Double Bass Stat B++

[mittenwald]

I've been using a single element Stat B pickup installed on the E-side, into a small two channel blending preamp to supply it's phantom power requirement for a while, with good results.

I didn't originally get the Schertler supplied preamp, as I already had bought the two channel LR Baggs Mix Pro a while ago.

I liked the single element Stat B so much I bought a spare, then out of curiosity tried both together one on each side, like the original Stat B vintage made famous by Charlie Haden.

The MixPro supplies power to both channels down a single RCA to 1/4" TRS stereo Y cable which is great. I blended them with equal gain, and tried different phase settings, and the result is excellent! It is a noticeable improvement over just one, somehow clearer and more even, especially on the G side. I think the phase switch really helps.

I'm going to try it on a gig soon, but so far I'm really happy with the Stat B++

 

[Ric Vice]

The first Stat B had a preamp that combined two of the new Stat B Elements so that’s the original design. They sounded great. I’m considering getting one it’s now called the Stat B Vintage. It helps to have a phase reverse, even even better with a variable phase like the EA Doubler.

 

[flatback]

yeah man this is the way to deal with two element pickups. I'll bet your Stat B++ sounds great...Try having one mixed 20% louder then the other...at least on my piezo pickups that seems to sound better...one dominant. I never tried wiring the Stat that way...One could do that into the Felix and have the one TRS cord split into the two channels with 12 volt going to each and then the phase reversed on one...

 

[mittenwald]

Try having one mixed 20% louder then the other...at least on my piezo pickups that seems to sound better...one dominant.

Mixing one louder than the other is a good idea! I’ll give that a go. I think I should probably mess with the EQ too. The Mixpro doesn’t give much flexibility in that regard, I bet a Felix or Headway would be a lot better!

I did a gig with it and I think it works. The drummer seemed to like it, I didn’t tell him I changed anything since last time where I tried to blend a mic with a single Stat B (too boomy), but he commented that he could hear me more clearly this time.

 

[vin*tone]

I wonder if flipping one of the pickups would do the same as a phase switch.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

I wonder if flipping one of the pickups would do the same as a phase switch.

No. It senses the pressure and this is the same for both orientations.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

I used two Stats for a short while but only mono as I didn’t have 2 phantom power sources. There was a bit of phasing and I felt that the single element did the job as well. I’d like to try it again as I have two channel amps now. Still need a second phantom.