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Double Bass Amped arco disaster?

gprigge

gprigge

Dec 19, 2007
121
7
Rice Lake, Wis.
#1
I tried searching this, but didn't come up with what I wanted. Bass, fiddle, 12-string guitar and banjo band. Playing an old opera house in 2 weeks. Fiddler wants me to drone (arco) while she opens Scotland the Brave. It's a plug into the house sound system and play venue. I have no idea what their sound system may be, little to no chance to check it out; we're one of several acts.
I have an Underwood pickup. Seems like I've read horror stories about amped bowing. Is this headed for a sonic disaster?
Thanks.
 
#6
jrlynch said:
Mic it for the mains.
Click to expand...

I agree. Even just getting the soundman to put a SM58 on a stand would be better. The Underwood is a cool pickup for pizz but blows arco.

A nice option to be able to tweak your sound on stage is a Fishman Platinum pro. I use one whenever line to house is involved because it allows to to send a pot-eq signal to the xlr out.

Or you can do this. I call it my New York setup because whenever I've had a gig in NYC I don't use an amp and just send mic to house.

5800337876_6e29883b12.jpg
 
#8
There are a lot of variant for miking your bass.

The mic on a stand is a standard for the soundman, but you are nailed to position and bass angle. Also the volume is rather low and the mic will pick up unwanted sound too.

Better is a mic mounted to your bass. More volume and more freedom (but by moving the bass there is a bit more risk of getting feedback).
Apart from special mounts like the H-Clamp or special microphones for bass like the AMT bass microphone, the DPA 4099B or the ATM 350/35pro (with DPA holder) you can use two methods, microphone in foam (under the tailpiece which will hide it or in the bridge arc which may get a better sound) or through the underlengths towards the bridge arc (like on the picture above) with the benefit of making good use of the directionality of the mic.
For the last method there is a way of using 4 rubber bands with an SM57 (also works for some small diaphragm condensers like my Oktava MK-012) described somwhere here on talkbass. Use some stronger rubber bands and it works fine.
Rubbers go: mic - bridge foot - mic (on both sides)
and mic - outer afterlength string - mic (also on both sides).
Put the front of the mic a half to one inch from the top.
Mic goes to PA only.

If you want a pickup for bowing, use a Full Circle or a bridge foot (not wing!) pickup,
something more away from the strings than a Wilson or an Underwood.
 
#10
Marc Piane said:
Or you can do this. I call it my New York setup because whenever I've had a gig in NYC I don't use an amp and just send mic to house.
5800337876_6e29883b12.jpg
Click to expand...
I'll have to try that!!! I thought about an SM57 or variant, but then I realized it needs the "ball" of an SM58 to stay put. Does it actually stay put, or does it wobble any?
 
#12
If you like the sound your get from your underwood, you'll be good. If all you're doing is a drone on one tune, I wouldn't be too nervous about it. However, the instrumentation you're working with should allow you to go 100% mic. I would advise you to move away from that underwood and get hip to the DPA 4099B. Especially in an opera house. If you've got the bread for it, make it happen, you won't regret it. Make sure whatever you're going into has phantom power. If you're not used to playing with a mic on a stand, it'll be tough to stay consistent.

Renyel Rivero
 
#14
Of course, since the Realist is a bridge foot pickup like the APTflex or Shadow SH-965 NFX they all work well for arco. But there might be a little reverb- or echo-like quality in the pickup signal, probably coming from the resonating top.
A pickup a bit nearer to the string like with the Full Circle (which needs to be turned in a position without strong resonances to sound well) and this is not noticable but bowing might sound a bit more aggressive.

Find your best personal compromise between bowed and pizz sound with a pickup.
 
#16
I'm surprised no one else has mentioned this yet, but arco is louder - at least for me it is. A simple volume pedal or otherwise convenient way to modulate your volume might be all you need.

I agree with the suggestion to try turning down the treble - my pickup mounts in the wing of the bass side only and I prefer that to a pickup that attaches to both sides. When I first started playing, I borrowed a pickup that had an element for each of the four strings, and I did not like that for arco at all.

But I'd go for volume control first - it's the simplest thing.

-S-
 
#17
Played the opera house. Seats about 250-300. Packed house for a variety show. Turns out they only had three mics and we figured the fiddler/singer, banjo and guitar needed them more, so I went acoustic, made sure I was pointed into the audience and hit it hard. Sounded low volume on stage but those in the hall said it sounded fine. Overall, the place has great acoustics. Bowing worked great but I came up with a case of left hand Mr. Fumbly Fingers on the fast pizz.

On to the next adventure.

Thanks to all. I'll move toward an onboard mic, rather than a pickup.
 

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