I have searched for information on this, and haven't found anything that really answers my question. I read somewhere that to eliminate feedback, some players use a soundpost on the bass side as well as the treble. This seems logical due to the fact that the sounpost dictates non vibration. My question is how does this affect the bass acousticlly. Projection, loudness, basic sound of the instrument, and all that?
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Double Bass Double Soundpost
- Thread starter bassist1962
- Start date
bassist1962 said:
YMMV, but the general expectation is "negatively." Any technique employed to dummy up the bass for more feedback resistance generally equates to poorer acoustic performance to some degree or another. You have to also assume that someone installing a bass-side soundpost considers acoustic performance as a lesser of their worries.
I have considered installing one on my old kay to shore up the falling top on the bass side where its delaminating under the bass bar.
But I just retired it and got a new bass. Still might try it tho
But I just retired it and got a new bass. Still might try it tho
Brent Norton said:
Although I am not experienced on URB, this is what I was thinking. Seems to me that it would deaden the sound which is not what I am looking for. Thanks for the reply
- May 6, 2003
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- Proprietor Fifth Avenue Fret Shop. Technical Editor Bass Gear Magazine
There are many many things you can try to reduce feedback that won't modify your bass as radically. I can play stupidly loud with my DB and not get feedback. I have made no modifications to the basic structure of the instrument.bassist1962 said:
What pickup are you using? Are you plugging it into the Ampeg combo?
First thing to do is turn down the bass knob and turn up the volume. It seems odd till you try it. Electric bass amps are not flat in EQ. They overcompensate for the lack of low end in electric basses. Not a problem for DB.
Let us know what type of venues you are trying to play in and we can answer more specific questions.
Don't mess with the soundpost thing.
Uncletoad said:
I am actually miking the bass as I have made a choice to keep the instrument as the pure Acoustic Jazz and Classical instrument that it is.
I am playing a lot of out door gigs. Private parties, under pavillions, bars that have a deck for the stage, etc. The only time I have played it indoors is when I am at home practicing, or in rehearsals. I have used a nerf football between the tailpiece and the body, which seems to work. I may just keep doing this until I find another solution.
- May 6, 2003
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- Proprietor Fifth Avenue Fret Shop. Technical Editor Bass Gear Magazine
So are you using an amp or running through some sort of PA?
What situations create the feedback you are experiencing?
What situations create the feedback you are experiencing?
Uncletoad said:
I'm sorry, I missed some info there. I am running direct into the PA with my channel set on flat as far as I know. I seem to get feedback and or loss of signal when I move the bass one way or the other due to nothing more than normal playing circumstances. Not being a showman I pretty much just stand there and play, so the movement is just my moving my left arm around the neck, and the normal movement of the bass from that. Arco playing is inaudible in this situation as well. I don't know if the bass is moving just enough to let the mic catch something else, or what is happening.
- May 6, 2003
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- Proprietor Fifth Avenue Fret Shop. Technical Editor Bass Gear Magazine
What kind of mic, where is it, on the bass or on a stand? How far are you from the main speakers? Are you using monitors?
bassist1962 said:
Ultimately, the purpose of the bass bar is to keep the top from collapsing from string tension.
I've watched the top of my bass and other basses move about 1/8" at the f-hole when I pluck the E string. A bassbar is going to let the top give a little more than a soundpost will without causing the wood to crack apart.
It may be that the need for the lower strings to possess more strength to be brought up to a useful tautness for bowing is connected to the use of a bassbar instead of a soundpost on the low string side...the ability for the top to have more "spring" on that side than the high string side, where a lighter-strength string can be leveraged.
That's my guess, anyway.
Uncletoad said:
Shure SM57 or 58 (the instrument mic not the vocal one) on a stand about two to three feet in front between the bridge and left F-hole (when facing the bass). I am about four to six feet from the mains, and eighteen inches to two feet or so off the side of the monitors, which are facing the rest of the band more than me. My amp is usually right behind me on a table or some other form of stand, but no sound coming from it.
- May 6, 2003
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- Proprietor Fifth Avenue Fret Shop. Technical Editor Bass Gear Magazine
Try putting the mic on the bass. Chris Fitzgerald posted some pics in a mic thread of how to do it with the 57. Some rubber bands between the arches of the bridge hold the capsule of the mic and the body of the mic runs through the afterlength of the strings wrapped with some foam. You'll get a whole mess more gain before feedback with that placement. If you don't feel comfortable with that at least roll it up in some foam or a towel and put it between the bridge arches. That's better than what you are doing.bassist1962 said:
See if you can get further behind the mains. If you are near the front plane of the mains you'll get feedback by just turning the bass. Try standing back at least 4 or 5 feet from the front edge of the main speakers. See if you can live without a monitor anywhere nearby. I've gotten used to not having one at all. The sounds coming out of it reflect off your bass top and come right into the mic like a parabolic reflector. Minimize the stuff coming at that top and feedback goes down. Get every speaker either pointing away from you in front of you or put your body and the back of the bass between the speaker and the mic.1962 said:
If you do all that you should be able to hear the body of the note from the mains. If you need to be louder than that you'll have to break down and get a pickup to mix with the mic like most of the rest of us do.
Read up on the mic threads. There are a bunch of really fine bassists here with lots of experience in what you are trying to do.
Let us know how it works.
