That is quite understandable, in a situation where it would be pointless to use an acoustic instrument. That is why alot of guys "double" on both slab or acoustic.
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Double Bass Warmest sounding pickup?
- Thread starter IconBasser
- Start date
That is quite understandable, in a situation where it would be pointless to use an acoustic instrument. That is why alot of guys "double" on both slab or acoustic.
TreeeyyyzerI know we've been down this road before and most probably will do this dance many more times.
Although many of the posts have great info, It strikes me that no one is commenting on the elephant in the room;
I'm talking about the sound characteristics of the room your playing in, the proximity of the other instruments and all the other sound variables that we, as bassists, have to contend with in a live situation.
All of the other variables are typically what can be most vexing (vexing is my new word for the day!)
My particular setup: Full Circle, Fishman Platinum Pro, Phil Jones FlightCase 300 and often an AMT mic into the house can sound amazingly good and close to how my bass sounds unamped but..and this is a big BUTT...all of the other variables can negate pr seriously alter what I'm hearing onn stage.
I would be very interested in hearing how otheres deal with or counter many of these obstacles in a live playing situation!
Ball's in your court!
Yup. I guess I just .. deal with it. Crowd noise. Electric keyboards. Funky room acoustics. Geetarz and Fender Twin cabs. I am happiest w/ my cab up on a tall stand, and me and my bass like about 4 to 8 feet out in front of it. I lean into it w/ my ears and my body I guess sometimes when I need to hear myself better ... intonation in particular. That's where those upfiring drivers on the Super Flightcase would appeal to me I think.
And just deal with the sonically vexing external variables and such as best I can. These days I do come away from quieter gigs feeling more like we made a good sound, and less kind of drained from the effort than the loud woodchopping and shouting contests.
Right. I`m lately deciding that a lot more situations, realistically, fit that category. Not that you can`t get a good, loud double-bass sound, but a loudly amplified doublebass doesn`t sound very much like a doublebass. I know that everyone is already aware of that.
Lately I`m not sure there`s much point in jumping through all the hoops necessary to achieve a decent, loud, feedback free doublebass sound even for bigband. It`s almost an identity crises.
Anyway, probably better a topic for another thread.
Treeeyyyzer
These days I do come away from quieter gigs feeling more like we made a good sound, and less kind of drained from the effort than the loud woodchopping and shouting contests.
Bolo,
I agree..It just seems to me that many players mistake loud for swinging and/or intensity....It aint! Guess I'll keep dealing with it. Many nights are great. However, it only takes one gig where you walk away with a throbbing migraine to question why you went to all the trouble in the 1st place
Take care steve,
Keep swinging
Trey
I really tried to like the RSII. I messed and tinkered for the better 2 weeks. I could never get the sound I wanted. Then a wise drummer (an oxymoron) said "Why are you messing with your sound? It was good before." That's when I decided to just go back to the setup that I had before and not look back.
A good sound is important but I think any number of pickups can get you a very usable sound that will let the music you play come through.
And no. There is NO PICKUP that sounds like an acoustic DB. None. There are ones that sound less like a P-Bass than others. "Damn good" is then measured against other amplified sounds if an amp is employed.
I vote for the Realist for a few reasons...
1. $$$. As a working player this gets the job done and does not break the bank.
2. I have had mine for 10 years with no problems at all!
3. I was not pleased with the muddy tone at first, but when I finally found a good set up both on my bass and with my amps everything seemed to work out. I love my tone now.
Realist + Low Tension Spirocores + Tech 21 SansAmp Pre + SWR BabyBlue.
This works for me, but everyone is different.....a lot of it is in the fingers!
1. $$$. As a working player this gets the job done and does not break the bank.
2. I have had mine for 10 years with no problems at all!
3. I was not pleased with the muddy tone at first, but when I finally found a good set up both on my bass and with my amps everything seemed to work out. I love my tone now.
Realist + Low Tension Spirocores + Tech 21 SansAmp Pre + SWR BabyBlue.
This works for me, but everyone is different.....a lot of it is in the fingers!
I got a Rev Solo for my '64 C1 the other day. A lot of the touring BG bassists are using the Ampeg BA115 (imagine that) with Underwoods. I didn't like the Underwood price, and the thin sound that I've heard out of them when used sans preamp. The Rev Solo claims to be usable without a pre. To my ears, they've got it right. No pre..straight to the Ampeg and I've got the best "cheap" bass rig in the world. Fat, full tone that, to my ears, does sound like a louder version of my bass.
I think all piezos sound thin when used without a preamp. The Rev Solo included. It was also a huge PITA to install, and took more messing around with then it was worth, IMO.
If you are getting a thin sound from an Underwood, it's because you aren't using something for impedance matching, are using both elements of the pickup and getting phase cancellation, or both.
Use a pre, and use one side only with the Underwood and your good. It only needs to be in the wing "snug", not crammed in there.
If you are getting a thin sound from an Underwood, it's because you aren't using something for impedance matching, are using both elements of the pickup and getting phase cancellation, or both.
Use a pre, and use one side only with the Underwood and your good. It only needs to be in the wing "snug", not crammed in there.
I think it depends on the amp. Different manufacturers use different input impedances. The RS2 has a lower impedance than some other pickups to work better w/ a wider variety of amps.
Johnny
Sure, understood.
I guess the reason I responded at all was when I see words like "all", "none", "always", "never" and the like w/ amplified DB, I'm thinking ... well, just like you said, "it depends."
I have a Realist, no pre but do have Fdeck HPF. Still have not been happy with my sound amplified. The louder gig I play on actually likes the sound of the NS EUB better so work to be done. I have some cool gear which may not just be a good match for DB. I actually got a reasonable sound out of a backline Yorkville combo the other night.
I have ordered the Rev and have that on the way along with a used AMT. Hopefully it won't be too much of a PITA to set up the Rev. I'm looking forward to trying these and hopefully they'll be here for my next amp gig. Most stuff has been 'ampless' lately.
I have ordered the Rev and have that on the way along with a used AMT. Hopefully it won't be too much of a PITA to set up the Rev. I'm looking forward to trying these and hopefully they'll be here for my next amp gig. Most stuff has been 'ampless' lately.
