Double Bass talk me out of a dyn-b!

[Tbeers]

I think you're going to be pretty happy with it coming from bridge wing pickups. Is the Dyn-B better? Who knows? We've read people who have said yes, we've read people who have said no, we've read people who have said, "yes, but it's not worth the extra money". I think you'll be happy.

I'm getting close to resigning from the amp/pickup pursuit. What I'm realizing is that every set up sounds great in some situations and is challenged in others. I just don't know if there is an ultimate solution. Some are certainly better than others, but I think that amplifying the double bass, dragging it around town and playing with different groups in different rooms at different volumes is just going to be a bit problematic.

I feel like I'm pretty close with my Realist/GK MB150. I'm not out of the game yet, but my motive to throw down more and more money in search of "the sound" is waning.

Let us know how you like it.

Troy

Sometimes I am very tempted to go back to using an Underwood pickup. The Stat-B has brought too much fuss to my rig. I think most players will eventually settle on whatever presents the least hassle while still delivering a good enough sound.

 

[PB+J]

This is exactly what I love about the Avalon U5--it delivers a good solid sound and the lack of tweakability is actually a relief. I mean, sometimes I'm playing and I think "oh, I need more low midrange," but there's really nothing to tweak except my fingers, which is what I should be doing anyway. At one point I had a raven labs PMB1 and a K+K bassmax/mic combo, and I swear between every song I was always tweaking the eq of each channel, or the balance of each pickup, or the gain to each, or reversing the phase, and never concentrating on what I was playing and more important, how what I was playing really sounded as opposed to how the rig sounded, if that makes any sense. That rig could sound good if you really fussed with itm, and boy, did I ever. With the Avalon I've got a good signal to the amp or the PA, and I can set it to what sounds good in the room and do the rest with "digital eq" meaning the ten digits on my hands.

 

[TroyK]

This is exactly what I love about the Avalon U5--it delivers a good solid sound and the lack of tweakability is actually a relief. I mean, sometimes I'm playing and I think "oh, I need more low midrange," but there's really nothing to tweak except my fingers, which is what I should be doing anyway. At one point I had a raven labs PMB1 and a K+K bassmax/mic combo, and I swear between every song I was always tweaking the eq of each channel, or the balance of each pickup, or the gain to each, or reversing the phase, and never concentrating on what I was playing and more important, how what I was playing really sounded as opposed to how the rig sounded, if that makes any sense. That rig could sound good if you really fussed with itm, and boy, did I ever. With the Avalon I've got a good signal to the amp or the PA, and I can set it to what sounds good in the room and do the rest with "digital eq" meaning the ten digits on my hands.

You're going to be happy with the Realist then. It sounds very good, but it's not real tweakable. You put it on and forget about it for years. No pre-amp unless you just happen to be into pre-amps or your amp requires it.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I think most players will eventually settle on whatever presents the least hassle while still delivering a good enough sound.

This is exactly why I settled for the Full Circle as the pickup half of my blended sound. It's always on the bass, can't come loose or fall off, and sounds good enough for me to get the rest with my fingers. I don't think we'll ever get "perfection", but everyone has their own "good enough" line that must be drawn in the sand.

 

[dpc]

I tried a Dyn-B and really liked it at first but I found it has problems with really resonant basses. I have mine set up for maximum acoustic output and I like the soundpost on the loose side- the dyn B does not. So if you set up your bass to get the best sound out of the PU It can work. It also has problems with resonance comming from drums or anything else that gets the top of the bass vibrating. Also I found the sound of the dyn-B emphasizing too much midrange and that was recording direct as well as plaing through nice amps like a clarus plus an EA VL2x8.I tried it on a few other basses with the same result.The highs are really sweet and strong though. The Dyn-B also amplifies any barely audible buzz, which since I live in Colorado is almost a seasonal problem considering there is no humidity here. I would go for the stat-B plus a mic.- David

 

[PB+J]

well I just got the realist and put it on and it is SO MUCH better than the Rev. Solo was. It's very warm-sounding for a piezo and seems even across the strings; it's deep but not boomy. It's just as described here--it's not "my bass only louder" but it's a very good sound that will work. I like it--thanks for all the advice

One it's--it's ugly--can they be trimmed to fit the bass foot?

 

[Tbeers]

One it's--it's ugly--can they be trimmed to fit the bass foot?

Eh... I would leave it as is.

Glad you like the Realist! I would go back to using mine, but I need something that can come off the bass quickly and easily. Also, I was always worried about denting the top of my instrument since it is so valuable.

Does anyone know a pickup that is easy to put on and take off, but is also hassle free and has a decent sound? Maybe I should look into a Rev Solo....

 

[PB+J]

I detested the rev solo, could not get a decent sound out of it. I liked the Fishman full circle much better, but it's not easy on/easy off

How about the Dyn-B? (!)


I had a short time this afternoon to screw around with the realist--I tried it with a compressor (an aphex punch factory, which i happen to have) and it sounded very good. The Aphex was overcompressing, but a compressor that was more subtle would go a long way towards smoothing out some of the piezo artifacts without crushing the sound. Realist---punch factory---AvalonU5---focus SA--Aggie GS112 cab. It would be a very effective live sound for me if I could add just a hair of compression maybe....

 

[TroyK]

PB+J, I'm glad you like the Realist. As much as I tend to look over the wall, I'm quite happy with it. 4 years later, it's everything I want it to be.

T-Beers, maybe the stat-b would be a good choice for you? It's fitting by shaping a cork and can just be eased out when not in use. How about a mic? Can't get easier to remove than that.

 

[Tbeers]

T-Beers, maybe the stat-b would be a good choice for you? It's fitting by shaping a cork and can just be eased out when not in use. How about a mic? Can't get easier to remove than that.

Funny you should mention the Stat-B... it is what I am currently using. I like the tone in general, but fitting it has been a pain in the arse. It goes on differently every time and I have found that the sound is not consistent. Also, I can't get a snug enough fit, since my bridge wing hole is actually too large for it. I had a luthier make a wedge but that hasn't really solved anything... the pickup falls out if I dig in too much during a solo. Happened several times during my New Years Eve gig. Embarassing and frustrating problem... almost made me wish I were using my old BP-100.

Anyway, I won't hijack any more of this thread hehe.

 

[TroyK]

Funny you should mention the Stat-B... it is what I am currently using. I like the tone in general, but fitting it has been a pain in the arse. It goes on differently every time and I have found that the sound is not consistent. Also, I can't get a snug enough fit, since my bridge wing hole is actually too large for it. I had a luthier make a wedge but that hasn't really solved anything... the pickup falls out if I dig in too much during a solo...

That's a shame. This is one of the pickups that I really want to like. I had one for a week or less and was able to return it. I've thought of trying it again, because I want to believe. Comes back to the Realist as a solid, reliable standard.

...almost made me wish I were using my old BP-100...

Now you're just talking crazy.

Anyway, I won't hijack any more of this thread hehe.

Not to worry, this thread is deader than...thought of a joke that would only make sense to about 4 people and might offend someone. Glad I stopped myself since none of those people read this forum and people who get offended sometimes do. But it's dead. PB+J asked us to talk him out of a Dyn-B, we did and he's happy with his new pickup. Neatly resolved just like a sitcom.

 

[Andy Allen]

It's over? I Think Not!

I don't hear no fat lady singing!

 

[Ivandovich]

I use a mixer and mix The Schertler dyn-b with the realist, it works well.
It gives the sound a bit of air, and takes away from the "choked" quality of the realist.