Shadow SH965 NFX-B Double Bass PU

I use it on old Austro-Hungarian kontrabass(100+ yrs old), I play a lot with bow and this pickup has better bow sound than realist, underwood(and shadow sh950) and fishman BP-100.

I use only ONE pickup (below E string bridge foot) it has clearer sound than when I use both pickups. This is because arco was sounding like on contra phase and pizz was more fretless bass sound than kontrabass sound... I met a guy with same pickup on some festival and I suggested him to try only with one piezo and the result was great(and he buy me a beer). He was about to sell this pickup and buy a realist, just because of pizz sound, but he also does not like arco on realist.

pizz is with massive bass so sometimes I must put down bass EQ on amp or preamp. Most time I use flat EQ on preamp and amp, depend of space where is gig and what kind of music.

I use Evah Pirazzi strings and pizz growl is perfect.

Before this pickup i used fishman BP-100 for 15yrs but setup was not like they recommend. i put both piezo plates on one leg(e string) down next to belly from both sides of bridge and make a U clip to fit them properly. pizz was great but arco was too sharp, but still better than realist and uderwoodlike pickups...

I tested all of them on my kontrabass with my friend who has realist on one bass and sh950 on other bass...

I use Fishman Pro-EQ Platinum Bass Preamp for mixing desk and GK MB-112 amp on stage.

I play jazz and latino standards, then I play with some popular(in Serbia) folk pop band, I play free improvised music, and I do acoustic covers with some band...

Hope this was helpful, and if I had any spelling and grammar mistakes - sorry about my English

Hi,

I bought the Shadow SH965 NFX-B Double Bass PU 2012 and think it works really great.

I read a lot of reviews before and was looking for a PU which sounds very naturally and well balanced for slapping, pizzicato playing and while playing with a bow.
Because the PU at the bridge sound to bassy while playing with bows, I bought the Shadow SH965 NFX-B Double Bass PU.

The montage is quite simple: Relaxing the E- and A-string will get the bridge loose enough to geht the PU under the bridge, same procedure at the other side. Don’t relax all strings at once, or your sound post could fall!
The rest is fixed with the enclosed screw to the tailpiece. But you have to fix it really tight, so it makes no sounds while playing!

I use it not as often as I could (mostly I play without my amp), the battery still lasts. The potis are both set to the middle position, I don’t use them. I only use the potis at my amp.

Though I read, there is a new system, especially for slapping sounds, I would buy the SH 965 again. It works very good, is dependable ad makes a well balanced sound. While I’m not using any amps, I don’t remove it, it always stays at my bass!

PRO TIP: Before I start, "Wrapping a little masking tape round the pickup elements to give them a rougher surface really helps to stop the bridge slipping around when setting it up and dosen't affect the sound."

Bought to replace an old worn out piezo pickup, it may not have quite the same detail of sound as the real pro set ups but its a nice stepping stone, and can be installed at home without tools.

It gives a big warm tone all over the instrument and the little pre amp thing gives it enough oomph to be heard with a band when its plugged straight into the PA. Having a volume wheel to hand is also nice if you're switching instruments.

Just little niggles, a cover for the battery would have looked neater and the colour is a little tacky, but thats nothing mounting the box facing backwards wont solve.

Using on 4/4 J.Rubner 5 string bass. Pizzicato's sound great, the highs sound pure and clean and there isn't too much gain. I always try to keep the tone knob more than half clockwise for the best middle frequency sound.

Also it's not bad when you play with the bow, but in my opinion the sound that is gained by the pickups could be better.

Because the pickups are installed under the bridge, it might affect the sound strenght of your bass. It may be important for acoustic classical players. But if you play jazz or anything else with pizzicato and you always play through pickups - It's okay.

So for me - It's a strange situation, because sometimes i need to play acoustic with a bow and for the best sound quality i need to uninstall these pickups. When i need to play jazz - I must put them back on.

All I can say for those who are interested in this product, You should make smart decisions. These are wonderfull pickups, compared what sound you can make out of these pickups to the price of this product - It's a great deal!

This is a really good pickup. It gives you a volume control, a tone control, the piezo sensors do not raise the bridge noticeably when you put them under the bridge feet, it does not feed back as easily as the Fishman BP100 it replaced. The battery (CR 3032, which can be found in any supermarket or gas station) lasts for ages. It delivers a really powerful bottom-end kick.

But it is not my forever pickup. It is bottom-heavy - it does not capture much of the top end frequencies. I always play with the tone control fully up to the treble end. It captures nothing of the fingerboard sound, lots of string sound and not much wood sound. Blended with a microphone, however, it produces a great sound. Oh yes, it really does.

It is very, very good. It is very good value for money. It is robust, unobtrusive, functional, all these things. But I am still looking for my forever pickup. I am still looking for 'the one'.