My theory is that the slight out of phase-ness of two or more piezos in the pickup can add some dimensionality to the sound, compared to picking up the sound from just one point. But I am an overthinker.
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Double Bass Yamahiko Double Bass Pickup
- Thread starter Mike Arnopol
- Start date
The piezo elements on the Full Circle are all driven by the same source and in equal and very short distance. So they all get the same (or inverted) signal at the same time.
Phasing needs a time delay from one sensor to another, but that is not the case here.
Phasing needs a time delay from one sensor to another, but that is not the case here.
They would if you they are sent to different speakers separately, but mixed before sending the sum for projection into air you only get phasing.
Well, if that time comes, keep me up to date on it. I tried it with a Lifeline too, and that sounded great as well.
Well, I stand by my overthinking. A slightly more complex signal than a strictly one point source.
I have not put in the Caps that Matt P sent me but last night on the gig I DID do something I have never done. I turned the Felix gain down to 0 and used only the main amp volume (on the Felix) and the master on the amp and low and behold the sound was significantly better. Not just the reduction of that in your face yelling that the Yama can do if it is up too high but a tighter more well rounded sound that stayed put and never got outta hand while being clear and present under the band. Killing.
But not so killing that I am not going to spend some time today installing those caps. Seems like the pickup has a whole different (better) character when it is not too hot. Thanks Matt.....
But not so killing that I am not going to spend some time today installing those caps. Seems like the pickup has a whole different (better) character when it is not too hot. Thanks Matt.....
I’ve been using a 2.2nf capacitor, after having tried the higher values that were suggested. I like the sound of the 2.2 the best; it cuts the fewest upper mids and results in a nice strong-but-clean output. After using a homemade cable for several months, I just bit the bullet and ordered an output jack with the cap installed from Yamahiko. It was about $55. To me it will be worth it to be able to use any cable on a gig without having to think about it.
Same... sorta, I've been using an 8M threaded single element on the E side. It works great but I've always liked it better buffered a little. I've been using an Fdeck HPF3 with the volume rolled back a bit and that is super versatile. I decided to spring for the 2.2nf capacitor cable based on your experiences. I haven't had a moment to try it yet but I'm hoping straight into the amp hits as well as the buffered signal currently.
I soldered up the Yama cables with the caps and then ran them each thru both the Felix and the Redeye twin. The E side by itself with this cap in sounds utterly fantastic. The other side and b lending them also sounds great. Using this cap the EAP and Yama blend really well too. I think the pickup should cojme standard this way .. it sounds WAY better (and I liked it before)
If you are really good with soldering, it would be a fairly simple job to add a 2.2nf cap to an existing Yamahiko output jack. I peeked inside mine with the intention of doing that but chickened out. Modifying an existing cable is easy; I just ordered the cap, a new switchcraft 1/4” plug, cut off one end of an old cable, and then I had new clean surfaces to solder to and fit the cap in.
Me too! I am so glad I did the modification. It really is a serious improvement to the pickup!
The middle capacitor. It's the one Kiyohiko recommends. Seriously, someone has to convince him to make this the standard for his pickup.
Since my memory isn't what it used to be... what is the value of the middle one?
I’ve been using 4.7nF on all mine, even the dual element now, ‘cause the more upper mids cut the better imho. Still plenty hot, not wanting for headroom at all. Works great with no preamp with most amps/cabs (but loves the TD2 at stupid high volumes). I secretly love it when I can dial everything in behind the scenes where I can just set all the knobs to noon.
I soldered the cap in by first wrapping it around the switchcraft mono HOT tab (the Yamahiko jacks are all stereo whether wired that way or mono ) and then the ground and then soldered the leads and cap at the same time. WAY better sound. I played all last night with the Redeye twin with each pickup going to its own ch. My pickups on this bass have one phase reversed and together they sound great. Really though with this cap just the E side sounds stellar. When I get the new amp in a few days (GR Acoustic Cube) I will prolly end up just using the E side it sounds so good like that.
I installed a 3.3 nF cap and it really made a difference. I also bought some 4.7 nF caps, but have no reason to try them.
It takes my input enough that I feel like I can plug straight into my amp. Without the cap, I really needed a pre-amp to easily get behavior from the pickup that I liked. Not a big deal and it's a really good result, but after going through the trouble to get DB friendly amps, I resented needing extra gear.
3.3 nF resolved that for me. It's not in any way a weak signal. Just "normal" as opposed to being a little hot. The main difference though was in the frequency spikes. I had to cut mids hard to like the tone. With the cap, it's just subtle tweaking.
But...just because I can leave well enough alone and it's the cheapest thing I could possibly buy for DB, I've ordered some 2.2nF caps to try out.
On my last gig, I felt like it was a little too flat. If 2.2 nF takes a smidge off the the input signal and rounds the peak of those mid frequencies with a slightly lighter touch than 3.3 nF, then I like pushing that role back to the eq on my amps. If not, I'll reinstall the 3.3 cap. It's a really good mod to a really great pickup.
It takes my input enough that I feel like I can plug straight into my amp. Without the cap, I really needed a pre-amp to easily get behavior from the pickup that I liked. Not a big deal and it's a really good result, but after going through the trouble to get DB friendly amps, I resented needing extra gear.
3.3 nF resolved that for me. It's not in any way a weak signal. Just "normal" as opposed to being a little hot. The main difference though was in the frequency spikes. I had to cut mids hard to like the tone. With the cap, it's just subtle tweaking.
But...just because I can leave well enough alone and it's the cheapest thing I could possibly buy for DB, I've ordered some 2.2nF caps to try out.
On my last gig, I felt like it was a little too flat. If 2.2 nF takes a smidge off the the input signal and rounds the peak of those mid frequencies with a slightly lighter touch than 3.3 nF, then I like pushing that role back to the eq on my amps. If not, I'll reinstall the 3.3 cap. It's a really good mod to a really great pickup.
Sorry if this has been discussed before, but are any of you running a Realist on your bass as a backup to the Yamahiko? I've mentioned this previously, but I currently have a fixed bridge and a Realist Copperhead. I need to get my bass in for some repairs and was considering having the bridge cut in preparation for a Yamahiko. However, the E-side foot is fit for the Realist and it's been working great that way for years, so I'd prefer to maintain that interface and keep the Realist as a backup/alternative. I probably wouldn't ever run them together, other than to goof off, but I like the idea of a secondary pickup, and it's already perfectly fitted to my bass.
