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Double Bass Micing with a bass amp

#181
My guitar buddy and I used the RS mic on the bass last night when we did some living room recording (Zoom works great!). I must say, the bass sounded dang good (RS mic in foam in the center of the g side f-hole with the foam extending into the f-hole enough to hold it in place but the mic pretty much even with the top - K&K preamp - Genz Benz 3T10). I intend to get a pre-amp that can blend the 2 so I can use both or either as the mood suits me......

Another thing I plan to experiment with is mic-ing the GB shuttle into a PA for higher volume work..... I will report!
 
#182
Some updates on using RS mic with Headway. After some small venue gigs in a jazz trio\quartet setting I can say, that my bass sounds great in the audience (DI signal from Headway to a small PA) in terms of both tone and audibility, but I can't hear it well through an amp on stage, just not enough volume before feedback. And I see 2 ways in that situation:

1) adding a piezo PU and blending both signals via Headway. Next tuesday a fellow bass player will be bringing his bass with a Realist on a jam, and I'll bring RS mic and Headway. Will see what happens.

2) setting up an in-ear monitor just to avoid using an amp on stage. Like this: http://www.thomann.de/gb/fischer_amps_inear_monitor_bp.htm or this Invalid Link Removed

Also I've figured that positioning RS mic inside an f-hole gives best results on my bass. More fundamentals, less ambient noise. It feeds back at about 90-100 Hz, but I manage to cut it with a Headway notch filter.
 
#183
gack said:
Some updates on using RS mic with Headway. After some small venue gigs in a jazz trio\quartet setting I can say, that my bass sounds great in the audience (DI signal from Headway to a small PA) in terms of both tone and audibility, but I can't hear it well through an amp on stage, just not enough volume before feedback. And I see 2 ways in that situation:

1) adding a piezo PU and blending both signals via Headway. Next tuesday a fellow bass player will be bringing his bass with a Realist on a jam, and I'll bring RS mic and Headway. Will see what happens.

2) setting up an in-ear monitor just to avoid using an amp on stage. Like this: http://www.thomann.de/gb/fischer_amps_inear_monitor_bp.htm or this Invalid Link Removed

Also I've figured that positioning RS mic inside an f-hole gives best results on my bass. More fundamentals, less ambient noise. It feeds back at about 90-100 Hz, but I manage to cut it with a Headway notch filter.
Click to expand...

I just started "playing around" with this Radio Shack mic.

WOW!

I have already been using a DPA 4099 mic along with a Realist pickup, both into a Headway EDB-1. A great combination.

But I was intrigued to see how the $30 dollar mic compares to the $600 mic.

I also got the Audio Technica Pro 35 gooseneck to install the mic into, and NEATLY clip it onto the DPA rubber mount. I can't stand 'rigged' looking things. Too messy. :D

I can get the RS mic nicely position between the the bridge feet (just like the DPA), about 1/2" off the top. I'll post some pics later, but if you look at the way this DPA is mounted in Invalid Link Removed you'll get the idea.

F-hole mic'ing doesn't do it for me. I want to hear the "noise" of the strings on the fingerboard, the presence of sound coming off the bass, and the bow sound.

I am looking into [Invalid or Expired Link Removed], so I can neatly plug the mic into it and then run an XLR cable off to the Headway. I plan on attaching the DBBLOX to the quiver, with a belt clip mount.

Sonically, the RS mixed with the Realist, sounds very good.

Is there are $570 difference? No. :eek:

================

UPDATE:

Since I already had one of [Invalid or Expired Link Removed], I am using it, instead of the similar above device. It is working GREAT! Plus I can control the mic volume FROM the bass! All I can tell between running the mic straight into the EDB-1 or with the CVPBLOX in between, is about a 3dB drop in volume - that's easily compensated for, turn it up.

I have a Docking Station already installed on the bass to control the Realist volume.

Now I can blend the pickup AND mic FROM the bass. :hyper:
 
#184
I did a gig last night with drums and electric instruments, (pedal steel, electric guitar) for the first time since I started using the RS mic. I must admit I was slightly nervous about getting volume without feedback. I had the amp about two feet behind me, as usual, drummer directly behind me and about a foot to the right of my amp. Best flippin' bass sound I ever had. Lots of volume, NO feedback at any time during the four sets. It was so much fun to just play with some awesome musicians and not have any concerns about bass tone or volume. I have changed nothing since my initial set-up. Mic pointed into the f-hole, going directly into my GK amp with no additional electronics. Fantastic sound!!!
 
#185
Got the RS mic, hooked it up, LOVING IT! Sounds insanely better than my Underwood. Didn't feel the need to mod the clip. Just put it in the F hole (lower G string side) so the mic is inside the bass pointing at the body side. It really does sound super close to the natural sound of my bass (Shen SB88, oil finish). Gonna get a 2 channel preamp asap and mess with blending the two. Gonna test it out as is on my gig tonight. Boy am I glad I stumbled upon this thread! Huge thanks!

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#187
Here are a few pics of my "tidy" set up:

Realist Pickup > Docking Station > 1/4" Out.

RS mic mounted in an AT Pro 35 gooseneck clipped onto a rubber DPA 4099 Bass Clip Mount, shortened cable to battery holder (on/off switch), to Rapco CVPBLOX 3.5mm In/XLR Out with Volume control.

I use the EDB-1 two-channel preamp.

Nice to have two separate volume controls ON the bass. :hyper:

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#188
Stick_Player said:
Here are a few pics of my "tidy" set up:

Realist Pickup > Docking Station > 1/4" Out.

RS mic mounted in an AT Pro 35 gooseneck clipped onto a rubber DPA 4099 Bass Clip Mount, shortened cable to battery holder (on/off switch), to Rapco CVPBLOX 3.5mm In/XLR Out with Volume control.

I use the EDB-1 two-channel preamp.

Nice to have two separate volume controls ON the bass. :hyper:

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Click to expand...

So, just for the record, you have purchased a Realist Docking Station, DPA 4099B Rubber Mount, Rapco CVPBLOX 3.5mm In/XLR Out with Volume control, and a AT Pro 35 Gooseneck so you can mount a RS condenser mic on your bass. I thought I was the only one who came up with these kinds of multiple accessories;). Just curious, approximately how much did this all cost.

Ric
 
#191
Ric Vice said:
So, just for the record, you have purchased a Realist Docking Station, DPA 4099B Rubber Mount, Rapco CVPBLOX 3.5mm In/XLR Out with Volume control, and a AT Pro 35 Gooseneck so you can mount a RS condenser mic on your bass. I thought I was the only one who came up with these kinds of multiple accessories;). Just curious, approximately how much did this all cost.

Ric
Click to expand...

Ha! Well, at some point in time I did purchase everything.

Originally... I was using a DPA 4099 mic (on the DB). This topic intrigued me. Could a $20 mic compete with the $600 DPA 4099?

I already had:

Realist Pickup
Realist Docking Station
DPA rubber mount (from the DPA 4099)
RapcoHorizon CVPBLOX

So I only purchased:

Radio Shack Mic - $20
Audio Technica Pro 35 gooseneck - $25 (?)

I'm going to say that one can save $500 and go the RS Mic route.

I did NOT like the "stuff the mic in the F-hole" sound. So I copied the DPA-way of mounting.
 
#192
See pics for a gentle but reliable clip-on microphone mount that cost pennies to make. Materials are a Scotch whiskey cork, two wood screws, and a rubber hose washer. The washer protects the bass from scratches, obviously. Just wedge the cork in the f-hole (I prefer the g-side) and adjust the angle to taste. I use an original ATM-35. The bridge placement provides the most balanced sound, not too boomy. I took the pickup off and never looked back.

Come to think of it, the clip-on could get a bit pricey. If you really want to "play like the old guys" you'll have to buy (and drink?) a quality single-malt to obtain the proper cork. Even if you never "play like the old guys" you might think you do after drinking the scotch.
 

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#194
Samuel Liu said:
Great review. I wanna try it in my doublebass.

What is the brand name?

Because RS do not ship overseas, here I found one at Ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130642489336?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2648

Is it the same one?
Click to expand...

I just bought one of these from that eBay seller and it appears to be the same thing. The description of the microphone specs on the eBay listing is different for some reason.

I put it on my bass tonight and tried it at low volumes through my amp (kids were asleep nearby so couldn't crank it). So far so good!! I was worried that it wouldn't reproduce the mid detail but as many have reported I get the acoustic sound of my bass coming through the amp. I have placed it inside the treble side f-hole towards the bottom of the f hole.

I have a gig tomorrow night where I go straight from a DTar Equinox preamp into the house PA. Will try using the RS mic - can't wait!! :hyper:
 
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#197
My first gig with the RS mic wasn't successful unfortunately. But it was in a boomy noisy room with an inexperienced sound engineer. I used it for the first song only and then switched to my full circle pickup. We had problems with the pickup too which has happened on the past at this venue with different sound engineers.

Next gig is tomorrow night and that will be in a large room going through my amp with no PA support. Another challenging environment!! Going to stick with learning how to use this mic on gigs though as the sound through my amp at home is exactly what I'm looking for when amplified. It may be I just haven't found the optimal placement for the mic yet.
 
#199
kerrycares said:
I'm looking at an Audix I-5 and Presonus V2 single channel tube pre that my sound engineer recommended.
Anyone used this set up?
Click to expand...

Lots of players here on Talkbass have used Shure Beta 58's and Beyer Dynamic's with good results. There seems to be an advantage to using dynamic microphone, as they are somewhat less prone to feedback than condensers. Of Course, there's the mounting issue, you could either put it on a boom stand, use rubber bands between the feet of the bridge, or buy the Explore Audio H-Clamp.

http://exploraudio.com/categories/bass-mount-standard-double-upright-bass/11/

There was once a TB member who had cut these really nifty clamps he built himself to mount a dynamic barrel microphone to the tailpiece. Unfortunately, he only made a few of them for his close friends, and never put them into production.

Ric
 

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#200
maxgroover said:
My first gig with the RS mic wasn't successful unfortunately. But it was in a boomy noisy room with an inexperienced sound engineer. I used it for the first song only and then switched to my full circle pickup. We had problems with the pickup too which has happened on the past at this venue with different sound engineers.

Next gig is tomorrow night and that will be in a large room going through my amp with no PA support. Another challenging environment!! Going to stick with learning how to use this mic on gigs though as the sound through my amp at home is exactly what I'm looking for when amplified. It may be I just haven't found the optimal placement for the mic yet.
Click to expand...

My experiment is over - unfortunately the RS mic doesn't work on my bass (or I got a dud RS mic). No matter where I put it or how I mounted it, I couldn't get it to sound anywhere near as good as my Full Circle pickup and DTar Equinox pre.

It helped confirm to me that sound I get from my pickup and pre is quite darn good, and usable in all kinds of challenging rooms. So all is not lost :)
 

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