yeah I am really more and more pleased with the Wilson K4. With the Sarno V8's Octal tube warmth and drive (the K4 is not as hot as some other pickups) and the really unmatched adjustability of the pickups (there really aren't any other pickups that have the sonic adjustability of the K4) it's limitations, the literal edginess that the sound CAN have if untuned, can be mitigated and a really nice warm woody tone can be had. I have spent a bunch of practice time this week (I always practice with a looping pedal and Drumgenius) getting more familiar with the K4 and there are so many positives about it that over ride the negatives and now with the gain way up on the tube preamp (driving it a bit) the sound of the K4 is just excellent. I was nervous that I was going to hate the sound and that I would end up out of pocket with air holes in my bridge, but man the K4/V8 is killing, and the k4 is staying on the bass.
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Double Bass Wilson K4
- Thread starter flatback
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Just curious: my Kolstein travel bass has a really REALLY tall bridge crown. I wonder if the K4 could be installed on it. What do the instructions say about distance down from the strings?
Dunno. My feeling is that Papa Wilson who played the bass invented the pickup and that Ole is carrying on the biz, but not really experimenting with any new ideas (I was really curious about reversing the polarity for example but didn't really get far) but I don't think anything is written in stone. I was seriously contemplating moving the holes back farther on the bridge but decided not to because I had the Yamahikos doing such a stellar job farther back. I did put the G string pickup a little farther back and truth is I think the pickups ARE hot enough that it isn't going to make much difference. Do you have a picture of the bridge, kind of interested in what you mean ...does that mean that the arc of the fingerboard is rounder?
I couldn't get enough bass from the k4(k5 actually) so I made a few k1s instead from it. I wish I hadn't, your posts have made me interested in this pickup again. It's a really unique pickup!
I was also thinking that a K4 with three of the holes spaced out behind the strings and one back on the leg could be interesting or two and two...I just dont have the money or extra bridge to experiment. I also had a day dream about having the little microdot connectors put onto the ends of the K4 pickups so I could hook them into all the spare female ends on the Yamahiko and have it all be one massive bridge pickup....too much time on my hands maybe I need a day job.
Like Mike Carr said, the instructions call for 9mm below the strings. If I remember it right back in the late 80’s it was different under each string, something like 7mm under the g to 10 under the e but I could be mistaken. I had mine all put at 11mm on the Kolstein and am happy with it. I have drilled a few bridges myself by hand and the pickup worked fine, but I wouldn’t recommend that method. I’m much happier with having had my luthier do the last one on a nice drill press.
I've been using a k1 on most of my basses for almost ten years and it always worked quite well. However, I found a very good spot for my ehrlund recently so I don't seem to be needing the k1 any longer. But I'm sure that will change, it always does...
I am curious what impedance have you found is ideal with the K4? I believe earlier in the thread it was hinted that it like higher than 10meg.
Chris,
As Mike Carr says it's a 9 Millimeter clearance distance from the crown. My concern would be that since the Kolstein bridge is smaller (1/2 size?), it would place the elements, in closer proximity to each other.
I think I'd write Wilson and talk to them about the physical size of the bridge. Could be that a K1 or even a K2 (Cello bridge) would work better, or maybe that's not a concern at all.
As Mike Carr says it's a 9 Millimeter clearance distance from the crown. My concern would be that since the Kolstein bridge is smaller (1/2 size?), it would place the elements, in closer proximity to each other.
I think I'd write Wilson and talk to them about the physical size of the bridge. Could be that a K1 or even a K2 (Cello bridge) would work better, or maybe that's not a concern at all.
I think the effects of imp loading after 5M with most pickups is subtle . I prolly would fail a blindfold test about the differences but somehow when I have the Wilson plugged in I seem to like it BB20M>V8 rather then just the V810M.I just go with what sounds good to me.
But again I'm not judging a win or loose thing, since about 5 or 6 years I'll take any of the fine combinations of pickups and preamps I've had.
But again I'm not judging a win or loose thing, since about 5 or 6 years I'll take any of the fine combinations of pickups and preamps I've had.
Although my Kolstein is now wearing a new bridge, I also had the Wilson in the old bridge with no problem. Played it with other pickups for a year or so with the holes from the Wilson open without any issues. I went for 11mm down this time hoping to get a bit less “direct” sound while still being clear and defined. I’ve also noted that as bridges age there can a degree of compression in the string slots. When the pickup was mounted at 9mm, after maybe 5 years or so it was more like 7mm. More of an issue on the g string because of its smaller diameter, even more of an issue in 5ths cuz now that is an A string and it cuts into the bridge more over time. Not a super big deal, just something I wanted to plan ahead for.
Very nice, we're definitely going after the sound we hear and while I think it's great for others I just cannot bring myself to drill holes in my bridge, nor will I replace my ebony adjusters. With those restrictions, I had to go a different path, which
I'm perfectly happy with. The Sarno BB is the "Equalizer" when one person uses a Ehrlund and another uses the a Wilson, allowing both of us to get a great sound out of radically different pickups. It's all good.
I'm perfectly happy with. The Sarno BB is the "Equalizer" when one person uses a Ehrlund and another uses the a Wilson, allowing both of us to get a great sound out of radically different pickups. It's all good.
Good to know! Also to others: between the cost of the pickup and the installation, what is the overall cost of the K4 in 2020?
I have no interest in it for my main bass, but for the travel bass it could be really useful.
Shouldn't be a problem - he's got a $999.00 preamp, fer Pete's sake!
(just havin' some fun at Dear Moderator's expense! )
Thanks!
@Don Kasper I haven't bought a K4, I was just asking. I'll think about if/when my next international clinic or tour is scheduled, because being in Central or South America without an instrument when you're supposed to be there as a performing artist is a tough jam to be in! And for what it's worth, the preamp is absolutely worth it because it goes to every gig and makes me sound better. There's a lot to be said for being able to hear intonation more quickly and clearly in bad acoustic spaces.
