Kiyohiko has agreed to make a reversed polarity pick up for me. I am super curious to see if bridged (the two pickups wired together the way it was made) but with reversed polarity the Yamahiko sounds as it does when I run the two channels to the Felix separately and reverse the polarity of one. It may have it's own phasing problems (I am not at all sure that running the the two pickups into the preamp separately but NOT reversing the polarity sounds the same as bridging them) but I if it works it could be very cool and simplified and an improved sound.
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Double Bass Yamahiko Double Bass Pickup
- Thread starter Mike Arnopol
- Start date
Passively connecting two piezo pickups does sound different than preamplifying each of them and mixing them afterwards.
I did that with piezo disks.
The reason is that the crystal not only emits electrons, but also absorbs them (capacitor), the piezo disk in a BP-100 or similar pickups is the same as the buzzer in a greeting card or an older car. So it works both ways and voltage generated by one element can partly be consumed by the other.
That does not happen when each element is preamplified separately.
But I'm rather sure that the inverted element wired in parallel with the non-inverted one would sound better than two of the same kind.
Very nice that the Mr. Kiyohiko does that for you.
I did that with piezo disks.
The reason is that the crystal not only emits electrons, but also absorbs them (capacitor), the piezo disk in a BP-100 or similar pickups is the same as the buzzer in a greeting card or an older car. So it works both ways and voltage generated by one element can partly be consumed by the other.
That does not happen when each element is preamplified separately.
But I'm rather sure that the inverted element wired in parallel with the non-inverted one would sound better than two of the same kind.
Very nice that the Mr. Kiyohiko does that for you.
Yes he is a cool cat. He makes such a great, overbuilt, pickup using the very finest Japanese industrial piezos that are built for nuclear sensors in reactors. He embeds them into the shaft of the adjuster (rather then the disc) and makes all the connections with these cool little microdot cords. It means you can use 1 sensor or 2 sensors or send each to its own channel and change your mind whenever you like. He was really kind enough to make the stereo jack for me (works great into the Felix) that separates the two pickups. When I suggested that he flip the polarity of one of them he was eager to try it and see if it improves the sound possibilities. Totally cool dude and boutique product.
Earl
Supporting Member
Yes. Each pickup has its own cable going to a 1/4” stereo jack. One pickup goes to the tip contact and the other to the ring contact.
The Felix has a 1/4” stereo input on channel 2. Tip goes to channel 2 and ring routes to channel 1.
And the last piece in the picture is the 1/4” stereo cable. I had some difficulty finding a good quality one
Yeah that's it Maple. It works so well, allows each pickup to be eq's and phased and even DI'd individually. Sometimes I put the notch filter on the G side pickup and take out the piezo upper mids
The thing that is not Symetrical (although the guys at Grace told me it is possible to fix) is that one channel can only have a 10mohm imp while the other can have a 20Mohm imp. Sometimes I make the G side have the 20mohm (fattens it up) you do that by switching the cables at the pickup. This stereo system (as I have said) is super versatile...lots of different ways to configure it but still only one cord to the preamp. Very cool. Kinda over kill but not really it allows you to dial in different rooms pretty easily.
The thing that is not Symetrical (although the guys at Grace told me it is possible to fix) is that one channel can only have a 10mohm imp while the other can have a 20Mohm imp. Sometimes I make the G side have the 20mohm (fattens it up) you do that by switching the cables at the pickup. This stereo system (as I have said) is super versatile...lots of different ways to configure it but still only one cord to the preamp. Very cool. Kinda over kill but not really it allows you to dial in different rooms pretty easily.
And what brand of cable did you decide was the last piece? I would like to know what cable brand do you use and deem top quality?
Earl
Supporting Member
Earl
Supporting Member
So if I have an amp (or preamp) with two channels, could I use this stereo jack, and get a stereo Y cord and use one in each channel?
Totally. Sounds great into the two channels of an AI focus. Two ways to do that get the double jack from Yamahiko or get another single jack, and run a second cable. I ran one pickup to the focus and one to the Tonedexter for example and got a great sound. THe double jack is really if you have a preamp that will split them. If you are going to use a y jack, just get another single and run two cords.
I use Excesso Cables Ultimate Pure Copper directional bassflex stereo cable with wifi. It's really expensive (200 bucks a foot) but it works really well, and Neutrik has a new solid titanium 1/4 jack that transmits 30% more bass frequencies....
just kidding. I got a mogami cable with regular neutrik ends made up on line at one of those cable places that show up on google for about $40. works great. I use for mono too, and for accessing the 10Mohm imp on the Tonedexter.
just kidding. I got a mogami cable with regular neutrik ends made up on line at one of those cable places that show up on google for about $40. works great. I use for mono too, and for accessing the 10Mohm imp on the Tonedexter.
I got mine off of amazon. I generally like brands like Hosa that use the nicer switch-craft connectors but are still economical. Most of the stereo cables I found had plastic connectors
Unless I missed it, did you ever put up or plan on putting up some video/sound samples of the tonedexter? It would be great to see/hear it in action from you.
I'm debating between buying the 1/4 Yamahiko and the original M8 version. Although the M8 would require redrilling the bridge, Kiyohiko chose that thread size for the larger contact area with the wood (about 20% larger circumference). Any idea how the sound of the two compares in practice?
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Earl
Supporting Member
I have the 1/4 on my Chadwick and the original on my Juzek. Very different basses of course but the pickup sounds great on both and I don't really notice a difference.
Don't give up! What do you mean you can't upload.. upload it here. or anywhere! Come on, We would love to see/hear it!
Zippyshare.com - Free File Hosting
there are 15 other websites I know to upload the video. Or what is the problem anyway that you get that you can't upload the video? I can troubleshoot for you.
Yes it worked! Very cool. Thanks.
Yamahiko does sound nice, I definitely would get that as a 2nd pickup. Seems clear and all.
You know me though, my head is stuck up on the microphones.
Good video, good playing.
Please please please one day when you happen to have the Dexter out, do a small video of that if you get the chance.
I'm currently on Vacation (at home), so that Means I have my real size basses and can try the Ischell on those now and show that soon!
