Need Ideas For An Alto Sax Microphone.

**Thor** · #1 01-19-2006, 02:46 PM

I'd like to pick up an additional mic for my Alto Sax
player. I had him on a AKG d 8000 S, but we need that
for another vocal application. I was wondering if anyone had a good
recommendation for a suitable mic for him.

He also plays alto 50% of the time, tenor sax about 25%
of the time, and does some blues harp work as well.
He only has one slot on the PA available to him with
a XLR low impedance connection, so giving him a Green Bullet
AND another mic is not an option. His monitor is usually
an unpowered Mackie S 500 with a 15" woofer.

He has a clip on mic, but like to modulate his playing by
stepping in and out of the mic's proximity.

Price range, I'd like to say under 100 new , or look for a
good quality mic on Ebay used and get a better one
for under a hundred.

Fire away, then off to EvilBay for accessories.

Thanks guys!

Dkerwood · #2 01-19-2006, 02:53 PM

Would it be cliche to just suggest a SM57?

I think it would do everything that you're asking of it. Sure, there are mics that might do it better, but none that I can think of...

The only catch is that it might be difficult to play harp around a 57. It's harder to cup than, say, your green bullet.

The slightly more complicated solution would be to pick up a Behringer mini mixer, plug a 57 into one channel, and a Green Bullet into the other one. Then run that line (probably through a direct box) into the PA.

**Thor** · #3 01-19-2006, 03:50 PM

Well, he is not using a Green Bullet now. He is
cupping the AKG (while it is on a stand) which is basically a SM58 clone. So cupping that 57 shouldn't be a problem.

The mini mixer is a good idea if he decides the SM 57 doesn't
work for his harp sound. But since the bulk of his lead work is sax, I would certainly entertain it and it wouldn't hurt to have one anyway hanging around.

The 57 is avail for 89 bucks. I wish it had a switch though ...

Dkerwood · #4 01-19-2006, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor

Well, he is not using a Green Bullet now. He is
cupping the AKG (while it is on a stand) which is basically a SM58 clone. So cupping that 57 shouldn't be a problem.

The mini mixer is a good idea if he decides the SM 57 doesn't
work for his harp sound. But since the bulk of his lead work is sax, I would certainly entertain it and it wouldn't hurt to have one anyway hanging around.

The 57 is avail for 89 bucks. I wish it had a switch though ...

I hate switches. As far as I'm concerned, a switch is only one more thing to go wrong. It's so frustrating to spend 15 minutes tracing signal paths only to have the singer say, "Oh, never mind, the mic wasn't ON!"

Of course, it got much worse when I was younger and stupider and would have cranked the mic channel up all the way to try and get some sound out of it... then the singer turns the switch on... oy...

You can get the 57 cheaper if you buy it on Ebay. And heck, you could get a mini mixer on there, too, and likely could get them both for about 100 bucks. That way your sax player has total control over his own levels... oh, wait, maybe you don't want that... lol

ZoomBoy · #5 01-20-2006, 08:24 AM

SM57....cheap and reliable.

**Thor** · #6 01-20-2006, 08:31 AM

Ok, the yay's have it.

Off to find a cheap deal.
Thanks guys.

Esquillama · #7 01-20-2006, 11:11 AM

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ers?sku=180623
My keyboard player uses one of these to connect his two
keyboards to our PA, and only uses one channel on the board.
You'd just have to have an XLR to 1/4" cable for each mic,
and run the "out" to the line input on your board instead of
the XLR input, but it should work just fine.

The beauty of this little box is that it's totally passive.
It requires NO power, no batteries, no AC. You just plug in
your sources, and go straight to your board.
You could even get on of these:http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ies?sku=452072
to attatch the other mic, he'd only need to use one stand.
Save you some room on stage.
And maybe one of these to hold the mixer & some harmonicas?
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ses?sku=421011
Just a thought. I hope you get it figured out.

**Thor** · #8 01-20-2006, 11:30 AM

Thanks,
I was actually looking for some stuff like that, the bolt on
extra mic clamp looks like a good idea. And cheaper than one
of those one hand adjustable stands with the base.

Actually, the small mixer would be perfect for our drummer
as the PA is an Alesis FX6 600W that I got on closeout for
199. It has only 6 channels and the drummer is taking up
two right now. He could add two mikes to his kit or use
it for when he helps out with his Ovation or vocals.

Thanks for the good tips!

Esquillama · #9 01-20-2006, 02:23 PM

That's what we're here for.
Part of the TalkBass experience.
I love it here.