Hey Troy, I have both sides on my bass 1/4” threads up and am pretty content. As for any sound difference with threads down/up or 1/4”vM8 the only way for me to really know for sure would be to retap and flip mine over, buy an M8 version and try it both ways too- and that is obviously not going to happen. I do however prefer the sound with both sides as compared to running one alone. Using a single side was too dark and boomy for my taste/bass. Buy one and just put it on your bass. If for some reason you don’t like the sound (and I don’t imagine that will happen) go ahead and have the work done to flip it over and see if it changes. I really don’t think there will be a need to though. It’s a really nice pickup.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Double Bass Yamahiko Double Bass Pickup
- Thread starter Mike Arnopol
- Start date
Thanks, Chris. I didn't know that you had done this or I would have been all up in your business earlier!
If one side threads down was too dark for you, maybe one side, threads up would bring back some of the clarity that you're missing? Worth a try. I'm sick of pickups (and strings) and just want to go out with stuff that will work and I don't have to futz with. Playing reasonably well requires my full attention.
I don't doubt that it is possible to get a better sound with both elements if you go through what those on this thread have gone through to test and manage every option and run separate signals through separate HPFs and blend. I don't doubt that if you can pull off using a mic with or without blending it with a pickup, it's possible to get a better sound. I could always add the other element later.
But it's just reminding me of the few years I spend distracted by the Ehrlund. When it works, it's glorious but it's a huge distraction and more than 1/2 of the nights, I spent more time dealing with it than listening to my bandmates and some nights, it just never sounded good. I'm sure that no one remembers my tone on those good Ehrlund nights, but people do remember if I played well or STB or more importantly, our job is to make the band sound good, so hopefully that came across and is what people remember, if they remember it at all.
The truth is, I was mostly fine with the Realist, the Lifeline, the Full Circle. Anything that gets solidly mounted and reliably and consistently does it's job is probably going to make me happy. Everything futzy: Ehrlund, Stat-B, SoundClip, anything mounted in the bridge wing - I always think "what part of my signal should I boost or cut to get to MBOL while the blender is running or someone is shaking a cocktail, or my listening audience suddenly erupts in applause because the Sounders just scored?"
You tend to play better rooms than I do.
If you liked the full circle I think you will really like the yamahiko. I wasn’t really happy with the full circle but the yamahiko floats my boat pretty well. Solidly built, consistent sound, not fussy at all (I suppose that initial mounting with well set bridge and adjusters would be the only possible variant here but I just pulled the old adjusters and put on the pickup), and has others have stated it takes EQ well. Yea, playing is much more enjoyable when you have a sound you like and don’t feel the need to fuss with it half the night. I look forward to catching you playing out sometime soon! Love to hear the results after you settle in with it.
Yeah, it would be great to hang again. I've been meaning to fall by the Owl and Thistle, but you know...it's raining...I own PJs...
I'm pretty comfortable that if I bought 1/4" threads I could install it, but it's not a big deal to pay Sara or Jake to do it if not. My bass hasn't been on a bench in years so it probably wouldn't hurt to have expert eyes on it anyway.
There is an original one sheet installation drawing on the Yamahiko website. It is a bit hidden but can be found if you look at any of the bass-related pages. At least for the 8 mm version.
The pickup is drawn Threads down there.
I don’t think the would be a big difference in sound depending on the pickup orientation as with the Full Circle, since the the sensor sits in the axis of the adjuster, not close to one side of the wheel like the Full Circle.
I think the reason for installing threads down is that the M8 thread is thicker than the unthreaded side and that would better fit in the wider feet than the narrower legs.
The pickup is drawn Threads down there.
I don’t think the would be a big difference in sound depending on the pickup orientation as with the Full Circle, since the the sensor sits in the axis of the adjuster, not close to one side of the wheel like the Full Circle.
I think the reason for installing threads down is that the M8 thread is thicker than the unthreaded side and that would better fit in the wider feet than the narrower legs.
Right now I have the Yamahiko and the Wilson K4 installed on my bass. Both pickups sound just great. Everyone bags on the Wilson because they remember it from back when people didn't know about impedance and good speakers and tube preamps. Kind of the same story with the Yamahiko-everyone associated it with a certain Eddie Gomez sound. But both of these pickups can sound utterly stellar. The Yamahiko's configuration - the pickup is literally inside the cylinder (rather then the disc) of the adjuster and the fact that it is some kind of industrial omni piezo rather then a disc- picks up the sound from the bridge in a different way then other pickups. More like the bass (still a piezo).
The 2 Y pickup combo bridged may have some phasing that cuts some bass emphasizing the mids more, but IMHO there is NEVER a problem of too little bass it is ALWAYS a matter of CUTTING bass (just look up HPF's on this amp page) so the two bridged version has a kind of dimension (favoring the high strings or low depending on where you are playing) that has serious BALLS. THe Wilson K4 acts the exact same way. Is the K4 TOO close to the strings? NAH that is all bull. What matters is how you amplify (preamp/speaker) What difference does it make to have the treads up or down? Not much. That Piezo is pulling in so much vibration that having it up or down isn't going to make any audible difference.
The other thing is that the Yamahiko in it's role as an ADJUSTER is just stellar. BEEFY, easy to turn, well machined so that it locks in the two sides of the bridge in a fully positive fit. To that end I think the M8 threads are better, but I asked him to make the 1/4in version so that more fence sitting USA bassists would feel comfortable trying this great pickup. I love good gear and I really love the cats who invent good gear for upright bass- my motivation is just being helpful- so Sorry for the 28 of 33 pages that is all my blather and enthusiasm- but it does not change the excellence of this product- threads up or down.
The 2 Y pickup combo bridged may have some phasing that cuts some bass emphasizing the mids more, but IMHO there is NEVER a problem of too little bass it is ALWAYS a matter of CUTTING bass (just look up HPF's on this amp page) so the two bridged version has a kind of dimension (favoring the high strings or low depending on where you are playing) that has serious BALLS. THe Wilson K4 acts the exact same way. Is the K4 TOO close to the strings? NAH that is all bull. What matters is how you amplify (preamp/speaker) What difference does it make to have the treads up or down? Not much. That Piezo is pulling in so much vibration that having it up or down isn't going to make any audible difference.
The other thing is that the Yamahiko in it's role as an ADJUSTER is just stellar. BEEFY, easy to turn, well machined so that it locks in the two sides of the bridge in a fully positive fit. To that end I think the M8 threads are better, but I asked him to make the 1/4in version so that more fence sitting USA bassists would feel comfortable trying this great pickup. I love good gear and I really love the cats who invent good gear for upright bass- my motivation is just being helpful- so Sorry for the 28 of 33 pages that is all my blather and enthusiasm- but it does not change the excellence of this product- threads up or down.
Something to add:
Im much happier after getting a reduced output jack from Mr. Yamaya. It's tamed the strident, bright, gnarly nature that this pickup can have, at least on my bass.
In fact, I've been able to plug it into a few amps and preamps that are not my own and get a decent sound. That was impossible before.
Im much happier after getting a reduced output jack from Mr. Yamaya. It's tamed the strident, bright, gnarly nature that this pickup can have, at least on my bass.
In fact, I've been able to plug it into a few amps and preamps that are not my own and get a decent sound. That was impossible before.
I'll look at the historical exchange rates and current trends and pick my moment. This seems like the right move for me, though.
"Just sprung [rather than popped] for a Yamahiko?"
If you want to de-verb the title, perhaps "Yamahiko Double Bass Pickup System" would work - that's how it's referred to on the company website and it would cover the various single- and dual-pickup configurations folks are using.
FWIW, I never associated this thread with soiling one's pants before (though I suppose one could take that to mean that the pickup is really good).
@SamuelHarris With the original jack I was basically always clipping whatever input I was using. On Felix turned ALL the way down, it still hit red, though it didn't sound like "clipping" - on the AI amp I tried it sounded like a buzzsaw
The new jack appears to have a capacitor in the housing, and allows me to get plenty of headroom. Not only is it not clipping anymore, but as a number of people have noted, with double bass pickups there can be a sweeter, more acoustic sound with a gain setting a fair bit lower than "barely not clipping".
