Mixed B-15N Bizness

[JimmyM]

Rick Rubin producing the Dixie Chicks? Did I just step into a parallel but opposite universe?

I've heard a lot about Heil mics, but have never got a chance to use one. It's freq response chart looks perfect for bass, though...darn near flat from 40-20,000 hz.

[JimmyM]

So after looking over Heil's product line, I think pretty much all their PR line of mics would be great for bass. They're all almost dead flat. But the PR-40 adds a lot of extra low end, which would be most excellent for a Thiele cab.

Sounds like I need to get down to the music store and try one out.

[JimmyM]

OK, sorry if I'm being irritating over this, but after getting that B-15, I'm wanting to put a little more into a mic for live work than a 57 or 58, so I've been tossing around getting an RE 20. But then you mentioned that Heil PR 40, and now I'm considering it as well. I talked to a fairly knowledgeable gal at GC who is very much into the RE 20 and thinks that the Heil doesn't have as much gain before feedback as an RE 20, but she didn't have an RE 20 to A/B so I could hear for myself. So let me ask you in your infinite tonal wisdom...which would YOU, the Grandmaster Freak, taking into account that it will be predominantly for live work, choose? The RE 20, the PR 40, or would you recommend sticking with a Shure?

[jmjbassplayer]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Rick Rubin producing the Dixie Chicks? Did I just step into a parallel but opposite universe?

I've heard a lot about Heil mics, but have never got a chance to use one. It's freq response chart looks perfect for bass, though...darn near flat from 40-20,000 hz.

Obviously you were in a parallel universe during the 2007 Grammy awards, where the last record (which I also did with the Chicks and Rick Rubin) won 5 Grammys, and Rick Rubin got "Producer of the Year" for it.



The Heil is sick. I'm buying one immediately. By the way, I wouldn't pay much heed to frequency response specs anyway, because there just so happens to be very little uniformity in the standard with which they measure such response. Bass amp companies are the worst with that stuff.

[jmjbassplayer]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

OK, sorry if I'm being irritating over this, but after getting that B-15, I'm wanting to put a little more into a mic for live work than a 57 or 58, so I've been tossing around getting an RE 20. But then you mentioned that Heil PR 40, and now I'm considering it as well. I talked to a fairly knowledgeable gal at GC who is very much into the RE 20 and thinks that the Heil doesn't have as much gain before feedback as an RE 20, but she didn't have an RE 20 to A/B so I could hear for myself. So let me ask you in your infinite tonal wisdom...which would YOU, the Grandmaster Freak, taking into account that it will be predominantly for live work, choose? The RE 20, the PR 40, or would you recommend sticking with a Shure?

I'd buy the PR40 in a heart beat, mainly because I'm high on it from two great days of recording with it. I love my SM7, but the Heil was beefier to my ears on that cab. RE 20's are great too, because you can, like an SM7, always use it for vocals and other stuff. Likewise the PR 40. I just think it sounds great. I'm not really worried about gain before feedback, that's a little esoteric for this application, mic'ing a bass cab.

You can't go wrong with any of those mics. I'm just adding it to my collection...it may never replace my SM7 for male vocals, but I haven't tried it on vox yet.

JMJ

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by jmjbassplayer

Obviously you were in a parallel universe during the 2007 Grammy awards, where the last record (which I also did with the Chicks and Rick Rubin) won 5 Grammys, and Rick Rubin got "Producer of the Year" for it.



The Heil is sick. I'm buying one immediately. By the way, I wouldn't pay much heed to frequency response specs anyway, because there just so happens to be very little uniformity in the standard with which they measure such response. Bass amp companies are the worst with that stuff.

I guess I'm conditioned to think of Rick Rubin alongside acts like the Chili Peppers and the Beastie Boys, occasionally forgetting how he resurrected Johnny Cash's career. It just seems like a really odd pairing in my mind because of his early history but not so odd if you take the Cash albums into play. And I had no idea that Rick Rubin did their last album. I used to follow that stuff about producers and engineers and who's hot but not so much anymore. What do I know? I'm old

Thanks for the advice about the Heil. I had pretty much decided to get the RE 20, but this complicates things. At this point I can't get both it and the RE 20, so now a no-brainer becomes a tough decision.

[icarussmicarus]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I guess I'm conditioned to think of Rick Rubin alongside acts like the Chili Peppers and the Beastie Boys, occasionally forgetting how he resurrected Johnny Cash's career. It just seems like a really odd pairing in my mind because of his early history but not so odd if you take the Cash albums into play. And I had no idea that Rick Rubin did their last album. I used to follow that stuff about producers and engineers and who's hot but not so much anymore. What do I know? I'm old

Thanks for the advice about the Heil. I had pretty much decided to get the RE 20, but this complicates things. At this point I can't get both it and the RE 20, so now a no-brainer becomes a tough decision.

I would have thought Slayer and The Dixie Chicks would be a more insane comparison Rick has done everything!

[JimmyM]

Justin, I think I'm going to do everything you do from now on. This is twice now I've tried a piece of gear based on your recommendations, and twice they've totally killed. I bought a PR 40 today, and it's everything you said it is. I've only got to try it out a little bit in my cheapo home studio, but I've never heard such a warm bottom end in a $325 mic. It really does sound like a much more expensive condenser.

Judging how good it sounds in my little hodgepodge studio with no processing, I'll bet it absolutely kills in a real studio, and I'm looking forward to hearing what you did with it. Despite me goofing on the idea (hope you weren't as offended as I think you might have been), I have a ton of respect for both Rick Rubin and the Dixie Chicks and I'm a big fan of old-timey country music, and the Dixie Chicks catch that vibe really well.

[jmjbassplayer]

That's so awesome, man. Thrilled the PR40 worked for you. I'm buying one immediately, that's fer sure. Imagine how it might work on a vocal!

All good on your goofing, I was not even remotely offended!

JMJ

[JimmyM]

I wish I had a bunch of vocal mics to AB it with, but I did record a little bit of vocal with it just to test it out, and I think you will like it. Been a while since I sang into an RE 20, but I don't remember the RE 20 being so warm and clear. It was clear, but I don't recall any warm fuzzies like the PR 40. I think at the very least it would make a good mic for backgrounds when you run out of expensive mics, and it's great for spoken word. I also tried micing a Super Reverb and an old Airline 15w tube amp from '62 with it and it kills for that as well. It's a real Swiss Army Mic, that's for sure.

[jmjbassplayer]

Sick. Sign me up.

[lm183902]

This thread is gold!

After reading this thread, I decided to use a PR-40 earlier today in the studio and got some awesome results. Threw it up on a B-15 and couldn't have been more pleased. As soon as I can, I'm gonna get one for myself, because this thing is the heat on a bass cab.

[jmjbassplayer]

Another strong endorsement! Awesome!!

JMJ

[JimmyM]

Yep, and at my gig tonight, the PR 40 actually drew a crowd. It was the first time the tech crew had ever gotten a chance to use one, so they all came over to look at it while I set up. Used it on the new B-15N with no DI and all of them said it was the best bass sound they ever heard at the venue. I get a lot of similar compliments when I use that rig. I thought it was my playing, but apparently it's all in the equipment

So Justin, I know you get to work with some cool acts, but I think even you would agree that this guy I worked with tonight ranks up there as one of the coolest...Ron Dante, who produced all of Barry Manilow's big hits, and he also sang lead for the Archies. I'm sorry, but it don't get much cooler than the Archies! Got another night with him tonight plus a couple other singers from that era. Always wanted to be in the Archies when I was little...who knew I'd get to do it 40 years later?!?

[RED5]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

HAH! So do you hate me more because I have two B-15's now or because I live half an hour away from BC? I really need to know, because if you hate me because of the B-15's, then you'd have to hate Justin twice as much because he's got like 4 of them, and I can't stand to see all this hate directed at such a nice guy

< envisioning stacked B-15's>

[jmcgliss]

Can I have a number for the Twin Fliptop Owners Club?

Thanks for the mic recommendations..sounds hawt.

[jmjbassplayer]

THE ARCHIES!!!

Sweet!!!

JMJ

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by jmcgliss

Can I have a number for the Twin Fliptop Owners Club?

Thanks for the mic recommendations..sounds hawt.

If there's not a club, there should be!