Double Bass Heil PR-40

[CQBASS]

I got my new Heil PR-40 in the mail today and all I can say is wow, such happiness. I've been using an AT3035 in the studio and sometimes an MXL 2003. I like the Heil better. There's a smoothness and warmth to it that I wasn't getting from the others. The fact that I can use this onstage makes it amazing. I know there has been other threads about this mic and I also know that some people are waiting for the stubby, but I wanted to share that I found a great deal on this and thought some of you might be interested. I'm in no way affiliated with the store I got it from, just passing along a good deal. If anyone wants to know more pm or email me. I'll post a more in depth review later. For now I'm going back out to the studio to play with this thing.

 

[jrlynch]

replaced the rev solo II with the latest planet wing ... mixing that with the heil pr-40 through a d-tar, the combination just sounds fabulous. the planet is clean as hell with gobs of thick, but defined, low end. the heil is detailed and round, without being crispy and feedback prone. together, they rock. the next test is to see just how loud the rig can go, but things were reasonably loud tonight, and feedback free. another player/sound freak in the audience thought it was the best bass sound he'd ever heard ... i guess that's good thing

jeff.

 

[CQBASS]

I used the pr-40 tonight on a duo gig (upright and dobro) and it was great. I blended it with a revolution solo into a k&k dual channel pre. I ended up blending about 50/50. With other mics in the past it's always been about 80% pickup with just enough mic to add some air to the sound, not so with the Heil. Tonight was a really poor room acoustically, I think in a better room I could go with all mic. What really stood out to me was the g string. I've always had issues with my g sounding thin, but the pr-40 gave it a nice, round and full sound and the whole bass just sounded more natural than anything else I've used on a gig. It was completely satisfying.

 

[Ric Vice]

I used the pr-40 tonight on a duo gig (upright and dobro) and it was great. I blended it with a revolution solo into a k&k dual channel pre. I ended up blending about 50/50. With other mics in the past it's always been about 80% pickup with just enough mic to add some air to the sound, not so with the Heil. Tonight was a really poor room acoustically, I think in a better room I could go with all mic. What really stood out to me was the g string. I've always had issues with my g sounding thin, but the pr-40 gave it a nice, round and full sound and the whole bass just sounded more natural than anything else I've used on a gig. It was completely satisfying.

Thanks for the great reviews of the Heil I can't wait to get my hands on a production run of the Stubby.

 

[panos]

CQBASS,
I've also always had issues with my g sounding thin and only for that reason I add a mic, usually a K&K. With a mic, the G string sounds better, more round and full.

But, how did you blend with the k&k dual channel pre? Does it accept a micro? I thought that this is only for blending 2 pickups. I also think that it has 2 line inputs 1/4, or a stereo 1/4, and not an XLR input, correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm glad that the pr-40 works good for you! How do you manage with the weight? It is said that is very heavy... I' m thinking to purshase one but I wait for the Heil Stubby. Any news about it?

 

[CQBASS]

I bought a little whirlwind xlr to 1/4" adapter for the mic cable so I can plug it into the K&K. This works fine and I think it was about $10 or $15. The mic is a bit heavy. I didn't want to put it on my bass, so I just got a heavy duty weighted kick drum boom stand. It goes from about 1 to 2 feet and is pretty small and unobtrusive. I usually play sitting down so I don't move around at all and it isn't a problem. For my bass, I am getting the best sound by pointing the Heil just below the bridge about 3 inches away.