Any upright bassists around here?

[hideout]

I've got an NS Design Wave 4 that could really use some help from an acoustic bass IR. Anyone know of any?

[hideout]

Wow.  Zero upright bassists.

[zooey]

Do I remember that @rosco5 does upright?

 

EDIT: Sorry, it's @roscoe5, and don't thank me until you figure out if I'm hallucinating about that :)

[hideout]

Well, that's one.  Thanks, Zooey!  

Wish I could find those acoustic bass IRs.

[ricksteruk]

I play upright, and have used Helix with it as well - but I've not used any IRs with it though I'm afraid.

 

I have two pickups on my DB: one magnetic, one piezo and I used Helix to EQ, compress and mix them to great effect.  I could send a different mix out to the PA as to the stage amp to minimise feedback.   I got a much better sound with Helix than going straight into my EA Doubler amp and mixing them in there.

 

The downside is that DBs are so sensitive to venue / stage acoustics that I sometimes need to tweak the sound quite excessively to avoid feedback and boominess.  It was proving a bit of a pain trying to adjust Helix at gigs as obviously I have to stand to play DB and the Helix lives on the floor.. so I've gone back to using just my amp for ease of tweaking!

[hideout]

Interesting. Thanks, ricksteruk.

 

My issue is pretty much the opposite of yours. I need to get a bit of resonance happening with my stick bass as it's fairly piezo-y sounding. It's ok, but I know it could be a lot better with the help of the right IR.

[roscoe5]

Hi, sorry. I meant to reply earlier.

 

I did post earlier this year about IR'ing my 1956 Kay Upright Bass.

 

I discovered my Barcus Berry bass transducer bridge crapped out, then I found out something is wrong with my AKG P420 condenser I was going to use. Pretty much gave up after that.

 

I'll try and dig out my K&K Golden Bullet condenser and my K&K Bass Max piezo hopefully this weekend. I've been just using my Schaller passive magnetic pickup for gigs. I can deconvolve the condenser with the piezo and the mag and should be able to get something usable. I need to experiment with how to generate a source signal for that big girl.

[hideout]

Hi, sorry. I meant to reply earlier.

 

I did post earlier this year about IR'ing my 1956 Kay Upright Bass.

 

I discovered my Barcus Berry bass transducer bridge crapped out, then I found out something is wrong with my AKG P420 condenser I was going to use. Pretty much gave up after that.

 

I'll try and dig out my K&K Golden Bullet condenser and my K&K Bass Max piezo hopefully this weekend. I've been just using my Schaller passive magnetic pickup for gigs. I can deconvolve the condenser with the piezo and the mag and should be able to get something usable. I need to experiment with how to generate a source signal for that big girl.

 

 

No apologies necessary, sir. I'd be much appreciative if you were to share whatever you come up with.

Thanks in advance!

[hideout]

Ok... so I just got an email from 3 Sigma Audio.  

Here's their response when I asked about upright bass IRs.

 

"Absolutely! We have plans for acoustic and upright bass, as well as violin, cello, viola, and banjo. Stay tuned!

 

Thanks, "

[roscoe5]

Awesome. I thought I saw 3 Sigma eluding to upcoming URB and other IRs a while back. But I couldn't find anything when I searched.

[tomb68]

I play upright, just wandered across this thread. K&K stuff is the bomb. I'm also an NS user though I use CR model which is active. I think with the wave 4 you might just want to add some mags and a blend pre(optional, but nice) and add a small room verb to emulate the sound of the upright body. Some thing with short decay and not too much boom in it(use an eq after to tweak). You probably won't need a buffer preamp with Helix(or pod hd) since they are 1 mega-Ohm.

 

http://krivopickups.com/my-art/krivo-pickup-for-upright-bass/

 

http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product/1377-SCHALLER_MAGNETIC_UPRIGHT_BASS_PICKUP.html

 

I have often wondered what these would sound like.

[roscoe5]

I play upright, just wandered across this thread. K&K stuff is the bomb. I'm also an NS user though I use CR model which is active. I think with the wave 4 you might just want to add some mags and a blend pre(optional, but nice) and add a small room verb to emulate the sound of the upright body. Some thing with short decay and not too much boom in it(use an eq after to tweak). You probably won't need a buffer preamp with Helix(or pod hd) since they are 1 mega-Ohm.

 

http://krivopickups.com/my-art/krivo-pickup-for-upright-bass/

 

http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product/1377-SCHALLER_MAGNETIC_UPRIGHT_BASS_PICKUP.html

 

I have often wondered what these would sound like.

 

All I use live now is that Schaller mag since the piezo in my BB transducer bridge quit working.  I love it.  Nice P-Bass type sound and thump while still retaining some woody snap.  More mids than you get with piezo IMO.  You really need to fine tune the mounting position and pole piece heights though for good string balance.  That G string likes to slap you in the face.

 

I was running into a Markbass Tube Compressore>Markbass Super Booster DI>PA for years, but I've replaced it with Helix LA Comp>Tube Studio Pre>Parametric EQ.  I also kick in a Minotaur Distortion, Vetta Wah (custom tweaked), and some occasional filters on the pop gigs.

 

At one time I had the Schaller mag, BB piezo bridge, and K&K Golden Bullet Mic all wired up and running.  I got tired of dealing with the feedback of the mic.  When the piezo element died, I took off the K&K preamp from the tailpiece.  Now I just have a guitar cable hanging off of the side of the Schaller.

[hideout]

All I use live now is that Schaller mag since the piezo in my BB transducer bridge quit working.  I love it.  Nice P-Bass type sound and thump while still retaining some woody snap.  More mids than you get with piezo IMO.  You really need to fine tune the mounting position and pole piece heights though for good string balance.  That G string likes to slap you in the face.

 

I was running into a Markbass Tube Compressore>Markbass Super Booster DI>PA for years, but I've replaced it with Helix LA Comp>Tube Studio Pre>Parametric EQ.  I also kick in a Minotaur Distortion, Vetta Wah (custom tweaked), and some occasional filters on the pop gigs.

 

At one time I had the Schaller mag, BB piezo bridge, and K&K Golden Bullet Mic all wired up and running.  I got tired of dealing with the feedback of the mic.  When the piezo element died, I took off the K&K preamp from the tailpiece.  Now I just have a guitar cable hanging off of the side of the Schaller.

 

 

Thanks for the tip on the Krivo - sounds great!

[roscoe5]

I'm taking Helix out for an acoustic duo  (pop-alt-jam stuff) with my upright bass tonight.  Updated Helix to 2.20 and built up a new patch.  

 

'56 Kay upright with Schaller magnetic + K&K piezo>stereo cable to Helix>y-spliter>Helix Guitar+Aux>Gain and LA Comp on each path tuned and leveled>Obsidian 7000 (distortion off)

 

All I can say is wow!  The Obsidian 7000 kills the Studio Pre for my URB and the mix of pickups. There is such an evenness, smoothness and punch.  I can plan with a lot lighter touch. I totally ditched the K&K blending preamp and took it off my bass bridge.  

 

I've got some wah, distortion, delay, reverb, pitch shifter, and filter loaded up too in case we get wacky tonight.

 

Awesome update Line 6!

 

Edit: Totally forgot about the 3 Sigma German Upright IR's.   They sound great with the K&K piezo and just a touch of mag.  Will be good for the jazz gigs and mellow stuffs.

 

2nd Edit:  Bless you Line 6 for putting the mix in the IR block!  I kicked on the IR and mixed it 50%.  Now have piezo, IR (mic'd sound), and mag all mixed in.  Best URB sound I have ever had!

[ricksteruk]

I'm taking Helix out for an acoustic duo  (pop-alt-jam stuff) with my upright bass tonight.  Updated Helix to 2.20 and built up a new patch.  

 

'56 Kay upright with Schaller magnetic + K&K piezo>stereo cable to Helix>y-spliter>Helix Guitar+Aux>Gain and LA Comp on each path tuned and leveled>Obsidian 7000 (distortion off)

 

All I can say is wow!  The Obsidian 7000 kills the Studio Pre for my URB and the mix of pickups. There is such an evenness, smoothness and punch.  I can plan with a lot lighter touch. I totally ditched the K&K blending preamp and took it off my bass bridge.  

 

I've got some wah, distortion, delay, reverb, pitch shifter, and filter loaded up too in case we get wacky tonight.

 

Awesome update Line 6!

 

Edit: Totally forgot about the 3 Sigma German Upright IR's.   They sound great with the K&K piezo and just a touch of mag.  Will be good for the jazz gigs and mellow stuffs.

 

2nd Edit:  Bless you Line 6 for putting the mix in the IR block!  I kicked on the IR and mixed it 50%.  Now have piezo, IR (mic'd sound), and mag all mixed in.  Best URB sound I have ever had!

 

 

Have a good gig! I am sure the rig will work well - it sounds like it should.  Hopefully you'll get to have some fun with FX too :)

 

I fitted a new pickup to my DB this weekend - a "Lifeline" Realist by Gage.  It fits under the bridge adjuster (so it picks up from the same place as the Fishman Full Circle), and is very easy to fit - only took about 10 minutes, and it was pretty cheap too - only £160

 

I am really happy with the sound of it - great woody tone, plenty of bass and extremely feedback resistant.  I was testing it out standing right next to my amp in my front room with it set quite a bit louder than I normally need for gigs and no hint of feedback at all.

 

Hmm.. maybe I should try it with Helix too ;)  I've never tried wah on my DB before.

[roscoe5]

Man what a blast last night. So many sounds at the fingertips. No blisters on the fingers either thanks to the compressors and Obsidian pedal/preamp.

 

We were definitely in experimental mode too. Got to use all the effects.