Double Bass Looking for a Good (Real) Metronome

[Keith Rawlings]

I’m looking for recommendations for a good real metronome - not a metronome app; specifically something loud enough for me to practice with acoustically.

I’ve searched the forums on here, and it appears that many people have asked this question on Talkbass before, but it never appears to be answered with an actual device - just app or drum machine suggestions. Thanks!

 

[JDBassist51]

How about the standard Wittner and/or Wittner Taktell Mini metronomes? I believe they are wind up models.

John

 

[Fretless55]

 

[Don Hergert]

I have one of the Mini Taktell models from the last century. It's cute but sometimes not exactly accurate.

If I were to buy one now new, I'd be looking carefully at this model or something similar:

Wittner Metronome (WIT-804m)
(Notice they have a "renewed" one at nearly half the price of a new one.)

(Because I like nice wood.)
(NFI)

 

[Staccato]

Yamaha QT-1
8th Street Music has them in stock.

 

[RBPCRC]

Boss DB-90. You can get an ac adapter for it and not need 9v batteries.

 

[SteSte]

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Here are a couple.

Tempi

Korg KDM-3

Both have excellent reviews. I use an older Boss DB-88 at work and a metronome app (Metronomics) at home, but I'm actually glad I searched around this morning because the Korg looks like a great option to replace the older Sabine model I have at home; it works fine but has a major design flaw that has always annoyed me.

 

[SteSte]

View attachment 3653121

natural real wood organic sound, no battery no speaker

 

[Ed Fuqua]

Had this one for decades, it's loud enough to use for duo playing, if you want. It also has a mini plug out to put through your stereo if it doesn't seem loud enough for you....

 

[Silevesq]

I have been using this one for a few years, it goes to 30 bmp it I recall correctly. To me this was an important feature. There is a few clave setting and some "odd" time but I don't think it's a good option if this you want to go that route. App are much more malleable is this area. It is very small, so I have one in my bag and one at home at all time.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RVWVAY/ref=dp_cerb_3

By real metronome you mean the wooden one with the stick clicking or can it be a smaller one?

 

[robert_stuart]

This has inspired me to make an Arduino-controlled analog metronome: Some kind of wood block knocking for the sound, but with the accuracy and reliability of the digital control.

 

[bengreen]

Why the aversion to apps?

I love mechanical gizmos and totally get why a clockwork drive is so seductive even though its ticks and tocks are rarely even.

And for decades I happily fed whole landfills worth of 9 volt batteries into my Dr. Beat with the sliders until I discovered rechargeable li-ions in 9 volt form factor and turned it green.

I agree most apps are total crap. But there are some standouts. Ever since I found Pro Metronome for my Android phone, the good Doctor has been in retirement. The app does all the Doctor could do plus gradually incrementing the tempo for bringing passages up to speed, more choice of subdivisions, and has programmable polyrhythms for those times when you have get used to playing say 5 against someone elses 4. All with a very clean, simple dashboard.

Then throw in a Peterson Tuner App which which has no problem hearing the low B on my 5-string. Several apps which will play chordal drones to help you get your tootsies in the right place on the fingerboard. And then there are the midi and mp3 players with AB looping and speed control to give you your own portable ensemble accompaniment.

To have all that capability in one small device is transformative. Not to mention reducing clutter.

I held out for a long time before getting a smart phone and some addictive aspects of it still bug me. But musically, man I'm not looking back.

If you're adament though, one of the full size Dr. Beats would be my choice. And some rechargeable batteries because they gorge on electricity.

 

[turf3]

Wittner Taktell.

I still have and use my mother's which is at least 55 years old.

No batteries or electrons required.

 

[MrLenny1]

Taktel

 

[Lee Moses]

I've had my Seiko for around 30 years, and it's never let me down.

Vintage 90s Seiko Quartz Metronome (SQM-300) **Tested - Working** | eBay

 

[Keith Rawlings]

View attachment 3653121

That’s a beautiful metronome! Looks like it would look equally as good in a practice room as it would on a fireplace mantle.

 

[Keith Rawlings]

I have been using this one for a few years, it goes to 30 bmp it I recall correctly. To me this was an important feature. There is a few clave setting and some "odd" time but I don't think it's a good option if this you want to go that route. App are much more malleable is this area. It is very small, so I have one in my bag and one at home at all time.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RVWVAY/ref=dp_cerb_3

By real metronome you mean the wooden one with the stick clicking or can it be a smaller one?

I mean one that isn’t an app or a drum machine type thing. I’m open to the Boss style ones, but I really would prefer to have one that is mechanical in style and design. I don’t want an app whatsoever as they always seem to not work right after a while or require in-app purchasing for the ultimate metronome experience. Plus if it’s an app, then it would want to stream through my BAHA Bone conduction hearing aide and I get distracted trying to play my bass with anything going through it simultaneously.

 

[Keith Rawlings]

Why the aversion to apps?

I love mechanical gizmos and totally get why a clockwork drive is so seductive even though its ticks and tocks are rarely even.

And for decades I happily fed whole landfills worth of 9 volt batteries into my Dr. Beat with the sliders until I discovered rechargeable li-ions in 9 volt form factor and turned it green.

I agree most apps are total crap. But there are some standouts. Ever since I found Pro Metronome for my Android phone, the good Doctor has been in retirement. The app does all the Doctor could do plus gradually incrementing the tempo for bringing passages up to speed, more choice of subdivisions, and has programmable polyrhythms for those times when you have get used to playing say 5 against someone elses 4. All with a very clean, simple dashboard.

Then throw in a Peterson Tuner App which which has no problem hearing the low B on my 5-string. Several apps which will play chordal drones to help you get your tootsies in the right place on the fingerboard. And then there are the midi and mp3 players with AB looping and speed control to give you your own portable ensemble accompaniment.

To have all that capability in one small device is transformative. Not to mention reducing clutter.

I held out for a long time before getting a smart phone and some addictive aspects of it still bug me. But musically, man I'm not looking back.

If you're adament though, one of the full size Dr. Beats would be my choice. And some rechargeable batteries because they gorge on electricity.

I don’t like anything that tries to stream through my BAHA bone conduction hearing aide while I play. It’s great for streaming podcasts and listening to music while I work, but it’s lousy to try and follow music or pretty much anything else while I’m playing my bass. I’m an anomaly in DB/EB players as I have a 55 DB conductive loss of hearing in my right ear due to frequent infections and a total of five surgeries on it as a child. I got this implant and hearing aide in July of 2018 and it totally changed my life being able to actually hear in stereo (both ears) for the first time. I love it very much, but I’ve tried running a click through it and it’s more of a distraction than anything while I play. I know I could use a Bluetooth speaker, but when I do that in the same room while I’m wearing my BAHA, it always wants to shift the Bluetooth to my hearing aide instead of relying on the speaker alone, and it will switch back and forth randomly depending upon how close I am to the speaker. It’s frustrating, but that’s kind of how it’s designed - to default to the top of the list of Bluetooth devices connected to my iPhone so that I’m always getting peak hearing.

 

[Brad Maestas]

My favorite by far is still the full-size analog Wittner. You just have to make sure to put it on an even surface and try not to leave it wound up for long periods. The minis and micros are also quite good as well but don't sound nearly as good. As far as digitals, I still have my old Boss DB-66 that has been with me since I was a teenager. It's still quite flexible and has a ⅛" out to amplify (as we did for countless seasons in DCI and marching bands). There are a number of good metronome apps but I still prefer my Mahogany Wittner when I'm practicing at home.