And here I’m just plugging a regular old 1/4” cable into my pickup. Silly me. 
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Double Bass Yamahiko Double Bass Pickup
- Thread starter Mike Arnopol
- Start date
Aren't you the guy using a $900 preamp on the other end of that "...regular old 1/4" cable..."?And here I’m just plugging a regular old 1/4” cable into my pickup. Silly me.
Confucius Say - "There are 2 ends to every cable."
(Calm Down, Mod...I'm just havin' some fun on TB, if that is still allowed.)
IMFO, of course.
Thx.
If I’m understanding Jbarz correctly, he added the 3.3 cap connecting the treble pickup to ground. So from the treble pickup perspective, the two caps are in parallel, giving a total capacitance of 3.3 + 4.7 =8.0.
I’m not exactly sure where the 4.7 cap is. I am assuming the pickups are in parallel with the cap connecting both hot wires to ground.
I’m not exactly sure where the 4.7 cap is. I am assuming the pickups are in parallel with the cap connecting both hot wires to ground.
Yep, this would work on the single element in the same way your cable does. Lots of ways to skin this cat
The 4.7 is in the stock 1/4” plug. TBH, I’m not sure about the math or science here, but my ear tells me that the 3.3 is only knocking back the treble side. I get a very different (less desirable) sound when sticking the 3.3 on the bass side, as if it’s knocking back everything (the 8.0 you came up with?) … I’m very excited for you more electronically minded folks to let us know what’s happening.
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Actually, these days, after inflation, it’s a $2000 preamp. But my point still stands.Aren't you the guy using a $900 preamp on the other end of that "...regular old 1/4" cable..."?
Confucius Say - "There are 2 ends to every cable."
(Calm Down, Mod...I'm just havin' some fun on TB, if that is still allowed.)
IMFO, of course.
Thx.
I still didn’t have to solder anything, what?
Chris,
I have a Yamahiko on what is now my backup bass. I used it on gig for the first time in a long time, and I found that it worked really well with my last amplification system (darker sounding old GK200mb), but I really am not enamored with it on my current Genz Shuttle that I have really been enjoying with my main bass (brighter and clearer instrument with a Lifeline). I can hear that I'd prefer a Full Circle with that bass and this amp. So my point is that YMMV based upon the sound of your bass and your amplification setup. This cap thing drives me nuts. Why isn't he putting these somewhere in the build of the pickup like Fishman does in the jack? Maybe it isn't possible? I don't know.
It’s really a lot less intimidating than it seems. You can buy this kinda variety pack for less than $20
Then, just experiment until you find what you like. Being able to trial them without soldering is a gamechanger. Strokes and folks, though — I’m not trying to sell anyone on this pickup or mod or convince anyone to switch from a full circle (i like ‘em!). Ive just been puttering with this particular puzzle for quite a while and am very grateful I have found a solution that works well for my very particular wants/needs.
I’ve found this pickup to be very forgiving and accurate for a piezo.
It’s not MBOL but it is very upright bass sounding through every amp I’ve plugged it into.
It’s not MBOL but it is very upright bass sounding through every amp I’ve plugged it into.
I enjoy this kind of tinkering, too, and have similar boxes of electronics. For upright, though, it’s not usually worth it IME. The balance will sound great in the practice room, but then you move to another room, play a gig, or the weather changes, and it’s not so great anymore.
The beauty of the ToneDexter (to me) is that it just needs a simple single pickup input to do its thing. Granted there are a thousand things to tinker with in the settings if one wishes to do so, but it seems simple to use on the gig.
I hear you and am very excited to be in the same place as ya’ll where I feel like it’s not worth the time to futz with this stuff anymore. It’s definitely a time-suck and distraction from my actual playing, but IMHO totally worth it because my amp’d tone is absolutely inspiring now instead of ‘just tolerable’. But, I think I’m asking more out of my rig than most might need because:
A) I play 5 string fifths and that high E is difficult to balance with the rest of the instrument, especially when playing chords. Single element starts to sound hollow and unbalanced up there, but the stock uncapped dual element is harsh and “stiff” as that slick Japanese word we learned a couple pages ago describes. TD tames this, but still too brittle up top unless separately cap’d as described above.
B) My MBOL aesthetic is paramount because I’m working on a solo act where I lean heavily on the loop pedal to keep my bass lines and comping going (at high volumes) when I’m playing horns.
C) The Tonedexter is amazing, but seems to work best when you can dial in your pickup as close as possible before relying on the TD2 to ‘realize’ your tone.
*** I am running single element (M8 capped at 4.7) on my plywood King four-string and it amplifies way easier than my carved 5 string. No muss, no fuss, perfect! I have zero desire/need to experiment further on that axe because it doesn’t have that weak high 5th string tone to balance out with the beefy spiro low end.
Anyway, sorry again for derailing this thread. If anyone isn’t familiar with the Yamahiko, please don’t be scared off by my rambling overshare’d experiments. I just get excited about stuff - it’s a blessing and a curse, lol.
A) I play 5 string fifths and that high E is difficult to balance with the rest of the instrument, especially when playing chords. Single element starts to sound hollow and unbalanced up there, but the stock uncapped dual element is harsh and “stiff” as that slick Japanese word we learned a couple pages ago describes. TD tames this, but still too brittle up top unless separately cap’d as described above.
B) My MBOL aesthetic is paramount because I’m working on a solo act where I lean heavily on the loop pedal to keep my bass lines and comping going (at high volumes) when I’m playing horns.
C) The Tonedexter is amazing, but seems to work best when you can dial in your pickup as close as possible before relying on the TD2 to ‘realize’ your tone.
*** I am running single element (M8 capped at 4.7) on my plywood King four-string and it amplifies way easier than my carved 5 string. No muss, no fuss, perfect! I have zero desire/need to experiment further on that axe because it doesn’t have that weak high 5th string tone to balance out with the beefy spiro low end.
Anyway, sorry again for derailing this thread. If anyone isn’t familiar with the Yamahiko, please don’t be scared off by my rambling overshare’d experiments. I just get excited about stuff - it’s a blessing and a curse, lol.
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Your stock 1/4” Yamahiko jack is a TRS that isnt utilizing the 3rd tap-in. To use it stereo, you’d have to rewire from the stock configuration to have both pickups going directly to the jack. Or, alternatively, you could use a different jack for each pickup. From the preamp side you’d have to run a TRS to dual TS splitter adapter to get both signals into the Tonedexter (…right?).
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Played last night with a nice trio. Keyboards, bass and drums. House amp was a Fender Rumble, one of the larger combos. I don't know which one. It also runs into the club's PA using the amp's XLR out. I plugged my dual element with the stock wiring staight in. Flat EQ. The amp's "vintage, contour and bright" buttons disengaged. I just turned the volume up until it starts to feed back, then turn down until it doesn't. Bang, that's the sound for the evening. MBOL? No. But clean and useful sound? Yes! I was lucky a bass playing friend from USA came and sat in. My first time hearing anyone play my Czech Ease since installing the Yamahiko. I really liked the sound I heard. I'm happy enough!
While the Yama is a great pickup I am not a huge fan of the TRS jacks he uses for both mono and TRS. My TRS (two lead )jack broke and so did 2 others wired mono (they can break in the female sleeve even if the solders are good. I recently rewired my jacks with the caps and Switchcraft mono plugs. (then I took a small block of Maple drilled two 1/2 in holes in it stuck both mono Switchcraft jacks into the holes super velcrod it to the back of the tailpiece and it works great) If I want to use each into its own ch they are right there (two mono cords). Much more robust. Mostly I just use two pickups bridged one output
I've read through all 69 pages here and am about to purchase a 1/4 inch Yamahiko dual sensor pickup (CPS-DB-DSNC). Like many of you, I use a Felix2. I plan to use the Yama either with the dual sensors bridged and blended with a mic or with the sensors split between CH2 and CH1 via a TRS-TRS cable.
I'm just a bit unclear on what I need to purchase from Yamahiko to split the sensors into the Felix2, particularly reading flatback's last post. I've emailed Kiyohito and I think he said that I need a Yama custom-made stereo TRS jack output cable (CPS-DB-OCW) to split the sensors using a standard TRS-TRS cable. Is this what I need to buy to split the sensors into the Felix2?
Presumably I just can't use the standard output cable (CPS-DB-OC) that comes with the dual sensor pickup to split the sensors. I think this lines up with info in the Felix2 manual, which says that "for the CH2 input to accommodate two different signals from a dual source pickup on a single TRS 1/4” cable, the instrument must be properly wired with a TRS output jack." It sounds like I need to buy both Yama output cables if I want to use the pickup sensors bridged or split in the Felix2.
I also was under the impression that you could use any retail TRS-TRS instrument cable to split the sensors into the Felix2, but now I'm not so sure. Kiyohito recommends using a TRS-TRS cable with a "sub-shield" to connect the piezo pickup to an preamp or amplifier, and suggested an obscure Mogami cable (w2792) that I'm not able to locate online. I typically use Mogami gold cables from my bass pickup to the Felix2 and to the amp, and it sounds great. Does a TRS-TRS cable with sub-shield really make that much difference in the Yama's sound?
Thanks in advance for any info on this!
I'm just a bit unclear on what I need to purchase from Yamahiko to split the sensors into the Felix2, particularly reading flatback's last post. I've emailed Kiyohito and I think he said that I need a Yama custom-made stereo TRS jack output cable (CPS-DB-OCW) to split the sensors using a standard TRS-TRS cable. Is this what I need to buy to split the sensors into the Felix2?
Presumably I just can't use the standard output cable (CPS-DB-OC) that comes with the dual sensor pickup to split the sensors. I think this lines up with info in the Felix2 manual, which says that "for the CH2 input to accommodate two different signals from a dual source pickup on a single TRS 1/4” cable, the instrument must be properly wired with a TRS output jack." It sounds like I need to buy both Yama output cables if I want to use the pickup sensors bridged or split in the Felix2.
I also was under the impression that you could use any retail TRS-TRS instrument cable to split the sensors into the Felix2, but now I'm not so sure. Kiyohito recommends using a TRS-TRS cable with a "sub-shield" to connect the piezo pickup to an preamp or amplifier, and suggested an obscure Mogami cable (w2792) that I'm not able to locate online. I typically use Mogami gold cables from my bass pickup to the Felix2 and to the amp, and it sounds great. Does a TRS-TRS cable with sub-shield really make that much difference in the Yama's sound?
Thanks in advance for any info on this!
Ted you can use two single Yama jacks or the special double jack. If you buy the special double jack you can use a regular TRS cable into the felix and it will automatically split the signal. If you buy two single jacks you can use one or the other (mono or bridged) or both (two mono cables) what you cannot do is use the pickups bridged AND TRS or dual mono. Bridged is a mono signal and will void ALL signal to your amp (it wont make any sound). To make the most of your set up buy two mono jacks and just get a nice dual mono cable built (you can for example have the Felix on the floor with a short Dual mono cable tied together with tape or a sleeve and then run a single mono to the amp)
If you really want the TRS thing go for it, it is excellent and works great - buy the special dual jack from Yama and then use ANY TRS cable to the Felix. Be careful with the jacks they can break (I think I am rough on them...) but you cannot use the TRS bridged (just to be clear). Personally I really liked the TRS setup very slick and you can eq and phase each ch endlessly with one cable to the felix from the bass.
If you really want the TRS thing go for it, it is excellent and works great - buy the special dual jack from Yama and then use ANY TRS cable to the Felix. Be careful with the jacks they can break (I think I am rough on them...) but you cannot use the TRS bridged (just to be clear). Personally I really liked the TRS setup very slick and you can eq and phase each ch endlessly with one cable to the felix from the bass.
@flatback—thanks so much for the info! I think I’ll order a standard mono jack to bridge the sensors and blend with a mic, and a TRS jack to split the sensors with no mic. I like having just one instrument cable coming from my bass to the Felix2 and I want to hear the Yama through the Felix2 without a mic. I’ll let you all know how it goes
