Yes, another bass cab mic thread.

Floyd Eye · #1 03-19-2013, 11:52 AM

I would like to hear what some of the sound engineers think of these mics. Maybe WalterW and Modulusman and some of the other regular gurus will chime in.

Since I will be on a budget of around $200 ( Give or take 50 bucks) and it is impossible to find an RE20, PR40, M88, 421 or any of the really great bass cab mics for that, I kinda had it narrowed down to a few lesser choices.

What do you think of these?

AKG P2
Beta 57A
Beta 52A

Application will be a CL and an Ampeg 810. Both SLM 2006 models
Any other ideas somewhere in the $200-$250 range.

uhdinator · #2 03-19-2013, 03:51 PM

Try to find a used Pvm 520i

Peavey PVM 520i Large Diaphragm Dynamic mic - poor man's RE 20

ugly_bassplayer · #3 03-19-2013, 03:53 PM

Live or for in the studio?

Floyd Eye · #4 03-19-2013, 03:55 PM

Live.

ugly_bassplayer · #5 03-19-2013, 04:00 PM

I know a lot of pro techs, believe me, they work on big events. They like simple & effective.

Get a used 421. Never underestimate the 57, works awesome. IMO RE20 and SM7 sound great for the sudio but are not really that great for live use.

I never get why people don't want to use the 57. It's a standard for a reason. Maybe they just want to be different.

57 or 421 plus DI can work in any situation for bass.

ugly_bassplayer · #6 03-19-2013, 04:03 PM

You can also use a moded 57 without the tranformer. It loses about 10db of gain but sounds similar to a SM7. It's trickier to use live because in high db stages quiet mics tend to not work so well , like RE20 or Sm7....etc....

dcr · #7 03-19-2013, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uhdinator

Try to find a used Pvm 520i

Peavey PVM 520i Large Diaphragm Dynamic mic - poor man's RE 20

I got one of these cheap years ago. Always use it on bass drum, because one of my buddies has my D112. I've always been impressed and it's never let me down.

But I have always wanted an RE20 or Senn 421. Just never had the cash, either.

dcr

Floyd Eye · #8 03-19-2013, 04:08 PM

Well, I can't find a 421 for less than $350-ish, so that's out. If I were going to buy a low end Shure, why wouldn't I look at the 52 or the 57? That is I am curious as to why you do not recommend them rather than a 57.

Floyd Eye · #9 03-19-2013, 04:11 PM

I can, however, find a PV520 for $100 shipped.

Mark Reccord · #10 03-19-2013, 04:13 PM

Beta 57a. More low end extension and tighter pattern than the SM57, less mid scooped than the B52. It's also useful all over the stage. In fact, I think it's probably the best all around workhorse for live sound. It's an excellent vocal mic especially in a loud environment.

If you can find a used 421, that would work nicely too.

Floyd Eye · #11 03-19-2013, 04:13 PM

And a PR40 is possibly attainable at around $280-ish.

ugly_bassplayer · #12 03-19-2013, 04:14 PM

52 is for kick drums. You can use it on bass if you want but there is a mighty scoop in the low mids, that are imo essential for bass.

Who said a 57 is low end, .....??
Get the standard 57 not the beta, save yourself a few $$.

milkman2k10 · #13 03-19-2013, 04:17 PM

I would go for the PR-40 if you can come up to $280. I recently did a huge sell off of my non essential gear and decided to keep the PR40. Its that nice.

Floyd Eye · #14 03-19-2013, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkman2k10

I would go for the PR-40 if you can come up to $280. I recently did a huge sell off of my non essential gear and decided to keep the PR40. Its that nice.

Would a PR40 eliminate the need for a DI?

ugly_bassplayer · #15 03-19-2013, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

Would a PR40 eliminate the need for a DI?

DI +Mic = win in any live situation.

milkman2k10 · #16 03-19-2013, 04:35 PM

I think with any mic you would have that question. It just depends on what you want to give to FOH. For me though the mic sounds great and gives me the sound I want to hear. Something you would have to mess with I would imagine. For things like mics that are so subjective to user taste I like to get them from one of the major retailers with a solid return policy so I am not stuck with something I don't like. Sorry if that just made things more complex but put simply I love tone from the PR40 and would give FOH just a line from it any day.

milkman2k10 · #17 03-19-2013, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ugly_bassplayer

DI +Mic = win in any live situation.

This as well ^^^^

4Mal · #18 03-19-2013, 05:04 PM

I see used Senn421's at around $225 on a regular basis. It is a great mic. Worksfie on your cab and a multitude of other things as well.

That said I recently added a PR40 to my box and on my basscab in the studio I like it a lot. Havem't had a chancewith it live yet.

Mark Reccord · #19 03-19-2013, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ugly_bassplayer

52 is for kick drums. You can use it on bass if you want but there is a mighty scoop in the low mids, that are imo essential for bass.

Who said a 57 is low end, .....??
Get the standard 57 not the beta, save yourself a few $$.

A plain old SM57 will work too. In some cases you might find it a bit low end shy but most of the time it works fine.

The PR40 is nice as well.

taurus1 · #20 03-19-2013, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ugly_bassplayer

I know a lot of pro techs, believe me, they work on big events. They like simple & effective.

Get a used 421. Never underestimate the 57, works awesome. IMO RE20 and SM7 sound great for the sudio but are not really that great for live use.

I never get why people don't want to use the 57. It's a standard for a reason. Maybe they just want to be different.

57 or 421 plus DI can work in any situation for bass.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Reccord

Beta 57a. More low end extension and tighter pattern than the SM57, less mid scooped than the B52. It's also useful all over the stage. In fact, I think it's probably the best all around workhorse for live sound. It's an excellent vocal mic especially in a loud environment.

If you can find a used 421, that would work nicely too.

refreshing to read guys who actually know what they`re talking about