---
product_id: 809982
title: "Realist Pickup for Acoustic Upright Bass"
brand: "realist"
price: "$407.82"
currency: USD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 10
category: "Realist"
url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/809982-realist-pickup-for-acoustic-upright-bass
store_origin: US
region: United States of America
---

# Acoustic Upright Bass specific No preamp or battery needed Flexible bridge foot element Realist Pickup for Acoustic Upright Bass

**Brand:** realist
**Price:** $407.82
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🎶 Elevate your upright bass tone—authentic sound, zero hassle.

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Realist Pickup for Acoustic Upright Bass by realist
- **How much does it cost?** $407.82 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/809982-realist-pickup-for-acoustic-upright-bass)

## Best For

- realist enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted realist brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Designed by Legends:** Crafted by Ned Steinberger and David Gage for professional-grade performance.
- • **Pure Acoustic Power:** Delivers rich, true-to-instrument sound for both pizzicato and arco—no tone tweaking needed.
- • **Plug & Play Simplicity:** No pre-amp or batteries required—just plug into your amp and perform.
- • **Road-Tested Durability:** Built to withstand years of touring and tough gigs without fail.
- • **Seamless Bridge Integration:** Flexible element fits snugly under the bridge foot, capturing authentic vibrations from bridge and top plate.

## Overview

The Realist Pickup for Acoustic Upright Bass is a passive transducer designed by Ned Steinberger and David Gage that captures rich, natural sound from both pizzicato and arco playing styles. It installs easily under the bridge foot, requires no preamp or batteries, and delivers a powerful, true-to-instrument tone ideal for professional bassists seeking reliable, road-ready amplification.

## Description

The Realist Upright Bass acoustic transducer was designed by Ned Steinberger in association with David Gage. A primary design goal was to create a transducer that would work equally well for pizzicato and arco through commonly used amplifiers, without requiring a pre-amp or other active, battery powered gear. A flexible element fits under the bridge foot so that it picks up sound from both the bridge and top plate. Produces a rich and powerful response that is acoustically true for both pizzicato and arco without adjusting controls. No preamp necessary. Easy installation. Just plug it in.

Review: work horse - I've been using this thing for over 10 years now and it's been thru hell and back on the road. It's been thru bridge breaks, a drunk dude falling on my bass so hard it had to be HHG'd back together, and more, and has hung in like a champ. I have mine paired with a fb slap pickup and it compliments it great. I play everything from old time, bluegrass, to rockabilly, blues, and jazz, and this thing sounds great with any of it. I'll buy another if this ever pukes.
Review: Realist is For Real - Love it. Have it on my fully carved 3/4 Shen with 7710N Black Nylon Tape Wound strings. Super easy install. I use a 90 deg jack to plug 1/4" cable. Definitely gives a good sound, though I combine it with a Myers pick up to my effects blend to warm up the sound just a touch; that's not a slight on this pickup, for it gives a great representation of my bass's sound, more so with pizz than arco, but this version still has a little of that boxy/graty piezo sound, hence the Myers. I don't have any problem cutting through the band so my fellow cats can hear me, so I can play as I would play un-amplified. It's a good product for bassists at any level.

## Features

- For Acoustic Upright Bass
- Does not require a pre-amp or other active, battery powered gear
- Produces a rich and powerful response that is acoustically true for both pizzicato and arco without adjusting controls
- The flexible element fits under the bridge foot picking up sound from both the bridge and top plate - Does not include 1/4" both ends cable
- Designed by Ned Steinberger in association with David Gage

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B000LQ187C |
| Back Material | Basswood |
| Best Sellers Rank | #67,867 in Musical Instruments ( See Top 100 in Musical Instruments ) #20 in String Bass Parts |
| Body Material | Basswood |
| Compatible Devices | Amplifier |
| Connector Type | 1/4" Jack |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (90) |
| Date First Available | January 18, 2007 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Item Weight | 4 ounces |
| Item model number | ELREA410B |
| Number of Strings | 4 |
| Product Dimensions | 8 x 6 x 1 inches |
| String Material | Alloy Steel |
| Top Material | Spruce |

## Product Details

- **Back Material Type:** Basswood
- **Brand:** Realist
- **Finish Type:** Unfinished
- **Instrument:** Acoustic Upright Bass
- **Item Weight:** 0.25 Pounds
- **Item dimensions L x W x H:** 8 x 6 x 1 inches
- **Number of Strings:** 4
- **Operation Mode:** Acoustic
- **String Material Type:** Alloy Steel
- **Top Material Type:** Spruce

## Images

![Realist Pickup for Acoustic Upright Bass - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81OZUWu2i7L.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ work horse
*by M***E on January 10, 2025*

I've been using this thing for over 10 years now and it's been thru hell and back on the road. It's been thru bridge breaks, a drunk dude falling on my bass so hard it had to be HHG'd back together, and more, and has hung in like a champ. I have mine paired with a fb slap pickup and it compliments it great. I play everything from old time, bluegrass, to rockabilly, blues, and jazz, and this thing sounds great with any of it. I'll buy another if this ever pukes.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Realist is For Real
*by C***M on April 3, 2018*

Love it. Have it on my fully carved 3/4 Shen with 7710N Black Nylon Tape Wound strings. Super easy install. I use a 90 deg jack to plug 1/4" cable. Definitely gives a good sound, though I combine it with a Myers pick up to my effects blend to warm up the sound just a touch; that's not a slight on this pickup, for it gives a great representation of my bass's sound, more so with pizz than arco, but this version still has a little of that boxy/graty piezo sound, hence the Myers. I don't have any problem cutting through the band so my fellow cats can hear me, so I can play as I would play un-amplified. It's a good product for bassists at any level.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Gives my baby 1/4 double bass the 3/4 size sound I'm looking for, with no finger noise
*by T***D on December 6, 2016*

I have a 1/4 size double bass that I bought for fun, to play jazz bass lines and such. The problem is, it just doesn't have the throw that a standard 3/4 double bass does, but I didn't have the room nor funds for the larger instrument. So I decided to get a pickup. I first went to my local shop and bought the venerable Fishman BP-100, and found it dissatisfying: it picked up the bass tones well, but seemed to do a better job picking up my fingers sliding on the strings. That was returned to the shop. Then I found the Realist. I installed this pickup when it arrived today and spent the next hour playing walking bass lines. With the output of this pickup plugged into my Phil Jones Bass Briefcase, I don't need a preamp, and it sounds just like a nice full double bass with no finger noise. The manufacturer recommends unstringing the G string and passing it through a plastic clip to hold the jack, but I didn't want to be messing with unstringing, so I used small zip ties looped through the brass nuts at the ends of the strings to secure the jack. It's good enough for me. I'll come back in a few months if it starts having issues.

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*Product available on Desertcart United States of America*
*Store origin: US*
*Last updated: 2026-02-19*