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Double Bass Best Large Condenser for under $500

#21
Jason-
Sam here (from Tiger Maple String Band)...I have been using a CAD Trion 7000 ribbon mic lately to record along with a K&K Bass Max going into an Avalon U5. The reason I am using the ribbon mic (doesn't need to be CAD) is because Bob Moore said this in a Bass Player interview: “There’s never been one microphone I liked as well as an RCA 44 ribbon mic. That old 44 absolutely gets the best bass sound, especially for gut strings. I position mine fairly close to my right hand, above the ƒ-holes, just barely above the level of the bridge. Part of my sound comes from my strength of pulling the string; when I turn loose of the string, it has an attack that’s not necessarily the string making the noise—it’s my finger releasing the string, a little pop to start the note.” So I figured I'd share that with you...see you again someday...Sam
 
#24
My only opinion is based on the CAD and it is fine. It's the only one I own. There has been a lot of hub bub regarding Shiny Box ribbon mics due to the different transformers that you can choose, but I never used one.
 
#25
Jason Sypher said:
There are quite a few that fall under $500 these days. Any impress?
Click to expand...

The CAD Trion 7000 ribbon is a figure 8 pattern (much like the RCA 44BX or the RCA 74B) and they can be bought (with shockmount & shipping) for less than $200. Do a search on Ebay. I know one sound engineer (who also does beta testing) who is sold on them, putting them up with some pretty impressive microphones. He also owns (and uses) a RCA 74B and an RCA 77DX along with Great River preamps.

This may be one of my next acquisitions. I already own an umber 77DX.
 
#28
bkbirge said:
Looks like a Coles Ribbon mic to me. Awesome awesome microphones for orchestra, room, drum overheads, brass, etc. Never tried one on double.
Click to expand...

Coles4038.gif


That's the Coles 4038 Ribbon. The price I found is about $1400, don't know if that's retail or actual sale price.
 
#29
It used to be that you could buy 4038's on the cheap side, but no more; too many people know what they are now. BTW the 4038 is actually a BBC designed and speced mic and has been around for many years (50+). Like many other ribbon mics, the 4038 has a bi-directional pickup pattern, AKA figure eight. A great mic overall, if it fits your budget.
 
#32
For a $500 budget, I would consider the CAD 7000 ribbon and a RODE NT1A with money left over. The NT1A has a nice aesthetic, sonically. Also, you might need to add gain to the ribbon mic. I run the 7000 into a Grace 101, then into my Presonus Firestudio>>Samplitude (on a Sony Vaio)...clean and big.
 
#33
Ok, I've been doing my research. It seems to be mostly agreed that a LDC is not necessarily the right choice for the bass. Ribbons are interesting but, well, don't quite feel right to me based on what I've read. Small Diaphragm Condensers come up a lot as does the notion of getting matched pairs. I'm thinking maybe that would be the way to go. Possible get something on the cheaper side for now. I'm looking at Octava 012's, Avensons, Pelusos and Josephsons. Should I be thinking omni or cardiod? Or mixing the two?
 
#34
Jason...I have a matched pair of Peluso SD mics I got from Sound Pure. They came in a nice case with room to add more capsules. You can change the capsules with the CEMC6 stereo kit...$180 for matched pair of capsules. I have cardioid caps, but have never used these or my Oktava MK012s on upright bass. I plan on getting some omni capsules eventually. Sorry I can't offer an opinion regarding the Pelusos on URB, but they are nice.
 
#36
I hear you Ruben. I think I've encountered just about every mic combination in the studio but I remember the LDC's. I think they look like they would be the right thing for the bass. But I was thinking back to when I recorded at Doug Pomeroy's and I remember he used SDC on my bass. And then I even remember a studio where the earthworks mic is what worked best. Those just look too damn skinny to be pickin up my fat sound :eyebrow:! Of course, there are a lot of choices out there and a lot of opinions. I just recorded a few bow tracks with my AMT mic and they sound ok. I mean, I guess I don't know how much better it gets unless I have some mics to work with. It would also be nice to be able to record duets and trios at home or abroad on tour or something. My mac and motu are portable by design. Prepare for a bunch of neophyte recording questions in the very near future. As many know I've got a new baby boy and almost no time to practice at all. I've chosen to work the recording angle so I will learn something useful and as a way to reflect on my playing and see where I'm at with some of this stuff. Usually I just practice and practice and practice but I don't really reflect. Now my time away from the instrument needs to be more productive....
 

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