ZMech Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Well after a few months of playing I finally want to start taking my DB out live, but since i'll be playing with a drummer I'm guessing i'll need to amp it. I'll mention now that my budget is more of a concern than getting the best possible uncoloured amplification. At the same time, it won't be super loud, so i'm hoping feedback won't be a problem since I'd rather avoid spending the extra money on a preamp. So if anyone has any suggestion of how is best to do this, it would be much appreciated, I'm guessing a piezo clipped on the bridge will be the best option. p.s. the stinginess can be explained by one word, 'student'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 This is in your price range and will get you gigging. Needs no modifications to the bass. [url="http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product/1426-KANDK_SOUND_DOUBLE_BIG_TWIN_UPRIGHT_BASS_PICKUP.html"]K&K Double Big Twin pick up[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Hi Zach, glad you're getting out there and playing your upright. Sometimes it's helpful to know what bass you are using, which strings and what kind of music too. But for my pennies worth:- I'm not an expert, and I'm not a sophisticated player, I just like a good old thump. I have a Schaller on 2 of my double basses and I love them and so do the acts I play for. Thomann do them new for just under £100 + pp They're not everyones cup of tea, but there you go mate..... No feedback problems, but, for some, a piezo is the only way, I'll let the proper players talk about those. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/schaller_kontrabasspickup.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/schaller_kontrabasspickup.htm[/url] John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPJ Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 (edited) [quote name='oldslapper' post='1121097' date='Feb 9 2011, 10:51 AM']... I'll let the proper players talk about those. John[/quote] Don't let John fool you, he's definitely a proper player There are [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SCHATTEN-RB1-ACOUSTIC-UPRIGHT-DOUBLE-BASS-PICKUP-/390285602000?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments&hash=item5aded5acd0"]these on ebay[/url] as well. Edited February 9, 2011 by TPJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMech Posted February 9, 2011 Author Share Posted February 9, 2011 Some interesting suggestions, feel free to keep them coming That's a fair point oldslapper. I'm using a laminate acoustic, on which i'm about to switch the rubbish old strings for a set of spirocores, for use mostly with jazz .'. playing pizz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slobluesine Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Schatten RB-1, around £80, very feedback resistant and LOUD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janmaat Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I have a really odd restored ol' DB here, and currently I have two pickups, one is a Realist, and one a cheap Shadow (I think it was originally made for guitar). I run them both through an EBS microbass which is FAB as it gets me loads of options. I have tried K&K Bassmaster which is great too, particularly since it picks up the fingerboard (for rockabilly slapping) and it is really comfortable to have the preamp on your belt. Just recently I have bought a "Maplin Burglar Alarm set" for 5 quid (reduced), which contained a little piezo pickup, that's the ones you put on the window; it is fundamentally the very same technology as the piezo pickups used in music amplification, only it is not covered in a protected plastic cover so more fragile. I have built that into an old banger of a guitar; which sounds surprisingly good. Not sure how that would work on bass though, but for that price?? [url="http://www.maplin.co.uk/piezo-transducers-3202"]http://www.maplin.co.uk/piezo-transducers-3202[/url] So my suggestion is to try a couple of different solutions: combination of pickup, pickup placement, preamplification and amp gives hugely different results. For example, now, I like the acoustic sound of the Realist, while the shadow gives me a boomy bass, strong in output, more flat and better for the tuner (!), and the mix of both is really quite interesting with all he options of the microbass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatback Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 (edited) Another K&K model here ( a bit cheaper) and some good info. On my bass, this one is very feedback resistant especially placed on the G side of the bridge. [url="http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product/1265-KANDK_SOUND_BASS_MAX_UPRIGHT_BASS_PICKUP_TRANSDUCER.html"]k&K[/url] As for a preamp, quite a few people have said they get away without one with the k&ks even with ordinary bass guitar amps. In my (limited) experience, it does seem a lot of luck is involved in getting the right combination of bass, strings pickup and amp for a good sound. Pricey business . Edited February 9, 2011 by fatback Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMech Posted February 9, 2011 Author Share Posted February 9, 2011 (edited) some great ideas here, thanks for all the responses. Being an engineer means I don't think i can resist the temptation to go the DIY route with a bunch of piezo's, and see if i can get a decent sound for a fiver Have also just found my dads old piezo he used for his acoustic guitar, so that'll be my starting point. If that all fails, I guess my wallet will take the hit. Edit: Seems it might not be a piezo pickup, it's a FRAP (flat response audio pickup), so might be terrible, but it has a box with batteries and a jack socket, so that could prove useful. Edited February 9, 2011 by Zach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mace Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Possible cheap starter option? [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=81781"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=81781[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janmaat Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 [quote name='Mace' post='1121298' date='Feb 9 2011, 12:59 PM']Possible cheap starter option? [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=81781"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=81781[/url][/quote] cool offer - zach, if you go DIY, you will try to build a similar bracket to fix the jack socket - can't beat that system IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMech Posted March 22, 2011 Author Share Posted March 22, 2011 Well I ended up going for the schatten for £80. Required a small bit of bridge filing, but nothing major. So I gigged with it for the first time last night, playing through the house peavey 1x15. Required a fair bit of EQ, as if left flat it's far too trebly, but with a bit of fiddling I got the ultimate sound compliment from my mate of 'great pickup, it just sounded like your double bass but louder.' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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