Acoustic Bass Pickups
(All pickups reviewed in this section have been personally tried by myself and my clients and are available through the shop)
This is a deep topic with many opinions. As a bassist with many years of experience I can only share what I have learned through trial and error and through the process of amplifying my clients’ basses.
The majority of pickups on the market today are based on the piezo element. This method of producing a signal can be used in all stringed instruments. The piezo element is subjected to pressure and a small electrical signal is produced. This signal can then be run through an amplifier to produce a louder sound. The interface between the instrument, pickup element and amplifier include many variables, all of which contribute to the quality of the sound generated. I will discuss the pickups I have had the best success with and their proper application.