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Double Bass Two pickups & mixer/blender

Chace90

Chace90

Supporting Member
Feb 1, 2002
1,813
1,307
Denver, CO
#1
Ok, so I can't seem to find much discussion about this. If anyone knows of some threads that would be relevant, please post!

I have an Underwood and a Realist installed on my DB. For a long time now, I've just used the Realist when playing live. However, I'm interested in trying out some sort of option that would allow me to use both pickups blended together. I sometimes think the Realist lacks high end, but the Underwood lacks low end and fullness on my bass.

Does anyone do something similar by blending two pickups together. I've been looking at the K&K Dual Channel PRO-ST preamp do accomplish this, but I can't find any reviews or user stories. I realize many probably use that or something similar to blend a pickup and a mic, but I don't own a mic, nor do I wish to shell out for one at this time. Thoughts? Does anyone do this? :)
 
#2
I was thinking of doing the same thing. A friend has a "Whirlwind Selector AB Box" that works well. You can switch between the 2 pickups (that is what he does, one for pizz one for arco) or you can run both. You can't alter the levels of the two inputs, its just an AB box. It is very quiet, there is no "pop" when you AB and there seems to be no loss of signal. I think it is less than $100.
 
#3
Chace90 said:
Ok, so I can't seem to find much discussion about this. If anyone knows of some threads that would be relevant, please post!

I have an Underwood and a Realist installed on my DB. For a long time now, I've just used the Realist when playing live. However, I'm interested in trying out some sort of option that would allow me to use both pickups blended together. I sometimes think the Realist lacks high end, but the Underwood lacks low end and fullness on my bass.

Does anyone do something similar by blending two pickups together. I've been looking at the K&K Dual Channel PRO-ST preamp do accomplish this, but I can't find any reviews or user stories. I realize many probably use that or something similar to blend a pickup and a mic, but I don't own a mic, nor do I wish to shell out for one at this time. Thoughts? Does anyone do this? :)
Click to expand...

Unless you planned to wire the two pickups together, you'd want the non ST version of that preamp. For comparison purposes, it's pretty much the same preamp used in the other K&K systems with two pickups or pickup and mic, like the Bass Master Pro, Bass Master Rockabilly, Golden Trinity, etc. One of the things I like about Link Removed is their internal trimmer, so you can adjust the individual channel gain so the two can put out the same volume at identical volume knob positions, so you can visually set your blend.

In any case, you may also want to consider the Link Removed and Link Removed, both will also do the job albeit with more bells and whistles. You'll find comments on all of the above elsewhere on TB.

I think you're wise to consider combining the two pickups to supplement each other. I've come to enjoy having either two pickups or a mic and pickup on my basses for most situations.
 
#4
There was an interesting suggestion in another thread about blending your second pickup by using the effects return input on your amp and using the effects level knob (if your amp has any of this) to control the mix between the "dry" signal (pickup #1) and the "effects" signal (pickup #2).

I've never tried this so I don't know how well it works, but it seemed like an insightful trick. I'm sure the TB'er who first posted it could tell you more.
 
#5
dperrott said:
I was thinking of doing the same thing. A friend has a "Whirlwind Selector AB Box" that works well. You can switch between the 2 pickups (that is what he does, one for pizz one for arco) or you can run both. You can't alter the levels of the two inputs, its just an AB box. It is very quiet, there is no "pop" when you AB and there seems to be no loss of signal. I think it is less than $100.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I can do that with my A/B/Y box. I need the ability to blend as both pickups have different volume levels. With that solution, one pickup would invariably overpower the other.
 
#6
Bob Gollihur said:
Unless you planned to wire the two pickups together, you'd want the non ST version of that preamp.
Click to expand...

Could you use a cable built with a similar concept as this?

Pretty sure I could easily take a stereo cable (hot, cold, ground) and wire it up to 3 different 1/4" male plugs. One end would be stereo, and the other two would be mono (like an instrument cable). It would eliminate the need and clutter of two 1/4" cables running from the pickups to the preamp. Is this even possible?
 
#7
Chace90 said:
Could you use a cable built with a similar concept as this?

Pretty sure I could easily take a stereo cable (hot, cold, ground) and wire it up to 3 different 1/4" male plugs. One end would be stereo, and the other two would be mono (like an instrument cable). It would eliminate the need and clutter of two 1/4" cables running from the pickups to the preamp. Is this even possible?
Click to expand...

Yes, that would work, assuming you were
mounting the preamp on the bass, though the level of clutter might be somewhat similar. ;) If you were using the preamp off the bass, you'd then need a stereo extension cable to lead from the Y-cable's output plug to the preamp input.
 
#8
if you're using a dual channel blender make sure the input impedances are the same or similar. with the raven labs i use the 2nd channel is a much lower input impedance and is not suitable for piezo pickup. when i want to blend 2 piezo's i just use a $15 art 4 channel passive mixer and i use a seperate preamp for each pickup going into the mixer (i have tons of preamps from trying out so many over the years). i dont know if the k&k units have channels with the same input impedance, but that would be a nice feature.
if i'm blending a magnetic and a piezo then the raven labs blender is fine, although it still would have been a better option to have two high impdeance inputs because i magnetic pickup can function well with either high or low input impedance, but a piezo generally does not.
 
#10
If I were doing this, I think I would get fancy and wire the two PUs into one stereo jack so that you could carry the signal off the bass with a single TRS cable.

It would drive me nuts having two cables hanging off the bass. But, my acoustic guitar has the K&K Western rig. the mic and PUs run to the preamp with a TRS cable. It is clean and as neat as a common patch cord.
 
#13
I used to blend my Underwood and Realist with a
Raven Labs blender. It did exactly what you're looking
for. Now I use a Full Circle (pickup mounted down)
instead of the Realist, with the Underwood. Much better!
I'm sure the the D-tar would be fine. I've not heard any
negative comments on the eq points. You can ask Bob
(all hail) about that. I'm sure he would know better than me.
Bottom line is, I think you would be happy blending the
pickups.
 
#14
You can always use the EQ on your amp behind the Solstice too, although it would effect both input signals.

That unit has a pretty nice set of output routing features too - channel 1 (XLR), or channel 2 (XLR), or both channels blended (XLR and 1/4"). Plus independent phase reversal switches for each channel.

When using a mic with it, I've found that the mid EQ control is very effective for controlling feedback (the high pitched electronic kind).
 
#15
shwashwa said:
i dont know if the k&k units have channels with the same input impedance, but that would be a nice feature.
Click to expand...
Good point. I have used two of the K&K stereo preamps, the one that comes with the Link Removed and the one that comes with the Link Removed. Very convenient to have a small preamp unit that you can clip to your belt or your music stand, with volume knobs for each channel within easy reach, and internal trim pots for fine tuning EQ for each channel.
 
#16
I made my own blender here it is having sex with an AKG transmitter bug :)

akg.jpg
 
#17
I blend a Planet wing and a full circle on one bass and a Rev Solo and a full circle on another bass. I use one of the old fishman pocket blenders. It has phase reverse on both channels which I find come's in handy when running two pu's at the same time. Sometimes I will use only one of the pu's but it's nice to have the option to check which one works best for the room without having to unplug anything. And by dialing in more highs on the wing pu's and a a little more low's on the full circle I can get a pretty good ballanced sound. I have the pu's going to a stereo jack behind my tailpiece then I run a stereo cord to the blender which sits on my amp. I don't like having preamps attached to my bass. If it's a really big stage and my amp is a long ways back I just keep the blender close to me on a stand.
 
#18
I have recently been using my underwood and string charger combined with only a jack from radioshack that accepts two and puts out one like discussed earlier.

It's a little crude, but very cost effective. I have the two channel K&K, but for me right now this simpler way has been working better. I then plug it into an old fishman bp preamp.

I've been able to match the volumes by adjusting the distance I place the stringcharger from the strings.
With the realist and underwood it wouldn't be that simple but...If you had two single channel preamps you would be able to come out of them with the combined jack and then go to the amp. HAHA

This is some silly stuff...best of luck.
 

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