Double Bass what is your favorite pickup?

[jazz bass guy]

Over the years, I have used the Barcus Barry, the Polytone, the Underwood, the Fishman BP-100, the Realist and the Barbera. By far, my favourite of those is the Barbera. Of course, it depends on the bass, the way you play and ultimately, the sound you are trying to get. I play with medium/low action (just over a 1/4 inch on the G) and I like the amp sound to be as close to the acoustic sound of the bass as possible. The great thing about the Barbera, in addition to the great sound, is the fact that once it is in place, there is no movement or adjustment-no fussing. It just sounds good (for a pickup). Some of the others were good, in their own way, but the Barbera was definitely the best, overall, for me.

I recently acquired an excellent old Pöllmann, which is rapidly becoming my main bass. It didn't have a pickup, so I grabbed a Full Circle, and so far, I am really impressed. It sounds quite loud and clear and warm, and surprisingly balanced between the strings, considering that it is only on one foot. The fact that it is in the adjuster makes it a bit awkward if you want to raise or lower the strings, as there is now a wire involved, but once you get it set, it seems fine. I will have to use it for a while in different situations before I can be sure I really like it.

My inclination, though is to get another Barbera for the long term. It consistently sounded good in every possible environment, for over 13 years. I would definitely recommend it.

 

[larry]

I've used the BP100, Underwood, String Charger, Realist, Full Circle and Revolution Solo.

Each one has pros and cons, but on my bass with my amp I like the Revolution Solo. The Full Circle is a very close second, and could also be my favorite with a different amp.

 

[b1644]

I've tried the Realist, K&K Golden Trinity mic, Schertler Dyn-B and, the eventual keeper for my bass... a Rick Turner UB-1.

The Turner consists of separate piezo elements installed into somewhat ugly channels cut into the bridge. It's not for the faint of heart but it does produce a gorgeous, blooming low-end that's not boomy or boxy (like what I encountered with the Realist).

The only negative aspect aside from the Frankenstein-like look of the installation in the bridge is that with its being piezo-based, there's a "plastic-ness" to the sound when playing up high on the G-string and when playing arco. Backing off some treble helps though.

Like the Wilson, it doesn't capture the airy sounds coming out of the F-holes but it is quite feedback resistant and has served me very well over the 5+ years I've had it. It makes it quick and easy to dial in a good sound. YMMV.

- Martin V.

 

[bolo]

Martin - That's interesting. Pretty cool.

Invalid Link Removed uses the Turner p/u too. He was kind enough to talk to me by phone once when I had some questions for him, and a suggestion for subsequent editions of his book The Working Bassist's Toolkit.

 

[Ric Vice]

I'm looking for a new pickup..I have used a bassmax, Rev Solo I, and String Charger and I want to hear want all you guys favorite pickup is and why you like it!

What would be really nice is a little calculator like device that you could
enter various characteristics of all the pickups and match them with the character of you're instrument. Mabey we could call it a pickulator.
Of course, the problem is that since each pickup, bass, and amplifier combination yelds a somewhat different result, the only way to evaluate one is to try it. The Realist sounds really nice on my 5/8 ths Mirecourt bass, provided you don't have to play loud, because in my experience you can't push the pickup. So it's not going to work for most.

Ric

 

[PB+J]

I hate them all

I've used the realist, full circle, rev solo, bass max, bass max with trinity mic, the BP-100 and the DYN-B.

My favorites, in order

Dyn-B
Full circle
Realist
Bass max
Rev solo
BP-100

They all have advantages and disadvantages. I think I'm especially sensitive to the piezo sound, that clacky quack thing, and so I like the DYN-B--no piezo artifacts. But the Dyn-b falls down at higher volumes--i have a harder time getting a focused sound when the volume gets high. I can do it, but it takes a lot of eq fussing. A piezo, like the realist or the full circle, doesn't exactly sound like your bass any more but it's very effective with minimal fuss. Also the DYN-B doesn't seem to work well at all on a lot of basses.


I've done some experimenting with a Shure Beta57 and I like the sound a lot, but not the fuss.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I've done some experimenting with a Shure Beta57 and I like the sound a lot, but not the fuss.

Just curious about the "fuss factor", as I chose the Beta 57 to get rid of the fuss factor of the AMT. The mounting system is simple and it lives on the bass (even in the bag), it's damn near indestructible, and if the cable shorts out i can get another one cheap at the local music store (or better yet, from my living room). Plus, when blended with a pickup, it does a great job of covereing up the dreaded piezo "quack" even at higher volumes.

 

[drurb]

I hate them all

I've used the realist, full circle, rev solo, bass max, bass max with trinity mic, the BP-100 and the DYN-B.

My favorites, in order

Dyn-B
Full circle
Realist
Bass max
Rev solo
BP-100

They all have advantages and disadvantages. I think I'm especially sensitive to the piezo sound, that clacky quack thing, and so I like the DYN-B--no piezo artifacts. But the Dyn-b falls down at higher volumes--i have a harder time getting a focused sound when the volume gets high. I can do it, but it takes a lot of eq fussing. A piezo, like the realist or the full circle, doesn't exactly sound like your bass any more but it's very effective with minimal fuss. Also the DYN-B doesn't seem to work well at all on a lot of basses.


I've done some experimenting with a Shure Beta57 and I like the sound a lot, but not the fuss.

I think this is a really good example of the "individual difference" factor. I could just never get a BassMax to sound decent on any bass I owned. The Rev Solo was and is orders of magnitude better. I notice no "piezo quack." I think it very much depends on the particular bass, the amplifying chain, and the preferences of the player. That is, YMMV seems to apply big-time here.

 

[PB+J]

I think this is a really good example of the "individual difference" factor. I could just never get a BassMax to sound decent on any bass I owned. The Rev Solo was and is orders of magnitude better. I notice no "piezo quack." I think it very much depends on the particular bass, the amplifying chain, and the preferences of the player. That is, YMMV seems to apply big-time here.

plus 1000!!

 

[PB+J]

Just curious about the "fuss factor", as I chose the Beta 57 to get rid of the fuss factor of the AMT. The mounting system is simple and it lives on the bass (even in the bag), it's damn near indestructible, and if the cable shorts out i can get another one cheap at the local music store (or better yet, from my living room). Plus, when blended with a pickup, it does a great job of covereing up the dreaded piezo "quack" even at higher volumes.

Mounting, and feedback--I had a bunch of shock cord all over my bridge and had hard time getting the mic to stay solidly put--it kept shifting down towards the table. And then I have a hard time getting it to be stable at the xlr end too. I assume I could work it out with some more effort

And the one gig I tried it, I was always worried about feedback, though in fact I didn't get any

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Mounting, and feedback--I had a bunch of shock cord all over my bridge and had hard time getting the mic to stay solidly put--it kept shifting down towards the table. And then I have a hard time getting it to be stable at the xlr end too. I assume I could work it out with some more effort

I had the same problem until my I came up with the idea of simply tying a single piece of shockmount elastic around the bridge and then twisting the middle a bunch of times before inserting the mic. That keeps it pretty stable. For the afterlength end, a shoelace tied between the D and A strings about halfway between the bridge and tailpiece will keep the mic from slipping, and also won't make any noise.

 

[JustinKase]

I play County, rockabilly, and punkabilly. I just got a K&K Slap Master. I AM LOVING IT!!!!