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Schertler Stat Set Vintage - Double Electrostatic Bridge Pickup with Stat-Pre Preamp (The Charlie Haden Model) |
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I've read your write up about the Schertler Stat Set. What is the main difference between the Stat Set Vintage and the Stat Set? That's an excellent question. Let's get down to Schertler terminology first. The term "Stat" refers to the miniature "electrostatic microphone" that fits - in the form of a cork capsule - into the eye - sometimes referred to as the "wing-hole" of the bridge. The "Stat" then is the heart of both systems. In the Stat Set the system comprises of a single cork capsule that has to be mounted into the treble (G-string) side eye (wing hole) of the bridge. In the Stat Set Vintage the system consists of two cork capsules. Obviously one capsule fits into the treble eye - the other fits into the bass eye. I've heard that the double pickup system of the Stat Set Vintage has set a new standard for balanced sound that is full of both space and richness. Is that correct? Yes - the level and quality of balanced sound that the Stat Set Vintage provides has bought a big smile to performing players, recording artists and sound engineers alike. Is it true that the bass legend and Grammy award winner - Charlie Haden - championed the Stat Set Vintage? Yes. Haden (b. 06/08/37) - considered to be among the greatest ever jazz bassists has done much of his playing and recording career using the system fitted to his treasured J.B. Vuillaume instrument. In an article entitled "The Prophet of Purity" (Double Bassist magazine number 3 - Spring/Summer 1997. Pub by Orpheus Publications Ltd) Haden explains about the double pickup; "It just amplifies the true sound of the instrument, which is a miracle". Is it true that many players simply refer to the Stat Set Vintage as "The Charlie Haden model"? Yes. I thought that the Stat Set Vintage was only available from Schertler as a special order. Is that correct? Yes. It is only since 2010 that it has been available from specialist retail shops. Prior to that you had to be pretty determined to get hold of one. Are there any other big name users of the Stat Set Vintage? Yes - Barry Guy (b. 22/04/47) – one of the world's leading player-composer pioneers of free improvisation has notched up innumerable recordings and performances using the Stat Set Vintage. Apart from double "Stats" - is the Stat Set Vintage identical to the Stat Set? Yes - both sets are packaged in identical corrugated card boxes and both sets come with the "Stat-pre" preamp, high quality cables and a specially designed clip to attach the connector to the tailpiece of the instrument. Are the two "Stats" on the Shertler Stat Vintage both connected to the one 6mm jack socket? Yes. Factory installed "Tasker" shielded signal leads connect the two "Stats" to a single female RCA phono plug (jack socket). I am a bit confused by the similar sounding names that Schertler have given to its Stat series of pickups. I completely understand that "Vintage" means double pickups. What then - is the difference between this set - the Stat Set Vintage and the Stat Select Vintage? Both the Stat Set Vintage and the Stat Select Vintage are identical in every detail - all bar one - which is they feature a different type of preamp. With the Stat Select Vintage you get the latest generation "Pre A-111". With the Stat Set Vintage you get the "Stat-Pre". So what are the main differences between the Pre A-111 and the Stat Pre? That's a more difficult question. The sophisticated Pre A-111 has so much packed into it that a few words will never do it justice. The best thing to do is to read about the Pre A-111 on its own pages in our section on preamps. For clarity between the two systems you might also find it useful to read about the Stat Select Vintage on its own pages. For those of you who still just want to get some sort of an overview for now - we would best describe the Pre A-111 as a floor-mounted unit that is mains operated. The unit offers both dry and equalized outputs and has individual Volume, Resonance, Bass, Treble and Gain controls. The Stat-Pre on the other hand is powered by an internal 9-volt battery and has just the one control knob - which is a Gain (The Gain - allows you to adjust the amplification of the input signal.) control. The advantages of this are twofold. Firstly it means that the unit is small and light enough for the player to mount on his belt by means of an optional clip. Secondly it means that the player has no problems with a mains power source restricting his onstage movements. OK - if I associate "Select" with being bigger and better as in having the more sophisticated, more "Select" Pre A-111 - I've got that too. There you go. "Select" means with Pre A-111. Now let me get this straight. So for the player who is performing more or less in situ - the Pre A-111 allows the ultimate in performance flexibility and for the player requiring complete on stage portability it is the more basic Stat-Pre that allows the ultimate in ease of use and versatility. Correct? Yes correct. Obviously there are other things that you should consider - but hopefully this will help point you in the right direction for what you need - Stat Select Vintage or Stat Set Vintage. OK - I've followed you so far. Tell me about the double "Stats". I've heard that they provide a balanced performance that is simply sublime. Yes that is correct. Double bassists right around the world regard the Shertler Stat Vintage pickup system very, very highly. This well deserved reputation is because the system provides a full and realistic string instrument sound with full bass tones and clear, bright trebles. The transducers are also well known for working well with any bass amplifier, for their high feedback resistance, for providing an impressive "bridge-sound" - without the harshness or distortion of a piezo pickup - and for their simplicity of installation. Will I be interested in this pick-up? The Shertler Stat Vintage works well for all playing styles. For those of you who play rock, fusion and jazz with loud amplified levels - the system's resistance to feedback is particularly attractive. Furthermore - the Stat Vintage works very effectively with signal processors and effects courtesy of its strong solid signal. Tell me what I get when I purchase the Schertler Stat Set Vintage. In comparison to the exclusive packaging of the Schertler Dyn-B and the handy sized protective black carry case of the Stat Select Vintage - The Shertler Stat Set Vintage is delivered in a pretty disappointing corrugated card box. No doubt this is to keep cost down to a minimum. Still - the container is reasonably robust and I guess that once you have installed the unit - the box won't receive that much further use. Far better to concentrate on the quality of what is contained inside. On opening - the main components can be found slotted into cut-outs in a foam strip. Here the method of packaging-protection again seems woefully inadequate. One just has to cross fingers that the delicate electronics aren’t crushed in the post before you receive them. On a more positive note - the good news is that once inside the box - there is everything you need to get you up and running in the minimum amount of time. The contents are as follows:
How does the equipment feel when you handle it? Very nice indeed. You just know as soon as you pick up the various components of the system that everything is made from top quality components and fittings. Take for instance the two RCA plugs - they have a sort of weighty feel to them that just exudes quality and the contact points are plated in gold to ensure that there is absolutely no loss of signal. Take for instance the fact that the cables are shielded from radio interference and just take a look at the custom made fixing bracket and screw. What do the actual "Stats" look like? Each "Stat" looks like a small straight bottle cork (10mm x 8mm x 8mm) with a black PVC lead-cap at one end. What is inside each Stat? At the heart of the cork "capsule" is a miniature electrostatic microphone that is sealed inside a specially constructed sound chamber. Tell me about fitting the Stat capsules. The Stat capsules have to be mounted vertically into the eyes (wing holes) of the bridge with their black caps (signal-lead caps) facing towards the foot of the bridge. Installation instructions and diagrams are provided and are relatively easy to understand. The good thing about installing the two "Stats" is that it is not necessary to remove to the bridge and should only take a few minutes to get up and running. Here is a summary of the fitting procedure:
At the other end of the Stat signal leads is a female RCA phono plug. Where do I fit that? The female RCA connector is secured by means of the factory attached fixing bracket and screw to the bass side of the tailpiece. With the socket pointing downwards - position the rubber cushioning washer that is affixed to the other end of the bracket - behind the round string hole at the base of the E-string slot. Insert the threaded screw through the front of the string hole and into the hole in the centre of the washer and through into the thread in the bracket. Tighten the screw until the bracket is secure. The fixing bracket and screw look really neat. Yes - the fixing bracket and screw have been specially designed by Schertler to hold the connector approximately 2cm away from the side of the tailpiece - so that it is easily accessible. The moulded black plastic knob at the top of the screw feels absolutely great in the hand and looks fab on the bass. Each time I play - do I have to make any other adjustments? No. Once the Stats have been fitted - there are no further adjustments required other than making the usual connections to the external equipment. Can I remove the two Stats if I need to? Yes - the entire system can easily be removed at any time. All you need to do is unscrew the tailpiece bracket and carefully push out the Stats from the eyes of the bridge. The small wedges affixed to the lower eyes of the bridge can be left where they are - ready for the next time that you want to reinstall the system. What about the Stat-Pre. Will I be impressed with that too? Yes - the high level of performance and sound reproduction that the "Stat-Pre" enables is very impressive. The fact that the unit is so compact and easy to use is also very, very nice. Just how compact is the Stat-Pre? The Stat-Pre measures only 103x55x25mm and weighs only 157gms. Where do I place the Stat-Pre? The unit can either be floor mounted or attached to the player's belt with a special clip called - surprise, surprise - the "Pre-Clip". By attaching it to the belt in this manner - the player - whilst on stage - has both easy access to the unit and the choice of free movement - subject obviously to the length of his/her output cable. Is the Pre-Clip included with the Stat-Pre? No. The Pre-Clip can be purchased quite inexpensively as an optional extra. What technology is used in the Stat-Pre? The Stat-Pre has been designed and engineered especially to derive the best performance from Shertler transducers and active loudspeakers. It boasts the following innovative features;
Wow - about 300 hours of playing time - that's absolutely amazing. Where does the battery go? The battery goes in the back of the Stat-Pre. Simply unscrew the four crosshead-screws from the housing cover and slot the battery in. What sort of battery is recommended? An alkaline-battery of good quality is recommended. How is the Stat-Pre turned on and off? The Stat-Pre is only turned ON when both the INPUT and OUTPUT jack are inserted. A small but intense blue LED "CHECK" light on the top of the unit - indicates that the battery is charged and the system is ready to work. The Stat-Pre is distinguished by its minimal battery consumption - however in order to prevent wasting the battery - it is advisable to pull the OUTPUT jack out of the system when not in use. Can I check that the battery power is OK without playing? Yes. Battery power can be checked simply by inserting the mono jack from the amplifier or house system into the OUTPUT. When this is done a small but intense blue LED "CHECK" light will come on - on the top of the unit. The light indicates a charged battery. By inserting the jack from the two Stats into the INPUT - the system is ready to work.
Does the Stat-Pre provide power to the Stats? Yes - the Stat transducers have to be supplied with 10V phantom power in order to operate. Remind me briefly what phantom power is. Condenser mics, also known as capacitor or electrostatic microphones must have a source of direct electrical power in order to operate. Some models are powered by an internal battery, but most condenser microphones receive their power through the microphone cable from the input of the device to which they are connected, such as a mixer or microphone preamp. This method of sending a DC electrical voltage through the microphone cables is called "phantom power". In addition to powering the circuitry of the microphone the phantom powering directly or indirectly supplies the voltage used for polarizing (cause something to acquire polarity) the microphone's transducer element ("capsule"). Phantom powering consists of direct current applied equally through the two signal lines of a balanced audio connector (usually an XLR connector). The supply voltage is referenced to the ground pin of the connector (pin 1 of an XLR), which normally is connected to the cable shield or a ground wire in the cable or both. What does the Stat-Pre feature?
What type of output sockets does the Stat-Pre accept? There is only one output socket on the Stat Pre. It accepts a standard 6mm (1/4in) jack. The input socket is also designed to accept a 6mm (1/4in) jack. What else will I like about the Stat-Pre? You'll just love the user friendly GAIN control on the side of the unit and the clear labelling and Schertler logos on the top of the unit. You'll also love the rugged good looks of the cast aluminium housing. It is certainly well up to the job of protecting the internal circuitry from careless stage hands - should you decide to position the unit on the floor. Is there anything else to appreciate? Yes. In the middle of a gig you'll find it incredibly reassuring to see the small but intense blue - unit is receiving power - LED CHECK light glowing away at the top middle of the unit. How about a summary on the Stat-Pre? High Quality components and Class A circuitry ensure a top class sound reproduction. That's a pretty complete review. How about a final summary? The Stat pickup system was first introduced in 1988. Today it is used by thousands of musicians worldwide. We like the fact that both the double- pickup and the preamp are made to an extremely high quality and standard of workmanship and that in combination as the Stat Set Vintage - the system offers the following;
How about a final, final summary? The Schertler Stat Set Vintage is a well proven and reliable system. Oh go on then - one final, final, final summary? Big name players like it and use it for a reason. Stats:
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