hi guys,
i just finished an experiment that i'm pretty excited about, so i figured i'd share:
i recently picked up an inexpensive stereo bar
http://www.amazon.com/MY500-Stereo-M...2724660&sr=8-3 and two very inexpensive condenser mics
http://www.karmamics.com/shop/K-Micro-Matched-Pair.html.
i tried them out in a sort of vertical xy formation - with the bottom mic aimed at the fingerboard and the top mic aimed just below the bridge.
long story short, i loved the sound i got. granted, it still sounded like a novice on a cheap bass, but that's exactly what it should sound like

anyway, the fingerboard mic picked up a lot of the mids and "voice," while the other one picked up a lot of boom and attack. i blended them and was able to get a very warm and deep sound without losing any of the upper details.
for forty bucks, it's hard to beat.
ps - i wouldn't recommend this live as it involves condensers . . .