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Pickups & Mics for Upright Bass:
Pickups
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Schaller Magnetic Upright Bass Pickup |
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Manufactured by:
Schaller
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Schaller Upright Bass Magnetic Pickup
aka Schaller Kontrabass-Pickup 411, Modell 10/70
 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)
Two photos below show the pickup placed in the approximate position it would be when installed on a fingerboard. It is not attached in the photos, just to provide a view of how it is attached with the screws.
CLICK HERE for a detailed spec sheet with dimensions to ensure that it will fit your fingerboard end.
Keep in mind that the Schaller is a single coil magnetic pickup, not a humbucker. Single coil pickups have clarity at the expense of hum resistance -- this pickup can be sensitive to its environment, and its orientation can affect the level of hum in the signal.
Please note that not all double bass strings have enough metallic content to be used with a magnetic pickup; see my notes with string suggestions and further details below.
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:
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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)
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Please email me with your experiences so I can share them with other players.
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$129.00
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Additional Photos of this Product
Simply "mouse over" the small thumbnail image to see the full-sized version.
FAQs Associated With This Product
OHMS & IMPEDANCE from the INPUT perspective
Here is what some of our customers think about this product:
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hi guys, just a little feedback from the order i recieved. this pickup i bought is fantastic. i have a chinese 1/2 scale,beater..i had a fishman bp100 on it through out the summer.chasing feedback,i bought their preamp with the phase switch it still didnt help..but after putting that shaller on it my world has finally come together. i run didarrio nickel strings and my it plays and sounds like my elecric.no longer do i have the feedback junkie on my back.its flippin awesome..thanks again guys.after christmas, im gonna buy another for my 1/4 scale....keep me on your mailing list..see you in january...
—Todd P.
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Bob- The Schaller magnetic pickup for upright bass has changed my life! The blues band I play with has a tendency to get LOUD, and I wanted to have more volume and punch with less feedback, and the Schaller delivers. I have been playing with your Rockabilly pickup system for years and have enjoyed it greatly. I am still using the preamp blender and the Bass Max transducer from that system, but have soldered up a patch cable that allows me to substitute the signal from the Schaller for the fingerboard transducer. This way I can dial in some warm acoustic sound via the Bass Max to compliment the magnetic pickup. It is simply awesome! It is the perfect pickup system for my '51 Kay C-1 and my playing style. I just placed an order for a second Schaller to use on my other bass. Thanks for being such a great resource for all things upright bass!
—Conrad Cooper (10/2009)
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Bob –
Just wanted to let you know that I received the Schaller magnetic pickup and am completely thrilled with it. I have a ’64 Ampeg Baby Bass that sounds good when bowed, but not very useful when played finger-style in a classic rock setting. After installing the Schaller, the Baby Bass now thumps through my Portaflex B-15! A lot of folks had told me the Schaller would make the BB4 sound like a P-bass, however I think the Schaller sounds more like a Gibson humbucker, even though it’s a single coil. The pickup itself has some heft to it, and it looks very well made. The chrome is spotless! I originally planned to install a tone pot to be able to roll the highs off, but it wasn’t necessary – the pickup on its own is very warm and dark with a lot of buttery vintage character. I can see why it might not suit everyone’s tastes, especially true double bassists, but on the Baby Bass, it’s perfect.
—Clint S (November 2010)
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Bob, thanks for the Schaller pickup, it is exactly what I needed. Our band's drummer isn't a jazz drummer, he has to literally be driven by me, with the piezo pickup he couldn't feel the rhythm. I heard all the bad about a magnetic pickup, and about the noise, but none of that I found true. The lows almost hurt your ears.
—Rand M. (April 2011)
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The Schaller magnetic pickup for upright bass ...just what i wanted.... great price. fast and free shipping...what else could i want... i installed it on "Lady Luck" and she and I went gigging the next night.. very pleased... i know the 411 is not advertised as a humbucker, but i have no noise issues with it. i do use a humbucker on "Kay", my other upright baby, and in comparing the 10/70 series it has a very old school look and a nice warm sound. and thanks for all the info you provide on the web site. For those of us who play and tinker, it is very helpful.
—Jerry Dowd (December 2011)
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The Bass Max is a compact, dual-transducer pickup unit designed to be wedged into the wing in the side of your bridge. Big sound, small price!
