Interesting! I have a lot to learn about how the guts of a five string are different than four. Acoustically, I couldn't be happier with this instrument but am finding it needs a different approach to mic it than I've used in the past. It speaks evenly top to bottom.
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Double Bass Yamahiko Double Bass Pickup
- Thread starter Mike Arnopol
- Start date
Interesting! I have a lot to learn about how the guts of a five string are different than four. Acoustically, I couldn't be happier with this instrument but am finding it needs a different approach to mic it than I've used in the past. It speaks evenly top to bottom.
Acoustically mine was even top to bottom before the soundpost move, but not electrically with a (bridge mounted) pickup.
The amplified tone got better after the soundpost move and there bowing got easier too, but the bass lost a bit of bite (but had a lot with Spirocores then).
I don‘t play gut strings but braided synthetic core (outer) steel wound strings. But their length stretching is similar to a plain G gut string. The tension is higher than typical plain gut.
The amplified tone got better after the soundpost move and there bowing got easier too, but the bass lost a bit of bite (but had a lot with Spirocores then).
I don‘t play gut strings but braided synthetic core (outer) steel wound strings. But their length stretching is similar to a plain G gut string. The tension is higher than typical plain gut.
Earl
Supporting Member
An acoustic instrument has a particular attack and decay of the note. Piezo pickups tend to lengthen the decay especially, creating more sustain.
Well I read all 45 pages of this thread, Pooped my pants, then popped for the pickup.
Played my first rehearsal with it last night, loud sextet playing some pretty bombastic music. Sounded and more importantly felt absolutely amazing. I play a lot in our jamspace without the amp, and I felt like I could use the same touch with the amp; my normal playing, just a little louder. Setup was the Y (E side only), an Fdeck on my quiver, into a Traynor sb112. Everything flat, and the mid scoopy thing (that I normally almost never use) turned up a little under half way. Perfectly usable sound.
At one point I had turned my volume off at the fdeck and accidentally played half a tune no amp and it wasn't immediately obvious. I just thought "I need a little more juice" and looked down and saw that it was off. That's a sign that, at least at low volume, in that space, the pickup didn't add anything distracting to my sound.
I have a tentative duo gig with a guitar player this Sunday in a nightmare of a restaurant (all glass and polished concrete) which will be a good test. Then at the end of the month a gig with that same sextet in a nice small club. Will report back after that.
Build quality is top notch. The thing is even serialized which shows the maker stands behind it, and doesn't consider his pickup to be a "consumable" product. I've used the Underwood for the longest time, but I've owned both realists, a full circle (at the beginning of my playing, sold it when I got the underwood), Ehrlund (couldn't get a reliable, consistent sound) and an early Krivo. This pickup on build quality alone is a step up from those (though I can't compare it directly to the Krivo or the Ehrlund, different things entirely) and so far soundwise was the easiest to dial in a workable sound, and still felt like I had plenty of information to dial in more clarity if I needed it. Very well executed design that doesn't clutter up the bridge. Only technical thing is its about double the thickness of my old adjusters, for now the height is good but I have them down all the way, if I go to a tighter string I may need to do some bridge work, no biggie.
Played my first rehearsal with it last night, loud sextet playing some pretty bombastic music. Sounded and more importantly felt absolutely amazing. I play a lot in our jamspace without the amp, and I felt like I could use the same touch with the amp; my normal playing, just a little louder. Setup was the Y (E side only), an Fdeck on my quiver, into a Traynor sb112. Everything flat, and the mid scoopy thing (that I normally almost never use) turned up a little under half way. Perfectly usable sound.
At one point I had turned my volume off at the fdeck and accidentally played half a tune no amp and it wasn't immediately obvious. I just thought "I need a little more juice" and looked down and saw that it was off. That's a sign that, at least at low volume, in that space, the pickup didn't add anything distracting to my sound.
I have a tentative duo gig with a guitar player this Sunday in a nightmare of a restaurant (all glass and polished concrete) which will be a good test. Then at the end of the month a gig with that same sextet in a nice small club. Will report back after that.
Build quality is top notch. The thing is even serialized which shows the maker stands behind it, and doesn't consider his pickup to be a "consumable" product. I've used the Underwood for the longest time, but I've owned both realists, a full circle (at the beginning of my playing, sold it when I got the underwood), Ehrlund (couldn't get a reliable, consistent sound) and an early Krivo. This pickup on build quality alone is a step up from those (though I can't compare it directly to the Krivo or the Ehrlund, different things entirely) and so far soundwise was the easiest to dial in a workable sound, and still felt like I had plenty of information to dial in more clarity if I needed it. Very well executed design that doesn't clutter up the bridge. Only technical thing is its about double the thickness of my old adjusters, for now the height is good but I have them down all the way, if I go to a tighter string I may need to do some bridge work, no biggie.
Forgot to mention, when I had to bow in the rehearsal, the sound wasn't particularly distracting as arco through a pickup can be. I did also seem to notice the difference in sound between my strings (Evah slap D/G Evahw A, Spriow E) more with this pickup than I did with the Underwood, pizz and arco. We'll see how that develops. Might end up being a good thing, forcing me to stick with a matched set of strings...
Thanks for the report, Brad. I feel like I could have almost written it. I have the same pickup configuration and fdeck, only a different amp and my experience and impressions are almost word-for-word identical to yours.
A couple of things:
1) I did get some bridge work, which I think I actually needed anyway, she changed the profile to better match my fingerboard shape and I like it.
2) I am a notorious and recidivist string mixer, but I introduced this pickup in my year of Spirocores. I generally feel, after years of mixing that when I do so, it's always because of some issue. Either the pickup isn't consistent across the range, the setup/bass aren't consistent across the range, the string set has a design flaw that forces or encourages experimentation, I need to adjust my technique in different ranges to get the sound I want, or I'm just insane, aided by you guys posting stuff that gets in my head.
The Yamahiko is a very accurate and dynamic pickup and it might make sense to pick your favorite set and put it on in total for a while and see what you hear and feel before you decide.
OH! ...and I'm sorry about the fecal incontinence. That's a tough break.
A couple of things:
1) I did get some bridge work, which I think I actually needed anyway, she changed the profile to better match my fingerboard shape and I like it.
2) I am a notorious and recidivist string mixer, but I introduced this pickup in my year of Spirocores. I generally feel, after years of mixing that when I do so, it's always because of some issue. Either the pickup isn't consistent across the range, the setup/bass aren't consistent across the range, the string set has a design flaw that forces or encourages experimentation, I need to adjust my technique in different ranges to get the sound I want, or I'm just insane, aided by you guys posting stuff that gets in my head.
The Yamahiko is a very accurate and dynamic pickup and it might make sense to pick your favorite set and put it on in total for a while and see what you hear and feel before you decide.
OH! ...and I'm sorry about the fecal incontinence. That's a tough break.
Glad to know folks are still pooping for the Yamahiko after all these years! It still sounds intriguing, but still happy with my FC. At this point, I think I will just wait until one of them craps out and then replace it with a Yamahiko just to see what happens.
Or get one now and if you like it sell one FC. If the FC is damaged you won‘t get (much) money for it, but now you can. But I would wait with selling the FC until you know that you want to keep the Yamahiko.
If you don‘t like the Yamahiko you might want to sell it in both cases.
One reason why I switched to the Yamahiko was that it won‘t get damaged after a few years like the FC often does.
I took the opportunity to get a used one.
So you might look for a used one as well?
If you don‘t like the Yamahiko you might want to sell it in both cases.
One reason why I switched to the Yamahiko was that it won‘t get damaged after a few years like the FC often does.
I took the opportunity to get a used one.
So you might look for a used one as well?
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@DoubleMIDI I hear you, but at this point in my life money is much less of a concern in these matters then making trouble free music. And I am making trouble free music on the amplification front with the full circle at this point, and have been for many years. If I start chasing gear too much, it takes away from the music making. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
No problem Chris. I just wanted to explain why I did the switch.
My bag is not the thickest at the bridge, so an impact on the top of the bridge might kill the piezo ceramic blocks inside the FC. This, a cheap used Yamahiko and the fact that I got the FC used and had it on my bass for at least two years let me made the switch to the Yamahiko and sell the FC.
I indeed could have used the FC longer if I haven’t found the used Yamahiko.
Everyone has to decide for themselves if or when the time is right to switch or not.
My bag is not the thickest at the bridge, so an impact on the top of the bridge might kill the piezo ceramic blocks inside the FC. This, a cheap used Yamahiko and the fact that I got the FC used and had it on my bass for at least two years let me made the switch to the Yamahiko and sell the FC.
I indeed could have used the FC longer if I haven’t found the used Yamahiko.
Everyone has to decide for themselves if or when the time is right to switch or not.
Wow, 45 pages is a lot of reading. I think I've followed this thread since its inception.
I've had my Yamahiko pick up, dual sensor version, for a couple of months and really like it. Please accept my apologies for not specifically going back to sections of this thread regarding what side, bass or treble, is best to place a single element purchase. I apologize if it's already been covered but I don't recall seeing it.
If the single sensor is used for cost considerations, I get that. But if you acquire both sensors and need to experiment whether one side vs. the other is better, you simply remove the interconnecting cable and switch the output cable from one sensor to the other. I haven't done it yet as I haven't felt the need.
I've had my Yamahiko pick up, dual sensor version, for a couple of months and really like it. Please accept my apologies for not specifically going back to sections of this thread regarding what side, bass or treble, is best to place a single element purchase. I apologize if it's already been covered but I don't recall seeing it.
If the single sensor is used for cost considerations, I get that. But if you acquire both sensors and need to experiment whether one side vs. the other is better, you simply remove the interconnecting cable and switch the output cable from one sensor to the other. I haven't done it yet as I haven't felt the need.
I vote the thread title gets changed back to 'popped for a yamahiko'. The new one is so....unanimated. *le sigh*
If I change it back to anything, it's gonna be "pooped"
Does anyone have any experience with having the really high gain problem with their yamahiko and had it resolved by switching from threads up to threads down? I’m not sure why, but my luthier installed mine threads up 
I’ve read through a bunch of the thread and found the help sheet from yamahiko about installing a capacitor but I’m not super handy with electronics and soldering. Hoping I can get it to my luthier and switching that fixes it.
I’ve read through a bunch of the thread and found the help sheet from yamahiko about installing a capacitor but I’m not super handy with electronics and soldering. Hoping I can get it to my luthier and switching that fixes it.
Mine felt high capacity when I got it, but somehow it doesn't now. I may have just gotten used to it or made subtle adjustments to my amp and/or hands.
Your luthier probably installed it the way your bridge was threaded. Mine is threads up. I talked to my luthier about filling and redrilling it to go threads down. She said that she would, but had not done that before and talked me out of it.
I have no reason at this point to believe that it would be better the other way
What else is in your signal chain? The fDeck pre-amp/hpf seems to help.
Your luthier probably installed it the way your bridge was threaded. Mine is threads up. I talked to my luthier about filling and redrilling it to go threads down. She said that she would, but had not done that before and talked me out of it.
I have no reason at this point to believe that it would be better the other way
What else is in your signal chain? The fDeck pre-amp/hpf seems to help.
Does anyone have any experience with having the really high gain problem with their yamahiko and had it resolved by switching from threads up to threads down? I’m not sure why, but my luthier installed mine threads up
I’ve read through a bunch of the thread and found the help sheet from yamahiko about installing a capacitor but I’m not super handy with electronics and soldering. Hoping I can get it to my luthier and switching that fixes it.
My Yamahiko (E side only) also had a lot of signal, so it distorted the input of my amp/preamp.
I installed a small capacitor in the jack connector, which solved the issue.
I believe Yamahiko sells a jack to address this issue. I bought mine used here on TalkBass and it came with 2 jacks.
Earl
Supporting Member
This is usually an issue when only one side of the Yamahiko is used. I have not found this problem using both sides as was originally intended.Does anyone have any experience with having the really high gain problem with their yamahiko and had it resolved by switching from threads up to threads down? I’m not sure why, but my luthier installed mine threads up
I’ve read through a bunch of the thread and found the help sheet from yamahiko about installing a capacitor but I’m not super handy with electronics and soldering. Hoping I can get it to my luthier and switching that fixes it.
I've never seen the help sheet, have a link to it?Does anyone have any experience with having the really high gain problem with their yamahiko and had it resolved by switching from threads up to threads down? I’m not sure why, but my luthier installed mine threads up
I’ve read through a bunch of the thread and found the help sheet from yamahiko about installing a capacitor but I’m not super handy with electronics and soldering. Hoping I can get it to my luthier and switching that fixes it.
A capacitor fix to test could be pretty east by just adding it like an effect box between the pickup and your amp. Got any altoid tins laying about? That makes a great enclosure for something like this for testing that isn't permanent or risky for your equipment.
