Maybe my experimenting can help. When I ordered capacitors, I got a few of 2.2nf, 3.3nf, and 4.7nf. The 3.3nf is the one I tried first and I liked it quite a bit. I got curious and made another cord with the 4.7nf, and to me it was too much of an upper mid cut as well as a big step down in output. I used the 3.3 for several gigs, and then on a louder gig in a weird room I found I missed the ability to get a little extra upper mid edge, so the next day I made yet another cord with the 2.2 nf cap. I’ve been using that now for months and I like it the best. All three cap values completely stopped the clipping I was getting on the low E, it was just a matter of how much upper mid filtering I wanted to have, and for me less is better. I still run my AI Clarus flat on most gigs, for quieter gigs without a drummer I’ll cut some upper mids. With the Woods (which I don’t use that often but I sure like it when I do) I always have to cut some upper mids as it seems like it’s got a more forward midrange sound.
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Double Bass Yamahiko Double Bass Pickup
- Thread starter Mike Arnopol
- Start date
@Endlesssolo that sounds exactly like my experience so far. The 3.3nF cap tames the pickup and makes it much more useful, but I could have used a bit of the mids that it filtered at my last gig. Looking forward to trying the 2.2nF cap.
I also ordered an 8" male/female instrument cable from Sweetwater. I'm going to install the cap in it, so that I 100% don't mix it up with an uncapped cord on the way of of the house and so that I can use whichever cord I grab as an instrument cable.
It will also give me a chance to A/B the 2 cap values, until I reclaim the instrument cable that I originally installed it in.
I also ordered an 8" male/female instrument cable from Sweetwater. I'm going to install the cap in it, so that I 100% don't mix it up with an uncapped cord on the way of of the house and so that I can use whichever cord I grab as an instrument cable.
It will also give me a chance to A/B the 2 cap values, until I reclaim the instrument cable that I originally installed it in.
Someone here should buy the Neutrik Timbre Plug and see if the built in caps work well with the Yamahiko.
I found one commenter stating that the Timbre plug has values of 1nF, 2.2nF, and 3.3nF. Unfortunately, Neutrik does not provide that info. I’ve been curious about using this with piezos for a while because I have one Lifeline that is much hotter than the other Lifeline I own. I do not have a Yamahiko, but it seems like this would be perfect pairing.
I’m still debating if the Yamahiko will be a significant improvement over the LL when paired with the ToneDexter.
I’m still debating if the Yamahiko will be a significant improvement over the LL when paired with the ToneDexter.
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I had a Lifeline when it first came out. It reminds me a bit of a single element Underwood. IMO even though the stock Y pickup is hot, I dont think it has as pronounced of a midrange.
I remember some discussion here about that cable and it seems there wasn't a consensus about what it actually did and the manufacturer was deliberately vague. But, that's just from memory.
Someone would need to buy one and post their experiences or pull it apart and see what's actually going on in there.
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This is the most detail I could find from Neutrik.
I assume this is an example of how the signal from magnetic pickups would be impacted. AFAIK the response plots (red, blue, green) suggest selecting progressively larger shunt capacitors
AFAIK, the impact is different for a piezo.
Google AI reports values of 1nF, 2.2nF, 3.3nF. This is based on the following article: Tipping Your Cap: Simple Mods for More Capacitance in Your Signal Chain
If rotating the switch just adds different values of shunt capacitors, perhaps a capacitor tester like the Peak LCR40 could be used to measure the values. The Peak LCR40 has a range of 0.5pF to 10000uF.
I assume this is an example of how the signal from magnetic pickups would be impacted. AFAIK the response plots (red, blue, green) suggest selecting progressively larger shunt capacitors
AFAIK, the impact is different for a piezo.
Google AI reports values of 1nF, 2.2nF, 3.3nF. This is based on the following article: Tipping Your Cap: Simple Mods for More Capacitance in Your Signal Chain
If rotating the switch just adds different values of shunt capacitors, perhaps a capacitor tester like the Peak LCR40 could be used to measure the values. The Peak LCR40 has a range of 0.5pF to 10000uF.
Oh, I was likely the one who brought it up before haha. Guess i should just go ahead and pull the trigger and check it out.
I don’t see what could be unclear about what it does or how it works. The Neutrik documentation clearly explains: there’s a 4 position switch with 3 different capacitors and a bypass position. They just don’t disclose the capacitor values.
Edit: Wasnex answered better than I did while i was typing. I am also going off of this: Invalid Link Removed
I met Mr.Yamaya at the musicians gathering in town. (I live pretty close to Yamahiko’s workshop.)
He said he actually recommend us to use 2 channels inputs because the volume captured on G side and E side are vary from instruments to instrument.
The reason he use connection cord is he loved Eddie Gomez’s sound and he used to use underwood. So he tried to make it laser like sound. However it seems having the volume control would be the better option for majority.
He got the idea of another input jack or box for the Yamahiko but it has been tough. And he doesn’t feel like to sell it when people can’t test them out. Especially when he ship it overseas.
I also asked him about Fishman FC.
He didn’t get any notifications from Fishman and he knew it about it when he got some e-mails from overseas.
When he knew it,He wasn’t angry or upset at all and he was like more people might start recognizing about Yamahiko if Fishman FC became famous.
He said he actually recommend us to use 2 channels inputs because the volume captured on G side and E side are vary from instruments to instrument.
The reason he use connection cord is he loved Eddie Gomez’s sound and he used to use underwood. So he tried to make it laser like sound. However it seems having the volume control would be the better option for majority.
He got the idea of another input jack or box for the Yamahiko but it has been tough. And he doesn’t feel like to sell it when people can’t test them out. Especially when he ship it overseas.
I also asked him about Fishman FC.
He didn’t get any notifications from Fishman and he knew it about it when he got some e-mails from overseas.
When he knew it,He wasn’t angry or upset at all and he was like more people might start recognizing about Yamahiko if Fishman FC became famous.
Isn’t the Full Circle completely different internally? After all, the TB consensus seems to be that the Yamahiko sounds significantly better. I don’t have a dog in the fight, but it doesn’t seem fair to me that some people seem to accuse Fishman of ripping Yamahiko off.
I remember someone said that the actual sensor is in its shaft on Yamahiko however Mr Yamaya said the sensor is in the disk. It is crimped in the disk. So I thought the idea is pretty similar to FC.
I guess the FC has 4 sensors in it right? Yamahiko has just one sensor.
Kentos man could you have misunderstood him about the Yama being in the disc?...the FC is crimpted in the disc but it really looks like (and I was sure in my conversations with him via email) he told me the pickup piezo element was in the shaft. I could be wrong ,easily, but just wondering if you are sure you heard that right? ...It's just that (I could be psyco) but it sounds to me like it is in the shaft and i am really surprised to hear that it is like the FC in the disc....
What’s the pickup that won’t cop out when there’s feedback all about?
Yamahiko….
You damn right!
Maybe there were some misunderstandings in speaking different languages. Of course we speak in Japanese and I asked him that “I have heard there is a sensor in the shaft. Is that right?” He said it is in the desk.
One more thing, Mr Yamaha said, he is afraid to watch this thread. So I told him that people mostly are saying good things about Yamahiko and he looked happy.
I’ve got a broken/dissected one in a pile of junk somewhere - I’ll see if I can dig it up today and will post photos. I think there’s a chance we’re all correct. There’s a rod in the shaft that’s picking up the vibes, but now I am having my doubts as to if that was the piezo itself or simply the vibrating element exciting it.
Thanks all.... ya learn something new everyday. Gotta say the Yamahiko straight into the GR Acoustic Bass Cube (with the Cap) sounds just awesome. Kiyohiko is a cool cat.
I think there were about 50 pages of this thread where someone, maybe a few people, were posting that the Yamahiko had sensors in the shaft before someone finally debunked it. I never saw any evidence of the sensors being in the shaft, it never made any sense to me.
I believe it is true that the FC has four small sensors while the Yamahiko has one disc shaped sensor. This accounts for the FC changing tone depending on the orientation of the adjuster. Fishman even explains it in the manual, citing the player’s ability to fine tune the tone by adjusting the pickup within a 45 degree range. I used one for a while and I found that feature useful. Of course, you can easily get the same sort of tonal adjustments simply by adjusting upper mids on a preamp/amp.
I just received my Yamahiko output jack with the 2.2nf capacitor installed and it sounds great! Now i can use any 1/4” cable instead of being tied to the one I made with a cap installed. If anyone is looking for a stock Yamahiko output jack, let me know, I can sell mine.
I'm getting ready to get my bass in for some pretty invasive repairs and I figure now is the time to get a Yamahiko on order so the bridge can be cut for it. I'll go with the M8 threads.
I know many of you have experimented with different configurations over the last 10yrs since this thread was started; what's the consensus on single vs. dual element? Threads up or threads down? Anything else I should consider? I'll do the cap mods myself.
Thanks!
I know many of you have experimented with different configurations over the last 10yrs since this thread was started; what's the consensus on single vs. dual element? Threads up or threads down? Anything else I should consider? I'll do the cap mods myself.
Thanks!
