Double Bass Will a buffer pre-amp solve my problem?

[drurb]

Hey Mike, I think I'll have to get out my Acoustic Xciter pedal and check this out!
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I was (and still am) looking for as pure of a sound as possible for most situations, so didn't like these slight artifacts.
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Just a note. If you are looking for "pure" sound, then something like the Aphex, which is all about altered response and synthesis will not, by definition, provide it. Now, don't get me wrong. If the Aphex produces a sound you like, then by all means go for it! Hey, I would too! It is just that "pure" does not quite go with harmonic synthesis and enhancement. Of course, you may mean something different by the term "pure."

 

[bolo]

I've found that placement is everything. From the picture, I'm guessing that the piezos are not making solid enough contact to put out a decent signal. Gently wedging them under the bridge wings should give you a much fuller sound. Not too much, if they're firmly jammed in it seems to choke off everything but the mids and sounds almost honk-y. Even the exact position the wings make contact will affect the sound.

Definitely. With my bass, varying the pressure or how snug the pickup fits in the wing slot has a huge impact on tone for me too.

JDM, can you move those pickups around at all? What about trying them still on the side of the bridge but closer to the strings too, maybe more like this?

Link Removed

 

[bolo]

Just a note. If you are looking for "pure" sound, then something like the Aphex, which is all about altered response and synthesis will not, by definition, provide it. Now, don't get me wrong. If the Aphex produces a sound you like, then by all means go for it! Hey, I would too! It is just that "pure" does not quite go with harmonic synthesis and enhancement. Of course, you may mean something different by the term "pure."

Yep, understood Doc. I definitely agree with you that the Aphex pedal won't generate a "pure" sound in the strictest sense.

Trying the pedal was really just an experiment of mine. I think I knew when I bought it that I wouldn't use it regularly for gigs. Frankly I was just curious to hear what it sounded like after reading about it.

And as I said, it is an intriguing effect (or "beguiling" as jmlee's associate said, which is a good description!). IMO it pretty much works as advertised.

Despite all this, I've never used this pedal except for a couple living room tests, and two gigs on upright that I can recall. I guess I prefer the "pure" sound of the EA.

 

[JonB]

Thanks much for posting plans for your piezo preamp.
I was able to put one together, and it makes the Revolution sound even better. More warm and centered. It's just what I needed.
I really appreciate your sharing your knowledge with us.

 

[tombowlus]

I think that a buffer preamp would really help, and the Fishman or Raven Labs gear would be just fine, I think. Always one to try something a little different, I went with a Stewart UDP-1a for a buffer preamp (though it shines in other roles as well), and I really like it. It was the variable notch filter that attracted my attention, and this does help to control feedback in high volume situations. I don't think that the UDP-1a has been officially discontinued, but they are a little hard to come by nowadays (and it wasn't easy to get one back in 1995, either! ).

Tom.

 

[fdeck]

Thanks much for posting plans for your piezo preamp.
I was able to put one together, and it makes the Revolution sound even better. More warm and centered. It's just what I needed.
I really appreciate your sharing your knowledge with us.

Glad to be of help!