Alright, here's my current situation: I'm looking for a good quality but fairly inexpensive (less than 200 ideaslly) pickup for my Shen SB80. The amp I have is a Peavey TKO (it's a bass guitar amp, but has a seven band eq and a lot of other tone-shaping tools), and I am not really currently interested in getting another, as I still play my slab a good bit and the amp has a great tone with it. I play a fairly wide variety of music, from artists nanging from Tom Waits and Ben Folds to Stray Cats and Foo Fighters. I do some arco, but mostly play pizz. The strings I am using are Thomastic Superflexibles, but I am also considering changing them out for a synthetic or possibly gut, or maybe a softer steel. Is there anyone with similar experience out there who can give me some pointers and help me to make a decision? I've been looking throuhg the "newbie lnks" section doing some research, but I wanted to get a little more personalized feedback.
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Double Bass What pickup should I use?
- Thread starter kmanley_29649
- Start date
Most folks on this side of the board would say, "Sell your Peavey amp".... but let's not go there.
I would recommend a Fishman Full Circle pickup. Then get FDeck's inexpensive buffer amp/low pass filter to put between the pickup and the Peavey amp.
I am very happy lately with Obligatos (synthetic core) on G, D and A and a Spirocore E.
I would recommend a Fishman Full Circle pickup. Then get FDeck's inexpensive buffer amp/low pass filter to put between the pickup and the Peavey amp.
I am very happy lately with Obligatos (synthetic core) on G, D and A and a Spirocore E.
it sounds like you're going to be playing in some fairly loud volume situations. The easiest way to play loud without feedback problems is using a magnetic pickup, like a Schaller. The drawback there is people say it sounds more like an electric bass than an upright bass that way. I have no experience with using a magnetic pickup myself. The other thing is you'd have to use steel strings with a magnetic pu, or it won't work.
I use a Revolution Solo II, and I can play pretty loud with it now if need be. Took me awhile to figure out how to do that though, and most of my gigs are moderate volume level. I use gut strings.
As already stated, don't be surprised if some here knock the Peavey TKO, but I'm not knocking it. I just have no idea how it would perform as an upright amp. I'd be curious to know actually.
Of course, you also need to figure out an easy way to double with the electric bass and upright on the Peavey amp.
I use a Revolution Solo II, and I can play pretty loud with it now if need be. Took me awhile to figure out how to do that though, and most of my gigs are moderate volume level. I use gut strings.
As already stated, don't be surprised if some here knock the Peavey TKO, but I'm not knocking it. I just have no idea how it would perform as an upright amp. I'd be curious to know actually.
Of course, you also need to figure out an easy way to double with the electric bass and upright on the Peavey amp.
If you are really committed to playing the bass and getting a good amplified sound, you are probably going to have to try several pickups and types of strings before you figure out which setup likes your bass the best and sounds best to you. Might as well just put a stake in the ground and start with something fairly well known and widely accepted, such as the Full Circle.
Unless you get lucky, it's probably gonna take time and money. And patience. But you gotta start somewhere. So have at it. And have fun.
P.S. When you change basses, or even change the bridge on your Shen, it kind of starts all over. So keep all your old pickups in a drawer.
Unless you get lucky, it's probably gonna take time and money. And patience. But you gotta start somewhere. So have at it. And have fun.
P.S. When you change basses, or even change the bridge on your Shen, it kind of starts all over. So keep all your old pickups in a drawer.
Or even when you just change your mind . . .
But as Bolo said, you gotta start somewhere. Dominants are a nice synthetic string, lots of people love them. I used them and loved them (except for the E string), but they died after eight months. I think short lifespan may be a reality for most of the synthetic strings.
For the type of music you mentioned, I would have thought Superflexibles are a pretty good string -- good pizz, good arco in my experience. If you're looking for softer feel and a more old-school sound in a steel string, try the Jargars. Others may have other suggestions.
Pick-up wise, sheesh. This is another never-ending story. I haven't used the Full Circle but folks say good things about them. If you like the old-school sound of gut, you might try the Realist pickup, it's not as bright and stringy as the bridge wing pickups like Underwood or Rev Solo. The Realist lies underneath the E side bridge foot, right on your bass, if you're not familiar with it. I've tried four pickups and liked the Realist the most by far, but it only lasted a year and then crapped out on me. Once burned, twice shy on that one.
There are lots and lots of threads already posted about pickup choice...good luck.
If you want to keep the Peavey, consider a magnetic pickup and EQ/preamp like the Boss bass pedal. The amp will sound like @ss if you use a piezo pickup without a preamp, but it should get loud enough for the rock stuff.
If you want a more acoustic sound, consider any of the above pickup & preamp suggestions as well as strings. You'll probably need a nicer amp to pull it off.
But who knows? Great tone comes from the fingers & instrument. Maybe just a mic?
In any case consider a buying good direct box like the Countryman, etc. to go through the P.A. system.
Good luck and welcome to a very expensive hobby!
If you want a more acoustic sound, consider any of the above pickup & preamp suggestions as well as strings. You'll probably need a nicer amp to pull it off.
But who knows? Great tone comes from the fingers & instrument. Maybe just a mic?
In any case consider a buying good direct box like the Countryman, etc. to go through the P.A. system.
Good luck and welcome to a very expensive hobby!
Funny man. Too true. I'm puttin' a Planet Wing through its paces now. Just ... because.
Yeah sounds like you play rock and not jazz. I'd skip the Full Circle. It can get loud but still feeds back after a certain threshold. IMO, it's not good enough for rock work. I think magnetic is the way to go like Jason recommends.
Don't forget to also dampen the afterlengths and tailpiece if it gets super loud. Stick some foam between the strings in front of the tailpiece and some more foam between the tailpiece and the bass itself.
Don't forget to also dampen the afterlengths and tailpiece if it gets super loud. Stick some foam between the strings in front of the tailpiece and some more foam between the tailpiece and the bass itself.
Try insulting their mothers.
(kidding obviously. the rockabilly site sounds like a good lead)
After you've had a chance to use it, could you post a review? I'll be curious to see how you like that one. Thanks.
That's the one.
I owned a Pierre Josephs before and did not like it. Low output, crummy tone.
However, I understand P.J. now adds a second piece to the puzzle -- improving the sound.
Looks like Jflo's pup is based on a good 'ol Fender Precision design...could be the right move for rock & roll upright.
I owned a Pierre Josephs before and did not like it. Low output, crummy tone.
However, I understand P.J. now adds a second piece to the puzzle -- improving the sound.
Looks like Jflo's pup is based on a good 'ol Fender Precision design...could be the right move for rock & roll upright.
