Clarky

Fair point MS - I just want a one hand-lift, plug-in, idiot-proof combo without separates/cables etc, as much for home practice use (where I can set it up very quickly and not annoy Mrs) as small gigs. Also I am looking to downsize my gear and raise cash due to very expensive summer (daughter's 18th, son's 21st, my 50th) and the fact I have too much stuff, eg, selling my YOB Fender P

Thanks, you may well be right. I just took what I read on TalkBass when doing some research where a couple of guys thought the mid-range voicing of the S was better suited to double bass than the E [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f4/more-questions-about-gk-mb150e-372594/"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f4/more-questions-about-gk-mb150e-372594/[/url] Doesn't mean to say they are right or that the E doesn't work very well for double bass either!

[quote name='paddy109' timestamp='1370846605' post='2106123'] Clarky - there is a GK 150e on eBay at the moment, £150 at the moment with 4 days to go PERFECT? [/quote] thanks for the heads up but I would prefer the S version, rather than the E, of the MB150 as its supposedly voiced better for double bass (the E being better for electric). Appreciate the post though

Changing a Realist is easy. Slacken strings, especially on E side but make sure there is still some downward pressure on bridge (so soundpost doesn't pop out). Gently lift E bridge foot and slide out Realist (making sure not to scratch surface of bass with copper element). Do the reverse to replace. If I were you, if you are certain that the Realist is faulty, I would just buy another one but get a new one or a nearly-new one. Most Realists last for at least several years, only occasionally do they die in a couple, according to what I have read.

The stock pickup on an Eminence is a modified (slightly downsized) Realist. However, like I say you can slot any piezo pickup into a double bass bridge, and the Kania and Eminence are no exception. There's a ton of threads on BC about which piezo people prefer. I have an Underwood (similar to a Shadow) on my downsized Kolstein travel bass but my preference is an Ehrlund EAP contact microphone. That spricey though (£300 including special preamp).

Thanks for comments chaps. I'm afraid my drummer is too loud for me to play fully acoustically, especially when you add in two vocalists, guitar and mandolin!

I have heard tell of Realists konking out anywhere between 2-5 years. If you think about it, there's over 100lb of pressure on those bridge feet and the Realist is (almost) alone among piezo pickups in having all that pressure heaped upon it. Other piezos are generally slotted into the bridge wings

Thanks Lozz!

Hey Roger, I had spotted your Shuttle combo but I am after spending a fair bit less (and thats not a lame attempt to get you to cut your price!!!! Its worth what you've put it up FS at) Cheers Clarky

.. and for uncomplicated home practice, without the hassle of separates. Preferably c.20 pounds, plug-and-play, minimum fuss - PJB Flightcase, GK MB150S or MarkBass Minimark look to tick the boxes. Budget £350-ish Here's my items wanted ad (which says much the same thing but adds more detail) [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/209677-phil-jones-flightcase-or-gk-mb150s-combo/page__pid__2105430#entry2105430"]http://basschat.co.u...30#entry2105430[/url]

Less than a month to go and counting down! Support acts are Travellin' Rose (self-styled "trailer trash" C&W) and Tash & Beth (delta blues duo)

Don't know if its the case but Realist pickups (which incidentally are piezo) have a life span and eventually lose output and die. They generally have quite high output and the Fishman should help also. I am going to guess thats whats happened to you. I've owned the similar small-bodied Eminence EUB and the Realist worked well on that. Pretty much any piezo pickup should work as they pick up the vibrations from the bridge - Shadows are good as an alternative to the Realist as are BassMax and others. A Full Circle would work out very expensive as it requires a new bridge or re-vamping your bridge and hence luthier involvement (the element is in one of the bridge turning wheels)