Double Bass Microphone Stage for Upright Bass

[bilboup]

Do any of you guys know this microphone used by Dezron Douglas?
Sorry for the photo quality, in his personal Instagram profile there are several photos with this microphone.
But I can't recognise it :/

 

[bilboup]

I saw Gogo Penguin in 2019ish. Great show, and good sound in an 850-seat venue. Nick's sound was heavy on the pickup all night, and the loudest thing on that stage - by far - was Nick's amp while he was using effects. I specifically remember a drunk girl two rows behind us talking at conversational levels, and being almost as loud as the FOH mix.

Audix makes some good mics, though. Have you tried a D4?

Thanks for the advice!
No I haven't tried it, would you recommend it for the double bass?

 

[Wasnex]

Do any of you guys know this microphone used by Dezron Douglas?
Sorry for the photo quality, in his personal Instagram profile there are several photos with this microphone.
But I can't recognise it :/

Different mic in each of the photos your provided, so apparently, he uses whatever is available.

The pencil mic may be a Shure KSM137.

The mic in the other photo may be an EV 635A, which is an omni; a model that has been around forever.
Invalid Link Removed

I could be totally wrong.

 

[Wasnex]

By the way, it has been suggested the Shure KSM137 and KSM141 were designed as Schoeps clones.

 

[bilboup]

Different mic in each of the photos your provided, so apparently, he uses whatever is available.

The pencil mic may be a Shure KSM137.

The mic in the other photo may be an EV 635A, which is an omni; a model that has been around forever.
Invalid Link Removed

I could be totally wrong.

Thank you so much

 

[AGCurry]

Different mic in each of the photos your provided, so apparently, he uses whatever is available.

The mic in the other photo may be an EV 635A, which is an omni; a model that has been around forever.
Invalid Link Removed

I could be totally wrong.

I think you're right. That mic is in both photos. The 635 is a great choice for miking that close to the top. It's marketed for live talking interviews, optimized for clear speech.

 

[Wasnex]

That mic is in both photos.

Your right! Now I see the EV between the bridge. Looks like he is also using an SDC and an LDC. My guess is the LDC is some sort of Neumann, perhaps a TLM49

 

[Ryan in PDX]

Thanks for the advice!
No I haven't tried it, would you recommend it for the double bass?

I haven't tried it live yet. Based on my experience with it at home, it's not first on my list to record with, but it is first on my list to try live (whenever I get the chance to gig my double bass).

Do any of you guys know this microphone used by Dezron Douglas?

If we're crowd-sleuthing the mics in your photos, I'll play...

I agree with AG and Wasnex on the EV635A for the dynamic, but not on the others. The condensers look like...
SDC: Neumann KM84 (length, uniform shape, and color)
LDC: Neumann M149 (tube power supply and cable, and what is visible of the head basket's length and shape)
...but that's a tough photo.

Well, that was fun. You might try reaching out to Mr. Douglas. He is a producer and might be a gear nerd himself. He might also tell you that "your technique/strings/bass/band/music/engineer/stage may vary."

 

[John Goldsby]

Hey @Wasnex and @crd — Here's an addendum in the never-ending search for a good amplified sound: We had a rep from Neumann in the WDR studio a couple of weeks ago and I compared a Link Removed with the Schoeps MK41. The Neumann sounded beautiful—very hi-end—but had a bit more leakage from other instruments than the Schoeps (a supercardioid). The Neumann is priced at about 25% of the cost of the Schoeps, so that's another plus. It costs about as much as a DPA 4099.

Considering how great the new Neumann sounds, that could be an option for you. With the baffle in front of the microphone, it would take out a lot of bleed from other instruments. At the WDR, I'm sure we will just continue to use the Schoeps—it works and sounds fantastic.

@crd — Yes, I work with a lot of very good and considerate sound people who know how to amplify and record double bass. I usually take my DPA (current setup for small gigs) to smaller venues and clubs ... tell the sound person to only put the mic through the house, and not let them take a DI from the amp. This seems to get a good sound in clubs and avoids them "riding" the DI sound. No solution is perfect, but that seems to work for me at the moment.

 

[crd]

@John Goldsby Thanks for taking the time to share here. Combined with your Discover Doublebass courses I've been picking up a lot of useful info!!

Lately, I've been trying out the Nadine. It mounts so easily that I've really been enjoying it -- even though I feel like it has slightly more bleed than the DPA but I haven't taken the time to really a/b the two yet. I'm sure that Neumann sounds great.

 

[SAlcott]

https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Mi...la-343408306452&ref=&adgrpid=62412137260&th=1

 

[Ric Vice]

As far as rejection and tone quality goes
the Schoeps MK41 CMC6 or CMC1 is as good as it gets provided you can afford $2000.00 price and the Explore Audio H-Clamp is compatible with your bass
and the clamp can fit inside your current bass case or you have to install and remove it for each setup. The miniature DPA 4099 Dvote and Neumann 114ccan be permanently affixed to bass or easily removed and stowed for each performance and as Mr. Goldsby mentioned cost 1/4 of the Schoeps. The Remic microphones are encased in camera foam and can be positioned under the fingerboard, inside the bridge feet, or under the tailpiece so you have a wider variety of tonal options. It’s easy to install or remove. Just my take however.

 

[LaFaro01]

Hey @Wasnex and @crd — Here's an addendum in the never-ending search for a good amplified sound: We had a rep from Neumann in the WDR studio a couple of weeks ago and I compared a Link Removed with the Schoeps MK41. The Neumann sounded beautiful—very hi-end—but had a bit more leakage from other instruments than the Schoeps (a supercardioid). The Neumann is priced at about 25% of the cost of the Schoeps, so that's another plus. It costs about as much as a DPA 4099.

Considering how great the new Neumann sounds, that could be an option for you. With the baffle in front of the microphone, it would take out a lot of bleed from other instruments. At the WDR, I'm sure we will just continue to use the Schoeps—it works and sounds fantastic.

@crd — Yes, I work with a lot of very good and considerate sound people who know how to amplify and record double bass. I usually take my DPA (current setup for small gigs) to smaller venues and clubs ... tell the sound person to only put the mic through the house, and not let them take a DI from the amp. This seems to get a good sound in clubs and avoids them "riding" the DI sound. No solution is perfect, but that seems to work for me at the moment.

Here you can find an "first impression" and comparison between the Neumann MCM 114 and the DPA, Even if the Neumann is not yet available in Germany... and the mentioned "1/4 of the Schoeps" seems to be a little optimistic.. it's round about 40% regarding actual prices...

 

[John Goldsby]

Here you can find an "first impression" and comparison between the Neumann MCM 114 and the DPA, Even if the Neumann is not yet available in Germany... and the mentioned "1/4 of the Schoeps" seems to be a little optimistic.. it's round about 40% regarding actual prices...

Thanks, @lafaro — nice video, although I wish they would have compared the double bass microphones! The Neumann MCM114 set is available in Germany at a price of €629. The DPA 4099 costs €522. The Schoeps MK41 with the capsule body costs €1499 — it seems to have come down in price recently (I seem to recall when the set cost over €2000 with the body). So—you're right, the Neumann costs about 40% of the price of the Schoeps.

 

[LaFaro01]

Thanks, @lafaro — nice video, although I wish they would have compared the double bass microphones! The Neumann MCM114 set is available in Germany at a price of €629. The DPA 4099 costs €522. The Schoeps MK41 with the capsule body costs €1499 — it seems to have come down in price recently (I seem to recall when the set cost over €2000 with the body). So—you're right, the Neumann costs about 40% of the price of the Schoeps.

I wish too they would have compared the double bass versions... but for a first impression it's "quite nice"...
Regarding "availability" I don't know, what "several months" means for Thomann, but I hope, that's not "too much".. because I'm quite curious about that mic...

 

[John Goldsby]

I wish too they would have compared the double bass versions... but for a first impression it's "quite nice"...
Regarding "availability" I don't know, what "several months" means for Thomann, but I hope, that's not "too much".. because I'm quite curious about that mic...

Ah ... I didn't see the "in several months" notice on the Thomann site. The Neumann rep I spoke with seemed eager to deliver the microphone

 

[neddyrow]

Need or want?

I threw too much money down this hole and went right back to a piezo.

every bass is different
every venue is different
every sound engineer is different
every mic is different
everyone's tastes are different
every player is different

I could go on. Unless you really need a mic, stick with your pickup and get a preamp, HPF, Sarno black box (I use all three) and find your tone that route. Much easier to control and less headaches and stress at every gig. Just my $.02

...and my bass has never sounded better!

 

[John Goldsby]

every bass is different
every venue is different
every sound engineer is different
every mic is different
everyone's tastes are different
every player is different

True, all of that

 

[bassically_eli]

Need or want?

I threw too much money down this hole and went right back to a piezo.

every bass is different
every venue is different
every sound engineer is different
every mic is different
everyone's tastes are different
every player is different

I could go on. Unless you really need a mic, stick with your pickup and get a preamp, HPF, Sarno black box (I use all three) and find your tone that route. Much easier to control and less headaches and stress at every gig. Just my $.02

...and my bass has never sounded better!

I am a big fan of using a mic, but given all their limitations for live use, I can't see spending loads of money. My experience has been that the 80/20 rule is an understatement when it comes to mics; a cheap mic (say <$200) can get you 90 or 95% of the way there.

 

[tito mangialajo]

Need or want?

I threw too much money down this hole and went right back to a piezo.

every bass is different
every venue is different
every sound engineer is different
every mic is different
everyone's tastes are different
every player is different

I could go on. Unless you really need a mic, stick with your pickup and get a preamp, HPF, Sarno black box (I use all three) and find your tone that route. Much easier to control and less headaches and stress at every gig. Just my $.02

...and my bass has never sounded better!

True...but every pick-up is different too...
Anyway, what pick-up do you use?