I didn't see the thread on this topic - wireless for double bass? - is there one? Does anybody have some good info on wireless for DB? Thanks!
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Double Bass Wireless double bass
- Thread starter foilracer
- Start date
You joining the marching band?
Ha! I got my answer from sweet water ✓. It's a jazz sextet in cramped quarters...cords are best ✓. Cheap wireless are unreliable...better systems could work but....cords are best ✓ My marching band days ended in 1972!
Looking forward to some famous music -Al
Wireless can work fine with double bass. Unbuffered piezo pickups should generally be plugged into 1Meg or higher for best tone. The ideal impedance may be higher. It depends on the piezo design.
I just checked the specs for the Shure GLXD1+ transmitter and it lists input impedance as 900K--pretty close to 1Meg.
I just checked the specs for the Shure GLXD1+ transmitter and it lists input impedance as 900K--pretty close to 1Meg.
I'll see you next month at rehearsal, will bring my walking shoes
I use wireless whenever I need to be plugged in. In my case these are simple, common, inexpensive, rechargeable Getaria 2.4ghz (for better distance) wireless dongles that I use for either my mounted piezo system (post mounted pre-amp) or for my mounted mic (clear).
In my experience -- which includes at least a dozen on-stage festival gigs -- wireless works as well as a cable either to my amp or to an FOH. Wireless makes it much easier to move around and do whatever is needed with the double bass, and there are less cables on the floor of the stage to worry about.
I do carry a cable just in case, but in 7 years since I started using these wireless, I have never needed to use a cable.
There are some threads here that do deal with wireless coincidentally on other topics mostly involving pickups or signal chains.
You can’t spin a bass much without wireless or your cable gets all wrapped around the peg
I like wireless and use something like Getaria 2,4 and 5,8 Ghz with no problems – on my e-basses. With my double bass and a piezo Shadow 591 it does not sound good. The impedance of the Getaria is too low.
Going wireless would mean I could avoid having to do a counter-clockwise spin for every clockwise spin!You can’t spin a bass much without wireless or your cable gets all wrapped around the peg
Seriously, I already have an FDeck HPF on the back of my tailpiece. I'd have to think about how to add a transmitter.
Many piezo pickups need high impedance, most of them even much higher than 1MOhm. The wireless device is the first in the chain – and has unfortunately much less than 1MOhm.
Please let me know if you find a solution as I also use FDeck HPF....maybe two sets of transmitters?....I sit, don't spin and have always used cables. I also think set up time may be the same either way. :-/
?
Why would you need two transmitters? For optimum impedance loading of the piezo pickup, you may need a battery-powered buffer of some sort. AFAIK the FDecks can run on a battery, although some models would require a snap to barrel adapter:
Make sure the adapter is wired for the correct polarity.
Plug the piezo into the HPF, plug the HPF into the wireless transmitter, and you're good to go.
I have been using the NUX C-5RC from Gollihur for over a year at home, at rehearsals and at many gigs. I use it on my Shen SB100 for jazz, on my Czech ply for bluegrass and also with my Yamaha SLB 200 and all of these have piezo pickups. I go straight into an amp or PA with no issues. There is a USB cord for charging or you can charge it in the case that they come in, very handy. Works for me.
I tried that using a Krivo magnetic pickup, my FDeck HPF and a Line 6 G10. Dunno why, but the amp screamed, a high pitched squeal. Everything was fine if I used the wireless into the HPF
Is that one transmitter and zero cables? I'm thinkin' after 60 years of cables I can make it another 30 years with two cables for my string bass and one for my guitar...my fav is orchestra bass (bow, bass, stool) ✓
Of course not!
Usually piezo pickups have a female 1/4" jack. So you probably need a 1/4" to 1/4" jumper to plug the pickup into the HPF. You may also need another 1/4" to 1/4" jumper to plug the HPF into the wireless transmitter. It depends on the model of wireless you get. You also may need the snap to barrel adapter to power the HPF with a 9V battery. So you may need three short cables.
You could forego the HPF and try to find a wireless that has a suitably high input impedance and a 1/4" male plug. Then you would be able to run one transmitter and zero cables.
I would just continue using cables if I was sitting.
I have a Line 6 G30 with the receiver on my pedalboard. When I'm doubling I put an A/B switch on the board with the cord from the DB going to one input and the G30 receiver to the other. I don't spin the bass enough times in a set to make it worth getting another G30 transmitter
But that would mean no Volume control or HPF control on the bass.
