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Double Bass Yamahiko Double Bass Pickup
- Thread starter Mike Arnopol
- Start date
That’s easy. When you play a Lifeline, it’s sounds very natural but it sounds like the bass has a blanket over it. The Yamahiko removes the blanket. More responsive, better highs, clearer lows, you can still hear the mids but they sound open and clear. The Lifeline requires more volume to hear your notes. The Yamahiko gives you what you need but it’s a hot pickup so you don’t need to be as loud. If you want a darker sound, the Realist is probably more up your alley. But if you want to be able to hear yourself, get a clean and clear attack, with lots of detail…the Yamahiko is the best pickup on the market.
Thanks for that. I thought I would like the Lifeline, because it’s darker than the Full Circle which is too mid-centric, but you are right, the Lifeline is just too dark. I have a Yamahiko here, but am waiting for inserts and adapters to install it. My bridge has 7/16” threads.
I moved from the Lifeline to the Yamahiko this year. I'll go along with the explanation @DaveAceofBass offered.
The Yamahiko has a better build quality than anything and it's out of the way once you get it set up the way that you like. It demands a bit more attention, but it gives you more clarity and even-ness. When the price difference was several hundred $ I could live with the savings, but at the same price or close, it's a much better pickup
The Yamahiko has a better build quality than anything and it's out of the way once you get it set up the way that you like. It demands a bit more attention, but it gives you more clarity and even-ness. When the price difference was several hundred $ I could live with the savings, but at the same price or close, it's a much better pickup
Earl
Supporting Member
I guess you are speaking about the cost of one side only. Both sides is now around $440. After a number of years experimenting with this pickup it seems that (at least on my bass) using both sides gets the best sound and I think is the way the pickup was originally intended to be used.
Correct, I am speaking of one side only. That seems the best comparison to the Lifeline, Full Circle, or most other pickups available in the US.
And it's all I've got to compare
And it's all I've got to compare
Oh yeah...
Phase Two successful... now onto Phase Three.
Soon I'll be at Phase Five, which is asking you guys for fine tuning tips. Can't wait!
Phase Two successful... now onto Phase Three.
Soon I'll be at Phase Five, which is asking you guys for fine tuning tips. Can't wait!
I wondered if most people here have the Yamahiko Jack socket under the tailpiece rather than above? Mine is setup on top of the tailpieces but I’m concerned it might get bashed, as the rubber sleeve on it has recently split. Has anyone replaced the rubber sleeve?
Thanks
Dan
Earl
Supporting Member
Ok silly question. How/where did you guys align yours under? When I installed mine it looked like placing it under caused alignment issues for getting the jack in and out.
Earl
Supporting Member
Mine is on top of the tailpiece, the Ehrlund jack is below.
I got mine used without any tube and cable tie.
I had some PVC tube with 1 mm wall thickness that almost fitted but was a bit narrow, so a full tube with cable tie wouldn‘t fit. So I cut two slices from the PVC tube and used them on both ends of the jack. The 1 mm wall thickness of the PVC tube is enough to keep the jack off the tailpiece.
A third slice in the middle of the PVC tube would be possible too or a tube with some U-cuts so the tube is fully below the cable tie but has small rings around the jack at the ends and the middle.
But the two rings alone made it more stable.
I got mine used without any tube and cable tie.
I had some PVC tube with 1 mm wall thickness that almost fitted but was a bit narrow, so a full tube with cable tie wouldn‘t fit. So I cut two slices from the PVC tube and used them on both ends of the jack. The 1 mm wall thickness of the PVC tube is enough to keep the jack off the tailpiece.
A third slice in the middle of the PVC tube would be possible too or a tube with some U-cuts so the tube is fully below the cable tie but has small rings around the jack at the ends and the middle.
But the two rings alone made it more stable.
I'm away from home for a few days, so I can't post a photo, but I used the loopy thing from a Gage pickup and have it mounted vertically under the E ball.
a little bit of play in the zip tie, no problems with alignment. yamahiko sounds great IMHO
Thanks for that photo. The sorta looks like how it was when I was mounting. I was afraid I'd have trouble with the male jack.
I might re-evaluate... but currently having it on the front seems to work fairly well.
