Musician Gear & Tech Discussion

Does anyone know what is the best pickup to use on an upright bass, mine squeals like a pig if I turn it up much at all

http://www.gollihurmusic.com/category/7 ... CKUPS.html

Willie,

I can't say from personal experience, but click on this link. It might help you out.

PS
My son plays an old Kay upright, but I don't know what kind of pickup he uses.

Howlin'

Yeah thanks, But as you can see there are so many. I already seen all of these and more that's what makes it so hard. And the cost if they dont work right and you gotta go fer a different one. See if you can find out what your kids got on his.

Thanks Again

I used to have a Pieree Josephs magnetic pickup on my upright. Magnetic pickups get alot of output, but not alot of tone. You could turn it up until the rumbling got too much to take. You had to buy it from the company directly.

A few years ago, I bought a custom hand made magnetic pickup - mixer from Canada. It cost 2 or 3 times the price of the Pierre Josephs. Inspite of all the bells and whistles, I think the Josephs sounded better.

I also have a Fishman 360 piezo pickup with a Fishman preamp on my Kay bass. It feeds back, but I don't use that bass for high volume situations. The tone is really good.

In short, I'd recommend the Pierre Josephs for highr volume, and the Fishman 360 for medium and low volume situations.

Good Luck

Have you tried an amp w/a notch filter?
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Also, you might try looking for a 'Feedback Buster;' - don't know if they make them for upright bass - may need to make your own.
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I don't think packing is much of an option (w/the sheer volume involved), but there might be something you can do along those lines, too.

that' right dad, i bought the bass master pro from gollihur ,which is the bass max and the double twin, with the preamp. i wish i just got the bass max with the pre amp. the sound of the double twin doesn't really do anything for me. the bass max sounds great. i generally shut the twin side of the preamp down most of the way. it's too scratchy. the bass max more accurately replicates the acoustic sound of my ol' '39 (neglected) kay upright.
if you want your bass to sound like it does acoustically get the "max" if you want to have aggressive sounding jazz solos get the twin. ifyou want both get the package i got. i just wish if i plugged a mono plug into the pickup i would get the 'max not the twin.

Stupid question of the day.
Why not just put a good mic in front of you?

Doesn't work with an upright, sans...the low ends need too much boost & you end up with feedback anyway. this is a prob I've seen with a lot of ppl using this instrument. I'm glad I play electric.

Thanks man that IS good info. One of our future projects is a "Fireside Band" where someone can have us come play a backyard party for small groups and what have you. A kind of NKF unplugged thing. I have been running through my head how we could pull it off with the drummer and all. I suppose just a small amp for the electric drum kit and everyone else acoustic.

McIntyre Feather p'up with a LR Baggs parametric EQ. You'll love it.

McIntyre Feather p'up with a LR Baggs parametric EQ. You'll love it.