Hello, I recently replaced my full circle with a Yamahiko. There’s a lot to like about this pickup, but the output is so high that it distorts on the low E even with my amp gain turned way down, with or without an added preamp, and on both of my cabinets. My amp is a Clarus but it also happens with my Woods. I think what I need is a simple output pad, maybe I could build one into a cord. Any ideas?
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Double Bass Yamahiko output
- Thread starter Endlesssolo
- Start date
This has been discussed in the main Yamahiko thread:
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/yamahiko-double-bass-pickup.1126749/
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/yamahiko-double-bass-pickup.1126749/
Just to be helpful to anyone else looking for this, I found the discussion on page 57 of the 61 page thread. I'm going to try it.
Earl
Supporting Member
The bridged two sensor version (the way the pickup was designed) does not have this issue.
Maybe this is a silly question, but for a single sensor YH pickup, would it work better to simply move the sensor adjuster to the treble side of the bridge, just like a person would do with a bridge wing piezo that is too hot on the bass side???
IMO the Yamahiko is already a fairly bright sounding pickup, so I would not move it to the treble side. I also would not like the two element version.
The single element (E side) Yamahiko I have is not overly hot. I am able to successfully run it straight into several amps and preamps without a buffer.
Earl
Supporting Member
Also make sure that your adjusters are not bottomed out as that could cause distortion with this pickup.
Earl
Supporting Member
Hello Endlesssolo, I just wanted to check for an update. Have you tried the capacitor mod?
I was also curious your overall impression of the Yamma vs FC, which configuration you choose, and if you are finding the Yama provides what the FC may be lacking. Thanks!
I was also curious your overall impression of the Yamma vs FC, which configuration you choose, and if you are finding the Yama provides what the FC may be lacking. Thanks!
I haven't done the mod yet. I hope to get some time in October to do it. For now I put the FC back on. It's definitely a darker, less mid-forward sound than the Yamahiko. I can dial out the upper mids of the Yamahiko and there may be times when those upper mids are useful. But just in a room playing the bass I like the FC sound a little better.
The construction and output arrangement (the cable with those tiny connectors) with the Yamahiko is a lot better than the full circle.
I wanted to come back to this thread as I have now done the capacitor mod to an old patch cable and re-installed the Yamahiko. I used a 3.3 nF capacitor which (according to Yamahiko) results in a 12.5db reduction in output. The difference is really impressive; not only did it stop the distortion caused by overloading the input of both my amps (with or without a preamp) but it knocked out some of the more forward upper mids.
So to me it’s a big improvement and I’ll see how it goes on my next few gigs. It’s a pretty slow time of year around where I live so it’ll be a while.
So to me it’s a big improvement and I’ll see how it goes on my next few gigs. It’s a pretty slow time of year around where I live so it’ll be a while.
Just linking to another thread as well...
I checked out the other thread too. This came from Yamahiko, so it looks like my numbers might be on the low side:
This attenuation works with any passive piezo, but as the capacity of the piezos can be very different (thickness, contact area, material), the amount of level reduction can differ.
But the capacity of a piezo could be measured by a capacity meter or multimeter with capacity measurement.
But the capacity of a piezo could be measured by a capacity meter or multimeter with capacity measurement.
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I have had a Yamahiko on 2 different basses, and not had that output problem into a Clarus SL. Maybe I am lucky?
One last update, I’ve now tried three different capacitor values on patch cords. 3.3nf, 4.7nf, and 2.2nf. I didn’t play any gigs with the 4.7nf cord.
What I like the best is the 2.2nf value. It cuts the least from the output and seems to attenuate the upper mids the least as well. In a room playing by myself or on a nice quiet gig with no drummer, the 3.3nf sounds great, but overall the 2,2nf value is the most useful to me. It still removes the annoying clipping on the low E that I was getting, but it leaves plenty of output for loud gigs. It does tame the upper mids, not quite as much as the higher value capacitors, but on some gigs, i.e big band-with-loud-drummer, you need those upper mids.
My intention is to play a few months of gigs with the 2.2nf in the cord, and if I’m still happy with it, install a cap in the output jack of the yamahiko.
