SD Systems mics

Karl · #1 05-29-2006, 06:26 AM

I am planning to buy a microphone in addition to my pickup (Shadow SH 950) and thought the SD-Systems ones look pretty good (though pricey, which shouldnt be in my way). Did anyone of you ever try one of them? I was a little confused as the search-function didnt bring me any useful match.

I want to use the mic for live-situations and rehearsing with my GK 1001RB/210 combo (no phantom-power) and for recording. I am also especially interested in the Preamps that ship with the SD-mics (those only for the mic and those for mixing mic and pickup). Also my pickup is definitely not the last word spoken, so good mic/pickup-combinations do interest me.

I play Jazz and Latin, sometimes Fusion ala Return To Forever and want a versatile setup that gives me opportunity to have my sound very natural and adding punch/sustainity as fits the music (though I am satisfied with punch and sustainity of the setup already). Money should be a secondary factor.

bolo · #2 05-30-2006, 06:43 PM

Karl, you might try sending PMs or emails to Mike Crumpton and ctxbass. I think they both have experience with the SD mic(s).

There's also a link here if you haven't seen it already that contains some information about the SDs (and lots of other stuff).

ctxbass · #3 05-31-2006, 11:14 AM

Hi Karl,

I've been using the SD mic for a few years and I really like it.
It delivers an accurate, natural sound and I find that volume without feedback is limited only by speaker placement.

Mine came with the blender/preamp and pickup as well. I use the blender, but only as a power supply and volume control. I was dissatisfied with the pickup, which in my case provided a very stringy sound with no depth (similar to my experience with the Fishman BP 100). When I used the blender with this and other pickups, it seemed to cut the signal from the pickup to the amp significantly. Battery life has been excellent, but I use little gain from the preamp. There are other, more versatile blenders available elsewhere.

I highly recommend the mic, and you may find use for their preamp with a volume control.
As far as using a microphone with your GK, I think that the best results from a mic are obtained using a more "hi-fi" system rather than a bass guitar amp.

I hope this was helpful.

Karl · #4 06-02-2006, 08:05 AM

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll go for the SD-mic and try to find a blender elsewhere, as I might want and need the sound of the pickup in some situations.
I can't afford an AI-system or something similar, so the GK will have to do, and as far as I'm concerned the sound is absolutely OK as I don't need to turn the amp up very much.