Well, Monte, if it reassures you.
Yes, I use a mic only, in all situations. It's not a problem, of course not. I do occasionally try out pickups, like prototypes or things people suggest to me, why not. But I've not heard anything that even has any relationship to the way a mic sounds. I think the reason for the differences of opinion are partly, as you suggest, connected to some people not making a big enough sound. But actually, I mostly think it has to do with what kind of sound they find pleasing, and what they think sounds "good" in the band context.
You know, I grew up in the 80's, and at that time, I was hearing great sounding records made from the 40's up to the then-current players. One thing that always confused me was why the bass sound on records was sooo different from what I heard at a live show. It was some time before I understood that guys were recording with mics, and then playing with completely different pickup sounds live. That really bothered me, and I think that's partly why I ended up finding a mic to be the only solution for me.
But not everybody grew up that way. And I'll bet some guys liked the pickup sound better than the recorded sound. I'm fairly sure that when guys say they can't get enough volume out of the mic, it's not just volume they're missing. That pickup type of presence, that more electric sound, is something they LIKE. Which is fine, I don't emphasize the word "like" as sarcasm, not at all. Ron Carter will tell you that he feels he can hear himself better, and can be heard by everyone else better, with his current setup. Surely he knows what he's talking about. I think that if you were to somehow be able to get the exact same amount of decibels out of an amp with a mic and a pickup guy's pickup, they would say that the pickup was louder. I want my sound to mostly sit in the mix, and blend with the other instruments in a certain kind of way. I feel that guys who will always take a pickup over a mic when push comes to shove are looking for something a little different than I am, maybe to hear the bass as an "equal voice, on par with the other instruments." Not that I don't feel myself to be, just I think this may be their conscious/unconscious thought....
Anyway, you'll never convince those guys that the mic is "ok in all situations." Because it isn't for them. But that's cool. After I figured out how I wanted to sound and got settled on it, I got to really love some of those bass sounds that are the polar opposite of my thing. There's room for a lot of different kind of sounds and ideas about sound.
For Pete, I use the same mic as Monte, an AKG C3000. It's long out of production now. They changed the design some years ago and the newer ones don't sound so good to me. I have a friend here in town who uses a Neumann km185 that sounds great. He tells me he can get stupid loud with it. I think if I had to replace my mic, that's what I would go with. I also sometimes use an audio technica ATM35, which I've heard are also not being made anymore, but I bet there are some still around. It sounds good and is more portable. For pickups, the one that sounds best to me is the Schertler Dyn-b, though I have to admit, I only tried a prototype many years ago.
I will say that there is another situation where I use a pickup. I know some people in "show biz" you know, pop music and the like. Sometimes they are nice enough to invite me to come play things with them. Many of these drummers are used to hearing electric bass and/or amplified acoustic bass. The mic into their monitor won't always make them happy. They'll live with it, but I want them to be happy. So after the soundman gets my sound set up in the house with my mic, I pull out my little old GK and put my K&K pickup on there, set the GK on whichever side of the drums he likes, show him what the knobs do, and let him have at it. Everybody's happy.
I don't want anyone to misunderstand, I'm not putting down pickups or pickup guys, or saying they're ignorant or don't understand or anything. My post is just meant to say that different people have different sounds in their heads and different expectations, so it's quite natural that we have these kind of disagreements about what's even possible with a given piece of equipment.
Have a good evening.
. I would love to hear any recordings you might have of that gear and set-up. I've been mostly an acoustic / low volume bluegrasser but now I've been drafted by some alt-country guys playing Loud Stuff like Hank III, Wayne Hancock, Merle Haggart, Son Volt, Unc Tupelo, Wilco, etc. .... I'm starting to slap more and play fast walkin' lines. I'm runnin' a '40 Kay with 3 plain guts and Garbo E, Solo Rev II pick-up (no mic so far .... feedback problems when I tried), AI 2-channel Coda box with external Wizzy M-Line speaker.
!! Thanks in advance ..... I think your answers could be of interest to a few bassers 'round here.
. I am interested in that pick-up. Did you install the Barbera yourself or is that a custom-fit deal from the manufacturer or your luthier?
!!
