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Double Bass Good mic for both DB and electric bass

gribuski

gribuski

Aug 7, 2002
199
0
Nashville, TN
#1
Hey, so I'm a fairly new convert to DB (~ a year), and have been playing electric forever. I want to get a mic for the DB, but I've also been needing a mic for my electric cab just in case (I don't like DI'ing - most of the time get away w/ just stage volume). I want to have a mic in my gear bag that I can pull out just in case, in either situation.

Any suggestions? I've done a good bit of research, but I want to ask blindly (to see if my impressions are backed up). I know a SM57 is an option, but aside from (and compared to) that.

*Edit: I should add that I do currently use a Realist for live stuff with the DB, but I need a mic for the electric anyway, so I thought I would give myself some additional tonal options and pick something that could be used for both.
 
#3
If you'll forgive the "spam", I have a fairly new EV Cardinal that I thought was great for bass for sale in the DB accessories forum. I thought it was exceptional for the money and am only selling it because it is redundant with the old reliable (and much more expensive) AKG C3000 I have. There is a link to the TB thread discussing this mic in my for sale thread.
 
#5
gribuski said:
Both the PR40 and (especially) the Cardinal look interesting and all, but both look pretty unwieldy for use with on an upright. How would you recommend mic'ing a DB with them? I don't use the cab for the DB.
Click to expand...

Well, the Cardinal is anything but unwieldy with DB unless you are comparing it to a clip on or something like a mini mic.

You can see pics of it mounted on my bass with the ExplorAudio H clamp in this thread.

That is if you want to close mic it. Or you can rig elastic bands to suspend it between the legs of the bridge as some do if you want the do it yourself method.

Most popular and cheapest would be using a regular old mic stand. This works best if you don't move much or play seated.

I get the best results from close mic'ing the top, staying away from the F holes.

YMMV
 
#11
Here's what I'm thinking so far:

Cardinal: So I did some research on the Cardinal...the chart (here: Invalid Link Removed) specifically says it's not for use on bass cabs (live or in the studio). I wonder what's up w/ that? Do you have any experience w/ using it on a cab? I'm guessing b/c it's a condenser...

Shure Beta 52: I'm not a huge fan of the frequency response. It looks like it pulls out a good deal of the mids. How significantly does this color the sound? Isn't a flat response ideal?

Heil PR40: Does anyone have any experience mounting this on a DB? Without seeing it in person, it's hard to get an idea how well it would mount (preferably at the bridge). Maybe with an H-mount.

Sennheiser MD 409: Is this discontinued? How does it compare to the 609? I notice that the freq. response (on both) dips quite a bit < 200 Hz. I like the high end response, though, and they seem pretty affordable.
 
#12
With the Heil Mic (or any of these mics, for that matter), are you really planning to mount it to the bass? These are pretty big mics, and would normally just go on a mic stand.

Ideally what you want for a multipurpose mic like this is something with a fairly neutral response. A mic like the Beta 52 is probably not going to give you the clarity for your acoustic bass that you would want. The Heil is probably a good choice (although I haven't tried that model before), and I would again recommend the EV RE-20, which has been used in studios for years on instruments that need full frequency reproduction without an emphasis in any particular area. The response goes low enough to pick up all of the low frequency information that your instruments will produce.
 
#14
Peck_Time said:
The Sennheiser e906 is what I use on my bass. It's a side-address dynamic microphone that can be suspended in between the bridge legs with rubber bands.

Good for live situations and I think it would work well for bass cabs too.
Click to expand...

That looks intriguing - seems it was developed w/ cabs in mind. And the frequency range looks OK (not too big of a roll-off). If you're using it on a DB with satisfactory results, that might be an unforeseen use. It's affordable, too. Right now, this is probably my frontrunner...

When you mic your DB, do you use a stand? I've seen the rubber band thing (especially on SM-57s)...it's kind of what I had in mind (or the H-mount). I like to move around live, and a stand wouldn't be a good idea for me.

Now that I've been playing for a while, I've just noticed that DB players who use mics generally have a more pleasing sound.

Anyone else, please feel free to continue to comment...it'll be after the holidays before I actually purchase anything.
 
#15
As a mostly mic only player I encourage it wholeheartedly....as you noticed it is definitely a pleasing sound.

The only caveat that I give to everyone looking into going this route is make sure you are going down the right path as far as your sound. If you play with your fingertips and don't produce a big sound acoustically, you can't expect a mic to make you sound like Christian McBride.;)
 
#16
Monte said:
As a mostly mic only player I encourage it wholeheartedly....as you noticed it is definitely a pleasing sound.

The only caveat that I give to everyone looking into going this route is make sure you are going down the right path as far as your sound. If you play with your fingertips and don't produce a big sound acoustically, you can't expect a mic to make you sound like Christian McBride.;)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input! I'm still a bit of a newbie on DB :smug:...and am totally aware that there's no substitute for good technique. I think using a mic will be better for my long-term development by making me keep good technique (on top of having one for my EBG). I'm sure I'm sure those first couple of shows will not be pretty though. :)

Upright players are like a club (especially here in Nashville), and I'm pretty cognizant to do things correctly, take advice and ask questions. I'm sure it's totally obvious to them that I'm a recent DB convert, and avoid coming across like I know more than them...it really is a totally different instrument.
 
#17
We're talking for a live mic right?

No pa has a flat response especially when some stoned college kid is running it. I think most systems are missing mids and low mids. They are all boom and sizzle. The Beta 52 brings out the good stuff. The other mic I use with my H-Clamp is the Audix D2. It is a tom mic. Very mid rangey response but I really dig the sound through a big pa.
 
#19
fingers said:
We're talking for a live mic right?

No pa has a flat response especially when some stoned college kid is running it. I think most systems are missing mids and low mids. They are all boom and sizzle. The Beta 52 brings out the good stuff. The other mic I use with my H-Clamp is the Audix D2. It is a tom mic. Very mid rangey response but I really dig the sound through a big pa.
Click to expand...

Yep, live stuff...I like the size of the D2 (I had my eye on a D4, actually). Looks like the they have slightly different frequency response, w/ the D2 having a nice little boost from 100-200 hZ (which is mostly where we play anyway). Hmmm...you've got me thinking.

Bassplayer_479 said:
http://homerecording.com/bbs/index.php

Hunt around, plenty of info, and please, no Beta 52...
Click to expand...

I'll look around there and see what I can figure out. And, you bet...there will be no Beta 52 for me. :)
 

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