Pickups & Mics for Upright Bass:  Pickups

Schaller Magnetic Upright Bass Pickup

Manufactured by: Schaller

Schaller Upright Bass Magnetic Pickup

If this isn't the classic magnetic upright bass pickup I don't know what is! If you've ever seen one of the early (and reissue) Framus Triumph electric upright basses, you'll see a shiny Schaller on it. This chrome plated upright bass magnetic pickup is designed to screw to your fingerboard, at the end. Note the brackets in the photo; they are adjustable to accommodate the width of your fingerboard. It is mounted by screwing small pilot holes into both sides of the end of the fingerboard, and secured in place using the screws provided.

• Single Coil magnetic pickup
  
  
  
• four independently adjustable pole pieces, height up to approx. 3/8 inch
  
  
  
• passive volume control built into pickup
  
  
  
• standard ¼ inch phone plug output
  
  
  
• attractive bright chrome finish
  
  
  
• standard 7/8 inch string spacing
  
  
  
• adjustable fingerboard mounting bracket ranges from 3 to 4 1/8 inches (approx.)
  
  
  
• Pickup, when mounted, is roughly even with the surface of the fingerboard (pickup is not adjustable for height - but polepieces can be raised)

IMPORTANT!! Please Note: Magnetic pickups require strings with a significant metallic content in order to provide a good quality signal. Double bass strings can contain a number of different non-magnetic materials, unlike bass guitar strings that are intended for use with magnetic pickups. Therefore, it is important that you consider that factor when choosing strings for use with this or any other magnetic pickup. Many strings are quite suitable, such as Thomastik Spirocores, Corelli 370, etc., but others and mixes of different manufacturer or model strings may result in uneven tone and response. For instance, Pirastro Obligatos may look like metal strings, but they are primarily a nylon core, with only a very thin metallic surface -- as a result their response is not satisfactory due to the lack of metal. You may wish to research the matter or inquire with the manufacturer as to string construction or survey other bassists who are using magnetic pickups to ensure that the strings are suitable. I will continue to survey new users and requesting responses from magnetic pickup users, and will list string types good or bad for magnetic use as they become known. The recommendations below are from other players using magnetic pickups, not necessarily my personal experiences. Strings reported to be GOOD for magnetic pickup use: Eurosonics Pirastro Original Flexocore Thomastik Spirocores Corelli 370 (I can vouch for these) Kolstein Heritage (thanks, Steve!) Jargar dolce D'Addario Helicore-- (Note: though I have my concerns with the E string; seems as if its response is somewhat lower than the other strings, at least the Orchestra and Hybrids I tried seemed that way.) Strings reported to be NOT GOOD for magnetic pickup use: Pirastro Obligatos (minimal metallic content) LaBella Supernils (no metallic content) All Innovation Strings (no metallic content) Gut strings (insufficent or no metallic content) Please email me with your experiences so I can share them with other players.

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