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Double Bass Mic placement?

robobass

robobass

Aug 1, 2005
3,546
1,421
Cologne, Germany
www.basscapos.com
Disclosures
Private Inventor - Bass Capos
#1
I don't normally mic. I use an old-type Schertler mixed with a cheapie piezo dot stuck just over the heart. It works great for the amp, but I want to have a mic feed for recording/PA. I've got a tiny Sony ecm that was used in a TV studio for speach. I took a rib clamp and a coathanger and made myself a universal mount.

To get to the point, I think where you put the mic is at least as important as what the mic is. I'm experimenting, and so far, the best spot is about 4 inches below the E-side bridge foot about 3 inches away from the top. It's the best I've come up with, but it's a bit thumpy.

Where are you cats putting your mics?

Robobass
 
#3
On my bass I've found that mic placement too far south below the bridge results in thumpy booiness and not enough definition. at least I find this to be true on the G side of the bass. Robobass, your placement below the E side is over the lower end of the bass bar. I have not tried that too often. That may be a good area. Try a little closer to the bridge for added definition and less "thumpiness".

I've always found good results with the area on the G side either just below the bridge, in between the bridge foot and the 'f' hole (over the sound post). Or the same area just above the bridge on the same side.

I find right over the 'f's to be too woofy, but just bit closer to the bridge foot yields a great result.

BG
 
#4
robobass (or anyone else), if you are interested, send me an email, and I will email you back a Word document. [ Apparently I can't attach Word docs to this post. ]

It consists of a whole bunch of posts from TB and elsewhere that I compiled that describe where different people place their mics. There are a whole bunch of different ideas, to be sure. I am still experimenting, although I do have a few sweet spots on my bass that I always seem to gravitate back to.

Most of the posts were made w.r.t. the AMT, so without a long gooseneck like that, some of the ideas may not apply.

But if you like, read it over, and cull the stuff that sounds useful to you.
 
#5
bolo said:
robobass (or anyone else), if you are interested, send me an email, and I will email you back a Word document. [ Apparently I can't attach Word docs to this post. ]

It consists of a whole bunch of posts from TB that I compiled that describe where different people place their mics. There are a whole bunch of different ideas, to be sure. I am still experimenting, although I do have a few sweet spots on my bass that I always seem to gravitate back to.

Most of the posts were made w.r.t. the AMT, so without a long gooseneck like that, some of the ideas may not apply.

But if you like, read it over, and cull the stuff that sounds useful to you.
Click to expand...

I would like to read through that if you could send me a copy.

I have been using a Shure SM98 for quite a while now with good results. It is a miniature condenser, an older version of the Invalid Link Removed that is currently available. Up until now I have been positioning it between the bridge legs and sending it directly to the PA, so I was not really able to judge the fine tuning of the position.

But I just ordered a Solstice from Bob G, :hyper: , so I will be able to experiment more directly when sending the mic and pick-up into my amp (and still send mic-only to the PA :smug: ). I have a gooseneck for it, which is a little awkward, and another miniature isolated clip that I can experiment with.

The only problem I have had with the mic was a few weeks ago when playing at an outside event. Here in LA it gets mighty windy in the early evening, and I had to fit the (rather bulky) windshield to the mic to stop wind noise.

Andy
 
#6
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

It's ugly, but effective. I've found that the space between the bridge legs is the best practical spot for me for live reinforcement, especially when feedback is an issue. As far as the bend or angle of the mic, I usually position toward whichever bridge foot points away from the drums.
 
#9
Somewhere here in TB I read to shock mount a good mic (needs to be small) in between the bridge pointing up towards the fingerboard. I used a Shure SM98, shock mounted it with rubber bands. It's pointing up at the fingerboard with a slight downward angle towards the top. Very good results.
I also find the f hole woofy.
Chris, it must be nice to not be using rubber bands. I'm a drummer using more or less a drum mic to point away from myself. No offense taken!!! Your right, the less bleed the better.
Sorry gents, I missed Airbass's reply and him using the SM98. I'm distracted by my work today.
Try the rubber band method. I'm only using the mic. It might even work better in little mount that comes with it.
 
#10
A classic way to put he mic on is ,
Lind it in to a towel or something soft , then stuck it in under the bridge , in the hole . . It gets really nice , but it works best with a piexx on the bass to ..
 

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