Not yet... It's still my plan, but life keeps getting in the way. I will definitely report back when i have.
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Double Bass Yamahiko Double Bass Pickup
- Thread starter Mike Arnopol
- Start date
Not yet... It's still my plan, but life keeps getting in the way. I will definitely report back when i have.
I ordered and installed (myself) the Yamahiko based on this thread and I’m downright thrilled. The feedback resistance is miles better than the RevSolo2 and about the same if not a touch better than the Realist Lifeline. More feedback resistant than the REMIC as well, but that didn’t work great on my instrument. The tone is definitely more Lifeline than Rev but with more pleasant high mids and highs that add articulation and presence. I like that it’s plug and play and not finicky at all, and one of the most well-manufactured pieces of gear I’ve ever owned. Sounded great with dead EP’s and also sounds great with new Spiro Mediums - and you can clearly hear the difference between the two. Using it typically into a Noble DI and Doubler II, with a EA NL-112. Thanks TB!
Hey K,
Yeah I had both on my Contrabassetto....the Underwood can be fine, but the Y is just at a different level. I think of it as an industrial strength tool. It gives you all the right info that you can filter or use as you like.
Yeah I had both on my Contrabassetto....the Underwood can be fine, but the Y is just at a different level. I think of it as an industrial strength tool. It gives you all the right info that you can filter or use as you like.
dann! I was quite happy with my underwood but I guess I'll just have to buy a yamahiko then. Two sides right?
Two sides gives you a lot of options, but they want to be checked, are a lot more expensive (you might want a two channel preamp like the Felix then) and two sensors gives you the risk of phasing.
If your strings sound well balanced with a single sensor pickup a single sensor would work well.
I have a 5-string and the single sensor works well. But decades ago I needed a two sensor bridge wing pickup, a single sensor didn’t work. Then, after a soundpost repositioning (more away from the bridge), single sensor pickups worked balanced on all five strings.
If your strings sound well balanced with a single sensor pickup a single sensor would work well.
I have a 5-string and the single sensor works well. But decades ago I needed a two sensor bridge wing pickup, a single sensor didn’t work. Then, after a soundpost repositioning (more away from the bridge), single sensor pickups worked balanced on all five strings.
Lately I have been using the two pickups, one into each channel of the Felix: on the E side I have the notch filter all the way over at 4 oclock and on the G side the HPF up to 9 oclock, both channels gain up, like the directions say so that they saturate the sound (as close to tubes as you can get with this box)..at almost noon, the amp volume knob also way up and then the power amp just up the least. Then I set the blend for any room I'm in, but always either favoring one pickup or another by a third.These setting make the pickups fat and sensitive so you have to play really evenly across the strings. I always end up with the two pickups in phase too. Out of phase just makes the sound way too thick.
I guess two pickups is the way to go, to have as many sounds as possible. Then I could sell one of them if I find myself only using one. Thanks for all the info! Some more sound clips would be great if someone has a recording?
Don‘t forget, that for splitting a two sensor Yamahiko, you need two more adjusters. I assume you take two identical cables to connect them to a two-channel preamp, so they can be split easily.
All the jacks that come with a Yamahiko are TRS so you can order a jack with 2 cables, then you can use a single TRS cable. When you plug a TRS into a Felix it automatically routes to two channels...very convenient for splitting them up. I am going to get a Tube buffer soon that will mean I can't use it this way (unless I put the buffer after the Felix which defeats one of the main purposes of it) so I will go back to having the pickups bridged with the connector wire...or buy two Black Boxes.
I have a friend here in St. Louis who wants to try the Yamahiko, so I'll ask some questions in his behalf. How do you measure the threads on his current bridge to determine which of the two
Yamahiko's to buy? I seem to recall that with the Fishman Full Circle you needed "dummy adjuster" to match the one with the pickup. Is that the case with the Yamahiko. Let me know.
Yamahiko's to buy? I seem to recall that with the Fishman Full Circle you needed "dummy adjuster" to match the one with the pickup. Is that the case with the Yamahiko. Let me know.
Well there are several different threads but the most common here (most aluminum adjusters) are 1/4 in and you can buy those on the website. I personally like the bigger ones and had my bridge cut for them...I figured even if I didn't like the Yamahiko I could just buy his dummy adjusters (which are totally excellent) and use those, but you can buy the 1/4in which is most common.
From the good folks at Gollihur music...
PICKUPS: Fishman Full Circle Sizing FAQ - FAQ courtesy of GollihurMusic.com
You can buy the Yamahiko pickup with or without the extra adjuster. Just be aware that his dummy adjusters are not cheap. If your friend's adjusters are 1/4" - 20 and are 'threads down', then a straight swap should be possible assuming his bridge feet are tall enough (20mm bare minimum, I think). Otherwise some degree of drilling, possibly plugging and re-tapping will be necessary. I did read above that going from 1/4" - 20 (existing) to M8 (Yamahiko) is pretty easy though...
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Hello, question for you Yamahiko users:
i have to put adjusters on my new bridge. Probably i'll install a Yamahiko pickup later so i want to already have the correct size to not rework on the adjusters holes later... What is the size of the Yamahiko adjusters ?
Thanks
i have to put adjusters on my new bridge. Probably i'll install a Yamahiko pickup later so i want to already have the correct size to not rework on the adjusters holes later... What is the size of the Yamahiko adjusters ?
Thanks
Look at the post above yours from bassmanbrent. The data is in there.
It might also be a good idea to look at the Yamahiko website. They also have a single sheet PDF how the (metric) Yamahiko should be installed. It’s a bit hard to find but you will find it if you go through all the web pages on the site.
So i have to ask my luthier to install M8 size threads? Sorry to ask again but i just want to be sure to not install the wrong size...
I wouldn't o it before you get the pickup. Only the Yama has the M8 threads (no other adjusters as far as I know) so you might end up with a bridge cut for M8 and no way of using it until you get the Yama. Another solution would be to get the Yama with 1/4 inch threads and then your choices for adjusters are many.
Since you are located in France I assume you have metrical adjusters.
Then the M8 Yamahiko would be the natural choice but you cannot go back to your previous adjusters unless you put a smaller thread into your bridge or buy a rather expensive Yamahiko adjuster.
My luthier did the conversion from 6mm to Yamahiko half a year ago. He put a M8 metal thread insert in. The other side could have been left as it was as the diameter of the non-threaded side was the same as my previous metrical Full Circle and brass adjusters.
I was even thinking of putting a M8 thread in both sides for the adjuster which would make it possible to change the orientation of the Yamahiko. The free inner diameter of the M8 threads I was looking for was just a tiny amount larger than the non-threaded Yamahiko post.
You have to check if the length will fit. The Yamahiko is about 5mm longer on the threaded side than the Full Circle which is even longer than my old brass adjusters.
I will just add that when my bass was being made I had an easy choice which way to go. The 1/4” is much more universal, especially in the U.S. but Mr. Yamahiko himself highly recommended the M8 (slightly more mass perhaps).
