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Double Bass URB Pickups and Effects

petersenbass

petersenbass

Aug 16, 2001
1,449
1
Nashville, TN USA
www.facebook.com
#1
I love the sound of a acoustic bass.

That out of the way... for one project I'd be using a variety of effects on the URB: envelope filter, chorus, overdrive, and maybe a bass micro synth.
I already use a chorus with my URB. My URB is a chinese model that is pretty nice for the $500 I paid, and it came with a builtin mic and jack.
Do I have to use a magnetic pickup for some effects or will a decent piezo style work ok?

What other mag pups are out there besides the Scahller?

Will a Barcus Berry work well with effects?

I was thinking of blending the builtin mic with a magnetic pup or a Barcus Berry. I'm looking for minimal feedback. (of course)

Thanks in advance
 
#3
IME the best thing is to put some sort of buffered pedal in between the piezo and any other effects, in order to correct the impedance relationship between them. That buffer could be "just a buffer" like a small preamp circuit, or it could be a compressor, or an EQ; something ideally that you'd leave on all the time. Some pedals have a buffered bypass, so you'd get that benefit whether the effect was switched on or not, but I'd still recommend using something that you'd leave on which could provide a cut or boost in your signal level between the piezo and the other effects.
 
#10
Well I have the jflojazz pickup installed correctly, I got a preamp mounting kit fomr Bob Golliher, and mounted a Fishman Pro-EQ Preamp on my tailpiece.

I like the sound I'm getting,and there is no feedback at all of course. I'm still getting a little buzz. I can EQ the hum/buzz out pretty well, but I lose some sizzle. I guess It can't be grounded any better. Overall I'm happy...anyone have any tips to tame the buzz?
 
#11
For use I think the best to use a clear sounding pickup, Barcus Berry and Fishman will works ( I'm not shure in Schertler and Realistic). An electric upright sometimes could works better with effects than acoustic. In very rarely I used boss DD-3 delay and Reverb with acoustc upright, with Fishman full circle I didn't feel I need buffer preamp, but the effect pedals could be various input inpadence, as far as I know all the Boss pedals has 1 Mohm.
 
#12
I put my upright (using a K&K Bass Max/ K&K preamp setup) thru a Barge Concepts VB.Jr Effects Loop pedal (with the effects in the loop) and gotten far better results than if I had just gone straight into the effect. I think it's the buffers used in the Barge pedal that really help. The effects pedals (BassBalls, Boss Chorus, Boss Octave) all seemed to respond better and have a more usable range of effect.

Barge Concepts are great pedals made by great guys. I don't work for them and I'm not endorsed by them - just a very happy customer.
 

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