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The Realist SoundClip - Double Bass Acoustic Transducer |
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I've just heard that there is now a truly portable pickup on the market. Is it true? Yes it is and it comes from the same great stable of pickups as The Realist and the Realist Wood. The new (Spring-2010) pickup is called the Realist SoundClip. For the travelling bassist or for the player who only needs to use a pick up when using amplification - the easy-on, easy-off clamp-device is like a prayer answered. Tell me more. What does the SoundClip consist of? The SoundClip consists of a small brass G-clamp with a volume knob and a clamp screw on its top face and a standard 6mm input socket and an ingenious adjustable weight system on the bottom face. On the upper inside jaw there is a flat adjustable clamp head with non-slip protective covering while on the bottom inside jaw the element is housed in a copper-foil casing. Where do I install The SoundClip? The SoundClip clamps onto the bass-side (E-string) lower leg of your bridge. What are the benefits of clamping? Clamping is a very quick method of installation. It allows The SoundClip to be added or removed from any bass at any time and without any hassle. The concept seems absolutely brilliant but will it mark or damage my instrument or bridge? No - installing The SoundClip is simplicity itself. There are absolutely no invasive or complicated fitting procedures to worry about and once you are familiar with the product you can be up and running in a matter of seconds. What is the Installation procedure? The Realist SoundClip does come with clear and easy
to understand installation instructions.
Does it matter exactly where I place The SoundClip? Yes - the amplified sound is affected by the position of The SoundClip so to attain different sound characteristics you need to spend a little bit of time experimenting with different locations. I've got adjusters fitted in the legs of my bridge. Can I still use The Realist SoundClip? Yes you can. The SoundClip can be fitted either below or above the adjuster. From these positions The SoundClip can be moved either towards or away from the strings until the best amplified sound is achieved. I must say - having such an accessible and easy to use volume control on The SoundClip is an absolutely brilliant idea. Yes indeed it is. The onboard volume knob gives the player full control to adjust output right on the spot. So - what is the variable weight system all about? The Realist SoundClip features a unique and innovative weight system that works with the acoustic output of the instrument to produce a superior amplified sound. How does it work? By adding mass to the bridge and as already mentioned - altering the placement of The SoundClip - the player has incomparable control over how the instrument's sound is represented. Tell me more. In general - locating The SoundClip low down on
the bridge leg creates a warmer tonal quality. Why have you used the words "in-general"? The words "in-general" have been used because as every instrument is constructed differently and has so many variables - the effect of the positioning and weight will not be identical on each instrument. So you mean that I need to experiment with both position and weights to find the best sound? Yes - the weights can be arranged as a 33.3gms on its own, a larger weight that weighs 66.6gms on its own or by joining the two weights together to produce a weight of 99.9gms. The SoundClip also works without any added weights. How do I add or remove the weights? Each of the two weights has a 5mm length of male-threaded rod protruding from its upper face and a small corresponding hole with female thread cut into their bottom face. On the lower face of The SoundClip there is also a receiving hole. Adding or removing the weights is simply a matter of screwing or unscrewing the weights onto The SoundClip or onto or from the bottom of each other. Does The SoundClip's variable weight system have any other benefits? Yes - the manufacturers claim that the system has been proven to reduce or relocate persistent harmonic wolf-tones. The greater the weight used - the stronger the wolf-suppression. What else do the manufactures say about the weight system? They say that if necessary the two weights can be removed from The SoundClip and used as a wolf-suppressor on their own. How does that work? You'd use them just like any other anti-wolf system and slip them onto the offending string between the bridge and the tailpiece. Simply unscrew the two weights slightly from each other. Slip over the string and then tighten. A wolf-note suppressor weighing in at 99.9gms does seem awfully heavy. Wouldn't you agree? Yes - most wolf-note suppressors weight between 16 and 30gms so a 99.9gm adjuster would seem to suggest that the bonus-facility is a bit over-kill - even for the worst of howlers.
Is a pre-amplifier required with The Realist SoundClip? The Realist SoundClip is what is known as a "high-impedance transducer" so it is not necessary to use a preamp although some players may well opt to use one. What would be the benefits of using a preamp? Using a preamp can make up for shortcoming in your instrument's acoustic sound. It can be used to boost the highs or lows or fill in the mid range if it is not present enough. I do a lot of recording work. Are there any special instructions that I should follow? No - none at all. Recording engineers throughout the world are bound to be impressed by The SoundClip's superior acoustic fidelity and its elegant simplicity. What is the quality of manufacture like? In two words - extremely high. As soon as you see and feel The Realist SoundClip you automatically know that it's the biz - the real deal - a proper nice piece of kit. The unit has been milled from solid brass and the weights and clamp screw have been finely tooled. There is an overall robust, durable and weighty feel to the device that just shouts out quality. Is there any sort of guarantee with The Realist SoundClip? Yes indeed there is. The manufacturers are so confident about the quality of the manufacture and the product's reliability - that they have offered an incomparable 5-year warranty on all original purchases. Wow - that is an incredible offer. How long is this offer for? The offer is described as an "Introductory 5-year Warranty" - so if you do like to have as much piece of mind as possible when making a purchase - we would recommend that you put your name down for your SoundClip sooner rather than later. Are there any requirements to obtain the warranty? Yes - a requirement of the warranty is that the purchase is registered with the David Gage String Instrument Repair shop. All that involves is filling out a short form that has been partially completed by The Contrabass Shoppe and posting it off. I guess that the warranty is from the date of purchase on parts and labour? Yes - correct. Can you tell me what terms and conditions apply to the warranty? In brief - the warranty covers failure due to defects in material or workmanship which occur during normal consumer use and does not cover damage which occurs in shipment or failures which result from alteration, accident, misuse, abuses, neglect or improper maintenance. I see that there is a protective carry pouch with The Realist SoundClip? Yes that's right - the manufacturers really have thought of every convenience. The pouch is made from black cordura with a striking red zip-trim. It is nicely lined and padded and features two two-way zips, a key ring and The Realist SoundClip logo in leather on the front. What about the sound? With The Realist fitted you can really "dig-in" to your
playing. Dynamics are relatively easy to produce and when "attack" is
required - say for funk and slap playing - the pickup copes incredibly
well. For those of you wanting a pickup for ballads and other softer
styles of playing - the pickup also sounds great. Ahh - I thought you might get round to that question. Well - you'll be pleased to hear that from the reviews received - the general consensus of opinion is that all three really are as good as each other. What about the non-consensus of opinion reviews? Well - these were even more favourable. They all pronounced that the SoundClip is far superior on the basis that it allows the player such great flexibility to fine tune their own sound. These players all agree that they are now able to achieve a much more detailed tone, that they can hear many more frequencies and that they can produce a much cleaner sound. Well - that all sounds unbelievably positive. How about a final summary? The unique and fabulous SoundClip emanates from the same highly-respected makers as The Realist and the Realist Wood and is the first and only truly portable pickup available on the market. As if this accolade wasn’t enough for the manufacturer's - the device sports an inbuilt volume control and a tone refining variable weight system - two features that are not found on any other pickup. Made from solid brass and beautifully engineered the device is very easy to use, it doesn’t require any modifications to the instrument and it is fully adaptable to all instruments and playing situations. Final, final words. The combination of portability, convenience, flexibility, reliability and of course a truly unrivalled sound is sure to send The Realist SoundClip to the very top of every bass players wanted list. Stats:
The Realist SoundClip
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