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Double Bass What pickup do the TB DB guys prefer?

Which pickup do you use/would recommend to others first?

  • Total voters
    257
  • Poll closed .
Chris Fitzgerald

Chris Fitzgerald

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Oct 19, 2000
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Louisville, KY
www.chrisfitzgeraldmusic.com
#1
I'm starting this thread so that anyone who happens on the forum won't have to dig up an old thread or start a new one. I'll add the kind of poll that identifies who voted for what when you click on the number of votes that option got so that new folks can tell who uses what without everyone having to post an explanation. If you have caveats to add to your vote, please add them to the thread. If you're using a pickup that isn't in the poll, PM me and I'll edit the poll to include it. Once enough people have voted, I'll stick it to the top of the forum - until then, I'll let it float so that it won't be hidden in the stuck threads.

Please vote!
 
#2
I could vote for the Fishman Full Circle twice as I have two of them. I've also owned the BP100, but I've not used the other pickups except the Gage realist on some other people's basses. So with the question asked as it is asked, I can't really answer or properly vote, as I have not tried all the other pickups and compared them systematically. I was told to buy the FC by various local pro players/luthier and so I did. I can't say I "prefer" it over the other 'unknown to me personally' pickups, but I do use it.

Is the question "What pickup do the TB DB guys prefer?" really the question you want to ask? (as opposed to "What pickup do the TB DB guys use?") If it is, should there be a place where one votes for the p/u one prefers it over based on personal experience?

thanks,
Good thread idea BTW.
 
#5
DURL, you should put a date on this thread to differentiate it between the old ones.

I've dropped the FC and gone to a vintage 80's BP100 on the Carved Cleve. I've tried FC, Planet Wing, Rev Solo, Dyn-B, Underwood, H-Clamp & Mic. Yeah the BP-100 won. :rolleyes:
 
#6
Ive tried the Full Circle, the BP100, the Wilson, the Realist, the Rev Solo, the Bass Max, the Underwood, and some other stuff I can't remember. I currently use a Full Circle on both my basses. I carry Realists as backups if need be.
 
#7
Well, I marked the Rev Solo because that's what I use, but it's also the only one I've tried. I'm generally happy with it and I don't need to amplify the DB too often so it's sort of an afterthought. I'd recommend the Rev Solo but it's a weak recommendation, no reason not to like it but there may be something better out there. I'd like to try the Full Circle some day.
 
#10
hdiddy said:
DURL, you should put a date on this thread to differentiate it between the old ones.

I've dropped the FC and gone to a vintage 80's BP100 on the Carved Cleve. I've tried FC, Planet Wing, Rev Solo, Dyn-B, Underwood, H-Clamp & Mic. Yeah the BP-100 won. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

All posts have the date they were posted on them. If someone doesn't bother or notice I feel it is their problem.

I like the BassMax, I like the way it sounds and I like that you can pop it off and switch it to another bass. I use the same pickup for my "real" bass as well as my EUB.
 
#11
I started with BassMax, great output but lots of feedback issues.

Went to Rev Solo, couldn't get it fit properly (probably my poor carpentry skills).

Had a Full circle installed and have never looked back. :hyper:

It does seem to work that one must try a couple before settling on the one they prefer. Instrument, strings, style, taste, and of course what kind of amp/ speakers one is using all influence which will work best.
 
#12
Chris Fitzgerald said:
I'm starting this thread so that anyone who happens on the forum won't have to dig up an old thread or start a new one....... until then, I'll let it float so that it won't be hidden in the stuck threads.

Please vote!
Click to expand...

I use the Realist because it has a nice bowed sound and the pizzicato at reasonable volumes is more like listening to my bass through a decent microphone.
 
#13
I have a Full Circle on my hybrid Cleveland. The only other pickup I've ever used was back in the early 80's, I had this pickup that looked like two spikes and a tension wheel in the middle. It would go b/w the legs of the bridge and you'd tighten up the wheel and the two spikes would stick into the bridge. I don't remember the name of it but it wasn't that great. I mostly went without a pickup back then.
 
#18
I only have experience with the Barcus Berry, the BP-100 and the Underwood.

They all sound OK, none great, and there are some practical issues.

The Barcus was held on by a mastic adhesive that was somewhat messy and let go from time to time.

The BP-100 sounded OK, but Ron Carter described an experiment that showed its issue. If you compare the sound the instrument is putting out acoustically playing into a corner of the room with and without the pup plates clipped in place, you will find that the clip system significantly damps the overall vibration of the instrument. I reproduced that effect and and that kind of put me off.

The Underwood is pretty stable and has no discernible effect on the vibrational characteristics of the instrument. So, I stopped there; and that's what I continue to use.

But, I will also say that I don't use the amplified bass for anything other than acoustic reinforcement. Anything louder than that, and I vastly prefer to just use an EBG.

GL
 
#19
Realist all the way!

I have tried, Fishman BP-100, Underwood, RS II, but I went back to realist. I like how the realist doesn't need a preamp, i has a very good sound, and as a bonus it's virtually invisible. I don't like stuff hanging on my bass. The less intrusive the pick up, the better!
 

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