Double Bass What pickup to blend with a realist???

[rnilson]

So I love my realist but at louder volumes it gets a little boomy and lacks string/definiton. So I got a 2 channel pre and now I am looking for another pickup to blend with the realist to give a little more definition. I play simi-loud funk/fusion like MMW.
Suggestions?

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Ryan,
I tried the same thing for awhile using an RSII from Upton. The combination of wing pickup for string and Realist for body worked OK but why go to all the trouble? IMO, a Full Circle provides much of the warmth of a Realist but is practically immune from feedback.

You could also try an Underwood for the stupid loud gigs and keep the Realist for the trio stuff.

 

[rnilson]

Ryan,
I tried the same thing for awhile using an RSII from Upton. The combination of wing pickup for string and Realist for body worked OK but why go to all the trouble? IMO, a Full Circle provides much of the warmth of a Realist but is practically immune from feedback.

You could also try an Underwood for the stupid loud gigs and keep the Realist for the trio stuff.

Yeah, FC is on my list for sure, but I think it is like $300 installed from KC strings....

 

[Les Fret]

Ryan,
IMO, a Full Circle provides much of the warmth of a Realist but is practically immune from feedback.

I can assure you, the FC is not immune for feedback, I wish it was but no piezo pickup is.

 

[rnilson]

I can assure you, the FC is not immune for feedback, I wish it was but no piezo pickup is.

I have a magnetic pickup for STUPID LOUD gigs....I learned my lesson the hardway.

 

[Ric Vice]

I have a magnetic pickup for STUPID LOUD gigs....I learned my lesson the hardway.

R Nilson,
Well, you have the low volume gigs and the high volume gigs covered. I think those who have used both the Realist, and Full Circle will probably tell you that the Full Circle will get you more volume while still preserving the tone quality of your instrument. Thing is, that combination is somewhat redundant to me, since the Full Circle should just about cover anything, up to switching over to the magnetic. You will probably be able to pull the Realist off, since you won't need it anymore, unless of course it sounds better on your bass or you do a lot of bowing, because the Realist reproduces the bow better.

Ric

 

[Les Fret]

I have a magnetic pickup for STUPID LOUD gigs....I learned my lesson the hardway.

Me too. The FC will feedback at medium to high volume situations sometimes even quicker than medium. Sometimes also at practice sessions. I can blend my FC with a Biesele pickup.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

My amp only goes to 10 and I can't make the thing feedback.

OK, I have used the Full Circle on four different basses and never had a problem with feedback. Five years ago I had an Underwood on a plywood and that would howl like a tornado siren. There are lots of things that contribute to feedback, the pickup being only one factor. When I used a Realist on my flatback, feedback on loud big band gigs was never a problem either. Tension, evenness of tone, amp placement, phase, yada, yada, yada.

Maybe someone will remember where Uncletoad's rules for playing stupid loud gigs are. I can't find my copy.

Ryan, depending on your amp situation, you may want to pick up an HPF pre from Fdeck. Phase reversal and HPF are useful tools to have.