Double Bass Using both a Realist and Full Circle

[B String]

Has anyone installed both a Full Circle and a Realist on the same bass? If so... how? I would have to put the Realist under the E side of the bridge, under the Full Circle to get the lows. Can this work or would I loose output and lows from the Full Circle on the E string side?

 

[Wasnex]

Do you mean a Copperhead or LifeLine?

If you want to install the Full Circle and Copperhead, I don't see any conflict. Not necessarily saying it's going to sound great as there is likely to be a bit of phasing/destructive interference between two pickups.

If you mean Full Circle and LifeLine...might work. LifeLine would essentially need to fit on the Full Circle.

Full Circle

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

LifeLine

Probably less chance of phasing because the two pickups are practically collocated.

IMHO, try both and just use the one you prefer.

If you go for it, I suggest trying to assess whether the disc of the Full Circle adjuster will bite into the LifeLine.

 

[kph24]

I have, but the realist was the copper pad under the foot of the bridge. I think the realist has a better all around sound so I let the full circle go

 

[Ric Vice]

Interesting thought, I've been so pleased with the Realist Life Line that I'm not sure how much difference in sound the combo would give you for the additional hassle of having a dual connection back to the amp.

 

[Kevin Hailey]

Has anyone installed both a Full Circle and a Realist on the same bass? If so... how? I would have to put the Realist under the E side of the bridge, under the Full Circle to get the lows. Can this work or would I loose output and lows from the Full Circle on the E string side?

Having used, and been happy with both pickups (individually) I am curious as to what you would hope to achieve by doing this?

 

[B String]

Having used, and been happy with both pickups (individually) I am curious as to what you would hope to achieve by doing this?

I guess I could have been a bit more wordy. I have a newer lovely Wilfer bass. The low end on it is a little shy. When the shop put it together they put the adjusters on my Full Circle screws down, giving the bass even less low end. I also have a Realist Lifeline I could use. I'm having a new (wider) bridge put on to help the low end. I realize I can't use both pickups, so my question should have been... Which pickup has better low end, the Full Circle, or Realist?

 

[hensonbass]

I think the Realist has a bit of a low mid frequency bump and attenuation of the high frequencies compared to the Full Circle that is more flat/even responsive.

 

[hensonbass]

I have a new Headway EDB 2 H.E. preamp and I have enjoyed combining a Realist copperhead pickup and my Yamahiko pickup (dual transducer) signals together.

The preamp has separate equalization for each channel and phase control so you can dial in some cool tones.

 

[Ric Vice]

I guess I could have been a bit more wordy. I have a newer lovely Wilfer bass. The low end on it is a little shy. When the shop put it together they put the adjusters on my Full Circle screws down, giving the bass even less low end. I also have a Realist Lifeline I could use. I'm having a new (wider) bridge put on to help the low end. I realize I can't use both pickups, so my question should have been... Which pickup has better low end, the Full Circle, or Realist?

Once your luthier finishes with the bridge I’d give the Realist Lifeline a shot. On both my basses (a Mirecourt from the early 1900’s and the Kolstein Busetto Travel Bass it provides me with lots of useable low end. In combination with a RedEye preamp it’s pretty amazing. Since my main bass is a 5/8ths I’ve done several things to help improve the low end. I bought a compensated tail piece from Mike Pecanic, changed to a solid carbon fiber endpin. Those things along eith the Life Line improved bass response.

 

[jj.833]

My copperhead has very strong bass response, so I have to turn the lows quite a bit down to emulate the acoustic sound better. My lifeline is more true, but I still have to turn the lows a bit down. Since I started to use Ehrlund, I can use the lows pot on my amp as it should be - to compensate for the room; sometimes down, sometimes up.
To my ears, too much lows sound like too little mids and highs, which makes the DB sound like a cheap bass guitar. Be careful with those lows.
I never had full circle.
In my experience, the sound guys generally like too add some deep lows to the bass, to make the whole band sound stronger. I don't like it, but they do.

 

[Mike Carr]

Lifeline for the win Bruce. And if you ever get caught without a battery for your preamp you can manage a very usable sound with a Lifeline. I always thought the Full Circle sounded like poop without a preamp.

 

[B String]

Lifeline for the win Bruce. And if you ever get caught without a battery for your preamp you can manage a very usable sound with a Lifeline. I always thought the Full Circle sounded like poop without a preamp.

Mike!!! Nice to hear from you! Hope you're doing well. I've always used a preamp with a 10 meg ohm option. Usually my old Raven labs blender, and go into the effects return of whatever amp I'm using. Or at least a 10meg buffer, depending on the pickup. Fortunately I have a few pickup options. Every bass is a bit different. A pickup that works great on one bass might sound like puppy poo on another. I've always admired my friends who just don't care. The "I just play the bass, not the pickups or amps. I just play the music" type guys. I'm actually most interested in making sure the bass sounds and feels the best it can acoustically. Everything else is just gravy.

 

[B String]

My copperhead has very strong bass response, so I have to turn the lows quite a bit down to emulate the acoustic sound better. My lifeline is more true, but I still have to turn the lows a bit down. Since I started to use Ehrlund, I can use the lows pot on my amp as it should be - to compensate for the room; sometimes down, sometimes up.
To my ears, too much lows sound like too little mids and highs, which makes the DB sound like a cheap bass guitar. Be careful with those lows.
I never had full circle.
In my experience, the sound guys generally like too add some deep lows to the bass, to make the whole band sound stronger. I don't like it, but they do.

You are so right about the sound guys! (sometimes) Playing on a large stage with subs and a sound company who does mainly Rock, R&B, etc. My bass was feeding back he whole time while I was practically begging them to take me down in the subs. ARGH!!

 

[Mike Carr]

Mike!!! Nice to hear from you! Hope you're doing well. I've always used a preamp with a 10 meg ohm option. Usually my old Raven labs blender, and go into the effects return of whatever amp I'm using. Or at least a 10meg buffer, depending on the pickup. Fortunately I have a few pickup options. Every bass is a bit different. A pickup that works great on one bass might sound like puppy poo on another. I've always admired my friends who just don't care. The "I just play the bass, not the pickups or amps. I just play the music" type guys. I'm actually most interested in making sure the bass sounds and feels the best it can acoustically. Everything else is just gravy.

It ought to sound pretty much the same as it always does. Full Circle adjustors are aluminium. If you decide to go back to your old adjustors it might sound a bit different depending on their material but not much. The first time I tried a Lifeline I slipped it over my Full Circle that was installed at the time and it worked fine. I then went back to my old adjustors because the FC's flimsy wire was starting to fail. I never tried to run both pickups at the same time. It's timely this subject came up. I just ordered a new Lifeline to use as an alternate to the Wilson I've been using the past few years. Nothing wrong with the Wilson, it's great! But sometimes I just want a different sound depending on the situation I find myself in. And I still have my Raven Labs PMB if I want to mix them, that's a fine piece of kit! I'm currently living and regularly playing in Bangkok. Life is good!