Recommended Preamp - the KK Sound Pure Preamp

The Double Big Twin is a four-headed double bass transducer developed specifically for jazz bass players. It harmonizes very well with jazz bass, because its transmission band includes very high and very low frequencies. The high frequency translation ensures a clean amplification of the finger attack with the picked bass. The low frequency translation refers to a desired very bassy sound picture. Each string of the double bass is transduced separately with the Double Big Twin. This results in an extraordinary balance of sound to accommodate even the pizzicato playing mode. Double Big Twin is easily mounted with the supplied double-sided adhesive film and doesn't require modification of the instrument itself. This adhesive film has been selected carefully because it proved to have excellent qualities for sound transmission. The connection jack is held in a special attachment clamp to be mounted at the A and D strings between string-holder and bridge. We highly recommend one of our K&K preamps for impedance adaptation and pre-amplification.

Technical Information:

Diameter of each transducer head: 3/4"
Height of each transducer head: 1/32"
Output impedance: high ohmic
Length of connection cable: 1 ft
Output: Stereo 1/4" jack, soldered mono mode

Does not include a preamp.

Recommended Preamp - the KK Sound Pure Preamp

The Bass Master Pro is a very sophisticated transducer system for the upright bass. It consists of three components: The Double Big Twin bridge surface mount transducer, one wing mount element (the Bass Max transducer) and a very powerful 2 channel mixer with excellent features. The Double Big Twin pickup is designed to transmit a marvelously harmonized jazz bass sound with a lot of very low and high frequencies. The high frequency response ensures a clean amplification of the finger pick sound. The low frequency transmission refers to a desired very low bassy sound picture. The wing mount module transmits a more midrange oriented sound which adds power and color. When playing arco, we recommend to use the wing transducer only. Another advantage is its compatibility with small combo amps. The 2 channel mixer is designed as a belt clip unit. It features 2 volume controls, a stereo input and a line level output on the outside of the box. Inside the box are adjustable controls for gain, bass and treble for each channel. The tone controls offer an incredible +/- 20 dB. This is a wider range than some big boards on the market today! To keep the box as small as possible these controls are trim pots (small potentiometers for adjustment with a precision screw driver which is supplied). Once you installed the pickups, you can adjust the two transducers with these trim pots to your personal preference and needs. During performance, the two volume knobs on the outside allow fast balancing.

The Bass Master RB Plus for Rockabilly Bass is the first double bass transducer system designed specifically for Rockabilly and Slap Bass! We are proud to introduce this newly developed pickup system. At K&K Sound Systems, we have combined two transducers to create an integrated double bass pickup system designed to bring out the percussive and subtle fingerboard sounds, as well as strong and warm bass tones. Each Bass Master RB Plus can be fine-tuned via the separate bass and treble controls within the dual channel preamp, providing an infinite range of combinations for every player and any style of play. The first component, the popular Bass Max, is mounted in the bridge wing. Two transducers are combined using a sandwich technique, in order to maximize and enhance vibrations captured from the entire bridge. Due to its specialized construction, only one unit is necessary to provide an even signal from all four (or five) of the double bass' strings. Its strong midrange power is ideal for cutting through the mix in loud rockabilly situations, or providing a warm and supportive line for country bluegrass. Our specially modified single transducer is ideal for capturing fingerboard sounds. Its unique size and shape allows precision placement and the equalization from the preamplifier lets the player blend in just the right amount of slap, growl, and other fingerboard sounds to reach their audience. This allows the player to achieve the exact sound coloration and effect they desire. The Dual Channel Mixer has internal gain, bass, treble trim pots for each pickup, allowing impressive +/- 20dB tonal adjustments. External volume controls let you balance the volumes of the bridge and fingerboard transducers on the fly. A convenient belt clip is included with this compact preamplifier, which weighs a mere ten ounces with the battery installed. A six foot, high quality three conductor (1/4 inch stereo) cable is included to complete the package. The Bass Master RB Plus includes an extra output in the preamp. The Bass Master RB with only one output has been discontinued.

Technical Information:

Wing: 22 mm diameter, 4 mm thick
Fingerboard: 12.5 x 10mm, 0.7 mm thick
Preamp: 3" x 3.5" x 1" Input
Impedance: 1 MegOhm (each channel)
Output Impedance: 10K Ohms
Input: Stereo 1/4" | Output: Mono 1/4"
Cable: 6 foot, 1/4" stereo plugs
Power: 9 volt battery (not included)

The Golden Bullet URB is a condenser mic chosen specifically for its characteristics and performance with the double bass. This is not an "off-the-shelf" microphone, but one designed and custom built by K&K in Oregon. We were delighted to work with Bob Gollihur to finalize the selection of this specific unit, which combines great sound with excellent feedback resistance. It is unidirectional to help avoid rumble and undesirable bleed from other instruments. Amazingly light and small, it is mounted on your bridge using self adhesive 3M Dual Lock fastener and positioned using its built-in six-inch gooseneck. And don't worry about undesirable effects due to the bridge mounting -- the complete unit weighs only about .25 ounces!

The Golden Bullet URB includes:

* Mic with 2 feet of wire, high quality 1/4" jack and a special string-mountable jackclip (clamps between A and D string between bridge and tailpiece.
* Preamp with a 1/4" input jack and XLR balanced output. This is the standard preamp that can be powered by a 9 volt battery or 12-48 volt phantom power. The preamp also provides the special 5 volt power the mic requires.
* On special request a 1/4" line out preamp model is available (9 volt battey only). Please specify when ordering.

Technical Information:

Frequency Range: 20 - 17,000 Hz
Sensitivity: 7 mV/PA/1 kHz
Maximum SPL: 139 dB
Polar Pattern: Unidirectional
Output: XLR active balanced or 1/4" line level (please choose)
Mic Power Supply: 5 Volt through supplied Golden Bullet preamp
Preamp Power Supply: 9 Volt battery or 12-48 Volt phantom power (phantom power XLR type only)

K&K's various bass transducers are wonderful, and can deliver a exceptionally warm and natural double bass sound -- but there are times when a microphone can add extra warmth and life to your signal, or perhaps be the total true voice of your bass. Choosing and using a microphone can be a real challenge and an expensive proposition, especially when you want to blend it with your current rig. K&K Sound has taken all the hassle out of the process by creating the perfect and most convenient systems that can work for you immediately -- right out of the box. Several different combinations of the Golden Bullet URB and K&K's popular upright bass pickups are available. The different Golden Trinity Bass Mic systems offer you a great deal of flexibility for reproducing the natural sound of your bass. If you already have an existing pickup, the Golden Trinity Upgrade System is easy to install and operate and integrates virtually any pickup. Here is a detailed explanation of this add-on mic system: A single wire leads from the Golden Bullet URB to a three-conductor (TRS, stereo) string-mounted jack. Also coming from that jack is a 12 inch lead with a standard 1/4" phone plug, ready to be plugged into your pickup's output jack. A three conductor cable is supplied, which carries the discrete mic and pickup signals to the Trinity Preamp for mixing (see picture). There are two 1/4" output jacks, one which carries the mixed output (mic plus pickup -- active if only one output cable is connected), and a second which carries the mic signal alone (active if both outputs are connected, in this case the mixed out carries only the pickup) This tiny 10 ounce 3 x 3 1/2 x 1 3/8 inch two channel preamplifier provides power to the Mic and gives you complete control over the volume, gain and EQ for each channel. The mic channel has internal bass, treble and gain trimmers The pickup channel has internal bass, mid, treble and gain trimmers. The gain trimmers allow for balancing any pickup with the microphone and the external volume controls letting you easily balance the two channels on the fly.

Golden Trinity Upgrade System, for use with existing pickup, includes:

* Golden Bullet URB mic
* String-mounted stereo jack with additional 1/4" input for existing pickup (pre-wired to mic)
* 6'3" conductor cable
* Golden Trinity dual channel preamp (see description and photos above)

Golden Trinity Bass Max Systemincludes:

* Golden Bullet URB mic
* String-mounted stereo jack with additional 1/4" input for existing pickup (pre-wired to mic)
* Integrated Bass Max wing-slot pickup
* 6'3" conductor stereo cable
* Golden Trinity dual channel preamp

Golden Trinity Double Big Twin System includes:

* Golden Bullet URB mic
* String-mounted stereo jack with additional 1/4" input for existing pickup (pre-wired to mic)
* Double Big Twin - four transducer pickup array
* 6'3" conductor stereo cable
* Golden Trinity dual channel preamp