Double Bass Pickups

“When I started, there were no amplifiers, and hardly any microphones. I mean, you just stood in the back of the band, and you never got to play over the microphone. The microphone was for the vocalist usually, or announcements—and once in a while a saxophone or a trumpet would go down there and play. So you had to be heard; you had to play with a lot of strength and dexterity.”
– Ray Brown**

Today, pickups and amplifier are widely available to double bass players. It's no problem anymore to compete with the band's volume level anymore. However, it's still a challenge to get a natural sound reproduction of your double bass.

Some double bass pickups are easy to test on your own bass - e. g. pickups that get mounted under the bridge foot. But other pickup models need alterations to the bridge or pickup to get mounted. In order to give our customers an idea of these pickup’s sound and character, we’ve installed them to one of our showroom basses, for easy comparison.

Preamps: please see our Amps page
Cable: please see Accessories page

Read my article on the evolution of double bass amlification, from the early days in the 1940ies until today, at my website www.doublebassguide.com.

APT-FlexElectret

This new pickup for double bass comes from Russia, and is placed under the foot of the bridge. No piezo is used, but an new electret film. This film allows thickness of only 0.5 mm. In addition, the sheet is flexible and totally even, and fits the curvature of top and bridge feet perfectly.

Due to the placement on the bass’ top, the sound of the APT-FlexElectret is round and powerful for both pizzicato and arco. For best results, a preamp/amp with high impedance input (2 MOhm or above) is recommended.

The electret film sensor is shielded with copper foil, and has a rigid cable joint. The Switchcraft-jack is attached to the tailpiece by means of a plastic clip for the E-string.

Size: active area 27 x 48 mm, thickness 0.5 mm

• easy installation under the bridge foot
• well suited for both pizzicato and arco
• very thin
• incl. LANDO pickup clamp

(Read user comments at www.talkbass.com.)

Price: 160,– Euro*

NEW – also available:
APT-FlexElectret cello pickup and APT-FlexElectret violin pickup

The Realist™ by David Gage

The Realist acoustic transducer was designed by Ned Steinberger in collaboration with double bass luthier David Gage. It is endorsed by bassists like Christian McBride, George Mraz, John Patitucci, Peter Washington, Harvie S, Michael Moore and Ron Carter.
Ned Steinberger on the development of The Realist: “(...) The first is finding the right structure within and around the piezo crystal to respond optimally to the acoustic resonance of the instrument itself. This involves endless comparisons that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy, and we have David's sensitivity and patience to thank for the excellent result. We owe a debt also to the many fine players who were corralled into helping evaluate the various options. Second, placing the transducer under the foot of the bridge puts it exactly were the sound is transferred from the strings to the sound board. This is definitely where the action is, and the rich, powerful response, both pizzicato and bowed, testifies to this simple fact. The copper foil sandwich construction is the third key element in the system. It provides total shielding to eliminate hum from light fixtures and other electrical or radio interference. It is flexible enough to conform to the curve of the top of the instrument, so that the full pressure of the bridge is concentrated evenly onto the piezo surface (...)“

• easy to install
• for both arco and pizzicato
• high output level

Price: 180 Euro* (incl. LANDO pickup clamp)

 

The Realist™ “Wood”

Because it is made of wood, the element will not have any chance of marking the top of the instrument on to which it is installed. Simple installation. No change to the instrument required.
Very transparent sound color, although texture is very slightly compressed. Less darker sound than the original Realist.

Price: 180 Euro* (incl. LANDO pickup clamp)

The Realist – modified version

Made by David Gage specifically for our Eminence Portable Upright Bass, with modifications designed by Eminence maker Gary Bartig. The modified Realist reproduces clearly the very important leading edge of a note when played pizzicato, and also offers full, smooth tone when played arco. And although this design offers more harmonic overtone content than the standard Realist, it is in no way harsh or scratchy sounding. While designed for the Eminence bass, this modified version works with all other double basses, too.

Price: 180,- Euro* (incl. LANDO pickup clamp)

Upton Revolution Solo II

This pickup is a piezo sensor embedded in a square of spruce. The square is to be fitted snugly into the bridge wing (E-string side). For installation, you can either widen the gap or reduce the thickness of the wooden square with some sandpaper (included). For sound adjustment, you can use the sensor either hot side up- or downwards.

• no alteration to bridge needed
• light weight

(Read user comments at www.talkbass.com)

Price 130,– Euro* (incl. LANDO pickup clamp)

Wilson

This danish pickup was introduced by Jørgen Wilson in 1983. The sound is picked up by small cylinder shaped piezo elements with the size of 5 x 15 mm installed in holes (drilled into the bridge). The Wilson K4 was designed to be installed directly underneath the strings. The volume and sound of each string can be regulated individually by turning the elements.

The Wilson pickup is also available as single element (K1), which can be installed into the bridge's leg. Depending on its position, the element capture more of the strings' or the body's vibrations (see picture), and less of the string noise.
The Switchcraft-jack of the K1 model is attached to the tailpiece by means of a plastic clip for the E-string.

• rigid, small sized
• clear powerful sound
• sound and volume can be adjusted by turning the element(s)
• drilling into bridge needed for installation

Price: 185,– Euro* (incl. LANDO pickup clamp)
K1 model, price for single element, incl. mounting to existing bridge, excl. tools.
K4 and K5 models (with 4 or 5 sensors incl. mounting tools) available upon request.

Fishman Full Circle

The Full Circle pickups combines bridge height adjusters and pickup: four small piezo ceramics are built into a aluminium height adjuster wheel. Turning the screw not only adjusts the height of the bridge, but also gives you different sound colours.
We stock the SAE (inch) thread type model, which fits our Christopher and Eminence bridges.

• combines bridge height adjusters and pickup
• very easy to mount, if you already have adjusters in your bridge
• sound can be adhusted by turning the wheel

Price: 269,- Euro* (incl. LANDO pickup clamp)

We also offer the Full Circle pickup + Christopher bridge blank (3/4) as a package.

Price: 339,- Euro*

Bassbalsereit / ANS

This pickup consists of a conical brass pin which is 4 cm long and as thick as a pencil. This pin is put into a conical hole drilled into the top end of the foot of the bridge. If you turn this brass pin in the bridge, you can adapt the sound to your instrument.

Besides the passive version two improved active versions has recently been introduced: the AKTIV and the STUDIO version. For these both pickups, a tiny preamp (sized 4 x 6 mm) has been built into the brass cone.
A suitable DI box with phantom power supply is available, so it can easily be used with all kind of bassamps and mixing consoles.

Bassbalsereit AKTIV is an unbalanced active version of this pickup. The preamp is powered by phantom power from e. g. a mixing console, preamp or DI box like the Bassbelasereit DI box, which is available as an option.

Bassbalsereit STUDIO is a balanced version of the active Bassbalsereit. It has a very natural sound (arco and pizzicato), and the signal-to-noise ratio below -100db.

The Bassbalsereit AKTIV and STUDIO pickups work with 7–48 V phantom power. While the AKTIV can be used on balanced or unbalanced inputs, a balanced input is mandatory for the studio model.

• rigid
• powerful and balanced sound
• sound and volume can be adjusted by turning the brass cone housing
• drilling into bridge needed for installation (must be done by qualified luthier)
• active versions: works with a variety of bassamps and mixing consoles

For installing the Bassbalsereit pickup, a special tool is needed (a conical reamer for cello pegs). The installation can be easily done by every luthier, or you can either bring in or send us the bridge, so we can install the pickup for you.

product overview Bassbalsereit/ANS pickups:

Bassbalsereit Standard – passive; works with most bassamps/preamps, no phantom power needed. Incl. LANDO pickup clamp

Price: 239,- Euro*

Bassbalsereit AKTIV – active; phantom powered (e. g. from DI-Box, mixing console) needed

Price: 339,- Euro* (incl. LANDO pickup clamp)

Bassbalsereit STUDIO – active; phantom powered and balanced input (e. g. DI-Box, mixing console) needed

Price: 439,- Euro* (incl. LANDO pickup clamp)

Bassbalsereit Professional – package incl. AKTIV pickup + Bassbalsereit DI-Box (for phantom power supply), works with bassamps or mixing consoles

Price: 679,- Euro* (incl. LANDO pickup clamp)

Ehrlund

Göran Ehrlund from Sweden is a maker of high quality studio microphones. Theis capsules don't have a round shape, but a patented triangular shape. This special triangular shape reduces unwanted resonances and is also used for the Ehrlund contact pickup. This is pickup is mounted to the belly by means of three small balls of putty.

Most important for best results is to find the sweet spot on the belly. Once you’ve found this place for your individual instrument, the pickup can stay on the bass or can be detached after use. Besides for double bass, the pickup is suited for other instruments like guitar, cello or violin.

• easy to mount
• natural open sound
• preamp with high impedance input recommended for best results

Price: 220,- Euro*

The Ehrlund pickup comes with a cable of 1,40 m length and 1/4" plug. Upon request, we shorten the cable and change the plug to a Switchcraft 1/4" jack for mounting the pickup to the double bass tailpiece (5 € surcharge, incl. LANDO pickup clamp)

DPA 4099B Double Bass microphone

The 4099B is a unique clip microphone inheriting the sonic approach from the legendary DPA studio microphones to a new instrument microphone. The 4099B microphone and mounting system is meticulously designed and optimized for the double bass. This is to ensure the best possible mount and audio reinforcement is achieved when performing live. The 4099B attaches to the E and G string below the bridge and allows for microphone capsule placement in the sweet spot between bridge and fingerboard.

Representing years of research and development, the 4099 condenser microphones feature supercardioid polar patterns for superior gain-before-feedback. Fully capable of handling the double bass’s dynamic range and subtle details, these microphones live up to their pedigree with sound as accurate as DPA’s other world-class microphones.

Despite its tiny, discreet size and elegant, lightweight design, 4099B is extremely rugged. The versatile gooseneck provides stable and repeatable positioning. The mics can be easily unclipped and repositioned or moved to another instrument, while the mounting system is designed never to mar or scratch the finish of your instrument nor changing the sonic character of it.

The dpa 4099B microphone comes with mounting clip and XLR connector DAD4099 XLR (with 80 Hz roll-off). Upon request, the XLR connector DAD6001 (without roll-off) is also available.

Price: 459,- Euro*

recommended preamp: Headway EDB-1

LANDO pickup mounting clamp

With our pickup mounting clamp, the pickup’s jack is mounted (and detached) to the tailpiece in seconds. The clamp is made of black plastic and has virtually no weight. The washers of soft, rubber-like pastic prevent the clamp from buzzing and dampen the transmission of tailpice resonances to the pickup. Available for all 1/2" jacks (like used for APTflex, Fishman, Wilson, Upton etc.) or XLR (ANS/Bassbalsereit, dpa).

Price: 5,- Euro*

We ship all pickups with the LANDO pickup clamp included at no extra cost.

* All prices incl. 19% VAT, excl. shipping.
** Ray Brown quote: Copyright © 1980, Les Tomkins. All Rights Reserved.