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Double Bass Micing with a bass amp

I does not seem to work for everyone and every bass, but then I guess the same could be said for pickups. The K&K Bass Max that I used to use sounded terrible on my bass but the same pickup sounds great on a friends bass. The good thing is, the RS mic does not cost a fortune to try. It has worked out wonderful for me.
 
Just for the heck of it, at a gig Saturday in a 500 seat theater, I decided to try my Audix D2 attached with an H-Clamp to my Upton Hybrid. I ran the mic straight to my AI Coda 2-channel S4. I also ran my Rev Solo II to the second channel. I used my Schroeder Mini 12L as an extension cab. Volume-wise I had the mic at 1 o'clock and the pickup at 8 o'clock; i.e. about 2/3 mic and 1/3 pickup. It was about the best sound I have ever achieved. And not one bit of feedback the whole night. I almost didn't need the pickup signal at all. The mic sounded full and warm and plenty loud.
 
That's actually one of the mics I was considering when I started thinking about using a mic. Just out of curiosity, where and how did you mount it? Between the sound posts, F-hole maybe?

If you are looking at the top, the mic was facing the top at a 75 degree angle just to the left of the treble side f-hole, about 3 to 4" above the bridge

viewofmicandbass_zpsc1efc56f.jpg



edit: upon closer examination of the picture I realize the angle is more like 75, maybe even 80. I should also mention the mic is about 1/2" from the surface of the top.
 
I've been using a Fdeck Preamp w/my RS mic which allows me to dial in a nice tone. The other RS mic trick I've found is to take a 1.5-2" strip of 1/2" foam and roll the mic in the foam. Placing this foam roll into the lower left (G side) f hole. I can then pull or push the foam roll/mic in/out which changes the mic response - more or less boomy depending on position.
 
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!

Invalid Link Removed
Pic gone already :atoz: imageshack is perpetual.

The pic on RS site for tie clip electret mic is tiny and doesn't look anything like the foam cylindrical thing on gooseneck pics I saw up the thread, and it's $65, so I'm wondering if the product has changed or what?

How long does the battery last?
 
Pic gone already :atoz: imageshack is perpetual.

The pic on RS site for tie clip electret mic is tiny and doesn't look anything like the foam cylindrical thing on gooseneck pics I saw up the thread, and it's $65, so I'm wondering if the product has changed or what?

How long does the battery last?

I'm not sure what ad you are looking at but Invalid Link Removed is the one that this thread revolves around. The foam inserts you have seen are homemade mounting methods. I prefer to just use the tie clip on the F hole. It has been working great for me. I've been using it for the past 16 months and have only changed the battery once during that time. Of course, it depends on how often you perform and for how long each time but I've averaged about 5 gigs a month this past Summer for 2 to 4 hours per gig and have not changed the battery since the beginning of the year.
 
Thanks, I have tried sm57 rubber banded between the afterlength, aimed down between bridge feet in close to body, terrible feedback.

Rockabilly Recoil pickup in bridge wings, not great at all, the pickup wires themselves seem to get going off the body vibes. By the time I squidge all the feedback with parametric notch filter the tone is gone to hell.

RS mic sounds promising.
 
In my experience, I get the best results sending a mic directly out to FoH and putting my pickup through my amp then sending the amp's DI to FoH as well. This way I can get both signals in order to get the most natural sound possible but I don't have to worry so much about feedback and if there is any it's the sound tech's problem. If there is not FoH or a sound tech I just use a piezo into my amp. I find I am able to get a natural sound out of my Realist with relative ease anyway.
 
In my experience, I get the best results sending a mic directly out to FoH and putting my pickup through my amp then sending the amp's DI to FoH as well. This way I can get both signals in order to get the most natural sound possible but I don't have to worry so much about feedback and if there is any it's the sound tech's problem. If there is not FoH or a sound tech I just use a piezo into my amp. I find I am able to get a natural sound out of my Realist with relative ease anyway.

In my most recent setup, I run my Audix D2 and my Rev Solo II pickup into my 2 channel AI Coda. Volume-wise I have the mic/pickup split at about 70/30. I send a signal to the FOH and monitors from my XLR out from my amp. I have had absolutely zero feedback so far. I like the idea of the audience hearing the natural-ness of the mic, but I want to enjoy hearing it too. If I sound really good I feel that much more confident in my playing and the band feeds off this as well.
 
I never had success mics to amps. The stage monitors seems mutch more usable, and active pa speakers on speaker stand up high at your head, with mics, Bose Radiator speakers olso could work. If you prefer amps, but hate piezzos ( like me ), the answer probably the Ehrlund Contact PU mic.
 
...I like the idea of the audience hearing the natural-ness of the mic, but I want to enjoy hearing it too. If I sound really good I feel that much more confident in my playing and the band feeds off this as well.

That's exactly why I asked about using a mic in the first place. I have never had tone that I have been happy with using a pickup and hearing a good sound from a mic through my stage amp is what gives me that same confidence. Before I was always fiddling around with controls trying to dial in a good sound. Now with the RS mic going into my amp, I can concentrate on playing because my amplified sound is awesome.
 
Sold to the man Downunder!

I found a stupid cheap ART Tube studio pre with phase invert and getting the RS mic along with, thanks to the legend Art seller brother in bass doing my RS shopping.

Those in UK can check out Fruugo for Radio Shack electret tie mic. Cheaper than US price for RS product seems dodgy as all getout but the seller has phone number and pickups.
 
Hi All,

I've had excellent success with this mic for arco and pizz at home - playing around at pretty high volumes with incredible bass response and natural tone. Must work well on my bass. I've been using it on my orchestra bass, which has not been fitted for a pickup. I'll try it at a gig for the 1st time on Friday. Will post an update next weekend.

Alex

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
I'm anxious to find out how you make out with it. I've been using mine for nearly two years now and am so satisfied with the results. It's been so easy to use and so easy to get a good sound. I've made absolutely no changes since I first installed it and it still sounds great each time I play.
 
So I played a jazz gig last night with the Radio Shack lavaliere to REMARKABLE success. I plugged it straight into my Acoustic Img Contra via small 1/8" extension chord, and direct outed into the house PA.

I knew it had a decent sound at home in my studio, but even in the band (jazz trio + singer - no drums) onstage, it had a wonderfully high fidelity, natural, full sound. I had to ask the sound guy to turn down the highs and mids because of excess string click noise, but there was plenty of bass to be had. First time I've ever had to eq the bass (tone) down on my amp.

A note about the AI - the down-firing woofer ends up putting out a lot of omnidirectional bass tone, which gets a bit muddy in a big room, so I usually boost the mid and high for clarity. This is why I needed to ask the sound guy to darken the tone - my post-eq direct out was not balanced for the PA monitors/speakers. It was not a fault of the mic, but I'm glad it does pick up some string noise well.

Should mention that I was playing on my classical bass: a very fine, old, dark, bass-ey bass, which helps the sound. I have no idea how this would sound on a bright bass.

It's very fair to say that this mic works wonderfully with my setup. Very pleased with my $12 investment. :)
 
I love that little mic! :) I recently demoed a few mics and kept an ATM450. Story HERE

I have been using the RS mic for a while and once I got the phase sorted with my Ehrlund, the two result in thunder that rattles my chandeliers when I turn the volume knob to 11! Why turn to 11? Because I can!

Ok, so a tip for the RS mic users that helped me: Cut some foam inserts for your ffs and keep them in your gig bag. They can save your butt in bad rooms that bring feedback if all else fails or if you don't have time to address the sound before your set starts. The inserts are very useful if the amplified sound is your monitor and the acoustic sound can't guide you.
 
Newbie here. The RS mic is my first attempt at amping my bass. Would have never guessed there was a nice, cheap way to boost my sound! Thanks to you guys for being such an ingenious group of musicians! Works well for my needs so far. Plug it in using a 1/4" adapter to my 50W Ampeg for practicing at home. Fighting feedback a little but pretty damn good overall. Plugged in to a buddy's PA for a jam session. Worked well there too.

Probably need to look into some foam type setup to help with feedback. Problem is, I don't want to lose the clicky during slapping...Thoughts?

Also, should I get a DI box or preamp or anything for use upstream of the PA? Thoughts?
 

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