Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

Thinking of getting a mag pickup


alexpea
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hi all, bit of thinking out loud really...

I'm playing some really loud gigs at the moment with my double bass and though I'm usually quite good at taming feedback sometimes it just goes beyond control.

The phase switch and EQ on my fishman preamp usually sort out any issues for me, but when playing on very loud stages I find I have to EQ the sound of the bass so much that it loses nearly all bottom end. And even then it still feeds back!

Im using a carved german flatback bass, I'm aware that carved basses are likely to be more sensitive and therefore tend to feedback more than a ply. My pickup is a K&K bassmax.

I think I read on here about a guy converting a schaller magnetic pickup so that he could remove it easily and avoided drilling into his fingerboard, anyone?

I realise that I will have to play with steel core strings in order for the magnetic pickup to work and that it will sound Pbass'ish.

It would be a good backup for really loud gigs where volume and rhythm are more important than tone.

Thanks,
Alex

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have an Aria EUB that has a magnetic pickup, which looks like a bit of a bodge (a neat bodge, but it does look like an add-on) in that it's a separate module that sits between the end of the fingerboard and the body.

http://www.ariauk.com/aria-swb-lite-bis-upright-bass/

I'm sure if you could get hold of one it'd be possible to attach it to the back of the fingerboard on your doghouse.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've got a Kent Armstrong as a backup for the piezo. It fits with a couple of studs drilled up into and parallel with the fingerboard. It's black and shaped to the contour of the board, so visually you'd hardly notice it.

I got my luthier to fit it as I didn't fancy the drilling bit.

Good sound, not too p-bassish, and it's reassuring to know it's there.

Edited by fatback
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You need to email alex:

[email protected]

He gets you to trace the shape of the end profile of your fingerboard and they work to that. Ask for a humbucker (they may all be, but i'm not sure), and make sure you ask for it to be pre-wired, as some people want to wire it themselves.

Cost was £90 a couple of years ago; don;t know the price now.

Excellent pickup.

Edited by fatback
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got my kent armstrong today. Velcro fitted it to the bass which works a treat however...

I'm getting a lot of hum when plugged in to the amp. Have tried 2 cables with no difference. When I touch the outside of the phono jack the hum gets quieter. Do I need to earth the pickup?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='alexpea' timestamp='1362844740' post='2005248']
Got my kent armstrong today. Velcro fitted it to the bass which works a treat however...

I'm getting a lot of hum when plugged in to the amp. Have tried 2 cables with no difference. When I touch the outside of the phono jack the hum gets quieter. Do I need to earth the pickup?
[/quote]

There absolutely shouldn't be a hum. I'd say mail Alex; he'll sort you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...