Double Bass Blending PU+Mic...a la "student budget"

[rokx]

Hey guys, at the risk of being called cheap....

I currently have a Realist underbridge pickup on my Gliga II bass, and just added a SM58 (I didn't choose to buy it, someone gave it to me).
Ideally I'd buy something like a Solstice to blend the signals properly, but can't afford it in years...

Would I be able to input the PU signal to the normal passive input on an amp, and assuming that same amp has an XRL input, would I be able to connect the mic into the XLR at the same time and have them sound together?

I could just adjust the mic position for volume balance, but I'm just looking for a simple way to get some of the more natural sounds, rather than that flat PU sound you get with only a Realist.

My other option was to use an impedance transformer for the mic signal and then send them both through use one of these:
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then straight to the amp.

I'm sorry for being so CRUDE!

 

[Steve Freides]

Would I be able to input the PU signal to the normal passive input on an amp, and assuming that same amp has an XRL input, would I be able to connect the mic into the XLR at the same time and have them sound together

The only way to know if you'll like the way it sounds is to try it, assuming your current amp supports two simultaneous inputs. Depending on your setup, you can work all sorts of things including using the effects return as another input. The downside, beside impedance issues, is that you have to figure out all the gain/volume issues on your own and using the source's volume control if you've got one but, as they say, any port in a storm ....

-S-

 

[Ric Vice]

Hey guys, at the risk of being called cheap....I currently have a Realist underbridge pickup on my Gliga II bass, and just added a SM58 (I didn't choose to buy it, someone gave it to me).

Would I be able to input the PU signal to the normal passive input on an amp, and assuming that same amp has an XRL input, would I be able to connect the mic into the XLR at the same time and have them sound together?

Since we are talking generalities, it's going to be different from amp to amp. As an example, the Markbass Little Mark II has both inputs available for a single channel, but it isn't designed to blend the two signals together, so in that case it wouldn't work. Acoustic Image
amps have two channels so it would be a piece of cake provided you are borrowing one of their two channel amps. They also have an input that excepts XLR or 1/4" inputs. Since I read in you're profile that you are borrowing an amp, each one may have a different input setup

I could just adjust the mic position for volume balance, but I'm just looking for a simple way to get some of the more natural sounds, rather than that flat PU sound you get with only a Realist.

Since you don't have a lot of cash to spend on a blender, I would suggest that you buy an FDeck HPF Pre Amp. It will buffer you're input so that the Realist sounds better. It's also got a lo cut filter to help remove the boom.

The HPF will allow you to get the best sound out of different amplifiers. The alternative is to just use the SM 58 as you're only source, but that takes some getting used to.

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My other option was to use an impedance transformer for the mic signal and then send them both through use one of these:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
then straight to the amp.

You can't really get an effective blend from that setup. It will work, but since you aren't able to adjust the gain on the individual sources, there will be feed back issues. The Realist has a very strong signal, so it will override the SM 58.
The connector your trying to use isn't robust enough IMHO to handle the weight of a microphone cable, with a heavy impedance transformer, and a guitar cable
hanging of the ends. Even if you secure it horizontally on top of the amp, you signal is passing through connectors that can cause problems.
Line matching transformers also tend to produce additional hum, as they change the mic over to a high impedance input. Just my take though.

I'm sorry for being so CRUDE!

You're just being resourceful.