Blartfactor10

What TPJ said, ...I use an FDeck and I'm in the process of getting someone to build a two channel FDeck so as I can mix two signals from my bass into one unit. I've used a Plat pro...A KnK, ..Baggs gig-pro and a Behringer mixer all with decent results but the FDeck just gets the sound of my bass but pushes the signal into my amp without any faffing on with EQ, (It has one volume and one Tone HPF..... High Pass Filter??) It has to be the easiest of all the pre's out there to use, and one of the best sounding (IMO of course) Its a bit like the Greenboy of Pre's, you can down load the plans and DIY or get a builder to make one.

Its a Full Size bass, I started with what I had lying around, Inno's, Roto's, Jagar's, they all sounded ok to my ears, but Clarky, of this parish was selling an Evah Pirazzi A&E so I twined them with a Lenzer D&G. I'm happy for now The First clip is The Evah's the second clip is a set of Super silvers. So in my experience string choice isn't all that different from a ply, for pizz and slap anyway.

Restoration of a Pfretzschner Bass, Its NOT for sale.

I wouldn't leave the house without an Fdeck, finest pre going IMO

What Rabb said, although if your not that bothered about getting a “True” DB tone you could fit a second soundpost next to the bass bar, this will eliminate quite a bit of feedback. Go Greenboy if you can afford them, you won’t be disappointed.

Go for a Fearless F212 by Tricky Audio, if you want headroom, pair it with a power amp, those things eat Watts so a 2k power amp wouldn't be a bad choice. I hardly use my F212 since I got the smaller F112. This cab paired with my GK RB1001 is enough to hear over a noisy drummer and if the room requires just bleed a little through the FOH PA.

J-Tone, all the way, a great pickup, it should be selling for much more. As with all Piezo Transducers a good fit in the wing slot matters, its really easy to file/sand too much wood away. Take time to open up the wing slot with sandpaper taped to a steel rule, the fit should be tight so as it stays in place but not so tight as you cant move it. A pre amp will make a transducer sound much better, loads on the market, some with bells and whistles but I'm happy using my simple FDECK. https://sites.google.com/site/hpftechllc/home/hpf-pre

I have one on My carved bass, The FDeck will sort out most issues with this type of Pickup and still leave you with enough volume so as you don't have to resort to stuffing the bass with Rags, foam, Concrete etc.

I've used a Behringer mixer similar to this http://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/Behringer-Xenyx-1202FX-Mixer/2A5 This will get you in the ballpark mixing both mike and pickup combinations, its small, portable has phantom power for a decent mike and the EQ sounds good. I've run this straight into My GK RB1001 head and used it with a power amp both with good results.

My ten bobs worth........I'm presuming that you don't want loads of gubbins hanging from your Tail-piece, everything back at the amp. Have you thought about buying a cheap small mixing desk? I have used mine to blend Microphone, Piezo, and Clicky to good effect. You just have to listen out for overloading the amps input (Gain staging) It gives you a lot more scope EQ wise than most blenders and you can pick a second hand one up for next to nowt. And before I use the dreaded B word let me tell you that this works. ..........Behringer Xenyx 1202 Mixer. There!

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/j-tone-electronique?_trksid=p2047675.l2563 Contact the guy at Jtone, he will wire one up for you. great pickups at a realistic price.

I'm a "Run it at the Amp" sort of bloke. I do hate to have stuff hanging off of my tailpiece, I run a few different setups but non on the bass itself. Having said that I've recently fitted a bridge to someones bass and he wanted me to fit his pickups and pre amp. This thing is made for fitting to the tailpiece and whats more, its sounds really good even if your not a rockabilly player. I'm tempted! https://www.thomann.de/gb/shadow_sh_rb_pro_rockabilly_system.htm

Forget about the Mic option, you wont get good results unless you spend a fortune, and only then if you have good Pre amps, backline PA, knowledge of placement etc. The JTone is the best pickup in its price bracket (Better than some costing four times as much) at this price you can afford to keep one in your bag for a spare. It will need some adjustment to your bridge but nothing that you can't achieve on your kitchen bench with basic tools. If you can afford a pre amp as well, these piezo pickups will perform much better. Another alternative to a pre amp would be a bass EQ pedal (Boss GEB7) this can help with dialing out troublesome frequencies that can lead to feedback at higher volumes.

For the price the J-Tone cant be beaten, its a great sounding P'UP and very reliable. You cant get any Piezo to sound like an expensive microphone, thats just physics, but these things come close enough to get you in the ballpark.

Hi, may I direct you to ....https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=greenboy%20enclosures%20for%20the%20wicked http://greenboy.us http://trickyaudio.wixsite.com/trickyaudio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-YUbQyK5Ls I use an F212 and an F112 they are the loudest lightest speakers currently available, not cheap but well built and with an astounding ability to make an upright sound good. I'm using a GK RB 1001 head at the minute but i am looking to get a micro head in the future.

The JTone is as good as any wing pickup you will get. I use them myself. An EQ pedal (graphic) or a decent preamp (FDeck, Fishman Platinum pro, KnK,) will make all wing pickups sound better through any amp and will also help to fight feedback.

What the Rev said^^^ Keep your eyes peeled for a second hand F-Deck, a two knob pre that gets you there pretty quick. https://sites.google.com/site/hpftechllc/home/hpf-pre

Yes to the J-Tone, cheap and every bit as good as the KnK Bassmax. (Better made IMO)

Dave Mann. The Violin shop Hexham http://www.hexham-violins.co.uk