Double Bass Yamahiko Double Bass Pickup

[DoubleMIDI]

What about filling the gap by wrapping some paper around the posts?
I think the vibrational transfer to the adjusters (pickup or not) would be better without that gap.

 

[Kentos]

I’m looking to buy either Yamahiko or FC for my MK EUB.

Which one does have a clear intonation on Higher register?

The issue I have on my MK, it sounds weak when I play high notes. Especially solo.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

The Yamahiko has less low end than the FC.
But which MK EUB are you using?

With my (5-string) DB I needed a two element bridge wing pickup to get the high strings equally represented in the pickup signal. After moving the soundpost away from the bridge foot the bass worked with single element pickups.

You might not have a soundpost or anything that can make the treble bridge foot more movable, but if you have, you might try that.

Otherwise you might have better luck with two element pickups (bridge wing, Wilson K2 or Shadow NFX). Well, or a two-element Yamahiko.

 

[JBarz]

I’ve got both the single and double elements on two different 5 strings now, and have had countless FCs. Not objective comparison cause the 2 element is on a Kay ply and the single is on the Shen carved (with capacitor mod). BUT, my final analysis is you can’t go wrong. The dual element seems to use the phase-issues to hone in a more “lazer like” tone (double edge sword, though), single element is more raw and “natural”, but a lot more piezo-y in how it hits the amp- more diffused tone. Both really like the Sushi Box Slampegg as their first-call pre.

Compared to the FC the Yama is superior on construction alone, tone comparison is apples to apples to apples, IMHO

 

[Kentos]

I use MK studio fly, which doesn’t have both sound post solid body. I have tried NFX before but I didn’t feel right with it. It seems the FC and the Yamahiko are similar in sound so I would probably get a Yamahiko.

Or mixing bridge wing pickup on G string side with stock pickup might work pretty nice as a stock pickup is set under the bridge food on E strings side like the copperhead realist.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

On a solid body EUB you might need a two-element pickup. The Stagg EUB has a pickup under each bridge foot, my Clevinger 5-string needed two pickup elements to represent the high strings equally well (I tried it with one element only). Both are solid body EUBs.
I’m pretty sure all solid body instruments need two-element pickups.

On my Clevinger I put individual impedance buffers inside and mix one of them with an inverted phase.

 

[Matt Power]

I’ve got both the single and double elements on two different 5 strings now, and have had countless FCs. Not objective comparison cause the 2 element is on a Kay ply and the single is on the Shen carved (with capacitor mod). BUT, my final analysis is you can’t go wrong. The dual element seems to use the phase-issues to hone in a more “lazer like” tone (double edge sword, though), single element is more raw and “natural”, but a lot more piezo-y in how it hits the amp- more diffused tone. Both really like the Sushi Box Slampegg as their first-call pre.

Compared to the FC the Yama is superior on construction alone, tone comparison is apples to apples to apples, IMHO

I have blown through 3 FC pickups over the years. Yamahiko has not had a single hiccup. Yes to the construction comment! My Shen hybrid sounds better than it ever has since I switched over. FC has great highs. Your tone on the upper notes sounds like it might possibly be more of a setup situation than a pickup situation. Do the notes ring out on their own without the pickups help? Perhaps your strings? Regardless, there are way more Full Circle converts to a Yamahiko than the other way around, IMO.

 

[Kentos]

I just got nice pedal called “phase mixer”

mostly you can just flip the phase 180 degree with your preamp. However it is not necessary in phase. With this pedal, you can adjust the phase in 0 to 180 degree. You can find the sweet spot. It makes 2 pickups or mics sound like just a single pickup.

I haven’t tried it with Yamahiko but it sounded great with my other pickups.

 

[flatback]

Hey that looks interesting. The pages are all in Japanese so I can't read anything about it. How much did it cost and CAN you try it with a two element Yamahiko and tell us what you think? WHat pickups HAVE you tried it with? What does it do to the sound? Thanks great find. Been looking to try something like that for a long while.

 

[Kentos]

If you have 2 output cables, you can use it with 2 elements Yamahiko.

I tried it with lifeline and copperhead realist. It should work with Yamahiko too.

I bought it for around 250 bucks. I don’t know how much new one is.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

I still wonder what such a phase shifter really does. A (very) short delay shifts all partials by the same time amount but different phase amounts.
An allpass filter keeps the magnitude von of the partials then same but shifts the phase depending on the frequency (but typically not by the same amount).

 

[Kentos]

I installed 2 sensors Y into MK and tried it with controllable phase mixer.

I didn’t find it is useful because flipping one side 180 degrees makes sounding good enough. You can adjust from 180 degrees slightly to reduce the bass but you can EQ.

Maybe, if you are good at these kind of things, you can find the great sound but if you have a phase switch, you don’t really need a variable phase control.

 

[flatback]

I just had the Yamas that were sitting in my drawer (the Polar reversed one and a regular one) installed on my bass and I asked the Luthier to install the reversed one on the G side but he put it on the E side. Point is unlike on my other bass on this one (3/4 with Temperas) the Reversed sounds great. (having them tied together sounds great too but I am using just the reversed one). I asked Kiyohiko to build a reversed polarity pickup just to see what effect it would have....it does sound different even if I use the phase reverse on the Felix to switch it back.

 

[crd]

The only thing I don't like about the stereo set up is changing your bridge height changes the phase. I can usually get it back when the variable phase shift on the Felix but it takes a little bit of futzing.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

I’m looking to buy either Yamahiko or FC for my MK EUB.

Which one does have a clear intonation on Higher register?

The issue I have on my MK, it sounds weak when I play high notes. Especially solo.

It might be your amp/cab.

 

[Scott Lynch]

Hey folks - I seem to have lost one of the little threaded terminal protector caps for my Yamahiko. Does anyone know where I may be able to source a replacement outside of contacting the manufacturer?

 

[TroyK]

Found elsewhere on TB:

Kiyohiko at Yamahiko writes:

The output level of the pickup can be reduced in the following way.
The easiest way is to make an attenuator cable.
Connecting the film capacitor C between hot and cold of the cable connecting the pickup and the amplifier can reduce the output level by ATTdB.
C=3300pF, ATT=12.5dB
C=4700pF, ATT=15dB
Please Note,
Install the capacitor inside the metal shell of the 1/4 phone plug.
Please refer attached PDF document.
Use a 50V film type capacitor.
I think the film type capacitor makes the best sound.

I have some film caps in the mail. I was looking for a photo or diagram of the cap in the instrument cable. Is that the pdf you reference here? I remember seeing something, but don’t now.

 

[JBarz]

I have some film caps in the mail. I was looking for a photo or diagram of the cap in the instrument cable. Is that the pdf you reference here? I remember seeing something, but don’t now.

Troy, you’re overthinking it. It’s impossible to mess up - you’ll be fine.

 

[Hasty]

Hey folks - I seem to have lost one of the little threaded terminal protector caps for my Yamahiko. Does anyone know where I may be able to source a replacement outside of contacting the manufacturer?

Those caps are tough to find. It’s an M5/L5 microdot connector. I’ve been able to source the female ends on EBay, but I’ve never found the caps. You might get lucky with the manufacturer (Tyco Electronics) and see if they’ll send you caps. If they’re available from a stateside place like Mouser or DigiKey it’ll save you from the inflated import tariff.

 

[Quentin MCB]

If that's a regular M5 thread, I guess one could do a DIY from a nut