Double Bass Dynamic mics

[TimoMetzemakers]

The Sennheiser 441 is even nicer if you can find one

I never leave home without my 441 and a small boom stand . It is really one of the nicest dynamic mics I know. It has a slight drawback however: its old-style looks. I know that this is silly, but it would seem that many of the younger sound guys don't know this mic and when I set it up, they go like "you really want to use THAT???". The 421 is much better known in sound guy circles, so it might be better in that regard.

But usually, in those cases, the sound ends up being a disaster anyway, so when it happens, I put my C411 contact mic on the bass, which makes incompetent sound guys happier and doesn't sound half bad.

 

[Macher]

I want a mic to use live, in the studio and to record different instruments in my home studio. I want a "pro" mic for bass that i could use to for acoustic guitar, percs, vocals, ect...

I was going to buy an Beta 57A. It is in my price range and can be used for other stuff. Unfortunatly, i only tried the sm57 and think it sounds decent compared to the sennheiser 401 i sometimes used.

I recorded at a studio today and used a RE-20 from electrovoice. It is the best mic i used so far for bass!

anyone has tried both the beta57 and SE-20? You think it would be worth using a SE-20 for anything else than bass in my home studio?

And after reading the thread about condenser mics, i was thinking about buying a condenser mic like the AT 2020. I once used it to record vocals and it was surprising, especially for its price. And some friends tell me i should buy a condenser mic because of its versatility.

what are the advantages of a condenser like the AT-2020 vs a dynamic like the Beta57A for my needs?

What would be the weakness of a condenser like the AT-2020 for DB?

Thanks!

 

[mrpc]

If you liked the RE-20, you may like the Sennhieser 421 even more if you need a (albeit expensive) dynamic that is versatile!

 

[Macher]

I've just realized that i didn't try the 401 but the 421!

I tried it, with not bass cut, and did't like it at all because it sounded really boomy. I didn't have much time to try it in between two sessions at the university's studio...

how to youy usually set the bass control?

 

[mrpc]

Well, trim the bass, of course. I don't own one, but they always sound good on everything (as mchildtree has said), look kinda dumb in frint of a singers face onstage though.......

Another nice dynamic is the Beyer M69. Similar in some ways to the Beyer M88 , but less of a pronounced proximity effect when close miking. Both are great and well known vocal mics as well.........beta57 is very good , you can hammer nails with the Shure if you like , but not near as good or sturdy as the Beyer models, and as usual, the price difference reflects this..........I do own a few of these.

 

[oliebrice]

has anyone tried any of these dynamic mics straight into a gallien krueger or similar combo? what were the results? or what should go in between the mic and amp?

 

[bolo]

If you haven't seen it yet, this thread documents a lot of people's experiences running various mics (including several dynamics) into amps (mostly), PAs, and home recording gear. I think most of the posts were made from the perspective of what works for stage use v. a recording studio.

In my case, live I run either an AMT (condenser) or Beyer M 88 (dynamic) into a D-TAR Solstice, and then into an EA Wizzy combo amp. Many times I also blend a pickup w/ the mic.

I like the results.

 

[bolo]

Also, I think Marc Piane (fingers) runs a K&K Golden Bullet (condenser) into a GK, if you want to send him a PM.

 

[Macher]

Thanks guys! i just bought a Beta57A with a cable for 110$ on ebay.

I'Ll try to run the pickup into the PA when there is one and if not, anyone has ever tried to plug a mic into a Mesaboogie Mpulse 360?

you think it would work; tube preamp, semi-parametric eq and 1Megohm passive, 10kilohm active (w/10dB attenuation) inputs?!

 

[larry]

In my case, live I run either an AMT (condenser) or Beyer M 88 (dynamic) into a D-TAR Solstice, and then into an EA Wizzy combo amp. Many times I also blend a pickup w/ the mic.

I like the results.

Just walked in the door from my Valentine's gig. Used a little M88 into the singer's PA, no amp. I was very happy.

How you liking your M88? Is it what you expected?

 

[TimoMetzemakers]

has anyone tried any of these dynamic mics straight into a gallien krueger or similar combo?

I tried my 441 straight into a GK by accident once, because I had forgotten my mic preamp. The gig was a guitar trio, so I only needed a little reinforcement from the amp. It worked surprisingly well. Of course, I needed lots of gain on the amp, but by maxing out every volume knob, I could even get it to feed back.

Since that was so comfortable and straightforward, I've done it again on purpose, for low to medium volume gigs. These days, I own a Schertler Pub that sounds much better than the little GK so I use that, but the mic straight into the GK wasn't so bad.

 

[bolo]

Just walked in the door from my Valentine's gig. Used a little M88 into the singer's PA, no amp. I was very happy.

How you liking your M88? Is it what you expected?

larry, thanks again. I don't have nearly as much experience w/ mics as you or some of these other cats, but yes, for me the Beyer is more than I expected.

I cringe at using this cliche but I really don't know how else to say it besides "My bass only louder." I'm sure there may be other mics out there that sound even better - the Neumann KM 185 is next on my list. But you were right on. The M 88 brings a genuine smile to my face w/ each note.

Of course, like w/ any mic, you hit feedback at a certain volume level when you run it into your amp. But that threshold is higher w/ the Beyer than w/ my AMT. Like you said, that might be the whole dynamic v. condenser thing probably.

To my ears, the Beyer has more air and treble presence, without overemphasis. The lows are tight and but nice and round and full. The AMT seems somewhat subdued in comparison, and not as 3-dimensional to me. I suspect maybe some of that is due to the low pass filter in the AMT's preamp that I've read about. Chris F. and others alluded to this in that monster mic thread from last summer. But like you said a while back, when you start comparing really good mics like these to one another, a lot of it just boils down to personal taste.

Still experimenting with optimal placement, learning the pluses and minuses of the promixity effect, using both a mic clamp from ExplorAudio and sometimes a mic stand. But yeah, without a doubt I really dig it. You and all the other folks who've posted in these different mic threads have been full of some really great ideas and recommendations.

 

[larry]

larry
I cringe at using this cliche but I really don't know how else to say it besides "My bass only louder." I'm sure there may be other mics out there that sound even better - the Neumann KM 185 is next on my list. But you were right on. The M 88 brings a genuine smile to my face w/ each note.

It's not a cliche, it's the whole point of going through the pain in the arse of using a mic. Glad you're happy.

The other nice thing about good mics (and good gear in general) is that it holds its value (just like a good bass). Should you change your mind, you'll always get close to what you paid for it. Classic mics like the M88, RE20, MD421, most Neumanns, etc. will always be in demand. I scrounge until I find a deal. I have over a dozen mics, and I can sell them all for more than what I paid.

 

[Dudaronamous]

The 906 is easy to put on the bass and sounds pretty much like my bass. I go through an iAmp 500 and Whizzy 12 and roll off some low end. I like the 'boom' I get, and how there's no 'piezo'-ness.

I just bought the Sennheiser e906. At home it sounds more accurate than the Underwood pickup, less harsh, less tinny. Haven't gigged with it yet. Do I need a preamp between mic and amp? I think my plan is to blend the mic with the Underwood pickup. Maybe a K&K pre with dual inputs for blending?
Thanks, Steve

 

[Peck_Time]

Do I need a preamp between mic and amp?

Hi Steve, I use an impedance matching transformer (it looks like a big XLR to 1/4" jack converter), to match my sennheiser e906 microphone to the iAmp input.
I got the transformer to try out as they're only $20 or so, and I wanted to see if I could get away without having to carry more stuff.
So far it's working great. The mike needs more gain than my rev solo, but sounds so much better. I use it on small gigs for a bit of extra oomph to my sound, and on larger gigs I can give the sound-guy a DI from the iAmp- and it sounds like my bass, the sound-guy doesn't have to do (or know) anything.
It's never fed back on me (touch wood).

 

[bolo]

Do you have some type of mixer/blender so you can use the Rev Solo and the mic at the same time w/ your iAMP?

Just curious. I spent several hours yesterday tweaking knobs on my Solstice blending a Rev Solo w/ an AMT and then a Beyer into an iAMP-200C Wizzy combo. Still messing w/ pickup fit, mic positioning, different preamp / power amp settings, et al.

 

[Macher]

I just my first gig with my mic (BETA 57) yesterday. Loved it! The gig was very quiet; bass, vocals and piano. Everything was into the pianist's PA; no amps. I had my mic placed in between the bridge legs(like Chris Fitzgerald pics on another thread).

I ended up playing with my mic only and didn't find my Rev Solo necessary. Maybe at louder volumes i would have used it but really the mic sounded so much better!

 

[Peck_Time]

Do you have some type of mixer/blender so you can use the Rev Solo and the mic at the same time w/ your iAMP?

I only use the microphone at the moment. I experimented with a Fishman acoustic blender, but find that just using a mic on its own is a lot easier.

I have a outdoor gig today with an 11 piece ska band (bass, piano, organ, guitar, 2 percussion, drums, 4 horns). If the Sennheiser can be loud enough without feedback on this gig i'll be happy!