For the version with the same number of elements than your strings, yes.
But there are versions from 1 to 6 elements.
But there are versions from 1 to 6 elements.
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Double Bass Wilson Pickup
- Thread starter dperrott
- Start date
I bought one a while back used off the classifieds here to use in my EUB. I don't think I have it or the bridge dialed in quite right yet. However, it sounds as good as the Rick Turner bridge it replaced. That is, it feels a bit zingy and artificial to my ears with no EQ. I think the bridge might still be too thick.
Sven Gawron in Germany has been able to make the K4 pickup sound great on his EUB basses - very natural. And that was the inspiration for this.
Sven Gawron in Germany has been able to make the K4 pickup sound great on his EUB basses - very natural. And that was the inspiration for this.
Anyone else still using a Wilson? I guess it can sound very nice with a good preamp and blended with a mic.
I have one element only placed low in the bridget on the E-side, not near the string.
I had the 4 elements also as shown on the pic above but then reduced it to one because the sound is more accustic-like IMO. I don't need a preamp, there is enough power coming out.
I had the 4 elements also as shown on the pic above but then reduced it to one because the sound is more accustic-like IMO. I don't need a preamp, there is enough power coming out.
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I guess I'm old fashoned, but I just don't want to drill holes in a bridge that sounds really good. Just my take.
I bought a bass that had holes drilled in the bridge for a Wilson. I bought one on TB and gave it a whirl. Just couldn't get a sound I liked with it. Just the classic zingy, mid-rangy artificial sound I associate with the early days of DB amplification.
I played it through a Focus 2 and EA CXL112 and it sounded like a Wilson. Not my thing, I guess.
I played a gig a few years ago with my Underwood and a Polytone dual channel amp. Took me right back to the 70's. That combo was actually kind of fun and the amp sounded really good.
The reason I would like to try the wilson 4 is that i had a magnet (krivo) that i attached directly on top if the bridge (didn't like the sound under the finger board) and it made a quite "middi" but nice sound. Mixed with a good mic, it was a killer sound though! I couldn't get that sound with any normal piezo but thought the wilson 4 could be close to a magnetic perhaps...
The Wilson is very discreet with lot’s of midrange definition. I’ve played basses with a 4 element Paul Tonenges magnetic pickup, but it
didn’t sound anything like the Wilson.
Just my take of course.
I finally got a Wilson after thinking about it for years. So far I like it. I think the distance from the strings is real important. The directions said 8mm from the strings. The website now says 9mm. I split the difference! To me it sounds similar to the old 2 element schertler I've used. It is much higher output then the full circle. To me it seems like it reproduces my bass closer to what it is. In comparison the full circle seems to over accentuate the attack and dies away during the sustain of the note. Hence the "acoustic" or "woody" sound. The wilson seems to be true to the attack and sustain of my bass. It sounds fantastic arco. I'm still experimenting with it. I did play a session and people asked me if I was playing the same bass, and yes they said for positive reasons.
I recently got a K1, and got by DB and EUB bridges drilled for it.
Somewhere under the bass side wing, like shown in the picture. (not mine though)
On the DB, I get too much body. (my cheap ply bass is boomy)
On the EUB it works great though.
Big warm tone, not really acoustic, sounds somewhat like a fretless BG, but very nice nevertheless.
Sounds best with a 10Mohms input impedance, like the Fdeck HPFPre.
Somewhere under the bass side wing, like shown in the picture. (not mine though)
On the DB, I get too much body. (my cheap ply bass is boomy)
On the EUB it works great though.
Big warm tone, not really acoustic, sounds somewhat like a fretless BG, but very nice nevertheless.
Sounds best with a 10Mohms input impedance, like the Fdeck HPFPre.
Attachments
Francois, have you tried it with a 20Mohms imp? I am curious how it would sound with the higher imp. On a lot of good piezos the higher setting really thickens up the sound (Then I use the HPF if too much) but it cuts the mid boost/quack considerably. Just curious how the Wilson would sound with a super hi imp setting?
I don't have such unit, sorry!
My Lr Baggs venue DI also has 10Mohms.
I tried with a 1Mohms input and it sounded much thinner.
I have enough warmth with 10Mohms.
Works great with my DB and her Hurley wing pickup as well.
My Lr Baggs venue DI also has 10Mohms.
I tried with a 1Mohms input and it sounded much thinner.
I have enough warmth with 10Mohms.
Works great with my DB and her Hurley wing pickup as well.
I saw you bought the K1 right after I bought mine. When you say it sounds like a fretless BG, how does it compare to the acoustic sound? My K4 sounds like my bass in regards to attack and sustain. If the tone is off I think I can adjust that with eq. I've used it with Fdeck but just when the rig I was playing through was too boomy. I didn't think it is normally needed
The fretless BG tone is what I'm getting on my EUB, not my DB.
On my DB I was getting too much (boxy) body tone.
The single element K1 is not located at the same place as the K4.
It gets much more body tone while the K4 gets much more string tone.
On my DB I was getting too much (boxy) body tone.
The single element K1 is not located at the same place as the K4.
It gets much more body tone while the K4 gets much more string tone.
Sorry for the confusion I meant, how does the wilson amplified sound of the EUB compare to the sound of the EUB acoustically? Or your upright acoustic/amplified? I think mine is close to what it is acoustically. Of course when your playing out, anything can happen but so far I've been happy with it.
EUB is almost solid-body so no useful acoustic tone to compare.
I'd say the Wilson seems to have a mid bump that's pleasant, and no typical piezo quack or brittleness.
It seems to be very carefully designed.
Edit: Changed mid scoop to mid bump. English is not my native language and I used the wrong word...
I'd say the Wilson seems to have a mid bump that's pleasant, and no typical piezo quack or brittleness.
It seems to be very carefully designed.
Edit: Changed mid scoop to mid bump. English is not my native language and I used the wrong word...
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