Double Bass Vic's Pickups

[jdh3000]

In looking for a slap pickup, I believe I've decided on Vic's pickups.

Now I'm thinking instead of just pairing the under-neck pickup with my realist, I'll just get the model C for both, then get the appropriate cable...which would be stereo with a dual mono split on the end to go into separate channels on my preamp.

I was wondering who all have used Vic's, how well they work, if they would do ok with a hybrid...anything you know about them...

What about the D and E models? Do they have any more benefits?

I appreciate any, advice, experience and recommendations.

Thanks!

 

[Don Hergert]

I have a Model C which of course has both bridge wing and fingerboard pickups, in my case with a stereo TRS plug (feeding into a mounted K&K Dual Channel Pro ST blending pre-amp). Vic's Model A is just the fingerboard pickup, the Model B is just the bridge wing pickup, both which provide mono-outputs and usually do not absolutely require a pre-amp by themselves. Vic's pickups have dual piezo surfaces, so their output tends to be pretty strong.

The Model C might be able to get by without a pre-amp except for the need to control the volume blend between the two pickups, although impedance matching is also a very important feature of pre-amps. So even if you have a multi-channel amp, a pre-amp or at least inline impedance matching transformers of some kind may be required. In my experience if you plug in the pickups directly into your amp and the volume is too low, you most likely at least need something for impedance matching.

I have no experience with Vic's D and E models. Seeing how volume blending works with the Model C and a dual-channel pre-amp, I'm a little mystified about what kind of blending would be needed with these models and what pre-amps would be required.

I play around with RaB, but it isn't where I spend most of my time. While I do slap a lot, most of my playing is with more volume sensitive roots genre. And, my DB is a hot-rodded Alcoa; even though extreme measures have been taken to tame down the natural metallic tone of this instrument, its tone and acoustics are to at least some extent going to always be different from a wooden DB. That said, my experience with Vic's pickups has been totally positive and I can comfortably recommend them very highly.

There is, however, a significant difference in tone between piezo-pickups and mics, and since your DB is a hybrid I'd guess that you're going to be at least a little sensitive to that. I've also got a mounted Sennheiser e604 dynamic mic on my DB, providing a clear mic feed directly to my amp or to FOH for those more subtle, volume sensitive situations, and have really valued using it on stage a lot since getting it. It is a completely separate feed, so I can use it alone or at the same time as my Vic's/K&K system. Anyway, it's just a thought in case you're interested.

My band's most recent album (2019, Grace for the Journey) was recorded with my Alcoa using a Vic's system feeding directly into the studio system. If you'd like to hear how it sounds, there's a link to one of this album's songs ( Hear my Alcoa in action . "I Am A Pilgrim" ) in my signature line. (I primarily play banjo with this band, our bassist prefers to play my Alcoa.)

Good luck with your decision making!

 

[jdh3000]

I have a Model C which of course has both bridge wing and fingerboard pickups, in my case with a stereo TRS plug (feeding into a mounted K&K Dual Channel Pro ST blending pre-amp). Vic's Model A is just the fingerboard pickup, the Model B is just the bridge wing pickup, both which provide mono-outputs and usually do not absolutely require a pre-amp by themselves. Vic's pickups have dual piezo surfaces, so their output tends to be pretty strong.

The Model C might be able to get by without a pre-amp except for the need to control the volume blend between the two pickups, although impedance matching is also a very important feature of pre-amps. So even if you have a multi-channel amp, a pre-amp or at least inline impedance matching transformers of some kind may be required. In my experience if you plug in the pickups directly into your amp and the volume is too low, you most likely at least need something for impedance matching.

I have no experience with Vic's D and E models. Seeing how volume blending works with the Model C and a dual-channel pre-amp, I'm a little mystified about what kind of blending would be needed with these models and what pre-amps would be required.

I play around with RaB, but it isn't where I spend most of my time. While I do slap a lot, most of my playing is with more volume sensitive roots genre. And, my DB is a hot-rodded Alcoa; even though extreme measures have been taken to tame down the natural metallic tone of this instrument, its tone and acoustics are to at least some extent going to always be different from a wooden DB. That said, my experience with Vic's pickups has been totally positive and I can comfortably recommend them very highly.

There is, however, a significant difference in tone between piezo-pickups and mics, and since your DB is a hybrid I'd guess that you're going to be at least a little sensitive to that. I've also got a mounted Sennheiser e604 dynamic mic on my DB, providing a clear mic feed directly to my amp or to FOH for those more subtle, volume sensitive situations, and have really valued using it on stage a lot since getting it. It is a completely separate feed, so I can use it alone or at the same time as my Vic's/K&K system. Anyway, it's just a thought in case you're interested.

My band's most recent album (2019, Grace for the Journey) was recorded with my Alcoa using a Vic's system feeding directly into the studio system. If you'd like to hear how it sounds, there's a link to one of this album's songs ( Hear my Alcoa in action . "I Am A Pilgrim" ) in my signature line. (I primarily play banjo with this band, our bassist prefers to play my Alcoa.)

Good luck with your decision making!

I'll be running it into the 2 channels on on a zoom a3. It has one input for piezo and an xlr input that accepts 1/4.

I would like to get a k&k someday, but the feedback eliminater feature on this zoom works very well on the fly. I would still keep it in the mix.

I'll check it out your link.

I appreciate all the advice because I'm sure open to suggestions.

I hope that carved top doesn't cause me to many feedback issues.

Thanks again!

 

[Mr Ralph]

Just picked up a Model D and put it on my old Flat Back German Bass. I must say as far as purchases go this was probably the best $55 I have ever spent.
I have different bridge as I mostly play at church and was bored during Covid so I made my own.
Mounting the second piezo in the middle just smoothed everything out. I am posting a picture but do want to get accused of Heresy as I did not use the typical heart shape for my cut out. I used poplar shims as they seem to give the best sound.
Anyway I have given up on using a mic and unless someone else was playing my Bass I do not think it could sound any better.
Running it into a F deck and Sansamp Paradriver.
Also the customer service was outstanding.

 

[Don Hergert]

Great, glad the model D is working well for you, and I like your bridge!

 

[james condino]

I've installed a bunch of Vic's Models B pickups. They work great, best price out there, and compared to most of the other pickups they are MUCH hotter and louder- like an old DiMarzio Super Distortion for your upright. With my Acoustic Image head, at modest volumes, I can bypass all of the external preamp junk and just go pickup>cable>amp>boomin' notes....

I like your bridge. For piezo wing pickups, I'd like to see more contact area on the wing rather than a more pointed surface. The cutout design is cool, but I wonder how much the pickup is working because there tends to be not much side to side motion in that area of the bridge. The traditional little tiny heart acts like a tweeter, not something we think about with big deep low notes, but if you mute it with a couple of fingers while playing, it is noticeable, just like the "ears" on a traditional F hole.

Did you drill out the adjuster wheels? I like that lowering of mass; 'think I try it tomorrow on my personal bass.

I have a separate Bartlett mic if I need to blend some air in the signal. If I get to be more creative and bring my pedalboard to the gig, I use the Vic's at maybe 35% of the mix and then use a Krivo for the main pedalboard spaceship landing & hipster noizzz type stuff...arco through a Spatial Delivery pedal into a Deluxe Memory Man type of stuff to wake up the crowd!

 

[bassically_eli]

I wonder how much the pickup is working because there tends to be not much side to side motion in that area of the bridge.

Does that apply to pizz as well as arco?

 

[Mr Ralph]

James, Yes I am sorry I did not make the wing tips wider, but at that time I was using a mic and never gave it a thought. I have also wondered if I should have or should still make the cutout larger. I drilled out the adjuster wheels and shafts after reading an article in a link on Golihur's website. I will find it and post which article.

 

[james condino]

I had a Vic's supersession in the shop this week. We had the single & double units along with a K&K, & Krivo.

The Vic's was the loudest by far, also very balanced and articulate. It did make quite a difference mounting the single unit on the treble vs. bass side. Treble was much more even and balanced throughout the spectrum. Bass side was thunderous on the low end, especially if you just hang out in first position. The double wing was very powerful and strong, but I'm not sure I needed more than one and I definitely have some concerns about phase cancellation at some venues and volumes.

The Krivo was by far the most quiet when not run through a preamp....but plug it into one and it offers almost unlimited thunder at huge volumes. 'Definitely a bring to every gig pickup, even if just as a backup.

The K& K was in the middle volume wise. Mounted on the bass wing, it tended to be thick and a little boomy; much better and more balanced on the treble wing. Honestly- they worked reasonable and were a decent price for ten years, but I think the Vic's is a superior product and for half the price. The Vic's is probably just a representative of the actual price when you don't spend six figures a year on fancy advertising and promotion.

With every one of them, I can't EVER imagine a situation where I would need an extra boost because I could not get enough clicky clickity clik when slapping!

 

[Earl]

I had a Vic's supersession in the shop this week. We had the single & double units along with a K&K, & Krivo.

The Vic's was the loudest by far, also very balanced and articulate. It did make quite a difference mounting the single unit on the treble vs. bass side. Treble was much more even and balanced throughout the spectrum. Bass side was thunderous on the low end, especially if you just hang out in first position. The double wing was very powerful and strong, but I'm not sure I needed more than one and I definitely have some concerns about phase cancellation at some venues and volumes.

The Krivo was by far the most quiet when not run through a preamp....but plug it into one and it offers almost unlimited thunder at huge volumes. 'Definitely a bring to every gig pickup, even if just as a backup.

The K& K was in the middle volume wise. Mounted on the bass wing, it tended to be thick and a little boomy; much better and more balanced on the treble wing. Honestly- they worked reasonable and were a decent price for ten years, but I think the Vic's is a superior product and for half the price. The Vic's is probably just a representative of the actual price when you don't spend six figures a year on fancy advertising and promotion.

With every one of them, I can't EVER imagine a situation where I would need an extra boost because I could not get enough clicky clickity clik when slapping!

Initially I could not get a lot of gain from the Krivo until I adjusted it as close as possible to the strings (without the strings touching it). That increased the gain a lot.

 

[Jay Corwin]

My old pickup was on the fritz and for the cost I figured I take a shot and get a backup. Good thing because I needed it sooner than later. I just installed a model B about a week ago.

It's definitely a hot pickup. Mine is installed on the bass side, only because that is where the wing had been opened up for previous pickups. Although I think it would benefit from being mounted on the treble side, I am able to get a good response across the strings by playing with the placement on the bass side and wedging it very tight. I also bumped up my high pass, and adjusted the center point of mid eq. Played a gig last Friday with no complaints. It performed well.

The build quality looks great to my eyes.

My only complaint is that there is more finger noise than my old pickup. However I didn't notice that on the gig, only in my practice room when I was setting it up.

Good product.

 

[Earl]

My old pickup was on the fritz and for the cost I figured I take a shot and get a backup. Good thing because I needed it sooner than later. I just installed a model B about a week ago.

It's definitely a hot pickup. Mine is installed on the bass side, only because that is where the wing had been opened up for previous pickups. Although I think it would benefit from being mounted on the treble side, I am able to get a good response across the strings by playing with the placement on the bass side and wedging it very tight. I also bumped up my high pass, and adjusted the center point of mid eq. Played a gig last Friday with no complaints. It performed well.

The build quality looks great to my eyes.

My only complaint is that there is more finger noise than my old pickup. However I didn't notice that on the gig, only in my practice room when I was setting it up.

Good product.

The finger noise can be mitigated by moving the pickup slightly in different directions. Experiment, but be careful if it is really tight because I broke one that way.

 

[getrhythm]

I recently got a Model C for a new old bass and after installing it determined I wasn't gonna be slapping this one (not yet, anyway. Using a K&K RaB Slap p/u on another bass.) so inquired about swapping it for a Model B.
Zac's customer service was admirable/outstanding!
As previously stated, this p/u is "hot", lots of volume and great sound after fiddling around (no pun intended) with it a bit in the bass side bridge wing.

 

[Don Hergert]

Every DB is a little different... And yes, mine is a lot different . I started out with my Vic's wing pickup on the bass side and got far too much booom. So I moved it to the treble side where it's been providing an excellent balance since then, without having to go crazy with EQ or with HP or LP filters. I'm also happily using a Deuce1 bridge on my DB, which has set-screw accommodations for bridge wing pickups on both sides of the bridge. So switching from the bass side to the treble side was pretty trivial, just move the pickup and tighten the screw, and re-route the wiring a little. With the bass wing empty, I've semi-permanently mounted my electronic tuner in that location and it works nicely there.

I typically use either the Vic's pickups or the Senn dynamic mic on stage, which one depends on who I'm playing with. If there are electric/amp'ed instruments, where being able to cut through is important, I'll use the Vic's. On the other hand, if everyone else is sensitively playing purely acoustic instruments with just mics, where tone is noticeable and important, I'll use the Senn. This year for the first time in a real stage situation I had an FOH guy ask for both the piezo and the mic signals, as he wanted to experiment with mixing them. They worked out well and he did a good job of mixing them, although it was a completely acoustic set and we probably could have done just fine with only the mic.

In bluegrass jam circles, where amps are not usually tolerated very well, if we've got people not moderating their volume well enough I'll threaten to plug in my amp with my Vic's. While I'm usually ready to carry through, I've never had to actually plug in yet; just the threat seems to do the trick .

 

[Jay Corwin]

Update - with some EQ tweaking Vic's pickup became my pickup. What started as a quick replacement ended up being my favorite option to date.

Now let's talk customer service. After almost 4 years, I started to have an issue with the pickup. I emailed Vic (who is on tour), and within 24 hours he sends me tracking for a new one he's shipping out. No cost to me. What can say? I already loved the product, now I'm a customer forever with a response like that.

Don't be fooled by the price. This is a great pickup and the CS is ridiculous.

Vic's Pickups

Upright Bass Pickups. Low Cost. Lifetime Warranty.

www.uprightbasspickups.com