my first one down too far. I liked the RS so much though that I have fitted the second one, and I am sending the first one back to be reconditioned, so I can start all over again a third time if I choose.

Based on your description, I think mine is fit slightly looser than yours. I can push mine out of position without too much effort. I think if the fit is too tight, it will sound "tight" and nasally.

I would sand the p/u instead of the wing slot, but that's just my opinion. On my last go round I did spend a good deal of time sanding my wing slot to make sure the surface planes of the bridge wing and foot were as close to parallel as I could get before I started sanding down the pickup.

 

[bassmonkey144]

would anybody recomend a certain preamp for the solo? I have one, and through certain amps, it sounds wonderful. I was recently at Purdue with my highschool jazz band, and in the warmup room they gave us, there was a GK for the bass player to use. I plugged in and it sounded spectacular, although i had to turn it up a lot. On my schools SWR, I have to turn up a lot, and no amount of EQing can get close to what i got with the GK. I'm assuming it's b/c the onboard preamp for the amplifiers were different. So, I need a preamp, but I'm not sure what to get. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.