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Double Bass Underwood pick up problem

K

ken marley

Feb 10, 2026
10
6
#1
Hi there

I am trying to get in touch with underwood pick up company in Southern California with no result so far.

I sent the email below to their [email protected] address

Anyone have any ideas ?

Hi there

My name is Ken Marley and I live in England the Uk near Manchester and have been a professional Double Bass player for over 40 years now. I have always used the same Underwood pick up for the entirety of that time with great results as I love the sound/reliability of your ‘amazing pick up’.

Just recently when I have been playing my double bass the sound has occasionally and intermittently ‘cut out’ or lost signal/sound.

Would you consider looking at my underwood pick up and servicing/repairing it for me please ?

I would post it to you safely and of course I would cover any costs incurred if you could advise me accordingly.

I hope you have time to read this email and help me as its the ‘uncertainty’ that the sound will ‘cut out’ when I am playing that makes me nervous when performing live.

Regards

Ken Marley
 
#4
Underwood was started, and was based for many decades, in Carmel Valley, CA (near Monterrey, CA) until recently - They now appear to be based in Southern California. (see website, No city specified).
I'd give them a few days to respond to your email, @ken marley...Their past history of Customer Service was extraordinary. I hope it still is.
Good Luck.
 
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#6
Jeff Kissell said:
When did you send the email? It's a family business and basically the two daughters are running it last I heard. They are very competent but it may take a week or so for them to get back to you.
Click to expand...
Thanks Jeff
I emailed 1st time a week ago then the second email ( the one I enclosed on this forum ) a few days ago.
I’ll try to be more patient.
Thanks for your advice and support.
Best wishes
Ken
 
#8
As with any small business it my just be that Don’s daughters have decided it’s time to “fold their ten’s and disappear into the night’.
Don’s original pickup was a godsend when it first appeared on the scene in the late 70’s I had one of the first ones in St.Louis courtesy of Bob Daugherty who brought 6 of them to local bassist Jerry Cherry. With the event of the Realist, Yamahiko, Upton, and Full Circle pickups I would imagine their sales have declined over the years since Don’s passing. Just my take however.
 
#9
Ric Vice said:
As with any small business it my just be that Don’s daughters have decided it’s time to “fold their ten’s and disappear into the night’.
Don’s original pickup was a godsend when it first appeared on the scene in the late 70’s I had one of the first ones in St.Louis courtesy of Bob Daugherty who brought 6 of them to local bassist Jerry Cherry. With the event of the Realist, Yamahiko, Upton, and Full Circle pickups I would imagine their sales have declined over the years since Don’s passing. Just my take however.
Click to expand...
Thank you Ric

Great historical info and my take is I’ll send another email in a weeks time and see what happens.

Best wishes

Ken
 
#12
lurk said:
I was a longtime Underwood guy too, and recently bought a Vic's Pickup. Cheap and has a lot of the qualities I liked about the Underwood. I have it on the G string side. Worth a shot maybe if you have no luck.
Click to expand...
Thanks Lurk for the info/advice and I’ll have a look at a ‘Vic’s pickup’.
I have a Planet Waves pick up which I was planning on using as a ‘Sub’ while my underwood was ‘on its travels to Southern California’ to get serviced/repaired.
But hey ho let’s see if I get a reply from Underwood first.
Best wishes
Ken
 
#15
ken marley said:
for over 40 years now. I have always used the same Underwood pick up for the entirety of that time
Click to expand...
With all due respect - 40yrs. of service out of an Underwood is pretty good(!). You should consider purchasing a new Underwood and eliminate any reliability concerns with a "repaired" piezo-type pickup.(The Electronic Nerdz here at TB have spoken of the finite longevity of piezo crystals in other Pickup threads here.)
So, Is Thomann a good Underwood source for you in the UK? (I had one exceptionally great transaction with them.) Or, you can purchase a new Underwood from Lemur Music - they have 1 in stock as of today 2/13.
They are also having a sale starting today "$25 off purchases of $150 or more."(See website)
Just a thought.
(FYI - I am not affiliated in any way with Lemur, I'm just another satisfied customer.)
Good Luck.
 
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#16
Once the internal leads on the Underwood that connect the piezo crystals start to degrade
there's not a lot you can do especially with a Underwood of that vintage. Over time they just wear out. I'm not certain
I'd waste my time trying to have it repaired. Seems better to just buy a new one if you can get it. The originals had
a bit larger crystals in between the the two brass plates and as a result they sounded a little different. I moved on to the Realist Life Line
on my backup bass recently and really like it. It's more focused, sounds far better with Arco, is easier to mount and remove and has
wider frequency response but thats with the three basses that I own and play regularly, so as with any pickup "results may vary. Some folks
have just turned there Underwood into a One-deer-wood by removing the G String Side from the yoke that connects it to the other side.
seems to work well for most that have done it. Don did not engineer or design the pickup to be used that way but "when in Rome"
 
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#17
Ric Vice said:
Once the internal leads on the Underwood that connect the piezo crystals start to degrade
there's not a lot you can do especially with a Underwood of that vintage. Over time they just wear out. I'm not certain
I'd waste my time trying to have it repaired. Seems better to just buy a new one if you can get it. The originals had
a bit larger crystals in between the the two brass plates and as a result they sounded a little different. I moved on to the Realist Life Line
on my backup bass recently and really like it. It's more focused, sounds far better with Arco, is easier to mount and remove and has
wider frequency response but thats with the three basses that I own and play regularly, so as with any pickup "results may vary. Some folks
have just turned there Underwood into a One-deer-wood by removing the G String Side from the yoke that connects it to the other side.
seems to work well for most that have done it. Don did not engineer or design the pickup to be used that way but "when in Rome"
Click to expand...
Thank you Ric

Once again amazing advice and support from ‘Our Bass Commnuity’.

I have a Planet Waves pick up which I can use as an alternative ( intending to do so while my Underwood was being looked at/serviced/repaired etc ) and it sits as a single Piezo Crystal plate into one wing space side of my bridge , usually the E string side. I have always used bridges without adjustable wheels and usually get them cut n fitted every few years etc This means I think ‘ having just looked at ‘Realist Life Line’ Pick up that or wouldn’t fit my bridge.

My feelings/thoughts at the moment are heading towards not purchasing a new Underwood pick up as with no reply as yet from the company suggests a lack of support but Im not ruling this route out yet as there may be other reasons for the company not to reply to my emails. Im going to give it another week or so and decide then.

Once again thank you Ric

Best wishes

Ken
 
#18
The Shadow SH-950 is similar to the Underwood (the SH951 is a single element version). The piezo elements inside are thick (I know this because I repaired a cable fault at the sensor twice, but I have the prototype).
No warranty but cheaper (specially the single element).
The sensor is a lot thicker than the Underwoods.
Just an idea if you cannot get a new Underwood or think it might be a bit too expensive without the service.
 
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#19
Okay folks I’ve decided to give up on a reply from Underwood regarding support for servicing/repairing my Underwood pick up and I am considering trying the Realist Woodtone Double Bass Pickup with Jack Mount Kit from Realist Woodtone Double Bass Pickup with Jack Mount Kit - Bass Bags Which is only 1 1/2 hours drive from my home near Manchester in the UK and they also fit it as well.

I would like to thank each and every one of you in ‘our Bass Community’ here on TB who have shared some amazing historical information/general advice and great kind words of wisdom too.

Maybe I am guilty of being too optimistic about repairing/servicing a 40 year old piezo crystal pick up and should just be happy I’ve had 40 years of great sound from this pick up.

Thank you all again and I am going to do some research on the Realist pickup above as this is a very big decision to make for me.

Best wishes

Ken
 
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