To overcome the limitations of microphones and traditional piezo transducers, Realist pickups read off of the instrument's tone-producing structures. On most instruments, tone is produced by a resonating "top" or "table." Using piezo ceramics encased in a thin copper element, The Realist is pressed tightly against the instrument's table, giving it the ability to sense every nuance of the tone produced there. The Realist focuses on the core of the instrument's sound to bring you a tone that can only be described as "the most real."
The Realist is simple. The element is wired directly to a gold-plated output jack, providing virtually lossless conduction of the piezo's signal. Colored and textured with the acoustic quality of the instrument, The Realist's signal need not be run through a pre-amp. Plugged directly into an amp or soundboard, The Realist is easily amplified without sacrificing natural acoustic color. It takes hours of practice to draw your sound out of your instrument—with The Realist, your voice can be heard more accurately through an amplifier. Both recording engineers and professional musicians have been astonished by The Realist's tone and response when installed on instruments that are plucked, bowed, or strummed.
Finally, you can play your instrument as you normally would, without having to stop and adjust your amp.
The LifeLine for upright bass is the newest member of the Realist pickup family. Like its predecessors, the LifeLine is based on a concept of self-powered transparent pickups that are easy to use. It offers a focused bass sound for those musicians who are looking for a lot of punch without loss of fidelity. Mounted at the adjuster without glue or fasteners, the LifeLine will fit on most bridges without changing a thing. Buy & Learn More
Realist Docking Station
This universal volume knob for upright bass lets you adjust volume on-the-fly, no matter which pickup is installed. The Docking Station installs to the tailpiece without fasteners and lets you bypass resistance altogether. À la This Is Spinal Tap, you can “go all the way up to eleven.” Buy & Learn More
Realist SoundClip
The Realist SoundClip clamps easily onto the bridge of any upright bass or cello, without marking or damaging. Clamping allows it to be added to or removed from any bass, at any time, without hassle. It's great for travelling bassists or those who want a pickup only when using an amp. The on-board volume knob gives the player full control to adjust output on the spot, and a variable weight system helps contour tone. Buy & Learn More
Realist Copperhead
Our original, reliable, transparent piezo pickup for upright bass soon became a great pickup for cello, viola, violin, mandolin, banjo, and more. Our patented Realist technology has made it the world's most respected pickup for acoustic instruments. Buy & Learn More
Realist Violin
Our new amplified-acoustic RVs are made in Europe with fully carved Carpathian spruce, set up here at the shop, featuring the same rich tone, volume knob, and trusted Realist pickup built into the body:
RV4e: Standard 4-string model.
RV5e: Standard 5-string model.
RV4Pe: Professional 4-string model, featuring premium choice Carpathian spruce, a tone knob, and optional geared tuners.
RV5Pe: Professional 4-string model, featuring premium choice Carpathian spruce, a tone knob, and optional geared tuners.
Learn More
