Double Bass The Realist Woodtone

[danielson]

Hi All,

I've been using the Realist Copperhead pickup for over a decade and it's about time to replace it (one of the two contact mics in the pickup has died so it needs extra gain, makes extra noise, etc.)

I'm generally happy with the sound of the Copperhead but can see that Realist also have a Woodtone option nowadays. As opposed to the Copperhead though, I couldn't for the life of me find ANY recordings of it online! Probably because it's less common..

Does anyone have this pickup and can give an opinion, or even better, record a little clip of it in action? The sound nuance is really important to me so any sample or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Daniel

 

[bassmanbrent]

I could be wrong, but I thought that the two pickups are the same with the only difference being the wood veneer on one of them. I always assumed that they sound the same.

 

[danielson]

I think they're very close but pretty sure they do sound different, based on what I read online (for example: Realist Copperhead or WoodTone for Bass — Vermont Violins.)

Yet so strange there are no videos/recordings of the Woodtone anywhere!

 

[Ric Vice]

Daniel,
If you have adjusters installed in your bridge, I'd suggest getting a Realist Life Line. It's easier to install, sounds like the Realist your used to with more clarity and better low end definition.
Just my take, I gave up on the under foot design and was very happy with the results. Just my take of course. The Realist Wood isn't something that I run into very often.

 

[bassically_eli]

Daniel,
If you have adjusters installed in your bridge, I'd suggest getting a Realist Life Line. It's easier to install, sounds like the Realist your used to with more clarity and better low end definition.
Just my take, I gave up on the under foot design and was very happy with the results. Just my take of course. The Realist Wood isn't something that I run into very often.

+1

 

[Gavin Shoesmith]

I’ve been using the Realist Woodtone for years!
I’m on my 2nd one.
In my humble opinion they are ever so slightly “woodier” than the Copperhead .
Also I found them to have a longer life span ( I went through 3 Copperheads in a couple of years).
But basically the same pickup with all of its inherent strengths and weaknesses.
I prefer the tone compared to the lifeline, but that is purely subjective!

 

[danielson]

Daniel,
If you have adjusters installed in your bridge, I'd suggest getting a Realist Life Line. It's easier to install, sounds like the Realist your used to with more clarity and better low end definition.
Just my take, I gave up on the under foot design and was very happy with the results. Just my take of course. The Realist Wood isn't something that I run into very often.

I don’t have adjusters unfortunately but that does sound really interesting.. this is a whole different conversation but would you but recommend installing them? Is it worth the investment?

 

[danielson]

I’ve been using the Realist Woodtone for years!
I’m on my 2nd one.
In my humble opinion they are ever so slightly “woodier” than the Copperhead .
Also I found them to have a longer life span ( I went through 3 Copperheads in a couple of years).
But basically the same pickup with all of its inherent strengths and weaknesses.
I prefer the tone compared to the lifeline, but that is purely subjective!

Very interesting.. I’m trying to imagine what ‘ever so slightly woodier’ would sound like!

Thank you Gavin. Also a bit cheeky to ask, but if you also have a moment to record a little example of the wood tone I’d be eternally grateful you’d be the first person on the internet to do so!

 

[lurk]

Whether o

I don’t have adjusters unfortunately but that does sound really interesting.. this is a whole different conversation but would you but recommend installing them? Is it worth the investment?

Whether or not you prefer the Lifeline or the Realist or some other pickup, you'll enjoy having bridge adjusters.

 

[Sean Riddle]

The Realist Woodtone was the only pickup I’ve had break on me. I got about a month or two out of mine, but eventually the pickup started buzzing and distorting. I took it off and found a slight tear in the pickup element. David Gage’s shop was really great and sent me a replacement Copperhead that worked well on my old Shen. Tone wise, I personally find the Copperhead the better of the two. I found the Woodtone to be a bit wooly and not as clear as the Copperhead.
However I do second the idea of adding adjusters and getting a Realist Lifeline. I’ve been using one off and on for nearly a decade and it’s still going strong. It has a clear and punchy sound and more feedback resistance than the Copperhead. Plus it seems really durable compared to the Copperhead as I’m coming up on a decade and the piezo crystals still don’t sound like they’re dying. Whereas as I know most people get a decade out of a Copperhead, which is still also a worthwhile investment and testament to the quality!

 

[bassically_eli]

I can't really imagine having a bass without adjusters. I don't change mine often, but they can be pretty critical when I do need to change them. Also, I think that is the sweet spot for a pickup--the Lifeline, Full Circle, and Yamahiko are some of the top pickups and all need bridge adjusters.

 

[Jeff Kissell]

I’ve used both though it’s been a while. The biggest difference honestly is the Woodtone is physically thicker and you might wanna add a shim under the G side bridge foot. While there is a difference, it’s so slight that by the time you’re playing through an amp with others and/or in a venue, you won’t be able to tell.

Regarding adjusters, if you are satisfied with your setup, don’t bother, especially is you are fine with the Realist. I have two bridges for my bass, one with an adjuster based pickup and one without for gut strings.

 

[Ric Vice]

Daniel,
If you have adjusters installed in your bridge, I'd suggest getting a Realist Life Line. It's easier to install, sounds like the Realist your used to with more clarity and better low end definition.
Just my take, I gave up on the under foot design and was very happy with the results. Just my take of course. The Realist Wood isn't something that I run into very often.

I don’t have adjusters unfortunately but that does sound really interesting.. this is a whole different conversation but would you but recommend installing them? Is it worth the investment?

Well if your happy with the bridge height(s) when the seasons change then perhaps not. There is the luthier fee and materials cost. I've had adjusters on my bass for a very long time and find them to be very practical and useful.

 

[danielson]

Thanks so much all. Some really good things to think about here.

I had a listen and agree the Lifeline generally sounds better - more balanced and well-rounded but still with the same old Realist character which I love. My pickup needs are relatively basic (I rarely play gigs nowadays so the bass mostly just stays in the studio for recordings) so I think this will all depend on the cost of adding adjusters. My luthier is on holiday until the end of the month so will wait and ask him what the damage would be. Will update....

 

[Endlesssolo]

Thanks so much all. Some really good things to think about here.

I had a listen and agree the Lifeline generally sounds better - more balanced and well-rounded but still with the same old Realist character which I love. My pickup needs are relatively basic (I rarely play gigs nowadays so the bass mostly just stays in the studio for recordings) so I think this will all depend on the cost of adding adjusters. My luthier is on holiday until the end of the month so will wait and ask him what the damage would be. Will update....

I have a lifeline. I bought a copperhead realist to try it out, knowing how popular they are. I ended up back with the lifeline after just a couple of days. It’s smoother, especially in the upper register. The realist has a nice punch and in some ways is more like the acoustic sound of the bass, but on my bass its a little uneven sounding, and there’s more low resonance to filter out when things get even just a little on the loud side, like any gig with a drummer. Overall I’ve found the lifeline to be more practical and less of a distraction. But there is no perfect pick up, and it sure varies from bass to bass.

When you have the adjusters installed, try to get the luthier to do it so that the lifeline will be on the underside of the adjuster instead of on top. I guess that means the threaded part of the adjuster goes up instead of down. Supposedly that makes the lifeline a little darker and ‘more open’ whatever that means.

 

[Ric Vice]

My adjusters are installed that way "by default" on my main instrument, perhaps someday I'll put a Life Line on that bass and see how it sounds. The Life Line is a step up from the Realist IMHO. Just my take however.