Can’t find the best pickups for your upright bass among lots of different options? Well, we will help you to make an informed decision.
Upright bass, also known as double bass, is a stringed instrument made by mounting strings on a hollow wood body. It is a unique instrument that is used for playing different musical styles without pretty much changes.
As some modifications in your instrument change sound, this instrument is suited for different setups and is easy to play.
If you are keen to invest in a pickup for your double bass, several options are available. It’s especially recommended if you want to play jazz or bluegrass.
That’s why we have compiled some of the best upright bass pickups on a list, so you can choose the one and enjoy it.
The 4 Best Pickups for Upright Bass (Comparison Table)
| Image | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
| K&K Bass Max Upright Bass Pickup (Top Pick Overall) | Check Price |
 | KNA Pickups KNA DB-1 (Best on a Budget) | Check Price |
 | Fishman BP-100 Double Bass Pickup (Best for Bluegrass) | Check Price |
 | Fishman Full Circle Double Bass Pickup (Best for Jazz) | Check Price |
Upright Bass Pickup #1 K&K Bass Max (Editor’s Choice)
K&K Bass Max uses a unique sandwich design with layered construction of two piezo crystals. One piezo crystal faces up and the other down. That helps in even transmission from the body of the bridge and the strings with all its frequencies.
The K&K Bass Max transmits at a high volume as it is located vertically to the vibrations. It is recommended for musicians who play pizzicato and arco styles as this pickup transmits a broad mid-frequency range.
That helps to change the playing modes without the need to adjust the amplifier. The special attachment clamp, mounted at the A and D strings between the bridge and the string holder, holds the connection jack in place.
This upright bass transducer allows fast and secure wedge mount into a bridge wind. It is very sturdy and offers high output signal. The disturbance is eliminated due to the wrapped cable. One Bass Max evenly picks up the double bass tone range and works fantastic with smaller bass combo amps. The sturdiness and mechanical stability, high output signal, and rich harmony in a reproduction of pizzicato and arco make it a popular choice.
The pickups perform perfectly across the frequency range without unwanted noise disturbing the signal. These are easy to install so that you can enjoy the bass tone instantly. The dynamics captured are more enhanced with clear and even responses. The pickups make the bass sound punchy and warm with a smooth low-end to hold low frequencies without any problem.
Pros
- High output signal
- Balanced transmission over the entire tone range
- No disturbance because of wrapped cable
- Nice smooth sound
- Great pickups for money
- Responsive
Cons
- Some customers have to do bridge modification for mounting Piezo.
Upright Bass Pickup #2 KNA Pickups KNA DB-1 (Best on a Budget)
DB-1 decently reproduces the tone in all frequencies. It works faithfully in a dynamic range of your instrument without any need for modification. The wooden eye slot of the bridge encases a piezo sensor which remains in place because of friction. The perfect fit is obtained because of neatly finished shim discs.
The tailpiece is connected with a screw assembly at the string eye to the ¼” jack housing. DB-1 is passive and designed to work flawlessly with your amplifier. DB-1 is lightweight, so its installation is easy and does not require any modification. It has a battery-free operation and offers transparent and clear sound.
This pickup can be mounted permanently if you want, and it is easy to install. This versatile product works with an acoustic base and solid body.
These pickups are adaptable and require no routing or cutting. You will appreciate the tight and deep sound of the low end; the output is balanced and even.
KNA has an excellent installation manual that includes installation instructions for installing into a bridge. However, you may require professional help for its installation because it is not a piece of cake.
Last but not least, it’s the most affordable upright bass pickup on our list and the only one that costs less than $100 at the moment of writing. I don’t think you can find something cheaper than that and still get decent sound from your bass.
Pros
- Perfect double bass pickup for bluegrass and jazz music
- Delivers natural sound without instrument modification
- The portable piezo pickup with a wood encased element
- Shim discs are neatly finished
- 1/4” socket jack attaches to the tailpiece with a non-destructive screw
- Nice frequency response
- Easy to install
- Decent jack mounting strategy
Cons
- None
Upright Bass Pickup #3 Fishman BP-100 (Best for Bluegrass)
Fishman BP-100 is the bridge-mounted piezo-ceramic dual-element pickup. Its installation can be done in minutes, and the pickup delivers sustained deep pizz tone with quick articulation and emphasizes direct string sound. The pickup needs to be professionally installed. It is perfect for bluegrass. It is recommended to use a preamp with this pickup.
This is an ideal solution if you want high-quality and pure sound. The technology involved is functional and robust, which delivers the best throughout the device’s life. You can install this pickup by replacing the stock adjusters along the adjustable bridge to get a natural sound with a nice mixture of the body and string.
This product works well for those who want to amplify the sound without changing the tonal qualities. You will get a lot of fullness and openness in the tone but with a natural sound.
The brand strives to perform at high levels and deliver quality and value. It respects customer investment and hard work. The BP-100 product is a performance solution for a pure and quality solution.
The Fishman is available to players who are looking for simple solutions. Fishman loves music, and musicians continually inspire the brand to develop tools that provide high-quality tone. The intricate technology adopted by Fishman is workable for musicians and provides the ways that are affordable, functional, repeatable, and robust.
Pros
- Best upright bass pickup for bluegrass
- Delivers sustained pizz tone and fast articulation
- Impedance matching preamp is recommended
- Piezo-ceramic dual-element pickup
- Amplifies sound without changing tonal qualities
- Installation can be done in minutes
- Fast articulation
- Emphasizes direct string contact
- Deep sustained tone
Cons
- Requires professional installation
Upright Bass Pickup #4 Fishman Full Circle (Best for Jazz)
Fishman Full circle pickup is made for those who love music. It works well for fat, big and punchy pizz full-voiced slap or arco. You can hear all dynamics, acoustic qualities, and nuances of your bass, and the audience too will enjoy the same. It is recommended to use a Platinum Pro EQ or platinum stage EQ preamp, which has dedicated Bass modes.
Fishman has been using intricate technologies that are adequate for musicians. The brand strives to perform well by delivering quality and value. It respects customer’s investment and hard work. Musicians inspire the brand, so it creates tools for their motivation. Fishman helps musicians to achieve the true sound whenever they plugin. The acoustic qualities, nuances of your bass, and dynamics are the key features that make it a popular choice.
The Fishman full circle delivers a more natural sound with a perfect mix of string and body. It offers the warmth of the realist but with additional string detail and tonal flexibility. The unique pickup design offers quick change to the response, and a small wheel turn will let you achieve the open resonant response and more focused amplified tone. In addition, the pickup elements can align differently with the bridge relative to their positioning.
This Fishman Full Circle bass pickup review wraps up our list. You have four excellent options to choose from, and I am pretty sure any choice would be good 🙂
Pros
- Helps in achieving the most authentic sound possible
- Sounds great whenever you plugin
- High-end acoustic qualities and dynamics
- Perfect for fat, big and punchy pizz Arco or Slap
- Provides good sound
- Natural sounding
- Beautiful bass sound
Cons
- Mounting can be tricky
Why Do I Need a Double Bass Pickup?
When it comes to classical double bass, getting a double bass pickup becomes the topic of discussion. Experience of performing in an outside setting is different because you have to deal with multiple noises such as vehicle noise, bird’s noise, etc. There are two different ways to deal with extraneous noises.
Play Loud
During an outdoor concert, you can always play loud, but it has a drawback that your audience doesn’t get an opportunity to hear the soft music of a piano.
For instance, if you begin the music loudly and music of piano suppresses your voice, everyone outside the venue will be unable to hear you, which devalues the performance.
The one good thing about this approach is that the sound is still natural. However, you do not have to work harder to play loud by sacrificing the natural double bass sound.
Use Amp
You must have a pickup to amplify the double bass sound using an amplifier. A pickup is a device that converts instrument vibration into an electronic signal. This signal can be used by an amplifier that the audience can hear through speakers.
A pickup allows you to play a wide range of dynamics that may not be possible without an amplifier. The drawback of using an amplifier is that the sound is heard from loudspeakers instead of a double bass.
The sound is not entirely natural, but it is excellent when effortlessly producing a loud sound so people can hear it over all the external noises every day in outdoor concerts.
Types of Upright Bass Pickups
With numerous pickup options available, it is necessary to understand the difference before deciding on the right pickup. Upright bass pickups use three technologies to produce sound.
Magnetic Pickups for Double Bass
Magnetic upright bass pickups directly mount under the strings and take the energy that is produced with the string vibration in their magnetic field and translate it into electrical signals for an amplifier so it can turn into sound.
Strings themselves give every piece of information without the wood into the equation; the magnetic pickups sound like a huge electric bass. Some people prefer this sound, and magnetic pickups fight well against feedback and are immune from feedback. So some people compensate for less acoustic tone.
Piezo-Electric for Upright Bass (Our Recommendation)
These pickups make use of piezo for small transducers. The crystalline material reacts to vibration by generating an electrical signal, and an amplifier converts it into sound. Pickups for upright bass generally use this technology as upright bass creates lots of vibration.
Most pickups are attached to the bridge. However, a preamplifier for a piezo-based pickup is recommended because preamp buffers output signal impedance and enhance the gain structure.
Hybrid Pickups for Upright Bass
As the name suggests, this can be an option for other pickup types, combining technologies, experimental, etc. For example, some pickups use a combination of piezo technologies and a microphone to create a product that sounds like a microphone but is easy to use.
Conclusion: the Best Pickup for Double Bass Is…
Upright is the master of all basses and is a versatile instrument. It can be played with a bow to produce sustained notes. Undoubtedly an upright bass is a fantastic thing, and the physicality and size attract everyone. The powerful vibrations flow through the instrument and give you a fantastic sense of musical connection.
Choosing a pickup depends on your personal preference, and with lots of options, it becomes challenging to pick the perfect one. Our favorite from the list is K&K Bass Max because of its mechanical stability and high output.